"Jumbo" was recorded on January 10 during sessions for the album Idea (though it was not included on the album) on the same day as "Gena's Theme" and "Bridges Crossing Rivers" (neither of which saw release until the remastered edition of Idea in 2006). The song has a strong emphasis on guitar with two tracks laid down by Vince Melouney[2]
Releaseedit
The decision on which song would be the A-side came so late that many British singles have "The Singer Sang His Song" marked as the A-side, but "Jumbo" was promoted as the A-side instead. This single broke the series of major Bee Gees hits, and fell into obscurity as neither side was on the next album nor was "Jumbo" on Best of Bee Gees in 1969. The two songs only resurfaced on unofficial compilations and boxed sets. The song reached #25 in the British charts and #57 in the American charts and Barry said:
We've been attacked for apparently never changing our style. Well, remember that we write all our own material. We try for unusual song lyrics, but obviously we have a bias towards one particular style of song. Our single was going to be "The Singer Sang His Song" as the A-side, but we heeded the criticism. We switched to "Jumbo", which is a distinct change of direction for us. A simple sort of idea, every kid has an imaginary pet animal, but scored differently. As it happened, a lot of people thought we were wrong to change and said they preferred "Singer" even if it was on the same lines as earlier ones, But when we study other groups, we know the dangers of staying on one direction.[3]
Following a string of transatlantic Top 20 singles, "Jumbo" was the first single to miss that mark in both Britain and America (though "To Love Somebody" had missed the UK Top 40). "Jumbo" managed to reach number 25 in the UK but stalled at number 57 in America, breaking a streak of five consecutive Top 20 singles there. Until the release of the box set Tales from the Brothers Gibb, "Jumbo" was available only on vinyl. In other versions "The Singer Sang His Song" was the A-side and the B-side was this single.[citation needed]
This song, along with "The Singer Sang His Song", was only released on a single in 1968, so it was mixed only to mono at that time. It wasn't until 1990 that a stereo version was prepared by Bill Inglot for the release of the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set. Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood said "As far as record sales go, "Jumbo" was aimed at the American market."[3]
The band's guitarist Vince Melouney explained "Jumbo" and "The Singer Sang His Song":
It was always Stigwood's call. The only exception was "Jumbo" where we pushed for that. Robert wanted the other side as the A-side. When that started to go wrong, he quickly tried to make "Singer Sang" as the A-side.[3]
The single was released in March 1968 elsewhere. In Germany, it was released in April 1968.[4] Its relative failure was quickly forgotten when the next single "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" became an international hit.
Cash Box said that "changing tempos and powerful instrumental thrust" gave the song "extra punch".[5]Record World called it a "children's song with appeal for all ages."[6]
^"Bee Gees - Jumbo". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
^songdatabase.com. "Billboard Hot 100 Chart History for Jumbo by Bee Gees". Retrieved 21 January 2015.
^"Bee Gees - Jumbo". Cashbox Magazine Archives. May 4, 1968. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
January 01, 1970
jumbo, gees, song, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, jumbo, gees, song, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jumbo Bee Gees song news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Jumbo is a song released by the Bee Gees written by Barry Robin and Maurice Gibb It was released as a double A side with The Singer Sang His Song but featured as the lead track in some territories 1 Jumbo Single by the Bee GeesA side The Singer Sang His Song double A side ReleasedMarch 1968Recorded10 January 1968GenreBlues rock psychedelic rockLength2 07LabelPolydor United Kingdom Atco United States Songwriter s Barry Gibb Robin Gibb Maurice GibbProducer s Robert Stigwood Bee GeesThe Bee Gees singles chronology Words 1968 Jumbo 1968 I ve Gotta Get a Message to You 1968 Audio sample source source Jumbo filehelpLicensed audio Jumbo on YouTube Contents 1 Origin 2 Release 3 Personnel 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 ReferencesOrigin edit Jumbo was recorded on January 10 during sessions for the album Idea though it was not included on the album on the same day as Gena s Theme and Bridges Crossing Rivers neither of which saw release until the remastered edition of Idea in 2006 The song has a strong emphasis on guitar with two tracks laid down by Vince Melouney 2 Release editThe decision on which song would be the A side came so late that many British singles have The Singer Sang His Song marked as the A side but Jumbo was promoted as the A side instead This single broke the series of major Bee Gees hits and fell into obscurity as neither side was on the next album nor was Jumbo on Best of Bee Gees in 1969 The two songs only resurfaced on unofficial compilations and boxed sets The song reached 25 in the British charts and 57 in the American charts and Barry said We ve been attacked for apparently never changing our style Well remember that we write all our own material We try for unusual song lyrics but obviously we have a bias towards one particular style of song Our single was going to be The Singer Sang His Song as the A side but we heeded the criticism We switched to Jumbo which is a distinct change of direction for us A simple sort of idea every kid has an imaginary pet animal but scored differently As it happened a lot of people thought we were wrong to change and said they preferred Singer even if it was on the same lines as earlier ones But when we study other groups we know the dangers of staying on one direction 3 Following a string of transatlantic Top 20 singles Jumbo was the first single to miss that mark in both Britain and America though To Love Somebody had missed the UK Top 40 Jumbo managed to reach number 25 in the UK but stalled at number 57 in America breaking a streak of five consecutive Top 20 singles there Until the release of the box set Tales from the Brothers Gibb Jumbo was available only on vinyl In other versions The Singer Sang His Song was the A side and the B side was this single citation needed This song along with The Singer Sang His Song was only released on a single in 1968 so it was mixed only to mono at that time It wasn t until 1990 that a stereo version was prepared by Bill Inglot for the release of the Tales from the Brothers Gibb box set Bee Gees manager Robert Stigwood said As far as record sales go Jumbo was aimed at the American market 3 The band s guitarist Vince Melouney explained Jumbo and The Singer Sang His Song It was always Stigwood s call The only exception was Jumbo where we pushed for that Robert wanted the other side as the A side When that started to go wrong he quickly tried to make Singer Sang as the A side 3 The single was released in March 1968 elsewhere In Germany it was released in April 1968 4 Its relative failure was quickly forgotten when the next single I ve Gotta Get a Message to You became an international hit Cash Box said that changing tempos and powerful instrumental thrust gave the song extra punch 5 Record World called it a children s song with appeal for all ages 6 Personnel editBarry Gibb lead vocals acoustic guitar Maurice Gibb bass organ mellotron Vince Melouney electric guitar Colin Petersen drumsCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1968 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 7 20 Austria O3 Austria Top 40 8 9 Belgium Ultratop 50 9 18 Canada RPM 7 16 Denmark 7 10 France SNEP 7 25 Germany Media Control Charts 10 5 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 11 2 Switzerland 7 4 UK Singles Official Charts Company 12 25 US Billboard Hot 100 13 57 US Cash Box 14 40 US Record World 7 39 Year end charts edit Chart 1968 Position Austria O3 Austria Top 40 8 9 Belgium Ultratop 50 9 18 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 11 14References edit Bee Gees Jumbo The Singer Sang His Song Discogs Retrieved 21 January 2015 Brennan Joseph Gibb Songs 1968 a b c Hughes Andrew 2009 The Bee Gees Tales Of The Brothers Gibb ISBN 9780857120045 Retrieved 16 December 2012 The Bee Gees Jumbo The Singer Sang His Song 45cat Retrieved 21 January 2015 CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box March 30 1968 p 24 Retrieved 2022 01 12 Single Reviews PDF Record World March 30 1968 p 6 Retrieved 2023 06 08 a b c d e f Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts PDF brothersgibb org Retrieved 21 January 2015 a b Bee Gees Jumbo austriancharts at Archived from the original on 27 January 2015 Retrieved 21 January 2015 a b Bee Gees Jumbo ultratop be Retrieved 21 January 2015 Bee Gees Jumbo officialcharts de Archived from the original on August 9 2014 Retrieved 21 January 2015 a b Bee Gees Jumbo Dutch Charts Retrieved 21 January 2015 Bee Gees Jumbo Official Charts Company Retrieved 21 January 2015 songdatabase com Billboard Hot 100 Chart History for Jumbo by Bee Gees Retrieved 21 January 2015 Bee Gees Jumbo Cashbox Magazine Archives May 4 1968 Retrieved 21 January 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jumbo Bee Gees song amp oldid 1185862072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
