This album consists of the best of the last solo recordings made by Robin, mainly recorded between 2006 and 2008. When Robin started making what would eventually become his final solo album, he always knew that it would be titled “50 St. Catherine’s Drive” – the address of the house where he lived when he was born in Douglas, on the Isle of Man. Robin was always clear on what tracks and which versions should be included on this album, and I have respected his wishes here - including the choice of an early version of “Mother of Love.”
Robin planned the album to be a reflective, sometimes autobiographical album, and this intent has been heightened by the inclusion of what is almost certainly the last song Robin ever wrote or sung. “Sydney” was recorded at our home, on an iPad, in the months prior to his passing. Although the quality of the recording is lower than Robin’s usual high standard, it is a track that I feel Robin’s fans should hear. It is fitting that it closes the album as a perfect and poignant bookend to a remarkable career.
Love, Dwina ***
Buy 50 St. Catherine’s Drive on CD
Buy 50 St, Catherine’s Drive on iTunes
The much anticipated and long awaited solo album 50 St. Catherine’s Drive will be released on Reprise (Warner Music Group) on September 29th. It features 17 tracks, mostly recorded between 2006 and 2008, plus some tracks recorded later, including the last song known that Robin wrote and sang; “Sydney”.
Buy 50 St. Catherine’s Drive on CD
Buy 50 St, Catherine’s Drive on iTunes
Named 50 St. Catherine’s Drive – the address of the house where Robin was born in Douglas on the Isle of Man – the album is a reflective, sometimes autobiographical collection of songs mainly recorded between 2006 and 2008 but never released. With the addition of some of the final recordings by Robin Gibb, the album is a unique insight into the genius song-writing talent of this much loved and greatly missed globally renowned artist.
The final track on the album, Sydney is also the very last track recorded by Robin. As a demo recording, it is not as produced as the other tracks on the album, and the inclusion of the track is explained by Robin’s wife, Dwina Gibb:
“Robin composed this late at night, in August 2011, at our home, The Prebendal. He used the bedroom keyboards and then Garageband on an I-Pad. He wished to finish this song in a studio with Barry, for a new album he hoped they would record together, but his health prevented this. He missed his twin brother Maurice who had passed away; but when he closed his eyes, the three young brothers were back in Sydney, Australia, happy together with their dreams and hopes for the future. Their future creations of course affected the world. This fragment of song is poignant, wistful, beautiful and unfinished. It belongs on this album as one of his last works. He cried when he wrote it, and I wept when I heard it.”
50 St. Catherine’s Drive also includes three tracks, co-written with his son RJ Gibb. The album was produced by Peter-John Vettese.
Track listing: