First of May (Bee Gees song)

1969 single by The Bee Gees

"First of May"

Single by The Bee Gees
from the album  Odessa
B-side| "Lamplight"
Released| January 1969
March 1969 (United States)[1]
Recorded| November 1968
Genre| Pop[2]
Length| 2:49
Label| Polydor
Atco (United States/Canada)
Songwriter(s)| Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)| Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
The Bee Gees singles chronology
| "I Started a Joke"
(1968)  | "First of May"
(1969)  | "Tomorrow Tomorrow"
(1969)

|
|

Audio sample

First Of May

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"First of May" is a song by the Bee Gees with lead vocals by Barry Gibb, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. Its B-side was "Lamplight". It also featured as the B-side of "Melody Fair" when that song was released as a single in the Far East in 1971 as well as in 1976 and 1980 on RSO Records.[3] It was the first Bee Gees single to be released after lead guitarist Vince Melouney had left the group.

## Origin and recording

[edit]

The song was first recorded in Atlantic Studios in New York and was continued in IBC Studios, London. Barry said in the booklet with Tales from the Brothers Gibb that the title of the song came from the birthday of his dog, Barnaby. Maurice recalled the session in which that song came about. "Barry and I were sitting at the piano", he said, "And I started playing the chords, and Barry started singing, 'When I was small and Christmas trees were tall' and I started singing along with it. We put a demo down with a vocal and we kept the piano track. Went back to England, and went into IBC Studios in London, added onto that piano track and Barry's vocal stayed on as well. We had a choir and an orchestra all on this one piano".[4] This song was initially taped in demo form in New York City on 16 August 1968.[5]

The orchestral arrangement from maestro Bill Shepherd was featured on the second chorus. The song starts with a piano on the first verse and chorus. Shepherd's orchestra is featured in the second verse and second chorus. After singing the second chorus, the singer repeats the first verse. The music stops when he sings "Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by, Someone else moved in from far away".

## Aftermath

[edit]

The flip side of the single was "Lamplight" on which Robin Gibb sang the lead. Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager chose "First of May" for the A-side. No other singles were released from the Odessa album, as Robin Gibb already had left the group. The song was partially responsible for Robin's brief departure from the Bee Gees, because he had wanted his song, "Lamplight," to be the album's first single, while Barry preferred "First of May." In the end, Barry's judgment won, relegating "Lamplight" to the B-side and as a result Robin quit the band, but he returned a year later. "First of May" debuted at #55 in Cash Box magazine charts the week of March 22nd 1969.[6] Cash Box described it as a "low-key love ballad with the same mystic quality that has proved captivating in the team's work" with "hypnotic arrangements" and a "singular vocal sound."[7] Billboard called it a "big production ballad performance with compelling lyric line."[8]

After its release, "First of May" enjoyed a resurgence several times. In 1971, the song was featured in the soundtrack to Melody, a British motion picture about two children in love.[9] In 1996, the song was used as a theme of the Japanese drama Wakaba no Koro. The song was consequently reissued as a CD single in Japan, also featuring "How Deep Is Your Love" and peaked at No 25, selling more than 100,000 copies.

## Later renditions by group members

[edit]

Although the originally released version was basically just Barry Gibb's vocal backed with Bill Shepherd's orchestral arrangement, the other two credited writers would later appear performing the song. Maurice Gibb sang the song in duet with his former wife Lulu on her 2002 TV special An Audience with Lulu,[10] while Robin Gibb guested on G4's cover of the song, released on G4 & Friends in 2005. This version was also released as a single.

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1969)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] | 15
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] | 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] | 7
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11][14] | 14
Finland (Soumen Virallinen)[15] | 35
France (SNEP)[11] | 18
Germany (Media Control Charts)[16] | 3
Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 4
Italy (FIMI)[11] | 22
Netherlands (Singles Top 100)[17] | 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 4
Norway (VG-lista)[18] | 9
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11] | 4
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[11] | 20
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[19] | 4
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] | 6
US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 37
US Cash Box[22] | 18
US Record World[11] | 16

| Year  | Chart  | Peak
position

|
|

1996  | Japanese Singles Chart (Oricon)[11] | 25
Chart (2024)  | Peak
position

|

Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[23] | 13

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Chart (1969)  | Position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] | 17
Belgium (Ultratop)[13] | 16
Netherlands (Singles Top 100)[17] | 16
Norway (VG-lista)[18] | 9
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[19] | 8

## Certifications and sales

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Japan (RIAJ)[24] | 2× Platinum  | 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "BEE GEES - Discographie - Singles". Mcdustsucker.de. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
2. ^ Raggett, Ned, "Bee Gees - Odessa Album Review", Allmusic, retrieved 10 August 2023, "...delicate pop ballads like "First of May" (which became the single off the album)..."
3. ^ "Bee Gees - Melody Fair / First Of May". Discogs. 1971. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
4. ^ p. 212: Bee Gees: Tales of the Brothers Gibb by Melinda Bilyeu, Hector Cook, Andrew Môn Hughes, with Joseph Brennan and Mark Crohan. Omnibus Press, London, New York, New Revised Version, 2000.
5. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1968". Retrieved 16 March 2013.
6. ^ "Cashbox Top 100 Singles". Cashbox Magazine. 22 March 1969. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
7. ^ "Cash Box Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 15 March 1969. p. 26. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
8. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 15 March 1969. p. 70. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
9. ^ "First of May". Popularsong.org. 12 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
10. ^ Sweeting, Adam (14 January 2003). "Obituary: Maurice Gibb". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 1" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
12. ^ a b "Bee Gees - First Of May". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
13. ^ a b "Bee Gees - First Of May". ultratop.be. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
14. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 28, 1969" (PDF).
15. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. p. 97\. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
16. ^ "Bee Gees - First Of May". officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
17. ^ a b "Bee Gees - First Of May". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
18. ^ a b "Bee Gees - First Of May". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
19. ^ a b "Bee Gees - First Of May". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
20. ^ "Bee Gees UK Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
21. ^ "Bee Gees Singles Discography". musicvf.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
22. ^ "Cashbox Top 100 Singles". Cashbox Archives. 19 April 1969. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of May 9, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
24. ^ "Japanese single certifications – Bee Gees – First of May" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 21 July 2022. Select 1996年5月 on the drop-down menu

* v
* t
* e

Odessa

Songs|

| Side one|

* "Odessa (City on the Black Sea)"
* "Black Diamond"

|

Side two|

* "Marley Purt Drive"
* "Melody Fair"

Side three|

* "Lamplight"
* "Sound of Love"
* "Seven Seas Symphony"

Side four|

* "I Laugh in Your Face"
* "Never Say Never Again"
* "First of May"

Related articles|

* Bee Gees
* Bee Gees discography

* v
* t
* e

Bee Gees

* Barry Gibb
* Robin Gibb
* Maurice Gibb

* Colin Petersen
* Vince Melouney
* Alan Kendall
* Dennis Bryon
* Blue Weaver

Studio albums|

* The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs
* Spicks and Specks
* Bee Gees' 1st
* Horizontal
* Idea
* Odessa
* Cucumber Castle
* 2 Years On
* Trafalgar
* To Whom It May Concern
* Life in a Tin Can
* Mr. Natural
* Main Course
* Children of the World
* Spirits Having Flown
* Living Eyes
* E.S.P.
* One
* High Civilization
* Size Isn't Everything
* Still Waters
* This Is Where I Came In

Extended plays|

* The Bee Gees
* New York Mining Disaster 1941

Soundtracks|

* Melody
* Saturday Night Fever
* Staying Alive

Live albums|

* Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live
* One Night Only

Compilation albums|

* Turn Around, Look at Us
* Rare, Precious and Beautiful
* Rare, Precious and Beautiful, Volume 2
* Best of Bee Gees
* Inception/Nostalgia
* Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2
* Bee Gees Gold
* Bee Gees Greatest
* Tales from the Brothers Gibb
* The Very Best of the Bee Gees
* Their Greatest Hits: The Record
* Number Ones
* Love Songs
* The Ultimate Bee Gees
* Mythology
* Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits

Videography|

* Idea
* Cucumber Castle
* The Bee Gees Special
* One for All Tour
* One Night Only
* The Ultimate Bee Gees
* In Our Own Time
* The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Tours|

* The Bee Gees' concerts in 1967 and 1968
* Spirits Having Flown Tour
* One for All World Tour

Related|

* Discography
* List of songs recorded
* List of unreleased material
* A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants
* "The Barry Gibb Talk Show"
* The Rattlesnakes
* Humpy Bong
* The Fut
* The Bloomfields
* Tin Tin
* The Groove
* Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
* Toe Fat
* Amen Corner
* One World Project
* Robert Stigwood
* Hugh Gibb
* Andy Gibb
* Steve Gibb
* Spencer Gibb
* Statue of Bee Gees
* Douglas, Isle of Man
* Redcliffe, Queensland

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Bee Gees singles

Discography

1960s|

| 1963|

* "The Battle of the Blue and the Grey" / "The Three Kisses of Love"
* "Timber!" / "Take Hold of That Star"

|

1964|

* "Peace of Mind" / "Don't Say Goodbye"
* "Turn Around, Look at Me" / "(Theme From) The Travels of Jamie McPheeters"

1965|

* "Everyday I Have to Cry" / "You Wouldn't Know"
* "Wine and Women" / "Follow the Wind"
* "I Was a Lover, a Leader of Men" / "And the Children Laughing"

1966|

* "I Want Home" / "Cherry Red"
* "Monday's Rain" / "All of My Life"
* "Spicks and Specks" / "I Am the World"

1967|

* "Born a Man" / "Big Chance"
* "New York Mining Disaster 1941" / "I Can't See Nobody"
* "To Love Somebody" / "Close Another Door"
* "Holiday" / "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You"
* "Massachusetts" / "Barker of the UFO"
* "World" / "Sir Geoffrey Saved the World"

1968|

* "Words" / "Sinking Ships"
* "Jumbo" / "The Singer Sang His Song"
* "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" / "Kitty Can"
* "I Started a Joke" / "Kilburn Towers"

1969|

* "First of May" / "Lamplight"
* "Tomorrow Tomorrow" / "Sun in My Morning"
* "Don't Forget to Remember" / "The Lord"

1970s|

| 1970|

* "If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else" / "Sweetheart" (US)
* "I.O.I.O." / "Sweetheart"
* "Lonely Days" / "Man for All Seasons"

|

1971|

* "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" / "Country Woman"
* "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" / "Walking Back to Waterloo"

1972|

* "My World" / "On Time"
* "Run to Me" / "Road to Alaska"
* "Alive" / Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings"

1973|

* "Saw a New Morning" / "My Life Has Been a Song"
* "Wouldn't I Be Someone" / "Elisa"

1974|

* "Mr. Natural" / "It Doesn't Matter Much to Me"
* "Charade" / "Heavy Breathing"

1975|

* "Jive Talkin'" / "Wind of Change"
* "Nights on Broadway" / "Edge of the Universe"

1976|

* "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" / "Country Lanes"
* "You Should Be Dancing" / "Subway"
* "Love So Right" / "You Stepped into My Life"

1977|

* "Boogie Child" / "Lovers"
* "Edge of the Universe (live)" / "Words (live)"
* "How Deep Is Your Love" / "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" (live)
* "Stayin' Alive" / "If I Can't Have You"

1978|

* "Night Fever" / "Down the Road (live)"
* "Too Much Heaven" / "Rest Your Love on Me"

1979|

* "Tragedy" / "Until"
* "Love You Inside Out" / "I'm Satisfied"

1980s|

| 1981|

* "He's a Liar"
* "Living Eyes" / "I Still Love You"

|

1983|

* "The Woman in You" / "Stayin' Alive"
* "Someone Belonging to Someone" / "I Love You Too Much" (instrumental)

1987|

* "You Win Again" / "Backtafunk"
* "E.S.P." / "Overnight"

1989|

* "Ordinary Lives" / "Wing and a Prayer"
* "One" / "Flesh and Blood"

1990s|

| 1990|

* "Bodyguard" / "Will You Ever Let Me"

|

1991|

* "Secret Love" / "Party with No Name"
* "When He's Gone" / "True Confessions"
* "The Only Love" / "You Win Again" (live)

1993|

* "Paying the Price of Love" / "My Destiny"
* "For Whom the Bell Tolls" / "Decadance"

1994|

* "How to Fall in Love, Part 1" / "Fallen Angel"

1997|

* "Alone" / "Rings Around the Moon"
* "I Could Not Love You More" / "Love Never Dies" (EUR)
* "Still Waters (Run Deep)" / "Love Never Dies"

2000s|

| 2001|

* "This Is Where I Came In" / "Just in Case"

|

Other countries|

| 1968|

* "And the Sun Will Shine" / "Really and Sincerely" (France)

|

1970|

* "Let There Be Love" / "Really and Sincerely" (Netherlands)

1971|

* "When the Swallows Fly" / "Give Your Best" (Netherlands)
* "Morning of My Life" / "To Love Somebody"

1972|

* "Israel" / "Dearest" (Netherlands)

1988|

* "Crazy for Your Love" / "You Win Again (Remix)"
* "Angela" / "You Win Again (Remix)" (Germany, Netherlands)

* v
* t
* e

Robin Gibb

Studio albums|

* Robin's Reign
* How Old Are You?
* Secret Agent
* Walls Have Eyes
* Magnet
* My Favourite Christmas Carols
* 50 St. Catherine's Drive

Extended plays|

* Robin Gibb

Singles|

* "Saved by the Bell"
* "One Million Years"
* "August October"
* "Oh! Darling"
* "Help Me!"
* "Juliet"
* "Another Lonely Night in New York"
* "How Old Are You"
* "Boys Do Fall in Love"
* "My Lover's Prayer"
* "First of May"
* "Too Much Heaven"
* "Ellan Vannin"
* "I Am the World"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Bee Gees
* Sing Slowly Sisters
* Hither Green rail crash

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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