This isn’t the first time that the Brothers Gibb have offered a compilation of their many, many hits. But it is the first time they’ve offered interpretations of a handful of hits they have penned for other artists. The cuts—”Emotion” (a ’77 smash for Samantha Sang), “Heartbreaker” (an ’82 hit by Dionne Warwick), “Islands in the Stream” (a ’93 duet by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers), and “Immortality” (recorded by Celine Dion in ’97)—sound remarkably fresh in their new incarnations. The lads’ harmonies continue to be sharp and engagingly distinctive, and the songs have a wonderfully timeless feel. Any one of these four tunes would be a welcome addition to current AC and even top 40 radio playlists—particularly “Immortality,” which in this delicate arrangement takes on a heart-tugging emotional tone, given the current state of the world. Beyond the “new” tracks, the two-CD set is a pleasant reminder of the Bee Gees’ wildly successful, richly varied five-decade musical history. It’s fun to trace the act’s progression from somber early tunes like “I Started a Joke” to frivolous disco-era gems like “You Should Be Dancing,” with the trio finally landing with the current, rock-spiced tone of 2000’s infectious “This Is Where I Came In.” In the end, The Record is a solid testimony to the act’s extraordinary talent. It’s also proof that they sadly don’t make ’em like the Bee Gees anymore.—LF
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