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.^[1] 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.

"Mr. Natural"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Mr. Natural
B-side	"It Doesn't Matter Much To Me"
Released	29 March 1974
Recorded	8 January 1974 Command Studios, London
Genre	Pop rock, soft rock
Length	3:46 (album version) 3:34 (single version)
Label	RSO
Songwriter(s)	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
Producer(s)	Arif Mardin
Bee Gees singles chronology
"Wouldn't I Be Someone" (1973) "Mr. Natural" (1974) "Throw a Penny" (1974)

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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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."^[4] Record World said that the song showcases "the ultimate in tight, tasty vocal harmonies."^[5]

Personnel

• Robin Gibb — lead and harmony vocals (first verse and chorus)
• Barry Gibb — lead and harmony vocals (second verse), acoustic guitar
• Maurice Gibb — bass guitar, mellotron, harmony vocals
• Alan Kendall — electric guitar
• Dennis Bryon — drums
• Geoff Westley — piano

Chart positions

Weekly charts

Chart (1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6]	11
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7]	12
Canada Pop (RPM)[8]	90
US Billboard Hot 100[9]	93
US Cash Box[10]	87
US Record World[11]	94

Year-end charts

Chart (1974)	Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[12]	72

References

1. "The Bee Gees - Mr. Natural / It Doesn't Matter Much to Me". 45cat. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
2. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1974". Retrieved 6 January 2014.
3. "Bee Gees - Mr. Natural (Live)". You Tube. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
4. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 16 February 1974. p. 30. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
5. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 16 February 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
7. "RPM Pop Playlist - May 25, 1974" (PDF).
8. "RPM Top 100 Singles - August 31, 1974" (PDF).
9. "US Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
10. "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Magazine. 23 March 1974. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
11. "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 2" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
12. "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. 30 December 1974. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.