Editing Maurice Gibb (section)

== Musicianship ==

=== Recognition ===
[[File:Maurice Gibb 1968.jpg|thumb|right|Gibb played bass on Dutch television ''Twien'' in 1968]]

DJ [[Paul Gambaccini]] said: "Maurice was the talented multi-instrumentalist, I mean here is a guy who played keyboards, guitar, bass and percussion."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/12/newsid_4071000/4071857.stm |title=Maurice Gibb dies after stomach op |work=BBC News|date=12 January 2003 |access-date=8 February 2015}}</ref>

Bruce Eder of [[AllMusic]] declared the track "Back Home" had "the loudest guitar ever heard on a Bee Gees record".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/2-years-on-mw0000206170 |title=2 Years On – Bee Gees |website=[[AllMusic]] |last=Eder |first=Bruce |access-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227155406/https://www.allmusic.com/album/2-years-on-mw0000206170 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the reunited Bee Gees from 1987 onward, Gibb was the group's resident expert on all technical phases of recording, and co-ordinated musicians and engineers to create much of the group's sound.

=== Instrumentalist ===
He contributed the electric and acoustic guitars and the [[Hammond organ]] on the debut Bee Gees album ''[[The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs]]'' (1965). After that, he commenced his bass playing on the following album ''[[Spicks and Specks (album)|Spicks and Specks]]'' (1966). He focused on the bass and the keyboards after [[Vince Melouney]] had joined as the group's lead guitarist in 1967.

In terms of his proficiency at the guitar, he played lead guitar on "[[Country Woman]]" (1971) and the three ''[[2 Years On]]'' (1970) tracks: 1. "Back Home", 2. "Lay It on Me" and 3. "Every Second, Every Minute" in addition to rhythm guitar on Bee Gees tracks.

As for his experience as a keyboardist, he performed the piano or the keyboard during live performances besides studio recordings. The songs "[[Words (Bee Gees song)|Words]]" (1968), "[[Lonely Days]]" (1970) and "[[How Can You Mend a Broken Heart]]" (1971) were the frequent numbers at Bee Gees concerts. Other keyboards such as the [[harpsichord]] on "[[I Can't See Nobody]]" (1967), [[Mellotron]] on "[[Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You]]" (1967) and [[Moog synthesizer]] on "Sweet Song of Summer" (1972) were the evidence to prove his technical-savvy talent for different keyboards.

From 1966 to 1974, his main instrument was the guitar, the bass and the piano or the keyboard. From 1975 to 1979, he primarily played the bass for an experiment in creating distinctive syncopated funk bass lines for the foundation of Bee Gees' driving disco sound. Meanwhile, he often performed the guitar during live performances. From 1987 onwards, he preferred the keyboards or the synthesisers more than the guitar or the bass.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/14th-may-the-bee-gees-perform-live-on-stage-at-atlantic-records-40th-picture-id134054794 |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221164119/http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/14th-may-the-bee-gees-perform-live-on-stage-at-atlantic-records-40th-picture-id134054794 |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq_GVjPVG9M| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626183136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq_GVjPVG9M&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=26 June 2017|title=You win again – Bee Gees (Live 1988)|last=DjukiNew1957|date=2 July 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iATnf8IlP8Q| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/iATnf8IlP8Q| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=BEE GEES For Whom The Bell Tolls -New York-|last=WebTwinkle|date=23 March 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMvHuxjFoNo|title=Bee Gees – Stayin' Alive 1989 Live Video|last=NEA ZIXNH|date=15 March 2014|via=YouTube}}</ref>

His first and only drumming for the Bee Gees was on the ''[[Cucumber Castle]]'' track "My Thing" (1969).

He once used the guitar given by [[John Lennon]] on the song "She Keeps On Coming" (2001).<ref name="Album credits">Album credits.</ref> In a continuity link for the song on the Top Of The Pops 2 special, in support of the album ''This Is Where I Came In'' Robin mentioned Lennon's guitar and Maurice confirmed it was his [[Epiphone]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7U0WhXi8Fo | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/b7U0WhXi8Fo| archive-date=30 October 2021|website=You Tube |title=Bee Gees Continuity Link 9 (@TOTP2 in 2001) |date=29 January 2012| access-date=1 January 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Some articles say it was Lennon's acoustic guitar on the song "This Is Where I Came In".

=== Vocals ===
On average, Maurice sang lead on one or two songs for each album and he was the lead vocalist on some Bee Gees tracks including "[[On Time (song)|On Time]]", "[[Lay It on Me (Bee Gees song)|Lay It on Me]]", "[[Still Waters (Bee Gees album)|Closer Than Close]]", and his last song "[[This Is Where I Came In|Man in the Middle]]". His first composition is "[[All by Myself (Bee Gees song)|All by Myself]]" recorded in 1966 but not released until 1970 on ''[[Inception/Nostalgia]]''. On the Bee Gees' live performances of "[[Nights on Broadway]]", Maurice sang falsetto rather than Barry who originally sang falsetto on the studio recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYmwGEAsz9I | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/tYmwGEAsz9I| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Bee Gees Nights on Broadway 1975 |via=YouTube |access-date=8 February 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also showcases his vocal talent on his unreleased LP ''The Loner''.

His comic personality shone on stage during Bee Gees concerts when the brothers would perform an acoustic medley. Many times, Maurice would mock Robin while he was singing or pretend he was bored during the song "[[Holiday (Bee Gees song)|Holiday]]" (Maurice did not sing on the original record), among other things.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-LlYi0bjt8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/5-LlYi0bjt8| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=1975 Bee Gees Medley (Midnight Special)|date=6 June 2008|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIMEdc8BdE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/BfIMEdc8BdE| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Bee Gees - Medley One for All Live 1989|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N7Gy58lCh4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/1N7Gy58lCh4| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Bee Gees - Medley - Live in London 1989 + Interview (MTV Japan)|date=23 June 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZYsiWIzh4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/DDZYsiWIzh4| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Bee Gees - Medley [Live by request]|date=23 June 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Songwriting ===
As a songwriter, Gibb contributed primarily to melody, with his brothers writing the lyrics that they would sing on the finished song (for the most part). It is difficult to identify his contributions because the songs were so shaped to the singer, but his brothers' continued writing collaboration with him on solo projects shows how much they relied on him. He was sometimes known as "the quiet one" for his less obvious contributions to the group, but privately he was a good teller of stories, who immensely enjoyed talking with fans. His reputation as a mild-mannered, stabilising influence with two very ambitious brothers continued through his life.<ref name=":Bilyeu">Melinda, Bilyeu, Hector Cook, Andrew Mon Hughes, ''The Bee Gees / Tales of the Brothers Gibb''. London: Omnibus, 2001.</ref>

=== Studio collaborations ===
In 1966, Gibb became a session musician in Australia for other artists including Bip Addison, Anne Shelton, April Bryon, Barrington Davis and singer Jon.<ref name="released" /> Around 1969, Gibb worked with his next-door neighbour, [[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[Ringo Starr]], and the result was the track "Modulating Maurice" but it was not released. Gibb played piano on the track "[[Saved by the Bell (song)|Saved by the Bell]]" as well as bass on "Mother and Jack" both songs performed by Robin Gibb for his first solo album.<ref name="album">{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/69.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1969 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=11 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140144/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/69.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Around 1970, Gibb played piano on [[George Harrison]]'s song "[[Isn't It a Pity]]" as a part of his first triple solo album, ''[[All Things Must Pass]]''. In the recording studio he met [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]' [[Phil Collins]], [[Phil Spector]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[Billy Preston]] and [[George Harrison|Harrison]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&q=maurice+gibb+george+harrison&pg=PT662 |title=1000 UK Number One Hits |last=Kutner |first=Jon |date=26 May 2010 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=9780857123602 |access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> In 1971, he produced [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]]'s 1971 song "[[Everybody Clap (Lulu song)|Everybody Clap]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50 |title=Special Merit Spotlight |magazine=Billboard |date=22 May 1971 |page=50 |access-date=14 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311114519/https://books.google.com/books?id=9wgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&hl=en |archive-date=11 March 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> which features Gibb on guitar, Leslie Harvey on guitar, former [[Manfred Mann]] and [[Cream (band)|Cream]] member [[Jack Bruce]] on bass, and [[Led Zeppelin]]'s [[John Bonham]] on drums. Bonham and his wife, Pat Philips became friends with Gibb and Lulu.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hoskyns |first=Barney |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lkFSGeT50xIC&pg=PA223 |title=Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band |date=10 October 2012 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=9781118221112 |access-date=14 February 2015}}</ref> Also in that year, he played bass on Billy Lawrie's 1973 song "Freedom". Future [[Wings (band)|Wings]] and former [[Thunderclap Newman]] guitarist [[Jimmy McCulloch]] played guitar on that song, and McCulloch suggests that it was recorded at around the same time as Lulu's "Everybody Clap", with Stone the Crows' [[Maggie Bell]] providing backing vocals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/71.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1971 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140211/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/71.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 January 1972, Gibb produced, with Billy Lawrie, "Baby Come on Home", released as a single also in that year. In April 1972, Gibb produced [[Jimmy Stevens (musician)|Jimmy Stevens]]' album ''[[Don't Freak Me Out]]'' (called ''Paid My Dues'' in US). The same year, Gibb produced ''Drift Away'', an album released by Bob Saker and Mike Berry; it includes a cover version of "On Time".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/72.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1972 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301033532/https://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/72.html |archive-date=1 March 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1973, Gibb produced and played bass on Jimmy Stevens' unreleased numbers with musicians [[Alan Kendall]], Jimmy McCulloch, Pete Willsher, [[Zoot Money]] and singer [[Paul Jones (singer)|Paul Jones]]. In August 1973, Gibb participated on [[Andy Gibb]]'s first recording session, performing two new songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/73.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1973 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140212/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/73.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1978, Gibb produced with Steve Klein the [[Osmonds]]' album ''Steppin' Out'', which features a cover version of the Bee Gees' "[[Rest Your Love on Me]]". Also in 1978, Gibb composed "The Love That Was Lost", with [[Blue Weaver]] on keyboard and arranged by Mike Lewis, who also arranged for the disco group [[KC and the Sunshine Band]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/78.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1978 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140155/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/78.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1980, Gibb co-wrote with [[Tim Rice]] "Last Affair of the Heart", which was recorded by [[Elaine Paige]] at AIR Studios in London along with "Secrets" and "Carried Away".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/80.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1980 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140150/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/80.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1982, Gibb took part in Barry's original demo recording of the song "[[Eyes That See in the Dark (song)|Eyes That See in the Dark]]", a song intended for [[Kenny Rogers]]' [[Eyes That See in the Dark|album of the same name]]. In August 1982, Gibb wrote and recorded "Spirit of the Snow" and intended for the film ''[[A Christmas Carol (1984 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''. Gibb worked with Robin on his three albums ''[[How Old Are You? (album)|How Old Are You?]]'' (1983), ''[[Secret Agent (Robin Gibb album)|Secret Agent]]'' (1984) and ''[[Walls Have Eyes]]'' (1985). Gibb co-wrote "[[Shine, Shine]]" with his brother Barry and keyboardist George Bitzer, the song later became a Top 40 for Barry in the US.<ref name="both">{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/84.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1984 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307165821/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/84.html |archive-date=7 March 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1985, Gibb sang background vocals on [[Larry Gatlin]]'s songs "Indian Summer", available on Gatlin's album ''Smile'' with Gatlin and [[Roy Orbison]] on lead vocals; another track "Didn't We Call It (Falling in Love)" was not released.<ref name="track">{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/85.html |title=Gibb Songs: 1985 |last=Brennan |first=Joseph |access-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140159/http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/85.html |archive-date=3 February 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1986, Gibb produced [[Carola Häggkvist|Carola]]'s album ''[[Runaway (Carola album)|Runaway]]''. Also in 1986, Gibb participated on the Bunbury songs "Up the Revolution", "Fight (No Matter How Long)", "Bunbury Afternoon" and "Seasons".

One of Gibb's last recordings was on the demo of "I Cannot Give You My Love" on which he played keyboards with his brother Barry taking the lead vocals. The song was intended for [[Cliff Richard]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Rust |first=Victor |title=The Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958–2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HyijAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA212 |access-date=14 February 2015 |year=2010 |publisher=Victor Rust |isbn=9780956738400}}</ref>