Mr. Natural (song)

"Mr. Natural" is a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry and Robin Gibb. On 29 March 1974, it was released as a single and also released on the album of the same name in 1974. It was backed with a folk rock number, "It Doesn't Matter Much to Me". This was the group's first single to be produced by Arif Mardin.

Background

The group had recorded "It Doesn't Matter Much to Me" and "Voices" on 4 January during sessions at IBC Studios, London. They continued to record two more songs on 8 January, including this track, and "Had a Lot of Love Last Night" at Command Studios, also in London. It was chosen as the first single and later became the title track of the album.

The song is an instance of Robin singing higher harmony to Barry's lower harmony.

Release

Released during a period in which The Bee Gees had just had their album A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants rejected by their manager Robert Stigwood, "Mr. Natural" barely scraped the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to #93 and #11 in Australia. The promotional video for this song was filmed in black and white, and was televised at 192 TV. It was regularly performed on the Mr. Natural tour in 1974. Footage of the performance in Melbourne, Australia of the song (Mr. Natural) also exists. On 25 February 1974, the Bee Gees made their appearance on The Mike Douglas Show but only as a playback, on that performance, the backing band members being Alan Kendall, Dennis Bryon and Geoff Westley. It was also performed at The Merv Griffin Show.

Reception

Cash Box said that "this incredibly delicious track by the chart veterans is their best ever" and that "spiced with a dash of rock, it is a totally unique excursion for them." Record World said that the song showcases "the ultimate in tight, tasty vocal harmonies."