Bee Gees
ListenThe Battle of the Blue and the Grey · 1963
The Bee Gees — The Battle of the Blue and the Grey, 1963 television performance.
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1963 · Leedon
The Battle of the Blue and the Grey / The Three Kisses of Love
Barry Gibb was sixteen and his twin brothers thirteen when the Bee Gees made their first single. Their close family harmonies reached record buyers on Australia’s Leedon label in 1963. [2]
| Accession | OMMA-0116 |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Bee-Gees |
| Release | 1963 · Australia |
| Label | Leedon · LK-346 |
| Format | 7-inch vinyl single · 45 rpm |
| Issue | Original Australian issue · sample sticker |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | E-/VG+ · VG company sleeve |
Release history and significance
The Gibbs already had years of television, radio and live appearances behind them when they signed with Festival in early 1963. They recorded at its Sydney studio, probably in February, with Col Joye producing and Robert Iredale engineering. [2]
Barry sang lead, with Robin and Maurice joining him in harmony over backing by the Joy Boys. The brothers recorded their voices together. With a two-track setup, the performances had to come together in the session. [2]
Leedon released the single in March. Both songs were Barry’s compositions; the label credited the group as The Bee-Gees. The country inflection of “The Battle of the Blue and the Grey” is far from their later disco records, but the family harmonies were already central. [1] [2]
Market context
The original Australian Leedon single marks the beginning of the group’s recording career. Sample stickers add evidence of the label’s promotion of the release; they were applied to ordinary printed labels. [1] [3]
A Leedon LK-346 copy with sample and release-date stickers sold on eBay for A$70 on 12 August 2018. Its seller graded the A-side VG+ and the reverse VG, with background crackle and no skips. [3]
Physical Description
Black vinyl with printed Leedon labels. A “Sample Record Not For Sale” sticker has been applied to the A-side stock label. This is a sample copy of the commercial label design.
The record is housed in a thin paper Leedon/Festival company sleeve.
Condition
The disc is visually graded E-/VG+. A small tear is reported on the B-side label. The company sleeve is graded VG, with age toning, a ring impression and handling wear.
Provenance
Acquired from a seller in Sydney, New South Wales, on 20 May 2026.
Sources
- Discogs, The Bee-Gees – The Battle of the Blue and the Grey, release 6813448. Original Australian Leedon issue, song credits and label details.
- Joseph Brennan, Gibb Songs: 1963. The first Festival sessions, personnel and release history.
- Popsike, Bee Gees first single on Leedon LK-346. eBay sale, A$70, 12 August 2018; sample-stickered copy and condition description.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.