When the Swallows Fly
| "When the Swallows Fly" | |
|---|---|
| File:When the Swallows Fly.jpg | |
| Single by Bee Gees | |
| from the album Idea | |
| B-side | "Give Your Best" |
| Released | September 1968 (album) 1971 (Netherlands) |
| Recorded | 18 June 1968 |
| Genre | Baroque pop, psychedelic pop |
| Length | 2:22 (mono) 2:29 (stereo) |
| Label | Polydor Atco (United States/Canada) |
| Songwriter | Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb |
| Producers | Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees |
"When the Swallows Fly" is a song by the Bee Gees released on their fifth album Idea.[1] Its promotional video was filmed in Brussels and included on the TV special Idea and was aired on 11 December 1968.
Background
[edit | edit source]The song's opening line echoed William Wordsworth's poem"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud". It was recorded on June 18th 1968 at the same session as "No Name".[2] Robin said "It was one of my favorites, I think Barry's vocal on that is fantastic". Barry recalls: "['When the Swallows Fly'] that's something I brought in, but I don't remember how the song came about. It was probably written in Eaton Square or at the penthouse. A lot of the ballads in those days were written that way, like 'Words'.[3]
Chart performance
[edit | edit source]In 1971, when it was included on the Melody film soundtrack, it was released as a single only in Netherlands with "Give Your Best" as the B-side. It reached #20 in two weeks[4]
Weekly charts
[edit | edit source]| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands Dutch Top 40[5] | 20 |
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Barry Gibb — lead vocals, guitar
- Maurice Gibb — bass, piano, organ, mellotron, backing vocals
- Colin Petersen — drums
- Robin Gibb — backing vocals
- Vince Melouney — acoustic guitar
References
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- Bee Gees songs
- Songs written by Barry Gibb
- Songs written by Robin Gibb
- Songs written by Maurice Gibb
- Song recordings produced by Robert Stigwood
- Song recordings produced by Barry Gibb
- Song recordings produced by Robin Gibb
- Song recordings produced by Maurice Gibb
- 1968 songs
- 1971 singles
- Polydor Records singles
- Rock ballads