robingibb

Along with writing songs for other artists Robin Gibb kept very busy during the first half of the eighties. Besides the release in 1983 of “How Old Are You”, Robin also released two other solo albums. On June 6, 1984 Robin released his “Secret Agent” album. Robin wrote this album with his brother, Maurice. It included the songs, “In Your Diary”, “Robot”, “Living In Another World”, “Rebecca”, “Secret Agent”, “King Of Fools”, “X-Ray Eyes”, Diamonds”. And the first single off the album, “Boys (Do Fall In Love), which entered the US Top 40. Then in November 1985 Robin released his “Walls Have Eyes” album. The first single off the album, “Like A Fool” was released the same month. The album also included “Someone To Believe In”, “Gone With The Wind”, “These Walls Have Eyes”, “Do You Love Her”, “Possion”, “Heartbeat In Exile”, You Don’t Say Us Anymore” and “Remedy”. The second single off the album, released in Febuary 1986 was “Toys”. Which was the first time the Bee Gees were together on a single in a few years. In 1986 the Bee Gees would sign a three album record deal with Warner. And soon Bee Gee written songs would be hitting the charts again. Song by the magical harmonizing that can only be Robin, Maurice and Barry!
To be continued…..

Near the end of 1982 Robin made a move that would effect his personal life. His marriage to Molly was over and he felt lost and alone. So he hired a personal assistant, Ken Graydon, who was a former policeman. Ken had a cousin, Edwina Elizabeth Murphy, or Dwina, born December 22, 1952 in Northern Ireland. Who was an artist and writer. Robin had been interested in meeting the actress Sarah Miles. Ken mentioned it to his cousin Dwina, who happened to be friends with Sarah. When Dwina gave him Sarah’s phone number a date for dinner was arranged. During the dinner Robin noticed a pen and ink drawing that interested him. Sarah told Robin who had done it and he ended up hiring Dwina to do some drawings for him. As they spent time together, as she was doing the drawings, they found they shared an interest in art. That they were both unconventional and they both were born on December 22. As Dwina worked on the drawings she kept adding details to them. She did not what to finish them fearing she would not see Robin again once they were completed. As of today though Robin had paid her, the drawings are still not finished. Robin was looking for a new place to live and Dwina adviced him to buy a small cottage. Before long they were sharing the cottage. On January 21, 1983 Robin and Dwina’s son Robin-John Gibb was born. And on July 31, 1985 in Wheatly Robin and Dwina were married. A year later they celebrated their wedding with a Gypsy party at their Oxfordshire home.

Who could have known when Robin hired a personal assistant that he would find love again.

To be continued…..

In the eighties many artists had the Bee Gees to thank for their hit records. In 1980 Robin Gibb wrote and produced the album “Sunrise” for soul singer Jimmy Ruffin. “Hold On To My Love”, the first single off the album made it into the top 10 on the charts. Also in 1980 Robin and Barry wrote the #1 hit for Barbara Streisand, “Woman In Love”. The song won an Ivor Novello Award. And to round off the year Robin wrote and recorded “Help Me”, a song for the RSO movie “Times Square”. The hit was released as a duet with Marcy Levy. On October 1, 1981 The Bee Gees released their “Living Eyes” album. Which featured the hit single “He’s A Liar”. This was the first album that was made in the new Compact Disc format. In 1982 Robin, Maurice and Barry worked with Dionne Warwick. They wrote songs for her “Heartbreaker” album. The title track, “Heartbreaker”, from the album was released as a single. It included backing vocals by Robin, Maurice and Barry. And became one of Dionne’s biggest international hits. In 1983 the sequel to “Saturday Night Fever” was released. The “Staying Alive” soundtrack featured five Bee Gee songs. Including the hit singles “The Woman In You” and “Someone Belonging To Someone”. Also in 1983 Robin released his second solo album. “How Old Are You?”. It included the hit single “Juliet” and “Another Lonely Night In New York”. For months Robin is kept busy appearing as a guest on TV shows and being interviewed for magazines. In the summer of 1983 he passed Michael Jackson to be named most popular male artist in the “Bravo” magazine poll. Then in 1983 the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton duet “Islands In The Stream” races to the top of the charts. The song was written by Robin, Maurice and Barry. It was awarded “Country Song Of The Year” and became the best selling country single ever. In 1985 Diana Ross became another artist to benifit from the Bee Gees songwriting talent on her Eaten Alive album. With the songs “Chain Reaction”, “(I Love) Being In Love”, “Crime Of Passion”, “I’m Watching You”, “Love On The Line” and “Oh Teacher” being written by Robin, Maurice and Barry. And Andy Gibb joined his brothers to write the song “Experience”. This album becames another Ivor Novello award winner for the brothers.
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By the end of the 70’s the Disco craze was beginning to die. Since the Bee Gees had become to be thought of by many as a disco group. They fell along with disco. People became tired of turning on the radio to find no matter what station they turned to it would be a Bee Gee song. Some DJs began to resent the group. They began having Bee Gee free week-ends. On July 12, 1979 at Comiskey Park in Chicago they held a “Disco Demolition Night” burning their records at a football event during half-time. Radio station 97.9 came up with a promotion where peopel were asked to bring their unwanted disco records in exchange for an admission fee of 98 cents. Between the games of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers the records were to be placed in a crate in center field and blown up. When the records were exploded the fans rushed the field and the event got out of control. The field had to be cleared by the Chicago Police in riot gear. The Tigers manager, due to safety concerns, refused to field his team. And the Sox had to forfeit the second game.

By the beginning of the Eighties, music fans would not admit to liking or listening to the Bee Gees. Robin, Maurice and Barry take a step out of the spotlight and began concentrate on songwriting and producing other artists. Resulting in many hits written and produced by the brothers.

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On May 22, 1980, Robin’s first wife, Molly, spoke to reporters. She told them due to touring that she had hardly seen him for the past 3 years. That she had filed for divorce and the papers would be served the next day. The news hit Robin hard and the family became concerned for his well being. Molly had gone on tour once but did not enjoy it. So she would stay home with the children while Robin toured. The more successful the Bee Gees became, the less they saw of each other. When Robin was at home he would spoil the children and the discipline fell to Molly. The divorce ended up being a messy one. In July 1981 Robin told the press he had broken into their home in England and found papers in the safe that proved Molly and her lawyer were trying to get him to accuse her of adultery. So they could sue him for slander. Molly was granted custody of their children, Spencer (6) and Melissa (4). Robin fought a long, unsuccessful court battle. Ending up not seeing his children for six years. The divorce was final in December 1982. On September 9, 1983 Robin was sentenced to be jailed for two weeks for breaking a court order not to talk to the press about his former marriage. He was released several hours later.
Near the end of 1982, Robin feeling lost and alone, hired a personal assistant, Ken Graydon. This meeting would lead to Robin meeting his second wife, Dwina Murphy.
To be continued…..

In the last half of the 70’s it seemed the Bee Gees were everywhere after the craze that the “Saturday Night Fever” album began. In 1978 Robin, Maurice and Barry announced they were organizing an event for the International Year Of The Child in 1979 and would be donating the royalties from “Too Much Heaven” to UNICEF. In July 1978 Robin made an appearance on the children’s TV show “Sesame Street”. Also singing the title track on the “Sesame Street Fever” album and the song “Trash”. The “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” movie that the Bee Gees performed in was released on July 21. And Robin released the single “Oh! Darling” from the movie soundtrack. Then in November 1978 the single “Too Much Heaven” from the Bee Gees new album hits #1. And to end the year in December the Bee Gees walked away from the Billboard Magazine Awards with 6 awards. On January 9, 1979 the concert the Bee Gees helped organize, “A Gift Of Song” is held at the UN headquarters. Some of the biggest names in music appeared including the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, ABBA, Rod Stewart, Olivia Newton-John and others. The concert was videotaped and aired the next day. It raised $100,000,000. President Carter invited the Bee Gees to the White House to thank them for their fundraising efforts. The next Bee Gees album “Spirits Having Flown” enters the charts in Febuary and goes to #1 in the USA and UK. It includes two more #1 singles for the brothers, “Tragedy” and “Love You Inside Out”. Also in Febuary they walk away with 4 Grammy Award, and are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On June 28, 1979 they kick off their “Spirits Having Flown Tour” in Fort Worth Texas. The tour is filmed for an NBC special. They end the year picking up 11 Awards at the Billboard Magazine Awards.

The Bee Gees are the biggest act on the planet. How long can they keep this up? And can Robin’s marriage survive this crazy lifestyle?

To be continued…..

In 1978 the single “Stayin’ Alive” was pushed from #1 on the charts by Robin Gibb’s younger brother Andy’s second single. At a young age Andy realized that, like his older brothers, he too was interested in music. He wanted to begin his own career and in 1975 moved to Australia. In the hopes to hone his craft of singer and songwriter. Andy formed a band, arranged to play some small concerts and settled in for a few years of perfecting his music. Soon he was appearing in large halls and had his first single, “Words And Music” make the top 5 on the Sydney charts. As early as July 1976, Robert Stigwood flew Andy to Miami to record some tapes. By 1977 his first album “Flowing Rivers” was released. It included the hits “I Just Want To Be Your Everything”, which remained at #1 on the US charts for 4 weeks. And the second single “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water”, which edged “Stayin’ Alive from #1 and remained there for 2 weeks. It wasn’t long before Andy was back in the studio recording his second album. In April 1978 the title track was released as a single. In June the Andy, Robin, Maurice and Barry written “Shadow Dancing” receached #1 on the charts to remain there for 7 weeks. The new album also held the hits singles “An Everlasting Love” and “(Our Love) Don’t Throw It All Away”. In 1979 Andy performed, with others, including his brothers, at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly, which was broadcast worldwide. Andy’s third album “After Dark”, was released in 1980, with the single “Desire”. And later in the same year the “Andy Gibb’s Greatest Hits” album was released. Andy had shot to stardom like a rocket. Fame, money and the absence of his loving family soon took its toll. After the recording of his first album Andy moved away from his family in Miami and settled in West Hollywood. Where ‘hanger-ons were soon offering him drugs. For a young man with low self-esteem, it was not long before he was addicted to alcohol and drugs.

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The Bee Gees next album, “Children Of The World” was released in September 1976. At this point the group was riding the highest point of their career, riding a string of Top Ten singles off the “Main Course” album. Robin, Maurice and Barry went back to Criteria Studios to write and record “Children Of The World”. But Arif Mardin was unable to return as their producer. When they were unsure who to get to producer the album Arif told them the could do it themselves. The first single “You Should Be Dancing” went to #1 on the American charts. The next album would be their first live album, “Here At Last….Bee Gees…..Live”. Which was recorded from their December 20, 1976 concert at the Los Angeles Forum. It was released in May 1977 and sold 4.6 million copies worldwide. A TV special was planned with footage that was filmed from this concert. But the Bee Gees were unhappy with the results and it was never released. In early 1977 the Bee Gees were in France at the Chateau Recording Studios to record their new album. When Robert Stigwood called and asked if they had any ideas for songs for a movie he was financing called “Tribal Rites on a Saturday Night”. Robin, Maurice and Barry respond with “Stayin Alive”, “Night Fever”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, “If I Can’t Have You”, “You Should Be Dancing” and “More Than A Woman”. When the movie is released, now titled “Saturday Night Fever” no one could imagine what would come. On October 1, 1977 the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack is released. It sells more than 40 million copies and is the biggest selling soundtrack of all time. The group dominates the charts for months. At one point, becoming the only songwriters having five songs in the Top 10 at the same time. The disco craze has began.

To be continued…..

For their next album the Bee Gees want to try new styles and team up for the first time with veteran arranger-producer Arif Mardin. The result, “Mr Natural is released in the USA on May 13, 1974. Even though the album doesn’t bring any major hits. The boys have a successful tour of the world. On August 21, 1974 they began their most extensive tour yet of Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Playing sold out concerts all over Canada. As this is going on Robin becomes a father again. This time to a daughter, Melissa Gibb on June 17, 1974. When the boys were ready to return to the studios, Eric Clapton suggested they try where he had recorded his latest album. So the Bee Gees went to Criteria Studios, at 461 Ocean Boulevard in Miami, Florida. They brought Arif Mardin along again and come out with a more R & B influenced album. This album is when they discover the falsetto sound. “Main Course” is released on May 24, 1975 to great critical acclaim. The album brings the group into the Top 20 worldwide. And features hits that landed on Billboard’s single chart “Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)” at # 12, “Nights On Broadway” at #7 and reaching #1 “Jive Talkin”. If Robin, Maurice and Barry thought they had seen success before. This would be just the appetizer to an unbelievable run of number one hits that would follow. The last half of the 70’s would belong to the Bee Gees.

To be continued…..

“Life In A Tin Can” was released in the USA on January 19, 1973. The album was recorded at a rented house in Los Angeles. At the time Molly was at home in England waiting for the birth of her and Robin’s first child in October. Robin had plans to be back at home for the birth. But the baby surprised everyone by coming 4 weeks early. “Life In A Tin Can” was the first album produced by the Bee Gees alone. The album saw low sales and poor chart performance, but did receive “Album of the Year” by Record World magazine. “Saw A New Morning” was released as a single of the album in March 1973. It was one of their weakest selling single’s, reaching only #94. On February 19, 1973 the Bee Gees performed a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Their first British concert since 1968. The Bee Gees next album, recorded at the Record Plant in West Hollywood, was to be “A Kick In The Head Is Worth Eight In The Pants”. The single “Wouldn’t I Be Someone” came out in mid 1973 but the album itself was never released. There is a bootleg version available. In 1974, after a tour of the USA the boys returned to Britain and a low point in their career. After a series of low selling albums the group started playing some clubs with the first show of a week of appearances on April 28, 1974 at the Batley Variety Club. Could the boys turn their career around?

To be continued…..