 |  | Intoducing the Bee Gees' baby brother |  |
In 1977,when the Bee Gees were becoming one of the biggest-selling artists of all-time,we were introduced to their baby brother,Andrew Roy Gibb. The Bee Gees jumpstarted Andy's singing career and produced his recordings. They wrote many of those songs as well. Andy got a contract with RSO(Robert Stigwood Organization) Records through the Bee Gees. Andy was only 19 years old when his debut album,this one,was released. In no time,Andy graced the covers of magazines like 16,Teen Beat and Bop. Now for the songs:LOVE IS THICKER THAN WATER was the first single and was a Top 20 hit. I JUST WANNA BE YOUR EVERYTHING was next to come. Andy's voice is very much similar to oldest brother Barry's. The other songs are great.
January 25, 2005My first Andy Gibb review, of his first album, from a record, of which this is my first review! Did that make sense? 1977's Flowing Rivers is my favorite Andy album, and in my opinion his best. He looks the hottest on this cover, too! Unfortunately, in hindsight we can see Andy started at the top, and for awhile he kept it up, but eventually the high life brought him down.
Flowing Rivers begins with the smash hit I Just Want To Be Your Everything. How can anybody not like I Just Want To Be Your Everything? I liked Everything even as a kid. My Dad couldn't understand how I liked Andy Gibb but not The Bee Gees. "They're the same thing!" Honestly now, we must admit the vocals on Everything are a bit `Barryfied`, but that's why it sounds so good.
To me the rest of the album is much more true to Andy himself. Unlike his later work, which became more and more Barry, with Andy writing less of the material. Andy by himself wrote eight of the ten songs presented here. Words and Music starts off slow, and actually sounds rather weak early, but it picks up steam with each turn of the lovelorn lyrics. Andy also adlibs with a touch of falsetto at the end. His falsetto-not the Barry imitation-is very sweet and true.
Dance To The Light Of The Morning is a cute country song that would get the gang at the pub up for a dance. Andy's vocal arrangements are perfectly placed and have a sing a long-ability. Maybe this is the tweaking of producers Barry, Albhy Galuten, and Karl Richardson, but it sounds dang cool.
Too Many Looks In Your Eyes and Starlight are the first slow tunes presented. Andy's songs have such a sweet romantic flare. It can seem idealistic at times, but it also has a feel of innocence or `young love'. Side One ends with you totally relaxed and feeling those special feelings.
The B-side of the record begins with the second Barry orchestrated hit Love is Thicker Than Water. Written by Barry and Andy, Andy's voice seems more breathy natural here-less like the Barry imitation on I Just Want To Be Your Everything. I love the humming and instrumental breather at the end. (Actually this song sounds kind of scratchy on my record. I guess the previous owner played this song a lot.) The title song Flowing Rivers returns to Andy's country feel. This one plays more like a page of a road trip journal, chronicling the highs and lows of life, fame, and the road. It's up and down rhythm parallels this perfectly. It's quite catchy.
Come Home For The Winter is even more country. The country styles themselves are completely different, however, and I am left to ponder what would have happened had Andy explored these country singer songwriter poetic styles further. Andy's later duets with Olivia Newton-John are nice, but seemed forced somehow. These are easy tunes you'd expect to hear at someone's barbecue. I like Andy this way.
Let it Be Me sounds like that Everly Brothers title. Forget that! Andy's song here is like a cross between country and disco. No lie, square dances and disco balls do go together! And this song is good. Fittingly, In The End slows the album to a close. Andy's lyrics of saying he tried his best are fitting but eerie. Flowing Rivers opens and closes with very strong songs from Andy, begging the question: What could be next?
Those who think of Andy Gibb as nothing more than a Bee Gee imitator will be pleasantly surprised at this listen. The similarities are evident, but these songs are worthy of the Gibb Catalog in their own right. Flowing Rivers is a very poetic and honest country album that proves Andy had the Gibby Talent to do whatever he wanted to do. March 28, 2004
This is the first of only three albums by Andy Gibb. Released in July, 1977, at the age of 19, the album went to #19 on the charts with the first single from the album, "I Just Want to be Your Everthing" going to #1 in the pop charts in April, 1977, and the second single, "(Love Is)Thicker than Water", went to #1 in November, 1977.
It is a great album from the younger brother of the Bee Gees, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, and shows the enormous talent belonging to this family. June 30, 2003
| | | My Favorite Favorite of All Time | |
I completely adore this album, from the beautiful person on the cover to the beautiful music on the CD. Definitely not bubble gum at all. A lot of ballads, upbeat country-rock type songs, and a little bit of pop. No disco anywhere on this album (not that there's anything wrong with disco, it just that I think most people would surprised to know that there's no "Night Fever" type songs included.) I think Andy is one person whose talent was totally underestimated. I believe most people think "Oh, the only reason he got a record deal is because he's the Bee Gees little brother" and they never bothered to actually listen to his music. Only one small problem with the CD, everytime I see the album title "Flowing Rivers" or play the song, I get this overwhelming urge to go to the bathroom, so I only play the CD in places where restroom facilities are readily available. Other than that, I totally love it. September 29, 2001
In 1977, the world first heard the voice of Andy Gibb with "I Just Want To Be Your Everything". It was a fresh and lively sound and caught on quickly. Followed up by another #1 hit "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water", Andy Gibb proved to be an artist to be reckoned with. All songs were written or co-written by Andy Gibb save for "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" (written by brother Barry), and it proved his songwriting ability to be strong. There are a few trademark ballads, but three of the cuts are country rock at its' best. Take a good listen to "Flowing Rivers", "Come Home For The Winter" and "Let It Be Me". He could have gone in a completely different direction and still maintained his momentum. A delightful debut, this album is a keeper. May 30, 2001
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