Song#: 1929
Date: 06/02/1984
Debut: 73
Peak: 37
Weeks: 12
Genre: Synthpop
Pop Bits: While the Bee Gees were waiting out the post-disco backlash, the brothers found other projects to keep them occupied. Most of the time this consisted of writing and producing hits for other artists like Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, and Kenny Rogers, however, they also branched out to solo albums as well. The first brother to go solo during this period was Robin. Although Gibb had recorded an early solo album in 1969, he didn't do a second one until 1983. That LP, How Old Are You?, got little promotion in the States and fell flat. His follow-up, Secret Agent, did better thanks to this first single that became Gibb's second and final US Top 40 entry. The song did better at Dance where it topped out at #7. Gibb would release one more solo album the following year, but it dropped out of sight quickly. Afterward, he would rejoin his brothers and wouldn't issue any solo material until 2003.
ReduxReview: Gibb dumped his trademark falsetto for this song, probably in an effort to distance himself from the Bee Gees sound, and initially it is a little jarring. What's with that deep voice coming from a Bee Gee? It's a bit odd, but coupled with the chorus it works just fine. It's a cute little song that manages to push Gibb into a more synthpop sound. Some folks hooked into the tune, but in the end he was still a Bee Gee and that backlash stigma remained attached to his name.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Although this trilogy of 80s albums by Gibb were solo ventures, he wasn't all by himself. The first two albums were mostly penned by Gibb and his twin brother Maurice (and mostly co-produced by the pair). For the third album, brother Barry joined in on the songwriting, which nearly made it a Bee Gees album.
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