Have You Heard the Word

"Have You Heard the Word" was recorded on 6 August 1969 at IBC Studios during a session for Groves and Kipner’s group Tin Tin. That day, Maurice Gibb had broken his arm falling down a flight of stairs. He showed up to the recording wearing a cast and under the effect of painkillers. Kipner and Groves were not happy with the song to begin with, and as the session deteriorated, they left. Maurice gave his vocals (an impression of John Lennon) to tape and played bass as well in his distinctive style despite his injuries. Lawrie recalls that he might have been there too, but admits his memory of the late 1960s is "none too good".[3]

This song was credited to The Fut. Years later, Gibb said that he had no idea how that happened. The record appeared in early 1970, with rumours that it was one of The Beatles, perhaps a bootleg recording. The recording was so plausible as a Lennon song that Yoko Ono and Lenono Music, cleaning house in 1985, registered a copyright on it as a song written by John Lennon, even though Lennon had earlier denied participation.[4] Later in May 1974, on RSO tapes, this song was credited as a Kipner/Groves composition, although BMI listed it as by Kipner, Groves and Lawrie.[3]

• Maurice Gibb — lead vocals, bass
• Steve Groves — lead vocals, guitar
• Steve Kipner — lead vocals, piano
• Billy Lawrie — background vocals
• Uncredited — drums