"On Time" is a song written by

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 ...

and recorded by the Bee Gees released on 14 January 1972 as the B-side of the single " My World".

Background

It was recorded on 21 October 1971 in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, the day that they finished the song "

Alive Alive may refer to: *Life Books, comics and periodicals * ''Alive'' (novel), a 2015 novel by Scott Sigler * '' Alive: The Final Evolution'', a 2003 shonen manga by Tadashi Kawashima and Adachitoka * '' Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors'', ...

", which was included on their 1972 album ''

To Whom It May Concern To Whom It May Concern may refer to: *Salutation (greeting), used for opening a letter to an unknown recipient In music ; Albums * ''To Whom It May Concern'' (Bee Gees album), 1972 * ''To Whom It May Concern'', a Blacklite District album, 2016 ...

''. The swamp rocker "On Time" was one of Maurice's favorites, this being the first of three recordings he made of it. Maurice and guitarist Alan Kendall share a few tracks of acoustic and electric guitars, accompanied by Geoff Bridgford on drums and string arrangement by Bill Shepherd that should not fit in, but does. Maurice later described this number as his " Swamp period". "On Time" was only available on vinyl until it was included in the 1990 box set ''

Tales from the Brothers Gibb ''Tales from the Brothers Gibb: A History in Song'' is a box set compilation released by the Bee Gees in 1990. Originally released on four cassettes and four compact discs, ''Tales'' is a summary of the Bee Gees output from their third album, ...

''. The single was released as a double A in the UK,

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and in

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

. In Mexico, the song was released under the title "A Tiempo". The song was released in 1971 in other countries like France, Germany and Italy.

Personnel

—

lead Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...

and

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...

, acoustic lead guitar *Geoff Bridgford — drums *

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 ...

— electric lead guitar, guitar solo *Bill Shepherd —

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...

l arrangement

Cover versions

* Mike Berry and Bob Saker covered the song on their album ''Drift Away'' which was produced and played on by Maurice Gibb. * Maurice Gibb re-recorded "On Time" in 1983 for the film '' A Breed Apart'' and its accompanying soundtrack, but it was the 1972 Bee Gees recording that was used in the film, and the 1983 version sounds like a home demo with guitars and drum track. The several guitar tracks may include a contribution from Alan Kendall. This version was recorded at the brothers' Middle Ear studios in Miami Beach, Florida. *

Richard Ashcroft Richard Paul Ashcroft (born 11 September 1971) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and occasional rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band The Verve from their formation in 1990 until their original split in 1999. So ...

sampled "On Time" on his song "Are You Ready?" which featured in the 2011 film ''

The Adjustment Bureau ''The Adjustment Bureau'' is a 2011 American science fiction romantic thriller film written and directed by George Nolfi, based on the 1954 Philip K. Dick short story "Adjustment Team". Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John ...

''. "Are You Ready?" was credited to Ashcroft and Maurice. *

Steve Gibb Stephen Thadeus Crompton Gibb (born 1 December 1973) is a British-American guitarist. He has been a member of numerous hard rock and metal bands including 58, Black Label Society, Crowbar, Kingdom of Sorrow, The Underbellys, SkilletHead, and ...

performed this in his father

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 ...

's, concert at the Hard Rock in Miami as well as on Barry's Mythology Tour (2013-2014). He also recorded his own version for the Gibb Collective project Please Don't Turn Out the Lights.

References

{{Authority control 1972 singles Bee Gees songs Songs written by Maurice Gibb Song recordings produced by Barry Gibb Song recordings produced by Robin Gibb Song recordings produced by Maurice Gibb Song recordings produced by Robert Stigwood Polydor Records singles Atco Records singles Maurice Gibb songs 1972 songs