Disco Hits
The song “Shadow Dancing” was written and released in 1978 by the brothers Gibb, that is, Barry, Robin, Maurice, and Andy. It was a single as well as on Andy Gibb’s 1972 album titled Shadow Dancing. It was an enormous international hit, reaching RIAA platinum status. It sold 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone. The song was #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Cash Box as well as #1 in Canada and Brazil. It went to #4 in Norway, #5 in New Zealand, #8 in Sweden, #11 in Australia, and #42 in the U.K. And the song made it to #11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and #8 on the U.S. Billboard Easy Listening chart.
Apparently, the brothers all wrote the song together while they were working on tracks for the Shadow Dancing album. Andy sings lead and background vocals on the track. Barry is on the background and harmony vocals. He also did the orchestral arrangement along with Albhy Galuten. Lots of horns!
“Shadow Dancing” was sampled in Skrillex’s “My Name is Skrillex.”
Andy was the youngest Gibb brother — a singer, songwriter, performer, actor, and teen idol. He rose to international success in the late 1970s. He died at the age of 30 after battling drug addiction and depression.