Songoftheday 9/21/13 - Baby said you had to be a lover one way or the other nobody wins without once giving in so don't cry now...

Robin Gibb - "Boys Do Fall In Love"
from the album Secret Agent (1984)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37 (1 week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 4

Today's Song of the Day is by Robin Gibb, who as a member of the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice were one of the biggest acts of the 70s, only to see their careers stall a little after disco "died" in the early 80s. Apart from his work with his brothers, Robin also had a little solo success, at first when he temporarily left the group in 1969, and his single "Saved By The Bell" became a #2 hit in the UK.

Robin returned to the group shortly thereafter, and in 1978 during their boom days the remake of the Beatles' classic "Oh Darling", from the movie version of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and credited to Robin alone, reached #15 on the American pop chart.

In 1983, Robin released his second solo set How Old Are You, and the first single from the album, "Juliet", topped the chart in Germany and almost made the Hot 100 in America. That song pointed in a more new-wave direction, yet with his identifiable falsetto. The following year, his next year stretched even farther into that genre, eschewing his high voice for a robotic  midrange tone, and the result, "Boys Do Fall In Love", was co-written and produced by Robin and brother Maurice. The video seems really dated, but notice one of the first images of CD's that I remember...

"Boys Do Fall In Love" became Robin's second and last top-40 single in the US in July of 1984. It also became a hit in the clubs, reaching #8 on Billboard's Dance Club Play list. It would also reach the top-10 in Italy and top-40 in Germany and neighboring Austria.

Robin wouldn't have another hit in America, but in England he would return to the top-40 in 2003 with "Please", peaking at #23. The following year, he would do even better, as "My Lover's Prayer", his duet with Alistair Griffin, whom Robin mentored on the BBC show Fame Academy, went to #5. In 2007, he reached #7 in Germany with a remake of "Too Much Heaven" with boyband US5.

Four years ago he appeared on the Comic Relief version of "Islands In The Stream" which topped the British charts.  In 2011 his last appearance on the UK charts would be his cameo with "The Soldiers"  (an act featuring British army personnel) with "I've Got to Get A Message To You", which topped out at #75. Sadly, Robin passed away from complications from cancer in 2012.

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Here's Robin promoing the song on TV in Europe...

...and the club remix that made the top-10...

Up tomorrow: Metal newbies get some circular help from Mr. Television.