Classic Pop Icons

The Bee Gees’ finest ballad, “How Deep Is Your Love,” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “How Deep Is Your Love” was released on single in October 1977, backed with the live track “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down,” and it also appeared on the massively successful soundtrack to the movie “Saturday Night Fever.”

“How Deep Is Your Love” was the first single released from the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack and helped solidify the Bee Gees’ impressive recent comeback and their position as the kings of disco. The group’s manager, Robert Stigwood, asked them to contribute songs to the soundtrack of a movie he was producing about the New York disco scene, which was loosely based on an article titled “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night” written by Nik Cohn for New York Magazine. Stigwood’s decision made good sense, given the Bee Gees’ recent resurgence on the charts with hits such as “Jive Talkin'” and “You Should Be Dancing,” but no-one could have predicted that the soundtrack would prove to be the career-defining success that it turned out to be.

Rather than write tailor made tracks from scratch for “Saturday Night Fever,” the group contributed several numbers that they were already working on, as well as the aforementioned “Jive Talkin'” and “You Should Be Dancing.” Yvonne Elliman’s excellent recording of the Bee Gees-penned “If I Can’t Have You” was also on the soundtrack and went on to become a number one single.

As enduring as “How Deep Is Your Love” is, the production is also very much of its time, with the soaring harmonies, atmospheric keyboard part and subtle orchestration which underpins the exquisite melody. With Barry Gibb’s lead vocals avoiding the top-end falsetto that he is so well known for, the song also seems a little less gimmicky than tracks such as “Staying Alive” and “Night Fever,” although that isn’t a criticism of those two as they remain classic pop songs.

In the recent UK television show, “The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song,” pianist Blue Weaver remembered how the song began to take shape:

“The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song” revealed the results of a public vote to find the Bee Gees’ song that was most popular with the UK public. “How Deep Is Your Love” topped the list.

The Bee Gees – “How Deep Is Your Love”

“How Deep Is Your Love” earned the Bee Gees a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Group. The “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack also won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Authorship

“How Deep Is Your Love” was written by the brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.

Recording date/location

“How Deep Is Your Love” was recorded in the spring of 1977 at Château d’Hérouville, Hérouville, France.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “How Deep Is Your Love”:

• Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb – vocals
• Maurice Gibb – vocals, bass
• Alan Kendall – guitar
• Blue Weaver – Keyboards
• Dennis Bryon – drums.

Blue Weaver and Dennis Bryon were both former members of the group Amen Corner.

Chart performance

“How Deep Is Your Love” replaced Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on December 18, 1977 and remained on top for three weeks. This began a remarkable run of six consecutive US number ones for the group.

The song peaked at number three on the UK singles chart.

The “Saturday Night Fever” album was a sensation, remaining on the Billboard album chart for 120 weeks, including 24 weeks at number one. It was on top for 18 weeks on the UK album chart.

Cover

Take That – “How Deep Is Your Love”

Take That revived “How Deep Is Your Love” for their farewell single in 1996 and took it to the top of the charts in the UK. The cover is very well done and quite faithful to the original. Not sure what the video’s director was thinking though.

There will be a new Song of the Week on January 9.

“How Deep Is Your Love” is available on the soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever.”

Title
Saturday Night Fever Official Soundtrack (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now