Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb in the studio 1980
Introduction
One of my “guilty pleasures” is Barbra Streisand’s Guilty. Hereby, the story behind the biggest sales success of Streisand’s enormous career.
Barbra Streisand
On July 12, 1979, Disco Demolition Night turned the music world on its head, by putting an end to disco. The hate within the big (white) rock audience was huge. Disco artists had become persona non grata. According to the audience the Bee Gees were held accountable for the “music that cannot be called music”. Overnight, the Bee Gees were over and done with.
Just like many artists (like The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Pink Floyd and Kiss), Barbra Streisand had also recorded disco songs. The best known was a duet with Donna Summer, which was released in October 1979 (the final huge disco hit): No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), a worldwide success, arguably still the most successful duet of all time in the US (2010, source wikipedia).
Barbra Streisand visits the Bee Gees 1979
That left everyone wanting more. In July 1979 Streisand visited a Bee Gees concert and contacted Barry Gibb in August/September 1979 asking him to write a few songs for her upcoming album. Gibb had already figured out it was probably better for him and his brothers to write songs and stay in the background a bit more, instead of focusing on the Bee Gees, so he accepted Streisand’s invitation.
A few songs turned into more and more songs, even more than could fit on just one album. So why not create a Gibb/Streisand album? And thus it was decided. Streisand’s 22nd (!) studio album would be written and produced by Barry Gibb. And, he would duet with Streisand on 2 songs. The demos Gibb had recorded were professionally recorded with a truck load of the finest musicians in the music business, in February and March of 1980.
On August 16, 1980, over a month before the album, the first single was released, a duet between Gibb and Streisand, Woman In Love. It would be Streisand’s first (and only) worldwide number 1 hit. The single was immensely popular. The incredible success was a prelude of things to come.
Barbra Streisand – Guilty
Guilty
When the album Guilty was finally released on September 23, 1980, it was an immediate smash. Australia, Europe, the UK, the US, the album topped the charts all round the world. Today, the album sold over 15 million copies and platinum (often multiple) awards/certifications in 13 countries. It was the most successful album of Streisand’s career.
Even though by that time Gibb was a well-respected producer and writer of multiple global hits, he was still insecure, especially when it came to Streisand. She had a reputation. Gibb:
We all had heard stories about how tough she is, and she is this enormous star. That’s got to intimidate anyone. I didn’t want to do it at first, but my wife told me to do it or she’d divorce me! I even called Neil Diamond to ask what it was like to work with her. He had nothing but glowing reports, so I felt a little less scared.
But, everyone who worked on the album was in awe of Streisand’s werk ethic, perseverance and professionalism.
No question. When she opened her mouth, and we were on the other side of the glass, we were, like, ‘what the fuck?!’
Gibb was able to really tap into the essence of Streisand, resulting in effortlessly singing the lyrics, except for Woman In Love. Gibb:
She questioned the line ‘it’s a right I defend / over and over again’. At first she felt that it was a little bit liberationist; a little too strong for a pop song.
Needless to say, not only did Streisand sing the song, but she was very pleased with the result, even more so when the single led to the biggest success she had ever experienced.
Streisand sings every song as if she truly believes every word deep down in the very core of her being, which gives the album its irresistible appeal.
Review
As stated above, Guilty is one of my “guilty pleasure” albums. When I complied that specific list I wrote “Sentimental romance? Sure. Does it work? Sure. Do I believe it? I think so.” I still stand by that assumption. I hardly ever listen to Guilty, but when I do, I truly enjoy it. Streisand sings beautifully, the brothers Gibb songs are extremely well written, the production is pristine and it is a fine listen. Nothing earth-shattering, but every once in a while great to dream away at.
Barbra Streisand – Guilty – Singles
Singles
Four (or five) singles were culled from the Guilty album:
- Woman in Love / Run Wild
(released on August 16, 1980) - Guilty / Life Story
(released in October 1980) - What Kind Of Fool / The Love Inside
(released in January 1981) - Promises / Make It Like A Memory
(released in May 1981)
In 1980 the single Life Story / Make It Like A Memory was released in The Netherlands (see the last cover in the image above). The single didn’t chart.
Barbra Streisand – Guilty – Back cover
Songs
All songs written by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb & Robin Gibb (#); Barry Gibb & Robin Gibb ($); Barry Gibb (*); Barry Gibb & Albhy Galuten (%).
- Guilty (with Barry Gibb) (#)
- Woman In Love ($)
- Run Wild ($)
- Promises ($)
- The Love Inside (*)
- What Kind Of Fool (with Barry Gibb) (%)
- Life Story ($)
- Never Give Up (%)
- Make It Like A Memory (%)
The songs were all written especially for Streisand, with the exception of The Love Inside, which stemmed from 1978.
Barbra Streisand – Guilty – Gatefold
Musicians
- Barbra Streisand – vocals
- George Bitzer – piano on Guilty, Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story; synthesizers on The Love Inside, Life Story, Never Give Up
- Richard Tee – piano on Guilty, Woman In Love, Run Wild, The Love Inside, What Kind Of Fool, Never Give Up, Make It Like A Memory; clavinet on Never Give Up
- Albhy Galuten – synthesizers on Promises, The Love Inside, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story
- Barry Gibb – guitar on Guilty, Woman In Love, Run Wild, The Love Inside, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story; vocals on Guilty, What Kind Of Fool; background vocals on Guilty, Run Wild, Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story, Never Give Up
- Cornell Dupree – guitar on Guilty, Never Give Up, Make It Like A Memory
- George Terry – guitar on Guilty, The Love Inside, Never Give Up, Make It Like A Memory; slide guitar on Run Wild
- Pete Carr – guitar on Woman In Love, What Kind Of Fool, Make It Like A Memory
- Lee Ritenour – guitar on Promises, Life Story
- Harold Cowart – bass on Guilty, Woman In Love, Run Wild, Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Never Give Up, Make It Like A Memory
- David Hungate – bass on Life Story
- Steve Gadd – drums on Guilty, Woman In Love, Run Wild, Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Never Give Up, Make It Like A Memory
- Bernard Lupe – drums on Woman In Love, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story
- Dennis Bryon – drums on Life Story
- Joe Lala – percussion on Guilty, Woman In Love, Promises, Life Story, Make It Like A Memory
- Jerry Peel – French horn on Woman In Love, Run Wild
- Whit Sidener, Dan Bonsanti, Neal Bonsanti – saxophone on Promises, Make It Like A Memory
- Peter Graves – trombone on Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story, Make It Like A Memory
- Russ Freeland, Mike Katz – trombone on What Kind Of Fool, Life Story
- Ken Faulk, Brett Murphy – trumpet on Promises, What Kind Of Fool, Life Story, Make It Like A Memory
- Myrna Matthews, Denise (Maynelli) DeCaro, Marti McCall – background vocals on Woman In Love, The Love Inside
Barbra Streisand – Guilty Pleasures & Barry Gibb – The Guilty Demos
After Guilty
Streisand would never match the major sales successes and awards ever again, the Guilty success was a once in a lifetime experience.
Streisand did return to working with Gibb, resulting in Guilty Pleasures (titled Guilty Too in the UK and Ireland) on September 20, 2005 (25 years after Guilty). The album was certified gold in the US and platinum in the UK.
On October 10, 2006, Barry Gibb released the album The Guilty Demos through Apple’s streaming service iTunes. It consists of the demos Barry Gibb had recorded in October 1979 for use on the Guilty album which were used as a guide for the professional recordings.
In closing
What do you think of Barbra Streisand’s Guilty? Let me know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Barbra Streisand and the huge success of Guilty. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
