The Bee Gees had one hell of a run over a career that spanned decades, with spectacular highs and crushing lows. Whether you love or hate their music, you can’t deny their amazing talent and lasting influence on 20th century pop music.
Brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb emerged from humble beginnings in post-war England and then rode a number of waves of fame. They were known for blending tight harmonies throughout their career, along with innovative songwriting and genre-shifting reinvention. With over 220 million records sold worldwide, they’re among the best-selling artists ever, rivaling the Beatles and Michael Jackson in impact.
In the early years they were known for psychedelic ballads and sounded a lot like the Beatles. They experienced a lot of success at a young age through the late 60s, but then the band broke up. It was probably for the best, as they appreciated each other more with that time apart and then they came back even stronger.
Then came Arif Mardin, Atlantic Records’ R&B wizard. His production on Mr. Natural (1974) nudged them toward soul, but Main Course (1975) was the pivot: Barry’s falsetto debuted on “Jive Talkin’,” a gritty funk track that hit #1. Children of the World (1976) followed suit with “You Should Be Dancing,” priming the pump for their disco explosion.
Enter Saturday Night Fever (1977): The brothers wrote and performed six tracks for the John Travolta film, including “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and “Night Fever.” The soundtrack sold 40 million copies, won a Grammy, and defined the era—propelling disco from underground to mainstream while grossing $600 million at the box office. It was an amazing time for the band and they had a massive impact on the culture. At least for a time. They rode the wave with Spirits Having Flown (1979) spawned three #1s — “Too Much Heaven,” “Tragedy,” and “Love You Inside Out”—and sold 20 million.
But then the disco backlash hit them hard. The band members have discussed the difficulty of going from stadium tours to not being able to get their records on the radio.
But then they reinvented themselves again, as they began writing and producing for other artists. They wrote hits for Frankie Valli’s “Grease,” Barbra Streisand’s Guilty (1980), and Diana Ross’s Eaten Alive (1985). Younger brother Andy Gibb, produced by Barry, notched four #1s but tragically died in 1988 at 30 after battles with drug abuse.
Videos
Stayin’ Alive
It’s difficult to explain now just how big of a sensation this song helped to create.