"Edge of the Universe" is a rock song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry and Robin Gibb from the album '' Main Course'' released in 1975, and also released as a B-side of "

Nights on Broadway "Nights on Broadway" is a song by the Bee Gees from the ''Main Course'' album released in 1975. The second single released from the album, it immediately followed their number-one hit "Jive Talkin'". This track was credited to Barry, Robin and ...

Recording

In 1975, the Bee Gees moved their operations to Miami Beach, Florida at the suggestion of Eric Clapton following his comeback album

461 Ocean Boulevard ''461 Ocean Boulevard'' is the second studio album by English musician Eric Clapton. The album was released in late July 1974 for RSO Records, shortly after the record company released the hit single "I Shot the Sheriff" in early July the same y ...

the year before. The group recorded an album with famed R&B producer

Arif Mardin Arif Mardin (March 15, 1932 – June 25, 2006) was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco and country. He worked at Atlantic Records for o ...

called '' Mr. Natural'' in 1974 with little commercial success. The album did, however, turn the Gibbs towards a new sound compared to the kind of music the brothers were producing in the early-1970s. This new flavored sound carried over on to their next album, 1975's '' Main Course'', also produced by Arif Mardin. The Bee Gees had formed the nucleus of their band in early 1975 with

Blue Weaver Derek John "Blue" Weaver (born 11 March 1947) is a Welsh rock keyboardist, session musician, songwriter and record producer. Career Weaver's career as a musician began as a co-founding member of 1960s Welsh rock band Amen Corner and its succ ...

on keyboards,

Alan Kendall Alan Kendall (born 9 September 1944) is an English musician and was the lead guitarist for the Bee Gees, in an unofficial capacity from 1971 until 1980, and again from 1987 until 2001. Career His first recording was "Don't Play That Song (You ...

on lead guitar and

Dennis Bryon Dennis Bryon (born 14 April 1949 in Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh rock drummer from Cardiff, best known for his work with the Bee Gees from 1974 to 1979. He also worked with Amen Corner and co-produced Robin Gibb's 1983 album, '' How Old Are You?' ...

on drums. Also part of the Bee Gees to mid to late-1970s sound was The Boneroo Horns brought to Miami in 1973 by

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

. Recording for "Edge of the Universe" took place on a 30 January, the same day as "

Jive Talkin' "Jive Talkin" is a song by the Bee Gees, released as a single in May 1975 by RSO Records. This was the lead single from the album ''Main Course'' (as well as a song on the 1977 ''Saturday Night Fever'' soundtrack) and hit number one on the ''Bi ...

", "Songbird", "

Fanny (Be Tender with My Love) "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees for their '' Main Course'' album in 1975. It was the third single release from the album, peaking at number 12 on the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and ...

" and "All This Making Love".

Personnel

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He rose to worldwide fame as a member of the Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful groups in the history of popula ...

— lead vocals, rhythm guitar * Robin Gibb — lead vocals *

Maurice Gibb Maurice Ernest Gibb (; 22 December 1949 – 12 January 2003) was a British musician. He achieved fame as a member of the pop group Bee Gees. Although his elder brother Barry Gibb and fraternal twin brother Robin Gibb were the group's main lea ...

— bass, harmony vocals *

—

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featu ...

— drums *

— synthesizer,

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

Edge of the Universe (Live)

As part of their 1976 ''

Children of the World ''Children of the World'' is a 1976 album by the Bee Gees. The first single, " You Should Be Dancing", went to No. 1 in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. It was the group's fourteenth album (twelfth interna ...

'' tour, The Bee Gees recorded their 20 December concert at The Forum in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, which contained a brisk performance of "Edge of the Universe", which was eventually released as a single in the summer of 1977 and became a Top 40 hit in the U.S. The biggest differences between the studio and live versions are a slower tempo on the original and the use of synthesizer (replacing the original guitar riff on the original) on the live version. '' Cash Box'' said that "the tune combines the sounds that made the Bee Gees popular in the '60s as well as the '70s, featuring an impeccably harmonized chorus and a tricky rock and roll bridge that keeps listeners begging for more." '' Record World'' said that "the melody is its most attractive feature, and the performance, of course, shines."

Chart performance

References

1975 songs 1977 singles Bee Gees songs Songs written by Barry Gibb Songs written by Maurice Gibb Songs written by Robin Gibb Song recordings produced by Arif Mardin RSO Records singles {{1970s-rock-song-stub