Shadow Dancing (song)

Last updated
"Shadow Dancing"
Andy Gibb g (3).jpg
Single by Andy Gibb
from the album Shadow Dancing
B-side
  • "Let It Be Me" (US/CA)
  • "Too Many Looks in Your Eyes" (EUR)
  • "Fool for a Night" (Italy)
ReleasedApril 1978
RecordedDecember 1977/February 1978
Studio Criteria (Miami)
Genre Disco
Length4:33 (album Version)
3:57 (single version)
6:07 (special disco version)
Label RSO Records
Songwriter(s) Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb; Andy Gibb
Producer(s) Gibb-Galuten-Richardson
Andy Gibb singles chronology
"(Love Is) Thicker Than Water"
(1977)		"Shadow Dancing"
(1978)		"An Everlasting Love"
(1978)

"Shadow Dancing" is a disco song performed by English singer-songwriter Andy Gibb. The song was released in April 1978 as the lead single from his second studio album of the same name. The song reached number one for seven consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Albhy Galuten (who also produced this song) arranged the song with Barry Gibb. While Andy Gibb would have three more Top 10 hits in the U.S., this would be his final chart-topping hit in the United States. The song became a platinum record.

Contents

Song development

The song was written by Andy and his brothers (Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb) in Los Angeles, while the trio of brothers were working on the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band . [1] "And one night," Andy would recall, "while we were relaxing, we sat down and we had to start getting tracks together for the album" (also titled Shadow Dancing , which would eventually hit #7 on the U.S. album charts). "So we literally sat down and in ten minutes, we had a group going, (singing) the chorus part. As it says underneath the song, we all wrote it, the four of us." [2]

Release

According to Billboard's Book Of Number One Hits, Gibb became the first solo artist in the history of the U.S. pop charts to have his first three singles hit the number-one spot. It remained in the top spot for seven straight weeks from 17 June to 29 July 1978, keeping "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty from reaching the top spot. On 5 August it was replaced by The Rolling Stones with their hit "Miss You." Additionally, "Shadow Dancing" was listed by Billboard as being the number one single of 1978. The song peaked at number eleven on the soul chart [3] and sold 2.5 million copies in the United States alone. [4] Cash Box particularly praised the "solid arrangement of strings, horns, [and] disco-funk guitar work." [5] Record World predicted that "this rather hushed dance record should be [Gibbs'] third straight hit." [6]

The single had three different B-sides. The US version's "Let It Be Me" and the European version's "Too Many Looks In Your Eyes" were both from Gibb's previous album Flowing Rivers , while the Italian release featured "Fool for a Night" from the Shadow Dancing album.

In July that year, Gibb performed "Shadow Dancing" at the Jai-Alai Fronton Studios in Miami, when Barry, Robin and Maurice unexpectedly joined him on stage, and sang this song with him. It was the first time that all four brothers performed together in concert. [7]

Personnel

Chart history

All-time charts

Chart (1958-2018)Position
US Billboard Hot 100 [25] 49

Cover version

"Shadow Dancing" was included on the album Hail Satin released in 2021 by the Dee Gees (an alter ego of the Foo Fighters). Lead vocals on this cover were sung by Taylor Hawkins. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Fever</span> 1978 single by the Bee Gees

"Night Fever" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever on RSO Records. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was wary of marketing a movie with that name. The song bounded up the Billboard charts while the Bee Gees’ two previous hits from Saturday Night Fever soundtrack were still in the top ten. The record debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at #76, then leaped up 44 positions to #32. It then moved: 32–17–8–5–2–1. It remained at #1 for eight weeks, and ultimately spent 13 weeks in the top 10. For the first five weeks that "Night Fever" was at #1, "Stayin' Alive" was at #2. Also, for one week in March, Bee Gees related songs held five of the top positions on the Hot 100 chart, and more impressively, four of the top five positions, with "Night Fever" at the top of the list. The B-side of "Night Fever" was a live version of "Down the Road" taken from the Bee Gees 1977 album, Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stayin' Alive</span> 1977 single by the Bee Gees

"Stayin' Alive" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack. The song was released in 1977 as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The band co-produced the song with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It is one of the Bee Gees' signature songs. In 2004, "Stayin' Alive" was placed at No. 189 on the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The 2021 updated Rolling Stone list of 500 Greatest Songs placed "Stayin' Alive" at No. 99. In 2004, it ranked No. 9 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In a UK television poll on ITV in December 2011 it was voted fifth in "The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song".

<i>Spirits Having Flown</i> 1979 studio album by Bee Gees

Spirits Having Flown is the fifteenth album released by the Bee Gees. It was the group's first album after their collaboration on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The album's first three tracks were released as singles and all reached No. 1 in the US, giving the Bee Gees an unbroken run of six US chart-toppers in a one-year period and equaling a feat shared by Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. It was the first Bee Gees album to make the UK top 40 in ten years, as well as being their first and only UK No. 1 album. Spirits Having Flown also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and the US. The album has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

<i>Children of the World</i> 1976 studio album by Bee Gees

Children of the World is a 1976 album by the Bee Gees. The first single, "You Should Be Dancing", went to No. 1 in the US and Canada, and was a top ten hit in numerous other territories. It was the group's fourteenth album. The album was re-issued on CD by Reprise Records and Rhino Records in 2006. This was the first record featuring the Gibb-Galuten-Richardson production team which would have many successful collaborations in the following years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees song)</span> 1977 single by Bee Gees

"How Deep Is Your Love" is a pop ballad written and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 and released as a single in September of that year. It was ultimately used as part of the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It was a number-three hit in the United Kingdom and Australia. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 on 25 December 1977 and stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks. It spent six weeks atop the US adult contemporary chart. It is listed at No. 27 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. Alongside "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever", it is one of the group's three tracks on the list. The song was covered by Take That for their 1996 Greatest Hits album, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbreaker (Dionne Warwick song)</span> 1982 single

"Heartbreaker" is a song performed by American singer Dionne Warwick. It was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees for her 1982 studio album Heartbreaker, while production was helmed by Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson under their production moniker Gibb-Galuten-Richardson. Barry Gibb's backing vocal is heard on the chorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woman in Love</span> 1980 single by Barbra Streisand

"Woman in Love" is a song performed by Barbra Streisand and taken from her 1980 album, Guilty. The song was written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, who received the 1980 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. It is her fourth of four Platinum records, and is considered her greatest international hit.

"Desire" is a song written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, and originally recorded by the Bee Gees in 1978 during the sessions of Spirits Having Flown. Blue Weaver recalls that this version was originally intended for the album. After spending weeks on it, they dropped it from the album lineup. Weaver also recalls that the version sounded like "Too Much Heaven".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Want to Be Your Everything</span> 1977 single by Andy Gibb

"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" is a song recorded by Andy Gibb, initially released in April 1977 as the first single from his debut album Flowing Rivers. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting on the week ending 30 July 1977, and again for the week ending 17 September 1977. It was Gibb's first single released in the United Kingdom and United States. His previous single, "Words and Music" was only released in Australia. It is ranked number 26 on Billboard's 55th anniversary All Time Top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilty (Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb song)</span>

"Guilty" is a vocal duet between Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb. The song was written by all three Bee Gees: Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. Released as a single from Streisand's 1980 album of the same name. "Guilty" peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 5 on the adult contemporary chart. In the UK, the song reached No. 34 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was certified gold by the RIAA. In addition, "Guilty" won a Grammy Award in the category Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. The song also appeared on the 2001 Bee Gees compilation, Their Greatest Hits: The Record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to Me (Bee Gees song)</span> 1972 single by Bee Gees

"Run to Me" is a song by the Bee Gees, the lead single and first track on the group's album To Whom It May Concern (1972). The song reached the UK Top 10 and the US Top 20.

<i>Flowing Rivers</i> 1977 studio album by Andy Gibb

Flowing Rivers is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Andy Gibb. The album was produced by Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson, with Barry Gibb on two tracks. It was released in September 1977 on RSO. Flowing Rivers was re-released by Polydor Records in 1998 in CD version.

<i>Shadow Dancing</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Andy Gibb

Shadow Dancing is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Andy Gibb, released in June 1978 in the United States and September 1978 in the United Kingdom. It was Gibb's highest charting album in some countries including America and in Canada. This LP was his only album to chart in the UK. Four singles, including the three US Top 10 singles, were released from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buried Treasure (song)</span> 1984 single by Kenny Rogers

"Buried Treasure" is a song written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb, and recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released as the B-side of "This Woman" in January 1984 as the third single from the album Eyes That See in the Dark. The song reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and number 2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away</span> Song by Andy Gibb

"(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" is a song penned by Barry Gibb and Blue Weaver and recorded by the Bee Gees in 1977 on the Saturday Night Fever sessions but was not released until Bee Gees Greatest (1979). A different version was released in September 1978 as the third single by Andy Gibb from his second studio album Shadow Dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Everlasting Love</span> 1978 single by Andy Gibb

"An Everlasting Love" is a song written by Barry Gibb, performed by Andy Gibb, released in June 1978 as the second single from his second studio album Shadow Dancing. The song peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 on 23 September 1978 and #10 in the UK. "An Everlasting Love" was Gibb's only Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Andy Gibb song)</span> 1978 single by Andy Gibb

"Why" is a song written by Barry Gibb and composed by Andy Gibb, fourth and last single released on the album Shadow Dancing. Released as a single in September 1978 around the same time as "(Our Love) Don't Throw it All Away". It was his only single that was not charted in any countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me from You</span> 1978 single by Teri DeSario

"Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You" is a song written by Barry Gibb in 1977. It was recorded by Teri DeSario and was her debut single and was included on her debut album Pleasure Train (1978). It entered the US charts on 22 July 1978, the same week that the number-one single was Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing", which was co-written by Barry and co-produced by Albhy Galuten. The musicians who played on this song also played on "Shadow Dancing". The single peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time Is Time</span> 1980 single by Andy Gibb

"Time Is Time" is a song written by Andy and Barry Gibb. Andy Gibb performs this song and was released as a single in November 1980 and included on Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits. The B-side, "I Go for You" was originally from his 1978 album Shadow Dancing.

Gibb-Galuten-Richardson were a British-American record producing team, consisting of Bee Gees founding member and British singer-songwriter Barry Gibb, American musician and songwriter Albhy Galuten and American sound engineer Karl Richardson. They produced albums and singles for Andy Gibb, Samantha Sang, Frankie Valli, Teri DeSario, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Diana Ross.

References

  1. ↑ Gibb Songs 1978
  2. ↑ Bronson, Fred (October 2, 2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (Fifth ed.). Billboard Books. p. 485. ISBN   978-0823076772.
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 229.
  4. ↑ Grein, Paul (August 26, 1978). "Billboard Vol. 90, No. 34". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 15, 1978. p. 46. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  6. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 15, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  7. ↑ Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing at Songfacts.com
  8. ↑ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. 1 2 "Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing". ultratop.be. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 3" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "CAN Charts > Andy Gibb". RPM . Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  12. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1978-07-15. Retrieved 2019-06-24.
  13. ↑ "Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing". officialcharts.de. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing". charts.nz. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "UK Charts > Andy Gibb". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  18. 1 2 3 "US Charts > Andy Gibb". Billboard . Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  19. ↑ "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Magazine Archives. June 3, 1978. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978". Kent Music Report . Retrieved 8 January 2022– via Imgur.com.
  21. ↑ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  22. ↑ "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  23. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1978". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1978". Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  26. ↑ Schube, Will (July 27, 2021). "The Dee Gees Release Video for "Shadow Dancing"". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.