Ronnie Burns started off his career in the mid-'60s as the singer of the Flies, one of the more popular beat groups in Australia. After he left that band, he built a solid career as an interpreter of songs by the Bee Gees and a versatile vocalist who could roll with the changes. This Is Ronnie Burns is a fine collection of singles recorded and released between 1966 and 1971 that shows off his range. The best tracks are the songs written by the Bee Gees, including the rambling, Beatles-esque "Coalman," the baroque rocker "Exit Stage Right," and quieter ballads like "Butterfly" and an exquisite take of "In the Morning." That track is one of the best early Gibbs compositions and Burns delivers it in relaxed, slightly trippy fashion. His connection with the Gibbs was severed after a few singles when the brothers headed to England and he decide to stay home. Burns was saddled with songs that didn't quite measure up to the Gibbs standards -- the goofy "Harry the Happy Hooligan" and slight "Piccadilly Pages" -- but he sang them with a good-natured bonhomie that makes them hard to resist. When he did get a winner, like the Jeff Barry/Andy Kim-penned "How'd We Ever Get This Way," Burns rose to the challenge and gave a great performance. As the decade turned, Burns turned to less bubblegummy fare, releasing anti-war ("Smiley") and vaguely religious ("The Prophet") songs that showed an attempt to break out of the pop-star track and ironically became two of his biggest hits. Burns dropped out of the music scene in the early '70s, leaving behind a couple albums and this batch of singles. It's about time these songs were collected and released. They shine a light on the Bee Gees as songwriters at the start of their career, and this compilation finally gives Ronnie Burns a little of the attention he deserves.
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