Remembering Andy Gibb

On this day 26 years ago, the music world was stunned with the news that Andy Gibb was dead. The 30-year-old singer went to the hospital complaining of chest pain, and passed away as a result of myocarditis. It seems he spent much of his twenties battling his demons, most notably cocaine, and it had taken it's toll. Sadly, it was just eleven years before he was stepping out of the shadows of his famous brothers, Maurice, Robin, and Barry Gibb, better known as the Bee Gees. Handsome, young and talented, the young brother of one of the biggest groups of the time, as they managed to start topping the charts in the 1960s, and continue in the 70s. In fact, the Bee Gees had their greatest success in 1977 with the songs off the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. That was the same time Andy was starting off his career in Pop music, with "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", his first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by his brother Barry, but it quickly became his. This is Andy Gibb with his 1977 hit, "I Just Want to Be Your Everything".

That was the lead single off his debut album 'Flowing Rivers'. And it was the only song in the 10-song collection that Andy didn't have a hand in writing. The album was quite the success, certified as Platinum in sales. The second single was a song And co-wrote with his brother, Barry. "(Love Is) Ticker Than Water" was his second song to go to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was a bit less bubble gum than the first, with a sexier sound. It also brought a Rock flavor, with a nice guitar solo. This is a video from an appearance on 'The Midnight Special' with a live performance of "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water".

The studio wasted no time, and had Gibb back in the studio. Just seven months after the release of his debut, 'Shadow Dancing' was release. The album was also certified Platinum, and went to #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The first single was the title cut, which truly was a family affair. It was written by Andy, as well as Barry, Maurice and Robin. The song had a sound and feel like much of the music of the brothers Gibb, with tight harmonies and a sexy beat. The song was his third consecutive #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, quite the accomplishment. This is the promotional video for "Shadow Dancing".

While he continued making hit songs, there were no more #1s in the cards for Andy. It was thought he started his relationship with Cocaine, and it continued for several years. His drug problem presented a problem when he was touring with a production of 'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat', and lead to his dismissal. He hosted the television program 'Solid Gold' for two years, but his demons interfered there as well. His relationship with Victoria Principal was also a casualty, after she gave him an ultimatum, the drugs or her. After a supposedly successful stay at the Betty Ford Clinic, Andy returned to work, and was said to be a new man, showing up, and remaining professional. After doing some shows to get his skills back, Andy began working with Brothers Barry and Maurice on new music. A couple of the demo tracks were leaked to industry insiders, and Island Records was looking to sign his up, ready to release new music. But just days after celebrating his thirtieth birthday, Andy was gone. All these songs and more can be found on the album 'Andy Gibb: Greatest Hits'. The album can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.

Friday Night Party with Barbra Streisand

Sometimes, all you need is a great song, a voice like Streisand, and the volume turned up loud. At least that can be what I need. I mean, check out when she sings the theme song to the 1979 movie The Main Event live about 20 years after she recorded the disco hit. Here she is singing The Main Event (Fight). Crank up those speakers!



Here Barbra is singing live and joined on stage by Barry Gibb to sing Guilty, written by Barry and his brothers, Robin and Maurice. The album was really amazing, and I think still underrated to this day.



No, can one song hold two amazing voice without exploding? No, it can't, as Barbra and Donna Summer prove when the shear brilliance of their voices explode all over No More Tears (Enough Is Enough). With lesser voices, this song would not exist.



Sometimes Streisand could get a bit on the bluesy side, and that is the case when she made a television appearance with Ray Charles. She sang Sweet Inspiration with Ray on the piano and brought the pot to a boil!

Worth Another Listen • The Bee Gees

Before there was Saturday Night Fever, before the remake of Sgt. Pepper, before duets with Barbra, before disco ruled the airwaves, there was a trio of brothers who moved with the family from England to Australia, and were soon on their way to take over music. Barry and his twin brothers, Robin and Maurice, were making music in the late 60s in Australia, but seemed unable to get a foothold in the business. Much earlier, they were talking with radio DJ Bill Gates and promoter Bill Goode, who gave them the name Bee Gees, not because they were the 'Brothers Gibb' as is often thought, but because it was the initials of the men.

They went back to the UK, only to discover they had their first hit with the song Spicks And Specks was a hit Down Under, and earning the boys awards. Shortly after their arrival in England, the boys were signed to a label, and in April of 1967 they released their first single, New York Mining Disaster 1941. It was released to radio in a white sleeve with black lettering for the song title, and immediately started getting airplay, for many assumed it was The Beatles. It rose to #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, their first hit.



The album was called The Bee Gees 1st, which was a bit of a misnomer, since the band had released two albums in Australia. On the heels of the first success, the second single was released, and it seemed to be a song the world was waiting to hear. Written by Barry and Robin Gibb for singer Otis Redding, but once done, was recorded for their own album. To Love Somebody became a song that would be a standard, a song that has since been covered by some of the top names in the music industry. It was their second forray into the Billboard Top 20.



The fourth single released would be yet another song that would become a signature song for the band. Just after Massachusetts was recorded, Beatles manager Brian Epstein heard it, and told Barry that it was beautiful, and he expected it to be the hit of the summer of 1967. Those were the last words Barry heard from the man, as he passed away a short time later. But his words were prophetic, as the song made it to # 11 on the US Billboard chart, and hit #1 throughout Europe and Canada.



In January of 1968, it was time for the next single. The Bee Gees had a new song they had not put on an album yet, but it was released as a single. Once again, it quickly became a signature song for them, as Words scored another hit, taking the #15 spot of the US Pop chart.



So, in their first year back in the UK, the Bee Gees not only firmly established their careers in British music, they also were leaving their imprint on the ears of fans worldwide. There is much more music to come, but for now, I will just say to learn more about the Bee Gees, visit their official website here. I am sure I will have more music from the prolific men soon.