"Idea" is the fifth album by the Bee Gees, released in September 1968, and it achieved global sales of over a million copies. This album marked the Bee Gees' third international release, following two albums initially available only in Australia.
The album's artwork varied between regions: the Polydor release in the UK featured a design by Wolfgang Heilemann with a "beehive" neon lightbulb and a group photo in its base, while the North American ATCO release, designed by Klaus Voormann, showcased a composite head made from each band member.
"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" and "I Started a Joke" were standout tracks from "Idea". In North America, both songs were released as singles, while in the UK, "Message" was the single and "I Started a Joke" remained an album track. Additionally, "Kitty Can" was featured as the B-side of "I've Gotta Get a Message to You".
The album included "Let There Be Love", which saw a limited release as a single in early 1970 and reached the Top 20 in the Netherlands.
Interestingly, the North American ATCO LP and the South African Polydor LP had different track listings, with "Such a Shame" replaced by "I've Gotta Get a Message to You". However, both songs were included when the album was later released on CD in 1989, preserving the complete "Idea" experience for listeners worldwide.
