Tomorrow Tomorrow (Bee Gees song) explained

Tomorrow Tomorrow
Cover:Tomorrow_Tomorrow.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bee Gees
B-Side:Sun In My Morning
Released:30 May 1969[1]
Recorded:19–21 March 1969
IBC Studios, London
Genre:Folk rock, pop rock, progressive pop
Length:4:05
Label:Polydor 56381 (United Kingdom)
Atco (United States/Canada)
Producer:Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Prev Title:First of May
Prev Year:1969
Next Title:Don't Forget to Remember
Next Year:1969

"Tomorrow Tomorrow" is a song by the Bee Gees written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. The song was originally intended to be recorded by Joe Cocker.[2] It was the first Bee Gees single released after Robin Gibb had quit the group which was now down to a trio featuring Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and drummer Colin Petersen.

Origin

Originally, the song was written for Joe Cocker, but the group ultimately released it themselves. Barry rushed the track through, but it never reached Joe, who was given 'Delta Lady' by his management instead".[3]

This song was recorded on 19 and 21 March 1969. Its B-side "Sun In My Morning" was also recorded on March 19.[2]

Release

Released in the United States on 1 June 1969, the single charted only reached No. 54 on Billboard, but cracked the Top 40 on Cash Box, reaching No. 32. It achieved top ten placings in Brazil, New Zealand and some European countries, even topping the chart in Denmark, but in the brothers' native Britain peaked only at No. 23. The promotional video featuring, Barry, Maurice and Colin performing the song in a park is very rare. The band's manager, Robert Stigwood, made the decision to release the song as a single. Maurice later revealed, "We've got another one that we'll put straight out if it doesn't make it".[3] The song was felt by both brothers to be more suited to Joe Cocker's singing style than their own. Barry said "This was a mistake that Robert [Stigwood] very rarely made" while Maurice remarked, "I don't think it's us but I quite like it".[3]

Since neither song appeared on the next Bee Gees' album Cucumber Castle, no stereo mixes were produced until 1990 when they appear on the Bee Gees box set Tales from the Brothers Gibb. Barry can be heard counting the band in at the start of the stereo mix.

The original single mix made its CD debut on the 1980s reissue of Best of Bee Gees where it replaced Spicks and Specks which had been left off the CD for contractual reasons. It had previously appeared on the 1976 budget compilation Massachusetts which had largely consisted of B-sides and non-album tracks.

Cash Box commented on the fact that the song goes through "several musically-exciting changes."[4] Record World said "Those Bee Gees have an other smash with 'Tomorrow Tomorrow'...which is embellished with horns and lots of strings."[5] Billboard called it "a strong driving rhythm ballad" with a "powerful lead vocal by Barry Gibb."[6]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1969)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 28
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50)[9] 9
Brazil4
Canada Top Singles (RPM)19
Denmark1
Germany (Media Control Charts)[10] 6
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[11] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)3
Norway (VG-lista)3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)9
Spain (PROMUSICAE)12
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)[13] 6
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 54
US Cash Box[16] 32
US Record World32

Year-end charts

Chart (1969)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)11
Belgium (Ultratop 50)16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)24
Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade)8

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Bee Gees - Tomorrow, Tomorrow.
  2. Joe Brennan: Gibb Songs 1969
  3. Book: Hughes, Andrew . Bee Gees - Tales of the Brothers Gibb . 23 January 2015. 9780857120045 . 2009 .
  4. News: CashBox Record Reviews. May 24, 1969. 26. 2021-12-08. Cash Box.
  5. Single Picks of the Week. Record World. May 24, 1969. 1. 2023-05-08.
  6. Spotlight Singles. Billboard. May 17, 1969. 90. 2023-05-08.
  7. Web site: Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 1 . brothersgibb.org . 24 January 2015.
  8. Web site: Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow . austriancharts.at . 23 January 2015.
  9. Web site: Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow . ultratop.be . 23 January 2015.
  10. Web site: Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808130932/http://www.officialcharts.de/song.asp?artist=Bee+Gees&title=Tomorrow+Tomorrow&country=de . dead . 8 August 2014 . officialcharts.de . 23 January 2015.
  11. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e Dischi. it. 27 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
  12. Web site: Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow . Dutch Charts . 23 January 2015.
  13. Web site: Bee Gees - Tomorrow Tomorrow . hitparade.ch . 23 January 2015.
  14. Web site: Bee Gees Chart History . Official Charts Company . 24 January 2015.
  15. Web site: Bee Gees Awards . . 24 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles . Cashbox Magazine Archives . June 28, 1969 . 23 January 2015.