Though the Bee Gees have nine of their own No. 1 hits, dozens more in the Top 40, earned five Grammy Awards alone for composing the music for the 1978 film Saturday Night Fever, and sold more than 220 million records worldwide, Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb also wrote hits for other artists, including the theme song to the 1978 film “Grease,” performed by Frankie Valli, “Woman in Love” by Barbra Streisand, “Heartbreak”‘ by Dionne Warwick and “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
Here’s a look at 11 songs the Gibb brothers wrote for other artists or were recorded by the Bee Gees but never hit the charts until another artist took them on.
“Come On Over,” Olivia Newton-John (1976)
Written by Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb
Also the name of Olivia Newton-John’s seventh album in 1976, “Come On Over” was originally featured on the Bee Gees’ 13th album Main Course. When Newton-John released it as her title track, the album, which also features her cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” reached No. 2 on the U.S. Top Country Albums chart and No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Love Me,” Yvonne Elliman (1976)
Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
Originally featured on the Bee Gees’ 1976 album Children of the World, Barry and Robin Gibb wrote this song but it was never released as a single. When Yvonne Elliman, who hit big with “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from Jesus Christ Superstar, released “Love Me,” the single peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. pop charts and is one of two Gibbs songs Elliman would record.
“More Than a Woman,” Tavares (1977)
Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
Originally composed for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, the Bee Gees did record their own version of the song, which is heard in the film, but they never released it as a single in the U.S. The Tavares version, also heard in the film, was released as a single and peaked at No. 32.
“Grease,” Frankie Valli (1978)
Written by Barry Gibb
For Frankie Valli, “Grease” was his ticket back onto the Top 40, following his time with the Four Seasons and several of his own solo hits. Written by Barry Gibb for the 1978 film Grease, the song reintroduced Valli as a solo artist, some years after splitting from the Four Seasons. The opening song for the film, “Grease” was a star-studded event with Barry Gibb on backing vocals and Peter Frampton on guitar and soared to No. 1 with lyrics summing up the story of lovelorn characters Danny Zucco and Sandy Olsson: They think our love is just a growin’ pain / Why don’t they understand? It’s just a cryin’ shame / Their lips are lyin’, only real is real / We stop the fight right now, we got to be what we feel / Grease is the word.
“Emotion,” Samantha Sang (1978)
Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb
In 1978, Australian singer Samantha Sang turned “Emotion” into a No. 3 pop hit. The song was originally written for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack but was cut and later appeared in the Joan Collins film The Stud in 1978. Though Barry Gibb is featured singing the chorus, the song was written for Sang and never recorded by the Bee Gees. In 2001, Destiny’s Child also covered the song and turned it into an international hit.
