TOP 100 SONGS WRITTEN BY THE BEE GEES. Today: #3. More: tomorrow.

Caffè ☕️Lattè presents:

THE 100 BEST SONGS

WRITTEN BY THE

BEE GEES

The Bee Gees was a trio consisting of 3 siblings: older brother Barry (born in Manchester in 1946), and twins Maurice and Robin Gibb (born Isle Of Man in 1949). The brothers first performed in Manchester in 1955. Three years later, the Gibb family emigrated to Brisbane, Australia. Today, the group is regarded one of the most successful music acts of all-time.

Hear the songs with each update on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0e1TX4UcLWfTITnhpY3GVg?si=16d1d63b818f4c42    

3

ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were both astute enough to realize that pure country music was not in favour with the mainstream in the early 1980s. The two superstars of the genre wisely recorded pop crossover songs. Rogers landed his first American #1 hit in 1980 with “Lady”, a soul-tinged pop smash penned by Lionel Richie; while Parton had achieved the same feat with the movie hit “9 To 5” in 1981.

After his success with Richie at the helm, Rogers thought he should collaborate with another act with a solid track record. The Bee Gees had dominated the charts around the planet in the 1970s. Projects such as ‘Guilty’ with Barbra Streisand proved that the Gibbs had not lost their touch. Rogers asked if the trio had any songs he could cut on a planned duets album.
Barry suggested instead that Rogers record an album of songs which would be ‘Eyes That See In The Dark’. One track was “Islands In The Stream”. This song had been written by Barry, Robin and Maurice, with Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye in mind. The original demo was more soulful. Rogers gave recording it a go. The result was disappointing. It was not working as a solo. Barry then suggested recording it as a duet with Dolly Parton. The two country veterans’ teaming proved to be fruitful.

“Islands In The Stream” was produced by Barry and his regular collaborators Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. Released in August 1983, the single topped Billboard Magazine’s Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts. The disc also reached #1 in Canada and Australia. In Britain, the duet peaked at #7.