Kitty Can

"Kitty Can" is a song by the Bee Gees, composed by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. It was released as the B-side of "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" in July 1968, and as the second track on the album Idea in September 1968.[1][2] In 1973, RSO Records released a compilation called Kitty Can only in Argentina and Uruguay, and this song appeared as the first track on that album.[3]

"Kitty Can"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album Idea
A-side"I've Gotta Get a Message to You"
Released7 September 1968
Recorded12 June 1968
GenrePsychedelic pop
Length2:31 (mono)
2:38 (stereo)
2:36 (stereo, with orchestra)
LabelPolydor (United Kingdom)
Atco (United States)
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Bee Gees flipsides singles chronology
"The Singer Sang His Song"
(1968)		 "Kitty Can"
(1968)		 "Kilburn Towers"
(1968)
Idea track listing
12 tracks
Side one
  1. "Let There Be Love"
  2. "Kitty Can"
  3. "In the Summer of His Years"
  4. "Indian Gin and Whisky Dry"
  5. "Down to Earth"
  6. "Such a Shame" (UK version)
  7. "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (US version)
Side two
  1. "Idea"
  2. "When the Swallows Fly"
  3. "I Have Decided to Join the Airforce"
  4. "I Started a Joke"
  5. "Kilburn Towers"
  6. "Swan Song"

Background

Barry Gibb told Andrew Sandoval: "'Kitty Can' was written by Maurice and I, during a night with Maurice and Lulu at their place in London, the early apartment they shared before they moved to Hampstead".[4]

The Bee Gees began work on "Kitty Can" at IBC Studios on 12 June 1968, along with three other songs – "I.O.I.O.", "Let There Be Love" and the unreleased track "No Name". This was their first session using the studio's newly installed eight-track recording equipment.[5]

Joseph Brennan writes: "The eight-track equipment was built in the USA for standard American voltage, so IBC had to supply power to it through an intermediate device that proved somewhat unstable. The mono and stereo mixes ended up at more or less different speeds...."[6] As a result, the mono version of "Kitty Can" runs significantly faster than the stereo version.

The Studio Albums 1967-1968 includes both the mono and stereo mixes, as well as an alternative stereo version with orchestration by Bill Shepherd. A demo version of the song, which has not been officially released, is reportedly similar to the final version but has "some additional ad-libbed almost jazz scat backing vocals" (probably by Maurice). Maurice's higher vocal is more prevalent on this version.[7]

A promotional film for the song was produced which was later discovered and broadcast by the Oldies music channel 192TV.[8]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Gotta Get a Message to You"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb2:59
2."Kitty Can"Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb2:31

Personnel
gollark: Anyway, the assembly is just a few hours with a screwdriver and manual.
gollark: TPM bad, actually.
gollark: https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/730095596861521970/890691622218649610/demo_00300.png
gollark: Not since the incident in 1993.
gollark: Says the person who is LITERALLY FIGURATIVELY made of cerium.

References
  1. Discogs.com. "Bee Gees: I've Gotta Get a Message to You / Kitty Can".
  2. Discogs.com. "Bee Gees: Idea".
  3. Discogs.com. "Bee Gees: Kitty Can (LP)".
  4. Sandoval, Andrew. "Bee Gees - Idea at Album Liner Notes". Album Liner Notes. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  5. Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1968".
  6. Joseph Brennan. "Gibb Songs: 1968".
  7. Bennett, Kevin (2011-03-22). "Bee Gees Demos – Part 2 | A Kick In The Head". Kickinthehead8inthepants.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  8. "The Bee Gees - Kitty Can ( Rare Lost Original Promo Film 1968 Probably French TV 1968 )". YouTube. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
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