| "Israel" | |
|---|---|
 Official single cover for "Israel" (1972) | |
| Single by Bee Gees | |
| from the album Trafalgar | |
| B-side | "Dearest" |
| Released | May 1972 ( Belgium) [1] |
| Recorded | 7 April 1971 |
| Genre | Pop [2] |
| Length | 3:54 |
| Label |
Polydor Atco (United States/Canada) |
| Songwriter(s) | Barry Gibb |
| Producer(s) | Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees |
"Israel" is a ballad track [3] written by Barry Gibb. It appeared on the Bee Gees' 1971 album, Trafalgar.
It was recorded on 7 April 1971 at the IBC Studios in London, along with the two Maurice Gibb compositions, " Trafalgar" and "It's Just the Way", the Robin Gibb composition "Engines, Aeroplanes", and another Barry Gibb composition, the ballad " Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself". [3]
"Israel" was released as a single in May 1972 in Belgium, [4] in the Netherlands, where it reached No. 22, and in New Zealand. "Dearest" was chosen as the B-side. [1]
While the exact meaning of the song is unknown, Seth Rogovoy interpreted it for The Forward as a "love song to Israel", noting that Gibb played it onstage during a trip to Israel in 1972. [5]
Personnel
- Barry Gibb — lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Maurice Gibb — piano, bass and acoustic guitar
- Geoff Bridgford — drums
- Bill Shepherd — orchestral arrangement
References
- ^ a b "Israel / Dearest by Bee Gees (Single, Baroque Pop): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (Revised and Updated ed.). Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ^ a b "Gibb Songs : 1971". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ "Bee Gees - Israel / Dearest - Polydor - Belgium - 2058 235". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- ^ Images, Getty (7 October 2020). "That time the Bee Gees sang a love song to Israel". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
