Massachusetts (Bee Gees song)

"Massachusetts" is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, Horizontal. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK. It was also a #1 hit (the first for the Bee Gees) in the United World Chart, a position which the single managed to retain for 5 weeks.

Vocals are by Robin Gibb (most of the lead), Barry Gibb, and Maurice Gibb. The band are Barry Gibb (rhythm guitar), Maurice Gibb (bass guitar), Vince Melouney (lead guitar), and Colin Petersen (drums), with an orchestral arrangement by Bill Shepherd.

For Maurice Gibb, the song had a painful memory attached. Shortly after it was recorded, Beatles manager Brian Epstein told him that it was beautiful and would be the hit of the summer. These proved to be Epstein's last words to Maurice; Epstein died a few days later.

The song has a minor claim to fame in the history of British radio. While many people know "Flowers in the Rain" by The Move was the first record played on BBC Radio 1, Massachusetts was the second.^[1]

This single is the first number-one hit single by a non-Japanese artist on Japan's official hit chart, Oricon.

Preceded by "The Last Waltz" by Engelbert Humperdinck	UK number one single October 11, 1967 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Baby Now That I've Found You" by The Foundations
Preceded by "The Letter" by Box Tops	United World Chart number one single November 18, 1967 - December 16, 1967	Succeeded by "Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles
Preceded by "The Letter" by The Box Tops	Norwegian Singles Chart number one single (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "Öneskebrunnen" by Sven-Ingvars
Preceded by "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie	Austrian Singles Chart number one single December 15, 1967	Succeeded by "Eravamo in 100'000" by Adriano Celentano
Preceded by "Yube no Himitsu" by Tomoko Ogawa	Japan Oricon Singles Chart number one single April 1, 1968	Succeeded by "Koi no Shizuku" by Yukari Ito