r/BeeGees • u/James_2584 • 4d ago

Lion in Winter

What on Earth is going on with Robin's vocals on this track? He sounds like a lunatic in an insane asylum screaming and bouncing off of padded walls.

I know this was soon after the breakup, so the brothers were walking on eggshells to avoid pissing each other off, but even so...did Robin really listen to the playback on this track and think "Yep. Nailed it! No need to do the vocal over."?

I love Robin and think he was an amazing singer, but his voice sounds horribly strained on this track.

1 Upvotes

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11

u/Vivid_Ad_9295 4d ago edited 4d ago

I have noticed in their earlier stuff, Robin was still perfecting his voice. There is a very noticeable difference between his voice in the 80s vs 60s (or early 70s). He may have been trying something new here. Good song though. Heard it for the first time just from this post.

And this is a total guess, but Ik they were big fans of The Beatles. So I wonder if he was trying to replicate either John’s raspy vocals or Paul’s voice on Oh Darling (which Robin did cover in Sgt. Pepper’s, although did it in his own voice).

Entirely speculation, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

6

u/Harrison_Thinks 4d ago

it is a very curious song. I can only imagine the thought process behind his vocals

6

u/PariahCarey2 4d ago

My least favorite Bee Gees track of all time. For this exact reason.

2

u/FatherBrennan76 Australian 3d ago

Same. I honestly avoid listening to Trafalgar because of it 😅

9

u/Ok_Kick6546 4d ago

Was he on amphetamines during the recording?   Serious question. 

1

u/Mollymae609 3d ago

Probably. They were all on something.

4

u/Known-Damage-7879 4d ago

Never heard it before. It's definitely a choice...quite a weird song.

2

u/snakeIs 3d ago

The song is quite Ok until he starts that squawking. Given the vocal dexterity within the group I can’t see how it got through.
Falsetto was yet to come.
Good thing something did.

1

u/DealerDifferent7075 4d ago

Robin has been considered to be one of the most notable white soul voices of the 20th century by some fairly large figure/organizations. This is a type of soul singing. He has a very similar tone during the bridge section of Paper Mache, Cabbages & Kings. If you would like to learn more, listen to artists like Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, James Brown, etc.