| "Israel" | |
|---|---|
 Official single cover for "Israel" (1972) | |
| Single by Bee Gees | |
| from the album Trafalgar | |
| B-side | "Dearest" |
| Released | May 1972 (Belgium) |
| Recorded | 7 April 1971 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 3:54 |
| Label | Polydor Atco (United States/Canada) |
| Songwriter(s) | Barry Gibb |
| Producer(s) | Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees |
"Israel" is a ballad track written by Barry Gibb. It appeared on the Bee Gees' 1971 album, Trafalgar.
It was recorded on 7 April 1971 at the IBC Studios in London, along with the two Maurice Gibb compositions, "Trafalgar" and "It's Just the Way", the Robin Gibb composition "Engines, Aeroplanes", and another Barry Gibb composition, the ballad "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself".
"Israel" was released as a single in May 1972 in Belgium, in the Netherlands, where it reached No. 22, and in New Zealand. "Dearest" was chosen as the B-side.
While the exact meaning of the song is unknown, Seth Rogovoy interpreted it for The Forward as a "love song to Israel", noting that Gibb played it onstage during a trip to Israel in 1972.
Personnel
- Barry Gibb — lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Maurice Gibb — piano, bass and acoustic guitar
- Geoff Bridgford — drums
- Bill Shepherd — orchestral arrangement
References
- ^ "Israel / Dearest by Bee Gees (Single, Baroque Pop): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (Revised and Updated ed.). Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ^ "Gibb Songs : 1971". Columbia.edu. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- "Bee Gees - Israel / Dearest - Polydor - Belgium - 2058 235". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
- Images, Getty (7 October 2020). "That time the Bee Gees sang a love song to Israel". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-03-18.