Happy September 1st, y’all….
Today is Barry Gibb’s 70th birthday! Sadly, Barry is the only living member of the band left with Maurice passing in 2003 and Robin in 2012.
The brothers formed a songwriting partnership in 1966 and had a very successful run at the charts long before the disco era with songs like, “I’ve Got To Get a Message To You”, “I Started a Joke” (both in 1968), “Lonely Days” (1970), and “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” (1971). The Gibbs actually started their assent up the charts again with dance music beginning with the album, “Main Course” (1975), and “Children of the World” (1977), but of course it was the Soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever” which sent them into the stratosphere.
Left out of most stories about the Bee Gees was the massive hit streak that Barry achieved as a singer AND a songwriter. Below is a list of hits he was involved with in the late 70s.
Songs Written for the Bee Gees/Barry solo/Andy Gibb
Stayin’ Alive
How Deep is Your Love
Night Fever
Too Much Heaven
You Should Be Dancing
Tragedy
Guilty (duet with Barbara Streisand)
Jive Talkin’
Nights on Broadway
More than a Woman
All Three Number 1’s Hits for Robin Gibb
For Others:
Frankie Valli–Grease
Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton–Islands in the Stream
Samantha Sang–Emotion (Later done in 2001 by Destiny’s Child)
Yvonne Elliman–If I Can’t Have You
Barbara Streisand–Woman In Love
Diana Ross–Chain Reaction
Olivia Newton John–Come On Over
John Travolta/Olivia Newton John–Your the One that I Want
A pretty impressive list if I do say so myself. Gibb shares the record with John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney for consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones as a writer with six. Guinness World Records lists Gibb as the second most successful songwriter in history behind Sir Paul McCartney.
Bee Gees—Night Fever
Eagles—One of These Nights
Fleetwood Mac—Landslide
Crosby, Stills and Nash—Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Roy Orbison—Oh, Pretty Woman
Gloria Estefan—Conga
Tommy Roe—Shelia
Peter, Paul and Mary—Leaving on a Jet Plane
Crowded House—Something So Strong
Yvonne Elliman—If I Can’t have You
The Trashcan Sinatras—Obscurity Knocks
Faces—Stay With Me
Tune in and hear us each weekday morning from 6-8am on the Morning Show on WCJU!
