"Lamplight" is a song by the

Bee Gees The Bee Gees were a musical group formed in 1958 by brothers Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was especially successful in popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and later as prominent performers in ...

, released as the B-side of " First of May", but featured as the single's A-side in Germany. It also featured on their double album ''

Odessa ODESSA is an American codename (from the German language, German: ''Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen'', meaning: Organization of Former SS Members) coined in 1946 to cover Ratlines (World War II aftermath), Nazi underground escape-pl ...

'' in March 1969. The song was written and composed by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb and featured lead vocals by Robin Gibb. No other singles were released from the album, and the fact that the group's manager

Robert Stigwood Robert Colin Stigwood (16 April 1934 – 4 January 2016) was an Australian-born British-resident music entrepreneur, film producer, and impresario, best known for managing musicians such as Cream, Andy Gibb, and the Bee Gees; theatrical produc ...

chose "First of May", which only featured

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin Gibb, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Maurice, he rose to global fame as a member ...

's voice for the A-side, caused Robin to quit the group (he would return in 1970).

Recording

The song's demo was recorded on October 25, 1968 – this and another early version featured on the ''Sketches for Odessa'' disc released with the album's remastered edition in 2009. The song's introduction is sung in French – ''Alors viens encore cherie J'attendrai ans après ans sous la lampe dans la vieille avenue''. The same passage was sung at the song's end, this time in English. There are no French words featured on the demo; it starts straight in at the first stanza. The song was recorded in Trident and IBC Studios, London, England, and was produced by Robert Stigwood with the Bee Gees. This song was included on their EP called ''I Started a Joke'', released in the same year.

Personnel

Robin Gibb Robin Hugh Gibb (22 December 1949 – 20 May 2012) was a British singer and songwriter. He gained global fame as a member of the Bee Gees with elder brother Barry and fraternal twin brother Maurice. Robin Gibb also had his own successfu ...

– lead and backing vocals, piano,

Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which causes a length of magnetic tape to contact a Capstan (tape recorder), capstan, which pulls i ...

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

– harmony vocals, bass, piano, acoustic guitar, Mellotron *

– harmony vocals, acoustic guitar *

Colin Petersen Frederick Colin Petersen (24 March 1946 – 18 November 2024) was an Australian musician and actor. He played as a member of the bands Steve and the Board, the Bee Gees and Humpy Bong. In August 1969, he left the Bee Gees and he was replaced ...

– drums * Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement

Cover versions

Singers Steve Barry and Lorraine Piché covered this song in 2002. Steve Barry produced the recording.

References

{{authority control 1969 singles Bee Gees songs Songs written by Barry Gibb Songs written by Robin Gibb Songs written by Maurice Gibb Song recordings produced by Robert Stigwood Song recordings produced by Barry Gibb Song recordings produced by Robin Gibb Song recordings produced by Maurice Gibb Songs in French Polydor Records singles Atco Records singles Macaronic songs 1968 songs