Robin Gibb: Watch Bee Gees’ Best Musical Moments

Becky Bain | May 20, 2012 6:04 pm

With the unfortunate passing of Bee Gees‘ member Robin Gibb, we’re inspired to take a look back at the group’s classic tunes and historic achievements from their celebrated career. Though Barry Gibb typically took on the role as frontman, all three members of the group performed in immediately recognizable three-part harmonies, and were responsible for writing every one of their impressive amount of hits. Head below as we journey through the group’s most memorable moments in music.

“I Started A Joke” (1969) One of the group’s first hits, this song was particularly noteworthy as it came before their incredibly successful foray into disco, and the fact that Robin Gibb sang lead vocals instead of Barry. The 1968 song would later be covered by The Wallflowers for the Zoolander soundtrack.

“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” (1971) Robin takes the first verse on this tender, whimsical ballad that became the Bee Gees’ first of many #1s on the Hot 100. It also marks the end of the band’s initial hit streak in the States, before they reinvented themselves four years later with a new sound that would begin to fill nightclubs around the world: disco.

“Jive Talkin'” (1975) This 1975 single became the group’s second chart-topping hit in the US, and was hailed as their comeback single, following their last Top 10 hit four years prior, “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”.

“Stayin’ Alive” (1977)

The song the Bee Gees are probably most well-known for was famously used during the opening credits of John Travolta’s breakthrough movie, Saturday Night Fever. The group would contribute eight songs to the film’s soundtrack, which became a global phenomenon: it spent 24 weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart, and would ultimately stay on the charts for 120 weeks. It was the best-selling album of all time, until the release of Michael Jackson‘s Thriller in 1982.

The song also inspired the title to Saturday Night Fever‘s sequel, Staying Alive, and was played as Travolta repeated his famous strut at the conclusion of the film. The Bee Gees contributed five songs to the soundtrack, and though it reached nowhere near the success of Saturday Night Fever, the album sold over four million copies worldwide.

“You Should Be Dancing” (1976) This disco staple appeared during one of Saturday Night Fever‘s most memorable moments – a young John Travolta owning the dancefloor as the crowd cheers him on. The single, off the film’s soundtrack, went to #1 on the US in 1976.

“How Deep Is Your Love” (1977) A love song, off the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, “How Deep Is Your Love” became the first of six consecutive #1 hits for the group. The song would win the Bee Gees the award for Best Pop Performance By A Group at the 1978s Grammys.

“Night Fever” (1977) The Bee Gees scored another #1 hit in 1978 with this mid-tempo disco tune, once again off the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

“Love You Inside Out” (1979) The brothers Gibb capped off the 1970s with “Love You Inside Out”, their final chart-topping single of the decade — and of their career in the States. The tune often gets overlooked in favor of the Bee Gees’ bigger Saturday Night Fever hits, but we have a soft spot in our hearts for this funky jam. Hit those high notes, Barry!

“You Win Again” (1987) Barry, Robin and Maurice released E.S.P., their first album as Bee Gees in six years, in 1987, and kicked things off with the worldwide smash “You Win Again”. Well, almost worldwide — US radio was still wary of the group in the post-disco ’80s, and sadly passed on this melodic gem, leaving it to stall at #75 on the Hot 100. Still, it topped the charts in the seven different countries, including the UK.

“One” (1989) The title track from their album, comeback single “One” would be the group’s biggest hit of the 1980s in the US, peaking at #7 on the Hot 100 at the tail end of the decade.

“Alone” (1997) Bee Gees’ last Top 40 single was the upbeat pop jam “Alone”, which was the lead track on their final album of the 1990s, Still Waters.

How will you remember Robin Gibb and the Bee Gees’ music? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.