"Tomorrow Tomorrow" is a song by the Bee Gees written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. The song was originally intended to be recorded by Joe Cocker.[2] It was the first Bee Gees single released after Robin Gibb had quit the group which was now down to a trio featuring Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and drummer Colin Petersen.
| "Tomorrow Tomorrow" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Bee Gees | ||||
| B-side | "Sun In My Morning" | |||
| Released | 30 May 1969[1] | |||
| Recorded | 19–21 March 1969 IBC Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, pop rock, progressive pop | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | Polydor 56381 (United Kingdom) Atco (United States/Canada) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb | |||
| Producer(s) | Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees | |||
| Bee Gees singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Tomorrow, Tomorrow" | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Scandinavia picture sleeve | ||||
Origin
editOriginally, the song was written for Joe Cocker, but the group ultimately released it themselves. Barry rushed the track through, but it never reached Joe, who was given 'Delta Lady' by his management instead".[3]
This song was recorded on 19 and 21 March 1969. Its B-side "Sun In My Morning" was also recorded on March 19.[2]
Release
editReleased in the United States on 1 June 1969, the single charted only reached No. 54 on Billboard, but cracked the Top 40 on Cash Box, reaching No. 32. It achieved top ten placings in Brazil, New Zealand and some European countries, even topping the chart in Denmark, but in the brothers' native Britain peaked only at No. 23. The promotional video featuring, Barry, Maurice and Colin performing the song in a park is very rare. The band's manager, Robert Stigwood, made the decision to release the song as a single. Maurice later revealed, "We've got another one that we'll put straight out if it doesn't make it".[3] The song was felt by both brothers to be more suited to Joe Cocker's singing style than their own. Barry said "This was a mistake that Robert [Stigwood] very rarely made" while Maurice remarked, "I don't think it's us but I quite like it".[3]
Since neither song appeared on the next Bee Gees' album Cucumber Castle, no stereo mixes were produced until 1990 when they appear on the Bee Gees box set Tales from the Brothers Gibb. Barry can be heard counting the band in at the start of the stereo mix.
The original single mix made its CD debut on the 1980s reissue of Best of Bee Gees where it replaced "Spicks and Specks" which had been left off the CD for contractual reasons. It had previously appeared on the 1976 budget compilation Massachusetts which had largely consisted of B-sides and non-album tracks.
Cash Box commented on the fact that the song goes through "several musically-exciting changes."[4] Record World said "Those Bee Gees have an other smash with 'Tomorrow Tomorrow'...which is embellished with horns and lots of strings."[5] Billboard called it "a strong driving rhythm ballad" with a "powerful lead vocal by Barry Gibb."[6]
Personnel
edit- Barry Gibb – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Maurice Gibb – backing vocals, bass guitar, piano, rhythm guitar
- Colin Petersen – drums
- Robert Stigwood – record producer
- Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement, violins
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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References
edit- ^ "The Bee Gees - Tomorrow, Tomorrow".
- ^ a b Joe Brennan: Gibb Songs 1969
- ^ a b c Hughes, Andrew (2009). Bee Gees - Tales of the Brothers Gibb. ISBN 9780857120045. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 24 May 1969. p. 26. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 24 May 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 17 May 1969. p. 90. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 1" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow". ultratop.be. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow". officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 27 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
- ^ a b "Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ^ "Bee Gees Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Bee Gees Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles". Cashbox Magazine Archives. 28 June 1969. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
External links
edit- Promotional video of "Tomorrow Tomorrow"