Sir Barry Gibb, one of the three brothers at the core of hit-making disco trio the Bee Gees, has announced the January 2021 release of a new country- and bluegrass-album, Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1, and shared its first single, a collaboration with Jason Isbell entitled “Words of a Fool”.
The new album, due out on January 8th via Capitol, will mark the first full-length release from Barry Gibb since his 2016 solo LP, In The Now, and features re-recordings of a number of Bee Gees favorites with the help of a who’s who of high-profile country artists.
As Gibb noted in a social media post announcing the Dave Cobb-produced album, “I’ve dreamed of a project that would bring me together with some of the artists I admire most.” The album, to be released under the banner of Barry Gibb & Friends, will also feature guest appearances by Brandi Carlile, Keith Urban, Alison Krauss, Little Big Town, Dolly Parton, Jay Buchanan (Rival Sons), Amanda Lambert, Tommy Emmanuel, Sheryl Crow, Olivia Newton-John, David Rawlings, and Gillian Welch.
The track featuring Jason Isbell, “Words of a Fool”, was originally written for a 1986 Barry Gibb solo project that never wound up being released. Isbell’s emotive voice and slide guitar wails sound right at home amid heartfelt, reflective Gibb lyrics like “wisdom is fine, but the heart leads the way.”
“From the first day we stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville (the very place where Elvis, Willie, Waylon, Roy, the Everly Brothers and so many other legends made their magic) the album took on a life of its own,” Gibb said in a press statement. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to work with Dave and all the artists who stopped by. They were all incredibly generous with their time and talent. They inspired me more than words can express. I feel deep down that [late brothers/Bee Gees bandmates] Maurice and Robin would have loved this album for different reasons. I wish we could have all been together to do it…but I think we were.”
Noted Dave Cobb, “Added Cobb: “It was truly an honor to work with one of my heroes. The Bee Gees’ first album has always been a staple for me and it was surreal to get to witness the genius of Barry Gibb in the studio.”
Added Isbell, “Barry Gibb is one of the greatest songwriters and singers in popular music history, and I’m happy to say he still has that beautiful voice and that magical sense of melody. Working with him on this project has been one of the great honors of my career. He’s a prince.”
Listen to the new collaboration between Barry Gibb and Jason Isbell below:
Barry Gibb, Jason Isbell – “Words of a Fool”
[Video: Barry Gibb – Topic]
See below for a full listing of tracks and guests included on Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1. You can pre-save the album on the platform of your choice here.
Barry Gibb & Friends – Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1 – Track Listing
- I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You (ft. Keith Urban)
- Words of a Fool (ft. Jason Isbell)
- Run to Me (ft. Brandi Carlile)
- Too Much Heaven (ft. Alison Krauss)
- Lonely Days (ft. Little Big Town)
- Words (ft. Dolly Parton)
- Jive Talkin’ (ft. Jay Buchanan, Miranda Lambert)
- How Deep Is Your Love (ft. Little Big Town, Tommy Emmanuel)
- How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (ft. Sheryl Crow)
- To Love Somebody (ft. Jay Buchanan)
- Rest Your Love on Me (ft. Olivia Newton-John)
- Butterfly (ft. David Rawlings, Gillian Welch)
Barry Gibb & Friends – Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1 – Album Announcement Video
[Video: BarryGibbVEVO]