Saw a New Morning explained

Saw a New Morning
Cover:Saw A New Morning.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bee Gees
Album:Life in a Tin Can
B-Side:My Life Has Been A Song
Released:March 1973
Recorded:September 1972
Studio:The Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre:Symphonic pop
Length:4:13
Label:RSO
Producer:Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
Prev Title:Alive
Prev Year:1972
Next Title:Wouldn't I Be Someone
Next Year:1973

"Saw a New Morning" is the 1973 single released by the Bee Gees. It was also the group's first single released on Robert Stigwood's newly created records label RSO Records. The Bee Gees moved to Los Angeles in 1972 to record the album Life in a Tin Can which was a new direction for the group, who had been recording in England since 1967. The B-side, "My Life Has Been a Song" features lead vocal by Robin Gibb as well as Barry Gibb.[1]

Composition and recording

This song contains melodic ideas that the group would revisit on the later track "Edge of the Universe".

"Saw a New Morning" was written in 1972 and recorded around September the same year. On the song, Maurice Gibb played the bassline on an electric piano, instead of electric bass.[2] The song also features noted session drummer Jim Keltner.[3] The Bee Gees' touring guitarist, who also recorded in the studio with them, also plays on this song and its parent album.[4]

Reception

This single was the first and only single from the album, the single did not fare well and stalled at #94 in the US,[5] while it did not chart at all in the UK.[6] Ironically, while the single flopped in most of the world, it reached #1 in Hong Kong, as did their next single "Wouldn't I Be Someone", which also flopped in both the US and UK.

In April 1973, they performed the song on The Midnight Special and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, in addition to a 1973 TV special called Love Sounds Special in Japan.[7]

Billboard commented on the Bee Gees "distinct vocal blend" and the backing instrumentation that "sounds like a symphonic orchestra."[8] Cash Box said that "the accent is on melody and three part harmony as Robin, Barry & Maurice prove that they're still one of the finest vocal groups around."[9] Record World said that "the familiar harmonies and thunderous orchestrations which are keys to this group's success, are right there."[10]

Personnel

Credits from Bee Gees historian and sessionographer Joseph Brennan.[11]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1973)Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[12] 32
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 38
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[14] 51
Hong Kong[15] 1
Italy (Musica e Dischi)[16] 20
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 94
US Cash Box[18] 78
US Record World69

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Bee Gees - Saw a New Morning / My Life Has Been a Song . 45cat . 4 February 2015.
  2. Web site: Gibb Songs: 1972 . Brennan . Joseph . 4 February 2015.
  3. Web site: Gibb Songs: 1972 . Brennan . Joseph . 4 February 2015.
  4. Web site: Gibb Songs: 1972 . Brennan . Joseph . 4 February 2015.
  5. Book: Rock Stars Encyclopedia . Dafydd Rees, Luke Crampton . 4 January 2015. 9780789446138 . 1999 .
  6. Book: Rock movers & shakers . Barry Lazell . 4 January 2015. 9780823076086 . April 1989 .
  7. Web site: Bee Gees - Saw A New Morning - Live . You Tube . 4 January 2015.
  8. News: Radio Action & Pick Singles. Billboard. 2020-07-29. March 3, 1973. 102.
  9. News: CashBox Record Reviews. March 3, 1973. 16. 2021-12-11. Cash Box.
  10. Record World. March 3, 1973. 2023-03-23. Single Picks. 12.
  11. Web site: Gibb Songs: 1972 . Brennan . Joseph . 4 February 2015.
  12. Web site: Go-Set Australian charts . poparchives.com . August 4, 1973 . 4 February 2015.
  13. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. doc. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W . 1993. 0-646-11917-6. Kent Music Report.
  14. Web site: Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 2 . brothersgibb.org . 4 February 2015.
  15. Billboard Hits of the World . Billboard . July 14, 1973 . 60 . 4 February 2015.
  16. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e Dischi. it. 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
  17. Billboard Hot 100 Charts . April 7, 1973 . 72 . Billboard . 4 February 2015.
  18. Web site: Cashbox Top 100 . April 7, 1973 . Cashbox Archives . 4 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062134/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19730407.html . 4 March 2016 . dead .
  19. Billboard Hits of the World . August 18, 1973 . 47 . Billboard . 4 February 2015.