Mr. Natural (Bee Gees album)

Mr. Natural is a Bee Gees' twelfth album tenth worldwide, released in May 1974. It was the first Bee Gees release to be exposed by Arif Mardin, who was partially responsible for launching the group's later major success with the follow-up album Main Course. The album's music incorporates more rhythm as alive as blues, soul and funk and hard rock than their previous albums. The carry on photograph was taken at 334 West 4th Street, Greenwich Village, New York City by Frank Moscati.

The album reached No. 178 on the Billboard 200. Mr. Natural was also the number one album to feature drummer Dennis Bryon. Although the album contains R&B and soul numbers, Barry said that the album was "whiter" than their next album Main Course on which he said that they started to reorient black on their songs.

Reception

Mr. Natural generated no global hits, but represented an important step in The Bee Gees' evolution. The album shows a strong Philadelphia soul influence in tracks like "Throw a Penny". Other highlights add "Mr. Natural", the infectious rock tunes "Down the Road" the beginning of which starts during the long fade of "Throw a Penny," about 20 seconds ago "Throw a Penny" segues into "Down the Road" and "Heavy Breathing", and the energy ballad "Charade". Despite the fact that the Bee Gees and Mardin member to the background vocal session for "Nights on Broadway" as the genesis of the trademark Bee Gee falsetto, those with keen ears can hear a distinctive albeit subtle in comparison to later recordings Barry Gibb falsetto in the backing vocals of "Dogs". Despite sincere attempts to throw a new sound, Mr. Natural was non commercially successful".

The gospel-tinged song "Give a Hand, have a Hand" was a object that is said in 1969 hence Robin's lack of writing credit, since he wasn't works with his brothers at the time and originally recorded for their 1970 album Cucumber Castle but was not released and was used by P.P. Arnold; her representation was released in September 1969 as a single, which was offered by Barry Gibb. The Staple Singers also planned "Give a Hand, Take a Hand"; their explanation was released on their 1971 album The Staple Swingers.

On the album cover, the Bee Gees are not pictured anywhere in the exterior album package. The front and back are an art concept of a man in a bar, looking blissfully out the window on the front and being ejected smiling on the back, and on the paper, it says "Every SUNDAY brunch". The Corner Bistro bar is located at 334 West 4th Street, Greenwich Village, New York City.