"Birth Of Brilliance" has 32 enhanced versions of these same songs instead of the 25. There is also a nifty collection of good liner notes on this double CD. The cover is kind of embarassing, though.

If you want to spend a bit more, "Brilliant From Birth" contains 63 early songs, all remastered! This is the one I recommend. It too has great liner notes and the quality is better. The cover is a little better. The only drawback are some of the several "standards" from show tunes that they sing, but the rest make up for these. This is the only early Aussie collection you really need.

To refresh the fans memories,The Bee Gees are a talented trio of English brothers from Manchester who emigrated to Austrailia in search of greener pastures(so to speak).Before this move,they've already had a wealth of performing experience.They actually performed at the famed Gaumont Theatre in Manchester.Their first performance was to mime(i.e.lip sync)Tommy Steele's Wedding Bells.When the record broke on way to the venue,they had to sing it live with no music.In 1958,the Gibb family moved down under.In 1960,the brothers had their own half hour television show.In 1963,they signed to Festival Records and the hits started coming.This compilation chronicles practically almost everything the brothers recorded for Festival Records.

The vast majority of songs here are bonafide Bee Gee originals.There are only three exceptions(Every Day I Have to Cry by Arthur Alexander,Theme from Jamie McPheeters written by a team of Winn/Harline/Albert and the song Turn Around Look At Me which would later become a hit for the Vogues).Before they took over the world,they were showing Austrailia their versatility,exquisite songwriting and instrumental ability.The Bee Gees also showed they were a musical force to be reckoned with.

The Bee Gees showcase their trademark lush,beautiful balladry(Playdown,Secondhand People,Monday's Rain,Follow the Wind,How Many Birds?,Take Hold of That Star,I Don't Know Why I Bother With Myself and Spicks and Specks-which became their first Austrailian #1).They also show they had an ability to write and even cover some good R&B songs you could dance to(Claustrophobia,Big Chance,Where Are You?,Glass House,Every Day I Have to Cry,Theme from Jamie McPheeters, Could it Be That I'm in Love with You? To Be Or Not To Be, and Three Kisses of Love).These and the rest of the songs on this anthology are an excellent example of their ability to write good songs and their singing and vocal stylings were evidence of better things to come.In fact,Robin's lead vocal on I Don't Know Why I Bother with Myself shows that he's as good a vocalist as Barry and Maurice.Though solely written by Barry,this song follows a theme that has followed Robin throughout his personal life.

So Bee Gees fans everywhere,you must have this excellent CD in your library.No fans CD library is complete without it.Enjoy!