- Massachusetts (Bee Gees song)
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"Massachusetts" 
Single by Bee Gees from the album Horizontal B-side "Barker Of The UFO" Released September 1967 Format vinyl record Recorded 9, 17 August 1967
IBC Studios, Portland Place, LondonGenre Oldies Length 2:22 Label UK: Polydor, USA/CA: Atco Writer(s) Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb Producer Robert Stigwood and The Bee Gees Bee Gees singles chronology "Holiday"
(1967)"Massachusetts"
(1967)"World"
(1967)Music sample "Massachusetts""Massachusetts" is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees[1] in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, Horizontal. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times.[2]
For Maurice Gibb, the song had a painful memory attached. Shortly after it was recorded, Beatles manager Brian Epstein told him that it was beautiful and would be the hit of the summer. These proved to be Epstein's last words to Maurice; Epstein died a few days later.
Contents
Music video
The music video for this song is taken from "The Idea Album TV Special - 1968"
Trivia
The song has a minor claim to fame in the history of British radio. While many people know "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move was the first record played on BBC Radio 1, Massachusetts was the second.[3]
Former Yugoslav band Siluete covered the song, in 1967.
Ed Ames recorded a version of this song on his album "Who Will Answer?", in 1968.
Also in 1968, Hong Kong female singer Betty Chung (鍾玲玲) covered this song in Mandarin Chinese language with Chinese lyrics written by Wei Yin (魏因) and given the title name of 我祝福他, appearing on her LP album 野火 (Wild Flame)[4], and released by EMI Pathe Records.
Between 1972 and 1974, this song was covered by Singapore-based female singer Ervinna, backing music by The Charlie & His Boys, on her LP album Golden Hits Of 20th Century Vol. 6 with White Cloud Record of Singapore.
This single is the first number-one hit single by a non-Japanese artist on Japan's official hit chart, Oricon. Strangely, even though "Massachusetts" was a worldwide number one single, it only reached #11 in the United States where the state of Massachusetts is located.
When Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote this song, it was originally intended to be recorded by The Seekers, but they did not record it. The Seekers finally recorded it after Maurice Gibb's death in 2003, as a tribute to him.
When the Bee Gees wrote the song, they had never been to Massachusetts.[1] The boys simply loved the word. The song was written on a boat near the Statue of Liberty.
Chart performance
Chart Peak position Australia 1 Austria 1 Belgium 1 Canada 1 Chile 1 China 2 France 4 Germany 1 Italy 5 Japan 1 Netherlands 1 New Zealand 1 Norway 1 South Africa 1 Sweden 1 United Kingdom 1 United States 11 References
- ^ a b Show 49 - The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 6] : UNT Digital Library
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2, illustrated ed.). Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 0214204804.
- ^ source: BBC Radio 1 press office
- ^ http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t138/macaenese5354/Vinyl%20Album/BettyChung-WildFlame-.jpg
Preceded by
"The Last Waltz" by Engelbert HumperdinckUK number one single
October 11, 1967 (four weeks)Succeeded by
"Baby Now That I've Found You" by The FoundationsCategories:- Bee Gees songs
- 1967 singles
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Oricon Weekly number-one singles
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Number-one singles in Norway
- Songs about the United States
- Songs written by Barry Gibb
- Songs written by Maurice Gibb
- Songs written by Robin Gibb
- 1960s pop song stubs
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