Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

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When I look back to the decade of the 1970s and I pick an "Artist for the Decade", the band that immediately comes to mind is The Bee Gees. However, when I think of the Brothers Gibb, I also think of the fourth brother - Andy. Andy was not a member of the Bee Gees band. He was much younger than his Bee Gee siblings Barry, Robin, and Maurice. It is well known that Andy died at a very young age in 1988 at the age of 30, but had Andy lived, he probably would have been made a full-fledged member of the Bee Gees. We may never really know the true reason why Andy was not a member of the world famous band with his brothers - it could have been age, it could have been Andy's problems with drugs, it could have been that Andy just wanted to do things on his own, or a combination of these things. Whatever the reason, one can't deny that Andy was able to have a wave of success on his own. We may never know if this was a product of riding the Bee Gees coat tails, or whether he would hit it big on his own. But in a two year period from 1977 through 1979, Andy Gibb was a superstar in the music business. Considering the popularity of the Bee Gees, one thing that immediately surprises me is that Andy's "peak" period covered such as short time range. If you are looking to get a good cross-section of Andy's work for his career - the album "Andy Gibb" (Greatest Hits Collection) is a very good one.

Andy's body of work covered a period from 1977 through 1980. This basically was Andy's career. Andy's personal problems would take hold in the 1980s and as a result, his career would stall. Andy released three albums in this period. "Andy Gibb" covers three songs from each of these three albums: "Flowing Rivers" (featuring "I Just Want To Be Your Everything", "(Love is) Thicker than Water", "Flowing Rivers"); "Shadow Dancing" (featuring "Shadow Dancing", "An Everlasting Love", and (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away"); and "After Dark" ("Desire", "After Dark", and "I Can't Help It"). There are also three additional tracks - including two from 1980 ("Time is Time" and "Me (Without You") and an unreleased track "Man on Fire". Overall this collection does a good job at compiling Andy's career.

There is another greatest hits collection called "20 Century Masters: Millenium Collection". That collection features all of the songs on this collection except for "Flowing Rivers" and the unreleased track "Man on Fire", but it does feature the song "Will You Love Me Tommorow" (not included on this collection). I would say that this is a more complete collection and would advise this over "Millenium".

I prefer my Greatest Hits collections to be in the chronological order of the release of the songs. "Andy Gibb" (Greatest Hits Collection) follows this blueprint with one exception - the unreleased track "Man on Fire" is included as the first track. This was probably done for marketing purposes to promote the unreleased track, so it isn't the end of the world that this song is out of sequence. This song sounds a lot more like later Bee Gees work (i.e. the more "adult-contemporary" music from "ESP" and "One")

If you look at the selections that come from "Flowing Rivers" and "Shadow Dancing", these songs were the best selling songs commercially. These songs are more of the "Classic Andy Gibb" sound. You can make the argument that these are clear Bee Gees coat tail songs. To some extent this is probably true. The songs "I Just Want To Be Your Everything", "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water", "Shadow Dancing", "An Everlasting Love", and "(Our Love) Don't Throw It Away" sound a lot like the Bee Gees. These songs all had Barry as a co-writer, so that might explain a lot for why it sounds as it does. Andy would co-write "Thicker Than Water" and "Shadow Dancing" proving Andy had songwriting abilities as well. There was one song from the first album that was a song written by Andy alone - the title track from "Flowing Rivers". This song does not have a typical Bee Gees feel to it, but has a country-western flavor to it. This song gets forgotten about because it gets lost in the Bee Gees wave.

Andy's third album "After Dark" didn't do well as commercially. This might be because the Bee Gees wave of popularity was waning by 1980. This is the album where Andy really began to come out from his brothers shadows and show what he could do as an artist. This album has less of a Bee Gees feel to it than the other two. The tracks that are included from this album prove this point. The title track "After Dark" has an almost R&B feel to it. From this particular album, there is a very nice duet with Olivia Newton-John included called "I Can't Help It". I don't feel this is Olivia Newton-John at her best, but she still adds a nice touch to the song.

The liner notes are very thin for this collection. The songwriter and copyright credits are included for each song. There are no lyrics included for the songs. It would have also been nice if they listed the album that each of the songs appeared on when it was released. The studio musicians who participate in each of the songs are listed, but you don't know what songs they are credited for. For example, Joe Walsh is given a guitar credit - but for what song?? This collection is an excellent place to get Andy Gibb's best work. It is a great way to hear some of his classic songs as well as a way to get acquainted with his later works. I highly recommend this collection.

Andy Gibb had always felt like he was lurking in the shadows of his famous brothers, but his musical genious shines through on this collection. He was the first and only artist to have his first three hits ("I Just Wanna..."), ((Love Is) Thicker...)" and ("Shadow Dancing") go to number one on the charts. With only three studio albums, he maintained a high quality of craftmanship few artists know. Three other songs are top ten hits with three others in the top forty. Prime album cuts include, "Flowing Rivers" (a great country/rock song), "After Dark" (a funky lively number) and "Man On Fire" (a previously unreleased song). Missing from this collection is the orignal vinyl duet of, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" with Pat Arnold (an old Gibb associate) and mercifully, the tediously awful duet with Victoria Principal, "All I Have To Dream". On an upbeat note, this collection will bring back many memories of a talent that continues on in the hearts of fans.

You either liked his music or you didn't. Chances are, if you enjoyed the Bee Gees music, you did. The younger Gibb brother had a relatively short career which faded out in the early 80's. He then went on to host 'Solid Gold' but planned a comeback shortly before his untimely death in 1988. Even at that time, there had been talk of Andy joining his brother's band. This collection captures every hit single, a few album tracks and a song he recorded before his death titled "Man On Fire". Andy's songs had a hint of Bee Gees flavour probably because they were co-penned by his brothers - but that's what made them so special. This CD is currently difficult to get hold of, but if you can find it, you will be glad to own it. Worth having for "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" alone. There's also a great duet with Olivia titled "I Can't Help it". The album is a trip down memory lane you'll want to take over and over.

I remember when I bought the 45rpm "Love Is Thicker Than Water", I wore it out to the point you couldn't hear it any more.

Other songs include the #1 smash "Shadow Dancing" and my other true favorite "Don't Throw It All Away".

It is sad that this man had an untimely death and could not control his addictions and his spiraling yo-yo career.

However Mr. Gibbs songs live with us until we part with some good memories of the 70s. With other hits like "An Everlasting Love", and "I Just Want To Be Your Everything".

For Andy Gibb to carve out his own career from the shadow of his brothers (Bee Gees) is a feat all its own.

Andy my hats off to you where ever you are, for giving us some of the best pop songs of the 1970s and early 80s.

A great add for the CD collection.

I have always had a "guilty pleasure" soft spot for the music of Andy Gibb. I cannot readily express why...perhaps it is owing to my being a mere 6-9 years old at the time of his musical prime. It is probable that, through the oftimes over-idealized perspective of a young child, his music seemed to be a good accompanying muse.

In any event, I admit that now almost 30 years later as an adult in my 30's I still appreciate a good number of Andy Gibb's material. There is something both wistful and longing in his delivery despite the bright sheen of the production that reaches through and impresses. And the tragic untimely demise he met at just barely the age of 30 only adds further to his legacy.

Now onto the music itself. I won't assert that there's anything particulary sophisticated or unique about his output. On the surface of things, it sounds like typical late 70's pop fare rife with strings, synths, and guitars. But give some of the tunes a more cursory listen and you too may be privvy to some of the underlying currents and flourishes Andy Gibb was infusing his music with.

Laregly in the 'shadow' of his older brothers, The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb managed to plot a trajectory of his own making. His most successful tunes, "Shadow Dancing", "(Love Is)Thicker Than Water", and "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" are pleasant enough and decent examples of pop from that era.

But in my opinion, he really shines on the gorgeous "An Everlasting Love" - a song on the surface full of bounce, bubbly effervescence, and springtime zephyr but simultaneoulsy tinged with melancholy and plaintive longing. When Andy Gibb sings the poetic "I was yours before the stars were born and you were mine" and intones in the chorus: "And an everlasting love will never die..", I feel every nuance.

Another song of his I enjoy is "(Our Love)Don't Throw It All Away" - again on the surface a seemingly conventional pop ballad. But there are underlying shadows throughout that Andy Gibb manages to project which creates quite an atmosphere that is both gripping and soulful. I could go on about the rest of his offerings but these tunes really have lingered in my musical consciousness for a duration with seeming good reason.

I won't elevate Andy Gibb to the same plateau of say, The Beatles but I do make the case that he has contributed a fair number of decent pop classics to the rock era echelon. Some may call his stuff discofied glossy pop or maudlin but I dare say that there are a number of redeeming gems to be unearthed if given an unbiased listen.

Geez, why bother to try and review this now? This CD is ancient , as is Andy's music. It's much better than the "2oth Century Millenium" hits CD, even if the song selection only slightly differs. I guess the only people who'll ever read this are die-hard fans of A.G., and thus my 5-star review may even piss them off if they don't understand where I'm coming from. Why, because I look at it from a slightly different critical eye. (Basically I'm just writing my own opinion at 3:am, during a thunderstorm, so I don't consider myself a holier than thou critic, so please don't get that impression. And I'm listening to the "Flowing Rivers" CD as I type this).
OK, I was a "first generation Andy Fan" when was about 7 years old in 1979. I guess I bought all of his albums (rather, my mom bought them for me when I asked her.) And since we all outgrow our early favorite music, I forgot all about Andy during my mid-80's teenage years, when I felt I had to embrace groups like either "Bon Jovi" or "White Lion" to impress the ladies. I did almost lose a girlfriend when I tried to make out with her to "Shadow Dancing" in 1990 but I remember it she later agreed to it.).. But in '88, when Andy passed away, I honestly cried for the first time over a death that wasn't "personal" to me, and I pulled out all my old LPs, which I kept. Since then, I've felt a new appreciation for Andy Gibb. Damn, I could write a novel, and I'm sure I'm near the 1000 word limit. So I'll get to the point: Andy ain't much different from tortured artists like Nick Drake, Kurt Cobain and the like. Except he poured his pain out in "disco" form for awhile, instead of "Pre" or "Post" grunge or whatever. A lot of his songs, in retrospect, tell of the pain he was feeling. Its similar to how I veiw a lot of Carpenters songs now. Only after the artist dies, do you then realize what they were going thru emotinally during their "hot" period. Look at songs like "Shadow Dancing"...(dancing with shadows, sorta like dancing with death?) and his lyrics (or Barry's, but still...) like "If I should live without you darling, I may die". And songs like "In The End", "Starlight" (with the lyrics "Don't leave me here to die tonight"). And his last 2 hits are probably my favorite on this disc. "Time Is Time" is a sorta "Journey/Toto"-ish rocker, but its better than anything they ever did. Sort of a time-is-near song. And "Me (Without You)" is the most devestatingly painful "Post-Love" song I have heard in my life. It peaked at #40 on the Top 40 chart, but at least it can be called his last hit. Andy died probably due to drugs, and I won't/cannot condone that. But his failed relationships and lack of confidence in the light of his talented brothers was the primary reason he sought solace in drugs. Even the songs he didn't write, or were co-written by his bros, he still sang them with far more emotion. If Andy hadn't died early, perhaps I would've never rediscovered him, and I'd be worse off, even though he'd be alive...so I have to think about my condradiction! But I gotta think...what if Jim Morrison hadn't died? Maybe (or maybe not) he'd be on an umpteenth comeback-tour, singing songs with Beyonce' or someone. His legacy wouldn't the same. Or if Hendrix lived, and in 2001 he came out with a blockbuster album like Santana, except Jimi chose to do a duet with Christine Aguileria or someone. It would change everything.
I'm not trying to claim Andy Gibb was the "First Goth" disco-artist, and don't worry, I don't own any goth music, or any CDs by Nirvana, White Lion or Bon Jovi. I'm into deeper music, like Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Tom Waits... but I own all of Andy's output on CD, and listen to it often. so I feel I am a true fan, even if I see his work in a gloomier light than most. Modern music fans may think I'm nuts because I dig Andy so much. And old-school Andy fans may think I'm trying to make a "cool-martyr" out of him, but either way, I'm a fan. And the Behind The Music episode was pivotal to what started me really thinking on that train of thought. "Arrow Through My Heart" should be released. I'll still shake-it-about when "Everlasting Love" is playing, but part of me will think long and hard about the line "And an everlasting love will never die". (He sure did sing the word "die" a lot, didn't he?" I'm still sad he died, and I've kept the People magazine from that very week ever since. I'd much rather he was alive and starring in "Pirates of Penzance 2004" or something. I like the Bee Gees as well, but even at 7 years old way back when, I felt something deeper with Andy's music. For some reason "Fanny (Be Tender)" didn't strike as much a chord in me as "Love Is (Thicker Than Water).
Maybe one day I'll have more free time and write about my Olivia Newton-John fixation. (I'm so glad they duetted). She was the Pre-Madonna(no pun intended). Anyway, Thanks for reading this, if you've gotten this far! I'm sad that Andy had to die for me to get back into his music years back. Andy Gibb Rules.

Having gone thro' the Gibb brothers' era when I was younger, I'm very familiar with the lovely music brought on by Andy, Maurice, Robin and Barry. They, I'd say, are the most appreciable and talented songwriters of ALL times. This album, re-made onto Compact Disc - Digital Audio makes my money well spent. I love the music of the BeeGees, and naturally, the music by Andy. All my favourite Andy tunes are there for me. Great CD!

I can relate to the audience's response in the Bee Gees "One Night Only" CD. Track 7 is "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away" is a personal dedication from the Bee Gees to their late brother. The crowd thundered with appreciation and applause when Andy's "voice" came on in the 2nd verse. The hairs on my back stood up, as if Andy was very much on stage singing together with his brothers! [Incidently, Track 7 of this Andy Gibb CD is the SAME SONG !] Mmmmm ?

Another thing, I was quite afraid that the sound quality of this "AAD" re-mastered CD would be sub-standard. Heck, No! The recording quality is very very good indeed, well respected for a '70s reproduction. Thoroughly to be enjoyed all over again. Ahhh... Y'know what? I feel younger already....

Well Done, Polydor/PolyGram !! (This is a 'must-have' CD if you are an ANDY GIBB fan)..."Maximum Stars"

This is a superb collection of beautiful songs, my favourites being Shadow Dancing (No. 1 on Billboard for 8 weeks in 1978), Time Is Time (very soulful with more emotional depth than any of the others), An Everlasting Love and the those sounding more like the BeeGees: I Just Want To Be ..., Don't Throw It All Away & An Everlasting Love. Andy was always more pop than disco, although many of these were dance hits too. This great album is for those who appreciate the best in melodic pop music. Man On Fire is good too - i wonder if there are any other unreleased tracks?

Andy Gibb only recorded three albums in his short career, all of which went to the top of the charts. This CD includes the top songs from those albums and is a great overview of the talented individual. The best songs on the album are, "(Our Love)Don't Throw It All Away on Love)", written by big brother, Barry Gibb and Blue Weaver, and "Shadow Dancing", written by Andy along with brothers, Barry, Robin & Maurice. In fact, all the songs on this CD were written by one or all of the Gibb brothers.

I've got this Cd two weeks ago and cannot stop playing it. I'm so happy this beautiful songs have been released in Cd, because they drive me back to my teenage memories. This Cd is just perfect, it gives us pure Gibb sound as well as Andy's own style. I highly recommend "Man on fire", the touching "(Our love) Don't throw it all away, "Desire", but all the songs are great. I wish "Words and music" had been included, though. Listening to these songs again makes me miss Andy's presence, and feel sorry for what it would have been if the four brothers had had the chance to form a sole band.