On this day in 1988: Younger brother of The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb passed away, just days after his 30th birthday. His death was a result of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) following a long battle with cocaine addiction, which had weakened his heart.
Andy had three #1 hits on the U.S. singles chart in 1977-78 and five Top 10 hits overall in the 1970s. His success continued into the early years of the 1980s with four Top 40 hits in 1980-81. His biggest hit of the 80s came in 1980 with ‘Desire.’
‘Desire’ was written by Andy’s brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb and originally recorded by the Bee Gees in 1978 during the sessions of “Spirits Have Flown’ and it was originally intended for the album. After spending weeks on it, they dropped it from the album lineup citing that they felt it sounded too much like their other song ‘Too Much Heaven.’
The single was recorded with a new lead vocal by Andy Gibb during a studio session in 1979, and released as the lead single on what would be his final studio album. The instrumental tracks used are from the original recording sessions laid down by the Bee Gees in 1978. The copyright for this song gives the artist as the ‘Bee Gees’ and was registered on July 11, 1979. ‘Desire’was Andy’s first new single since September 1978.
Andy’s version of “Desire” was released as a single in January 1980 and included on his last studio album ‘After Dark’ reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1980.
It was actually this week back in 1980 that ‘Desire’ by Andy Gibb peaked at #4 on the U.S. singles charts. Here’s a look at the Top 20 from this day/week back in 1980:
1 1 CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE –•– Queen (Elektra)-12 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 YES, I’M READY –•– Teri DeSario with K.C. (Casablanca)-17 (2)
3 4 LONGER –•– Dan Fogelberg (Epic / Full Moon)-13 (3)
4 5 DESIRE –•– Andy Gibb (RSO)-7 (4)
5 6 ON THE RADIO –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca)-9 (5)
6 10 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (Part 2) –•– Pink Floyd (Columbia)-8 (6)
7 3 DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME –•– The Captain and Tennille (Casablanca)-21 (1)
8 9 WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL (Medley) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-13 (8)
9 16 HIM –•– Rupert Holmes (MCA)-8 (9)
10 14 THE SECOND TIME AROUND –•– Shalamar (Solar)-14 (10)
11 15 TOO HOT –•– Kool and the Gang (De-Lite)-8 (11)
12 12 DAYDREAM BELIEVER –•– Anne Murray (Capitol)-12 (12)
13 13 AN AMERICAN DREAM –•– The Dirt Band (United Artists)-14 (13)
14 8 ROCK WITH YOU –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-19 (1)
15 7 CRUISIN’ –•– Smokey Robinson (Tamla)-23 (4)
16 18 HOW DO I MAKE YOU –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-6 (16)
17 19 REFUGEE –•– Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Backstreet)-7 (17)
18 17 SEPTEMBER MORN’ –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia)-12 (17)
19 26 SPECIAL LADY –•– Ray, Goodman and Brown (Polydor)-7 (19)
20 20 WHEN I WANTED YOU –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-13 (20)
