Saturday Night Fever

The film Saturday Night Fever (1977) followed Tony Manero (John Travolta), a young Italian-American man who becomes a fixture in the nightclub scene of 1970s New York. The Bee Gees wrote several songs for the now iconic soundtrack, including the instantly recognizable hit “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love?”, and “More than a Woman.” They also penned “If I Can’t Have You,” which was performed by Yvonne Elliman. The album contains numerous other pop hits, including Kool & The Gang’s “Open Sesame,” and K.C. and the Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes.” Additionally, you’ll find two previous Bee Gees hits on this release: “Jive Talkin'” from Main Course (1975), and “You Should Be Dancing” from Children of the World (1976).

To call this album a cultural behemoth would practically be an understatement. It was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress in 2012 for its significance. The Bee Gees and composer David Shire earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score, and the Bee Gees were a contender for Best Original Song with “How Deep Is Your Love?” The album became the biggest selling soundtrack of all time and racked up more awards at the Grammys, including the coveted Album of the Year in 1979.

With this album, Barry Gibb achieved the unique honor of penning four consecutive number one hits. The string began with “Stayin’ Alive,” which remained at no. 1 on the U.S. charts for four weeks. The Bee Gees were usurped by their youngest brother, Andy Gibb, with his hit, “Love is Thicker Than Water,” which Barry Gibb co-wrote with Andy. “Night Fever” then reigned the charts for eight weeks, before Elliman’s version of “If I Can’t Have You” took the top spot.