They Have Overcome it All –Rows, Death, Economy and Near Death.
The members of this group are all brothers. They were born in the Isle of Man and they moved to England with their parents in the mid 1950’s and to Redcliffe, Queensland Australia in the late 1950’s. They sold over 220 million albums with one album alone achieving 40 million. They are 14th in the world in terms of highest number of album sales after the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John, Led Zepplin, Queen, ABBA, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones.
Bee GeesI’m talking about The Bee Gees.
There were three brothers in the group: Barry (b 1946), twins Robin and Maurice (b 1949) and Andy (b 1958). Their father, Hugh played in a group, and their mother, Barbara, was a singer also.
In 1955 they lived in Manchester and mimed to music in the local cinema between films. One day on the way to the cinema Maurice let the record fall and it broke so they had to sing instead of lipsync. In 1958, the family moved to Australia and started to perform in nightclubs in order to get pocket money. They also took part in many talent competitions. They were seen by local DJ Bill Gates (not THE Bill Gates) and racetrack promoter Bill Goode. Gates and Goode renamed the brothers the BGs after their initials. Later, the three brothers renamed themselves the Brothers Gibb, shortened to the Bee Gees. At that time Barry started writing songs. In 1962 they signed to Festival Records.
They brought out their first LP, 'Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs'. In 1965 they began making plans to return to England. It was while relocating that they finally gained success and topped the Australian charts with the title track from 1966's 'Spicks and Specks'. Before they left Australia, their father, Hugh, sent a demo to Brian Epstein, Beatles manager, in England
In London, bassist Vince Melouney and drummer Colin Peterson joined the Bee Gees. They found a new manager, Robert Stigwood, director of NEMS Enterprises, the company owned by Brian Epstein. The group signed to the Polydorlabel and released the single 'New York Mining Disaster 1941', a Top 20 hit in Britain and the U.S. in 1967. Robert called them "The Most Significant New Talent Of 1967". This created a comparison to the Beatles.
In just over a year they had 24 number 1 hits and three albums in 15 difference countries, including ‘Words’, ‘I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You’ and ‘I Started a Joke’.
Around 1969, tensions and arguments began to appear. Colin Peterson was fired and brought a lawsuit preventing them from using the name Bee Gees. Robin also left the group because he felt that Robert was favouring Maurice. Robin launched his own solo career with some small successes. Barry and Maurice continued and they brought in their sister Leslie on stage.
Barry and Maurice brought in a new drummer, Geoff Bridgford, to replace Colin and they started recording a new album Cucumber Castle and a film to go with it, which was aired on BBC in 1971. Then Barry and Maurice parted. The Bee Gees were over. Maybe!
Barry recorded a solo album which was never released, though "I'll Kiss Your Memory" was released as a single, without much interest. Meanwhile, Maurice released the single "Railroad", and starred in the West End musical Sing a Rude Song.
In 1971, the three brothers reunited and brought out a few singles like ‘Lonely days’ and ‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart’. They lost listeners in the UK and hit higher charts in the US. Throughout 1972 to 1975 they were in a rut.
They tried to assemble a live stage band that could copy their studio sound. Lead guitarist Alan Kendall joined in 1971, but did not have much to do until Mr. Natural. For that album, they added drummer Dennis Bryon and later added ex-Strawbs keyboard player Blue Weaver, completing the late 1970’s "Bee Gees band". Maurice, who had previously performed on piano, guitar, organ, mellotron, and bass guitar, as well as exotica like mandolin and Moog confined himself to bass onstage.
In our article on U2, we wrote that they had to reinvent themselves. So did the Bee Gees at this stage. Eric Clapton suggested to the lads that they should move to Miami in 1975 to record. They started off with ballads and eventually followed the advice of soul singer Arif Mardin and Robert Stigwood. They produced more rhythmic disco songs, including their second US No. 1, "Jive Talkin", along with US No. 7 "Nights on Broadway." The band liked their new sound on which Barry and Robin started singing in falsetto.. This was their second album to have two US top-10 singles since 1968's Idea. Main Course also became their first charting R&B album.
In 1976, they recorded chart-topping 'Children of the World', which had the singles ‘You Should Be Dancing' and 'Love So Right'. Profits went to charity.
In 1977, the Bee Gees agreed to contribute in the creation of the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever and wrote the songs in a weekend. The album broke multiple records for soundtrack sales, and four Bee Gees hits ('Stayin' Alive', 'How Deep Is Your Love?', 'More Than a Woman', and 'Night Fever’) reached number 1, This was the most popular age of disco. They also wrote the song 'If I Can't Have You' which became a No. 1 hit for Yvonne Elliman. Saturday Night Fever was so popular it stayed in the charts for 24 weeks and two different versions of the song 'More Than A Woman', one by the Bee Gees and another by Tavares, were in the charts at the same time. This album sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it the best-sellingsoundtrack album of all time.
This was the highpoint of the Bee Gee’s Career, outselling even The Beatles., Barry and Robin wrote 'Emotion' for a friend, Samantha Sang, who made it a Top Ten hit with the Bee Gees singing back-up vocals. A year later, Barry wrote the title song to the movie version of the Broadway musical Grease for Frankie Valli to perform.
Like Elvis, who created rockabilly, the Bee Gees forgot they were white Englishmen and jumped into soul music copying the funkier Philadelphia soul sounds that all three brothers knew and loved. In one fell swoop they managed to combine every influence they had ever loved. Spirits Having Flown was their crowning commercial triumph, topping 30 million in sales and producing three more number one singles. Andy Gibb became a major star in his own right at the end of the 1970s.
Their follow-up to Saturday Night Fever was the Spirits Having Flown album. It produced three more No 1 hits: "Too Much Heaven", "Tragedy", and "Love You Inside Out." This gave them six consecutive No. 1 singles in America within a year and a half (a record surpassed only by Whitney Houston).
In Jan 1979, the Bee Gees organised a benefit with Robert Stigwood and David Frost for UNICEF that was broadcast worldwide. "Too Much Heaven" was their musical contribution Concert at the United Nations General Assembly. They donated the royalties from the song to the charity. Up to 2003, this song earned over $7 million for UNICEF.
During the summer of 1979, The Bee Gees started on their largest concert tour covering the U.S and Canada. The Spirits Having Flown tour capitalised on Bee Gees fever that was sweeping the nation, with sold out concerts in 38 cities. By the end of the decade the Bee Gees had five albums which had all gone platinum.
In the early 1980’s disaster struck again. The disco era was disappearing due to a combination of a bad economy, political chaos worldwide, and a general burnout from too many drugs and careless sex (which would cause an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases and start the outbreak of AIDS).
Apart from Saturday Night Fever sequel, Stayin' Alive, the Bee Gees spent much of the 1980’s away from the spotlight, writing and producing hits for artists such as Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick and the team of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton with Islands in the Stream. They also recorded some solo albums with minor success. In 1981, they produced the first ever CD – Living Eyes – that was played on BBCs Tomorrows World. .
In 1987, they released the album E.S.P. which sold over 3million copies. It was their first album in six years, and their first for Warner Bros. Records. The single "You Win Again" went to No. 1 in numerous countries. This made the Bee Gees the first group to score a UK No. 1 hit in each of three decades: the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
On 10thMarch 1988, at 30 years of age Andy died as a result of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle due to a recent viral infection. His brothers accepted that Andy's past drug and alcohol use probably made his heart more susceptible to this illness. Before Andy's death, it had been decided that Andy would join them, which would have made the group a four-piece group. That never happened.
At this stage Barry had a serious back problems and Maurice had a serious drinking problem, which he overcame with the help of AA. Their father, Hugh Gibbs, died in 1992. In 1997, Barry had surgery on his back and had a heart scare, which stopped him touring.
The 1990’s: they produced more albums under Polydor. In 1997 they did a concert in Las Vegas – ‘One Night Only’ with Celine Dion singing Immortality with them. That CD sold five million copies and prompted them to bring the tour around the world.
I saw them in Landsdown Road in Dublin. I think it was 29th August 1998, two days after my birthday. The concert was scheduled to start at 8pm. My wife, Loreto, and I arrived around 7.10 to see Brian Kennedy performing solo on stage. He was brilliant and it was my first live show of Brian. He stopped at 7.50 and an army of riggers came on stage to set it up for the Bee Gees. We were all waiting to see who would fall first. Nobody fell. The Bee Gees appeared at 8.05. They were absolutely brilliant. We were so close to the stage that we could hear the interaction between them. One of the best concerts we have ever attended !
The Bee Gees closed the decade with what turned out to be their last full-sized concert, known as BG2K, on 31 December 1999.
The Bee Gees remained active until the death of Maurice on 12thJanuary 2003, from cardiac arrest during surgery for a strangulated intestine. Following his death, Robin and Barry decided to cease performing as the Bee Gees.
They decided to cease using the name Bee Gees because it represented all three brothers. Since then Barry and Robin have continued to work independently and have both released recordings with other artists, occasionally coming together to perform at special events.
On 7th September 2009, Robin disclosed to Jonathan Agnew that he had been in touch with Barry and that they had agreed that the Bee Gees would “reform and perform again".
On 20 November 2011 it was announced that Robin, at 61 years old, was diagnosed with liver cancer, a condition he became aware of several months earlier. He had become noticeably thinner in previous months and had to cancel several appearances due to issues with severe abdominal pain.
On 14th April 2012, it was reported that Robin was fighting for his life after contracting pneumonia and went into a coma in a Chelsea hospital. On 20th April 2012 it was reported that Robin came out of his coma as music from his Titanic Requiem was played. Dr Andrew Thillainayagam, who is treating Robin, said to the UK's Guardian newspaper "Only three days ago, I warned Robin's wife, Dwina, son, Robin John and brother, Barry, that I feared the worst," saying "We felt it was very likely that Robin would succumb to what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to any form of meaningful recovery. As a team, we were all concerned that we might be approaching the realms of futility."
Robin’s mother, Barbara, at 91 years old, flew from Florida to join Dwina, Barry, daughter Melissa, 37, and sons Spencer, 39, and Robin-John, 29, at Robin’s bedside.
Dwina said: ‘We played music to him for about ten days” She added "He is fantastic at the moment. He is laughing, he is joking, he is really happy. He just wants to get out.'' Robin John said that his father is anxious to get back singing.
Let’s hope it happens. I want to see them in concert again.
UPDATE:
Unfortunately, I'll never see them in concert again because Robin died on 20th May 2012. You can see the full article here. "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam"
Now hit the 'NEXT' button to see 14 more videos, including full concerts
Hit the NEXT button to see a list of their Albums
| Studio albums | |
| Year | Title |
| 1965 | The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs |
| 1966 | Spicks and Specks |
| 1967 | Bee Gees' 1st |
| 1968 | Horizontal |
| Idea | |
| 1969 | Odessa |
| 1970 | Cucumber Castle |
| 2 Years On | |
| 1971 | Trafalgar |
| 1972 | To Whom It May Concern |
| 1973 | Life in a Tin Can |
| 1974 | Mr. Natural |
| 1975 | Main Course |
| 1976 | Children of the World |
| 1979 | Spirits Having Flown |
| 1981 | Living Eyes |
| 1987 | E·S·P |
| 1989 | One |
| 1991 | High Civilization |
| 1993 | Size Isn't Everything |
| 1997 | Still Waters |
| 2001 | This Is Where I Came In |
| Live albums | |
| Year | Title |
| 1977 | Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live |
| 1998 | One Night Only |
| Compilation albums | |
| Major Releases | |
| Year | Title |
| 1969 | Best of Bee Gees |
| 1973 | Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2 |
| 1976 | Bee Gees Gold |
| 1979 | Bee Gees Greatest |
| 1990 | The Very Best of the Bee Gees |
| 2001 | Their Greatest Hits: The Record |
| 2004 | Number Ones |
| 2005 | Love Songs |
| 2009 | The Ultimate Bee Gees |
| 2010 | Mythology |
| Soundtracks | |
| Year | Title |
| 1971 | Melody |
| 1977 | Saturday Night Fever |
| 1978 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
| 1983 | Staying Alive |
Hit the NEXT button to see a list all their Singles. Be prepared, there are a lot of them
| Singles | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| Mar 1963 (AUS) | A: The Battle of the Blue and the Grey | (non-album single) |
| B: The Three Kisses of Love | ||
| Jul 1963 (AUS) | A: Timber! | Bee Gees Sing & Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs |
| B: Take Hold of That Star | ||
| Feb 1964 (AUS) | A: Peace of Mind | |
| B: Don't Say Goodbye | ||
| Aug 1964 (AUS) | A: Claustrophobia | |
| B: Could It Be | ||
| Oct 1964 (AUS) | A: Turn Around, Look at Me | (non-album single) |
| B: (Theme From) The Travels Of Jamie McPheeters | ||
| Mar 1965 (AUS) | A: Every Day I Have To Cry | The Bee Gees Sing and |
| B: You Wouldn't Know | Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs | |
| Sep 1965 (AUS) | A: Wine And Women | |
| B: Follow the Wind | ||
| Nov 1965 (AUS) | A: I Was A Lover, A Leader Of Men | |
| B: And the Children Laughing | ||
| Mar 1966 (AUS) | A: I Want Home | (non-album single) |
| B: Cherry Red | ||
| Jun 1966 (AUS) | A: Monday's Rain | Spicks and Specks |
| B: All of My Life | ||
| Sep 1966 (AUS) | A: Spicks and Specks | |
| Feb 1967 (World) | B: I Am the World | |
| Feb 1967 (AUS) | A: Born a Man | |
| B: Big Chance | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| Apr-67 | A: New York Mining Disaster 1941 | Bee Gees' 1st |
| B: I Can't See Nobody | ||
| Jul-67 | A: To Love Somebody | |
| B: Close Another Door | ||
| Sep 1967 (U.S.) | A: Holiday [Not UK] | |
| Oct 1967 (EUR) | B: Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You | |
| Sep 1967 (World) | A: Massachusetts | Horizontal |
| Nov 1967 (U.S.) | B: Barker of the UFO | |
| Dec-67 | A: World [Not US] | |
| B: Sir Geoffrey Saved the World | ||
| Jan-68 | A: Words | (non-album singles) |
| B: Sinking Ships | ||
| Mar-68 | Double A: Jumbo | |
| A: The Singer Sang His Song | ||
| Aug-68 | A: I've Gotta Get a Message to You | Idea |
| B: Kitty Can | ||
| Dec-68 | A: I Started a Joke [Not UK] | |
| B: Kilburn Towers | ||
| Jan 1969 (UK) | A: First of May | Odessa |
| Mar-69 | B: Lamplight | |
| May-69 | A: Tomorrow Tomorrow | (non-album single) |
| B: Sun in My Morning | ||
| Aug-69 | A: Don't Forget to Remember | Cucumber Castle |
| B: The Lord | ||
| Jan 1970 (BNL) | A: Let There Be Love | Idea & Horizontal |
| B: Really and Sincerely | ||
| Mar 1970 (USA) | A: If Only I Had My Mind on Something Else | Cucumber Castle |
| B: Sweetheart | ||
| Apr-70 | A: I.O.I.O. | |
| B: Sweetheart | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| Nov-70 | A: Lonely Days | 2 Years On |
| B: Man for All Seasons | ||
| May 1971 (UK, JPN) | A: Melody Fair | Melody (OST) |
| B: In the Morning | ||
| Jun-71 | A: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart | Trafalgar |
| B: Country Woman | ||
| Oct 1971 (BNL) | A: When the Swallows Fly | Idea & Melody (OST) |
| B: Give Your Best | ||
| Nov 1971 (JPN) | A: In the Morning | Melody (OST) |
| B: To Love Somebody | ||
| Dec-71 | A: Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself | Trafalgar |
| B: Walking Back to Waterloo | ||
| Jan-72 | A: My World | (non-album single) |
| B: On Time | ||
| May 1972 (BNL) | A: Israel | Trafalgar |
| B: Dearest | ||
| Jul-72 | A: Run to Me | To Whom It May Concern |
| B: Road to Alaska | ||
| Nov 1972 (JPN) | A: Sea of Smiling Faces | |
| B: Please Don't Turn Out the Lights | ||
| Dec-72 | A: Alive | |
| B: Paper Mache, Cabbages and Kings | ||
| Mar-73 | A: Saw a New Morning | Life in a Tin Can |
| B: My Life Has Been a Song | ||
| Jun-73 | A: Wouldn't I Be Someone | A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants |
| B: Elisa | (unreleased) | |
| Mar-74 | A: Mr. Natural | Mr. Natural |
| B: It Doesn't Matter Much to Me | ||
| Jun 1974 (U.S.) | A: Throw a Penny | |
| B: I Can't Let You Go | ||
| Aug-74 | A: Charade | |
| B: Heavy Breathing | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| May-75 | A: Jive Talkin' | Main Course |
| B: Wind of Change | ||
| Sep-75 | A: Nights on Broadway | |
| B: Edge of the Universe | ||
| Jan-76 | A: Fanny (Be Tender with My Love) | |
| B: Country Lanes | ||
| Jun-76 | A: You Should Be Dancing | Children of the World |
| B: Subway | ||
| Sep-76 | A: Love So Right | |
| B: You Stepped into My Life | ||
| Jan-77 | A: Boogie Child | |
| (U.S., JPN, ITA) | B: Lovers | |
| Feb-77 | A: Children of the World | |
| (EUR, AUS) | B: Boogie Child | |
| May-77 | A: Edge of the Universe (live) | Here at Last. Bee Gees. Live |
| B: Words (live) | ||
| Oct-77 | A: How Deep is Your Love? | Saturday Night Fever (OST) |
| B: Can't Keep a Good Man Down (live) | ||
| Dec-77 | A: Stayin' Alive | |
| B: If I Can't Have You | ||
| Feb-78 | A: Night Fever | |
| B: Down the Road (live) | ||
| Apr-78 | A: More Than a Woman | |
| (AUS, ITA, POR) | B: Children of the World | |
| Aug 1978 (SWE) | A: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help from My Friends | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely |
| B: Nowhere Man/Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) | Hearts Club Band | |
| (OST) | ||
| Nov-78 | A: Too Much Heaven | Spirits Having Flown |
| B: Rest Your Love on Me | ||
| Jan-79 | A: Tragedy | |
| B: Until | ||
| Apr-79 | A: Love You Inside Out | |
| B: I'm Satisfied | ||
| Dec-79 | A: Spirits (Having Flown) | |
| B: Wind of Change | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| Sep-81 | A: He's a Liar | Living Eyes |
| B: He's a Liar [Instrumental] | ||
| Nov-81 | A: Living Eyes | |
| B: I Still Love You | ||
| May-83 | A: The Woman in You | Staying Alive (OST) |
| B: Stayin' Alive | ||
| Aug-83 | A: Someone Belonging to Someone | |
| B: I Love You Too Much [Instrumental] | ||
| Sep-87 | A: You Win Again | E.S.P. |
| B: Backtafunk | ||
| Dec-87 | A: E.S.P | |
| B: Overnight | ||
| Feb 1988 (UK) | A: Crazy for Your Love | |
| B: You Win Again [Remix] | ||
| Mar 1988 (EUR) | A: Angela [non-UK] | |
| B: You Win Again [Remix] | ||
| Apr-89 | A: Ordinary Lives | One |
| B: Wing and a Prayer | ||
| Jul-89 | A: One | |
| B: Flesh and Blood | ||
| Jan-90 | A: Bodyguard | |
| B: Will You Ever Let Me | ||
| Year | Single | Album |
| Mar-91 | A: Secret Love [non-US] | High Civilization |
| B: Party with No Name | ||
| May 1991 (US) | A: When He's Gone | |
| B: True Confessions | ||
| Aug 1991 (DEU, AUT) | A: The Only Love | |
| B: You Win Again [live] | ||
| Aug 1991 (US) | A: Happy Ever After | |
| B: Evolution | ||
| Oct-93 | A: Paying the Price of Love | Size Isn't Everything |
| B: My Destiny | ||
| Dec-93 | A: For Whom the Bell Tolls | |
| B: Decadance (You Should Be Dancing) | ||
| Apr 1994 (UK) | A: How to Fall in Love, Part 1 | |
| B: Fallen Angel | ||
| Apr 1994 (EUR) | A: Kiss of Life [non-UK] | |
| B: 855-7019 | ||
| Feb-97 | A: Alone | Still Waters |
| B: Rings Around the Moon | ||
| Jun-97 | A: I Could Not Love You More [non US] | |
| B: Love Never Dies | ||
| Nov-97 | A: Still Waters (Run Deep) | |
| B: Love Never Dies | ||
| Jul-98 | A: Immortality | Let's Talk About Love |
| (Celine Dion with the Bee Gees) | (Celine Dion album) | |
| B: My Heart Will Go On | ||
| Apr-01 | A: This Is Where I Came In | This Is Where I Came In |
| B: Just In Case | ||
| C: I Will Be There | ||
Hit the NEXT button to see a list of their Recognitions and Awards and other songs written & sung by other artists
Recognitions and Awards.
Inductions
1979 Hollywood Walk of Fame
1994 Songwriters Hall of Fame
1995 Florida's Artists Hall of Fame
1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
1997 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Hall of Fame
2001 Vocal Group Hall of Fame
2004 Dance Music Hall of Fame
2005 London's Walk of Fame
Grammy Awards
1978 Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Group – "How Deep Is Your Love"
1979 Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group – "Saturday Night Fever"
1979 Best Arrangement Of Voices – "Stayin' Alive"
1979 Album Of The Year – "Saturday Night Fever"
1979 Producer Of The Year – "Saturday Night Fever"
1981 Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal – "Guilty" (Barry Gibb with Barbra Streisand)
2000 Lifetime Achievement Award
2003 Legend Award
2004 Hall Of Fame Award – "Saturday Night Fever"
World Music Awards
1997 Legend Award
American Music Awards
1979 Favourite Pop / Rock Band, Duo Or Group
1979 Favourite Soul / R&B Album – "Saturday Night Fever"
1980 Favourite Pop / Rock Band, Duo Or Group
1980 Favourite Pop / Rock Album – "Spirits Having Flown"
1997 International Artist Award
BRIT Awards
1997 Outstanding Contribution To Music
BMI Awards
On 15 May 2007, the Bee Gees were named BMI Icons at the 55th annual BMI Pop Awards. Collectively, Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have earned 109 BMI Pop, Country and Latin Awards.
Commemorative Stamps
In October 1999 the Isle of Man Post Office unveiled a set of 6 stamps honouring their native sons' music. The official launch took place at the London Palladium where the stage show of Saturday Night Fever was playing. A similar launch was held in New York shortly after to coincide with the show opening across the Atlantic. The songs depicted on the stamps are "Massachusetts", "Words", "I've Gotta Get A Message To You", "Night Fever", "Stayin' Alive" and "Immortality".
Civic Honours
In 1978, following the success of Saturday Night Fever, and the single "Night Fever" in particular, Reubin Askew, the Governor of the US state of Florida, named the Bee Gees honourary citizens of the state, since they resided in Miami at the time.
All three brothers (including Maurice, posthumously) were appointed Commanders in the Order of the British Empire in December 2001 with the ceremony taking place at Buckingham Palace on 27 May 2004.
On 10th July 2009, the Isle of Man's capital bestowed the Freedom of the Borough of Douglas honour on Barry and Robin, as well as posthumously on Maurice.
On 20th November 2009, Douglas Borough Council released a limited edition commemorative DVD to mark their naming as Freemen of the Borough.
Other Songs Written
At one point in 1978, the Gibb brothers were responsible for writing and/or performing 9 of the songs in the Billboard Hot 100. In all, the Gibbs placed 13 singles onto the Hot 100 in 1978, with 12 making the Top 40.
At least 2,500 artists have recorded their songs. Their most popular composition is "How Deep Is Your Love", with 400 versions by other artists in existence.
Among the artists who have covered their songs are Ardijah, Michael Bolton, Boyzone, Eric Clapton, Billy Corgan, Destiny's Child, Faith No More, Feist, The Flaming Lips, Al Green, Jinusean, Elton John, Tom Jones, Janis Joplin, Lulu, Elvis Presley, Nina Simone, Robert Smith, Take That, and John Frusciante (who has covered "How Deep Is Your Love" during Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts). The band's music has also been sampled by dozens of hip hop artists.
Songs written by the Gibbs, but largely better known through versions by other artists, include:
- "Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" by Teri DeSario
- "Buried Treasure" by Kenny Rogers (backing vocals The Gatlin Brothers)
- "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross
- "Come on Over" by Olivia Newton-John
- "Emotion" by Samantha Sang and by Destiny's Child
- "Gilbert Green" by Gerry Marsden
- "Grease" by Frankie Valli
- "Guilty" and "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand
- "Heartbreaker" & "All the Love in the World" by Dionne Warwick
- "Hold On to My Love" by Jimmy Ruffin
- "I Will Be There" by Tina Turner
- "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman
- "Immortality" by Celine Dion
- "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
- "Morning of My Life" by Abi and Esther Ofarim
- "Only One Woman" by The Marbles
- "Rest Your Love on Me" by Conway Twitty
- "Sacred Trust" by One True Voice
- "Warm Ride" by Graham Bonnet and by Rare Earth
The Bee Gees' major non-UK/US breathrough hit "Spicks and Specks" - a 1966 chart success in Australia (top five) and New Zealand (number one), and in Holland (top five) in 1967 - was covered by British rock-pop band Status Quo for their 1968 debut album. And Al Green's 1972 non-single cover of the Bee Gees' massive 1971 North American number one "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" has a popular following, particularly in the UK.
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