Main Course

Working with Atlantic producer Arif Mardin, who had also produced their previous album, Mr. Natural, and engineer Karl Richardson at Criteria Studios in Miami, their music became much more influenced by funk sound over a base of R&B style being produced in Miami at the time. Main Course also featured the first prominent use of Barry Gibb's falsetto. From Mr. Natural, the brothers retained new drummer Dennis Bryon and longtime lead guitarist Alan Kendall but added a new keyboard player, Bryon's former Amen Corner colleague Blue Weaver, who would become one of only a small handful of non-Gibb musicians to receive composition credits on Bee Gees songs. At the suggestion of Eric Clapton, the Bee Gees moved to Criteria Studios in Miami, to start recording their next album. Barry recalled Clapton's suggestion when he was trying to make a comeback: "Eric said, 'I've just made an album called 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami. Why don't you guys go to America and do the same and maybe the change of environment will do something for you?' I think it was really good advice." Maurice Gibb, on the other hand, cites their manager Robert Stigwood as the first to suggest Miami as the best place to record new songs. "He [Robert] showed us the picture on the cover [of 461 Ocean Boulevard] and said, 'You can rent that place and live there and record and get a sun tan.' We decided that it was our big chance to get serious about our music again so we went out there and did Main Course." ==Recording==

According to producer Arif Mardin, when the Bee Gees arrived in Florida to record new material, he discovered that at the time, they were listening to a lot of American R&B groups' songs; as Mardin was known as an R&B producer, he suggested that they also listen to several high-charting R&B artists such as Stevie Wonder for an idea as to the kind of music he felt they should be making. ==Release==

The album peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard album chart in 1975 and remained on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart for 74 weeks until December 1976 on the strength of its three singles that charted on Billboard's single chart: "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" at No. 12, "Nights on Broadway" at No. 7, and "Jive Talkin'" at No. 1. A live version of a fourth song, "Edge of the Universe" from the album Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live, reached No. 26. "Come on Over" later became a moderate hit (#23) in a cover version by country/pop artist Olivia Newton-John. The album also peaked No. 1 at the Canada's RPM Albums Chart. ==Track listing==

All tracks written by Barry and Robin Gibb, with additional writers noted. ==Personnel==

;Bee Gees • Barry Gibb – lead, harmony, and backing vocals; rhythm guitar • Robin Gibb – lead, harmony, and backing vocals • Maurice Gibb – harmony and backing vocals, bass guitar, lead and rhythm guitars ;Bee Gees band • Blue Weaver – keyboards, synthesizers, synth bass • Alan Kendall – lead guitar, steel guitar • Dennis Bryon – drums, percussion ;Additional musicians and production • Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone on "Winds of Change" • Ray Barretto – congas on "Wind of Change" • Don Brooks – harmonica on "Songbird" • Strings conducted by Gene Orloff • Produced and arranged by Arif Mardin • Engineered by Karl Richardson and Lew Hahn ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==