S W A L K

AMG Review of S W A L K

Dave Thompson
All Music Guide

Though it rarely finds its way into any considered discussion of the Bee Gees' finest hours, still the soundtrack to 1971's S W A L K has to be acknowledged among the most complete releases they mustered during that peculiar hiatus that divided their earliest hits from their first disco steps -- and that despite their contributions to the set devouring less than half of the actual vinyl. Better known in many territories as Melody, S W A L K is one of the all-time classic teenaged love stories, and the nuts and bolts of the soundtrack -- executed by the Richard Hewson Orchestra -- are themselves among the most memorable of the era. It is their echoes of the Bee Gees' material, however, that raise the stakes highest. "In the Morning," "Melody Fair" and "Give Your Best" (from the then-recent Odessa LP) all rank among the brothers Gibb's most incandescent creations, but Hewson rearranges them with a sensitivity that steps far beyond the call of duty. And then there is "First of May," a song so pure that, had they never written another word, the Bee Gees would still be spoken of in terms of hushed reverence. Utilized to perfection in the movie, it highlights the soundtrack with similar flair, and the only regret is that Hewson has just 54 seconds in which to reprise it. The fact that he succeeds so admirably not only confirms the majesty of the original song, it recommends the entire soundtrack to anyone who cares to listen.