This year marks the bicentenary of the birth of the "Waltz King"
The Bees Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—were a powerhouse trio of singer-songwriters and musicians whose music is familiar to millions. Throughout their career the brothers also composed songs for other artists, many of which enjoyed global chart success. Maurice Gibb died in 2003; Robin in 2012. Barry Gibb is still active in music and remains one of the most successful songwriters in history.
One of the hit tracks that appeared on the 'Saturday Night Fever' album and credited to the Bee Gees, 'If I Can't Have You' was taken to the top of the US charts by Yvonne Elliman.
Funk, soul, and R&B group Tavares recorded 'More Than a Woman' for the 'Saturday Night Fever' movie soundtrack. The Bee Gees' own version of this evergreen track is also featured in the film.
'Grease' was written by Barry Gibb and recorded by Frankie Vallie. It's the title song for the movie musical of the same name.
One Bee Gees cover worth mentioning is Yvonne Elliman's 'Love Me.' It was recorded by the brothers in April 1976, with Robin Gibb on lead vocals. Elliman recorded her version in September of that year and took it to number six in the UK charts and number 14 in the United States.
Jimmy Ruffin enjoyed a top 10 hit in both the United States and Great Britain with 'Hold On (To My Love).' The song was written by Barry Gibb and Welsh musician, songwriter, and producer Derek John "Blue" Weaver.
Written by Barry and Robin Gibb, 'Woman in Love' remains one of Barbra Streisand's biggest chart successes. It's also taken from her 1980 album 'Guilty,' which was produced by Barry Gibb.
Barry, Robin, and Maurice all had a hand in writing this song, a huge international hit. It's taken from the Barry Gibb-produced 'Heartbreaker' —one of Warwick's all-time best-selling albums.
Written by the Bee Gees with additional vocal input from Barry Gibb, 'Chain Reaction' took Diana Ross to the top of the UK charts, though it faired less in the US. The track is taken from the 'Eaten Alive' album, primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb, with co-writing from Robin, Maurice, and their younger sibling Andy Gibb.
The Bee Gees supplied backing vocals for Celine Dion's 'Immortality,' which was also written by the trio. The song was a commercial hit in Europe, and did well in Canada, too. Dion performed 'Immortality' live with the Bee Gees in Las Vegas in 1997, the year the song was released.
Australian singer Ronnie Burns (pictured in 1987) was given the Gibb brothers composition 'All the King's Horses' to record in 1967. A nationwide hit, the single's B-side, 'Coalman,' was also written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice.
Sources: (Biography) (uDiscoverMusic) (AllMusic) (Pop Archives)
See also: The best duets in music history
The third single taken from Warwick's hit album 'Heartbreaker,' 'All the Love in the World' was a Bee Gees writing effort, with Barry supplying backup vocals.
Barry Gibb wrote most of the songs that appear on Rogers' 'Eyes That See in the Dark' album, including 'Buried Treasure,' the third single release. Maurice Gibb is credited as co-writer on several other numbers.
'Butterfly' was written by the Bee Gees for 1960's British pop group Unit 4 Plus 2. It reached number 10 in the UK charts.
Israeli musical duo Ester and Abi Ofarim recorded the Bee Gees-penned 'Garden of My Home' for release as a single, on which the Gibb brothers provide backup vocals. Another Esther & Abi Ofarim track, 'Morning of My Life,' was written by Barry Gibb.
'Guilty' is the titular song from Barbra Streisand's hugely successful 1980 album. Written by all three brothers, it's Barry Gibb who duets with Streisand on the track.
Barry and Robin Gibb provided Leo Sayer with 'Heart (Stop Beating in Time)' for his album 'World Radio.' Sayer is a singer-songwriter of note for others himself. For example, he co-wrote 'Giving It All Away' for Roger Daltrey to give the Who front man his first solo hit.
Swedish singer Carola Häggkvist (pictured in 2006) recorded 'Lost in the Crowd' for her 1986 album 'Runaway.' It is one of several tracks written by the Bee Gees that appear on the album, which was produced by Maurice Gibb.
Barbra Streisand's 2005 album 'Guilty Pleasures' is effectively a sequel to 'Guilty' and again features songs written by Barry Gibb. 'Come Tomorrow' is a duet between the two musical superstars.
'What Kind of Fool' was the third single release from 'Guilty' and is another duet with Barry Gibb, who co-wrote the song with Albhy Galuten.
'Words' is one of the Bee Gees' best-loved songs. But it was written specifically for the 1967 British film 'The Mini Mob' ('The Mini-Affair' in the US) and was first recorded and performed by English R&B and jazz musician Georgie Fame. The Bee Gees' own version was only released a year later, in January 1968.
The younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice, Andy Gibb (pictured far right) carved himself out a brief musical career in the late 1970s through to the early 1980s with songs like 'I Just Want to Be Your Everything,' written by Barry Gibb. Taken from his album 'Flowing Rivers,' it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for three weeks.
Andy Gibb shares co-writing credits with his three elder siblings on the disco hit 'Shadow Dancing,' taken from the younger Gibb's second studio album of the same name.
Duets run in the Gibb family, and in 1980 Andy Gibb recorded 'I Can't Help It' with Olivia Newton-John. Written by Barry Gibb, the song appears on Andy Gibb's 1980 'After Dark' album. Andy Gibb died tragically young, at the age of 30, from myocarditis resulting from years of drug abuse.
A second single from the 'Flowing Rivers' album, '(Love Is) Thicker Than Water' also topped the Billboard Hot 100. This time Barry Gibb was assisted with writing duties by Andy himself.
Recorded by Australian singer Samantha Sang (pictured here in London in 1969) 'Emotion' was released in 1978 and was a massive success. It was written by Barry and Robin Gibb, with Barry providing harmony and background vocals.
The Bee Gees originally wrote 'Islands in the Stream' in a R&B tempo with Marvin Gaye in mind. It was ultimately handed to country music star Kenny Rogers for his 'Eyes That See in the Dark' album. Rogers chose to record the track as a duet with Dolly Parton, giving them both a Billboard Hot 100 smash hit.
The Bee Gees recorded 'Bury Me Down by the River' in May 1969, but it wasn't released until April 1970. American soul singer P.P. Arnold meanwhile recorded a cover in the same studio around the same time. Her version, however, was released in November 1969.
Barry Gibb penned this rhythmic upbeat track for Miami-born songstress Teri DeSario in 1977, when disco ruled. A moderate hit, the song features Gibb's familiar falsetto voice on backing vocals.
The Bee Gees are one of the most successful groups in popular music history. Featuring brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice, they achieved worldwide recognition in the late 1960s and even greater fame in the mid-1970s as prominent performers of the disco music era. The Bee Gees wrote all of their music, and are also responsible for penning and producing numerous hits for other artists. Indeed, the trio's songwriting abilities made them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Click through and find out the songs written and produced by the Bee Gees for other musical acts.
Songs you didn't know were written by the Bee Gees
Their songwriting had a huge impact on the music industry
MUSIC Records
The Bee Gees are one of the most successful groups in popular music history. Featuring brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice, they achieved worldwide recognition in the late 1960s and even greater fame in the mid-1970s as prominent performers of the disco music era. The Bee Gees wrote all of their music, and are also responsible for penning and producing numerous hits for other artists. Indeed, the trio's songwriting abilities made them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Click through and find out the songs written and produced by the Bee Gees for other musical acts.