Introduction:
The song “Evening Star” is a poignant and evocative piece of music with a rich history, particularly notable for its connection to two titans of the music industry: Barry Gibb and Kenny Rogers. While many may be more familiar with the chart-topping version by Rogers, the original rendition by its writer, Barry Gibb, holds a special place in his extensive and celebrated catalogue. This version, which served as a demo for the famed Eyes That See in the Dark album, offers a raw and intimate glimpse into the creative process of one of the most successful songwriters of all time. It is a testament to Gibb’s versatility and his profound influence on music beyond the pop and disco realms for which he is most famous. The story of “Evening Star” is one of collaboration and creative synergy, a perfect example of how a song can evolve from a songwriter’s initial vision into a major commercial success in the hands of another artist.
The Barry Gibb version of “Evening Star” was released in 2006 as part of the compilation album, The Eyes That See in the Dark Demos. This release was a treasure trove for fans, providing a rare look at the original recordings of songs that would become hits for Kenny Rogers. It was on this album, a collection of previously unreleased tracks, that Gibb’s demo of “Evening Star” first became widely available to the public. The demo itself was recorded much earlier, in 1983, as a preliminary version for the Eyes That See in the Dark album. This original recording showcases Gibb’s distinctive voice, with a rich blend of his natural baritone and a gentle falsetto, characteristic of his work. The genre of the song, in its purest form, can be described as country. Gibb’s fascination and deep respect for country music are evident in the song’s lyrical themes and acoustic-driven arrangement. The demo version features a prominent, twangy guitar, understated percussion, and the signature harmony vocals of his brother Maurice Gibb, whose slap bass adds a distinct rhythmic element. It’s a country singalong that feels both classic and fresh, even decades after its creation.
For the Barry Gibb demo version, the achievements are more about its historical and artistic value than commercial chart performance. The primary achievement of this recording is its very existence and subsequent release. It allowed a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of a legendary songwriter. For fans and music historians, the demo’s release was a significant event, illuminating the original intent and feeling behind a song that would later become a major country hit. While the song itself didn’t chart as a single for Barry Gibb, its importance is measured by its contribution to a pivotal moment in Kenny Rogers’ career. The Rogers version of “Evening Star,” released in 1984, was a massive commercial success, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States and number 14 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. This success, of course, can be traced back to the strength of the original composition by Barry and Maurice Gibb.
The collaboration between Barry Gibb and Kenny Rogers was a monumental moment for both artists. Following the success of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Barry Gibb and his brothers Robin and Maurice became sought-after writers and producers for other artists, crafting hits for Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, and Diana Ross. By the early 1980s, Gibb was tasked with writing and producing an entire album for Kenny Rogers, a move that would bridge the worlds of country music and pop. The resulting album, Eyes That See in the Dark, was a commercial juggernaut, selling over five million copies in the United States alone. “Evening Star” was one of the key tracks from this project. Barry Gibb’s original demo, with its clean production and sincere vocal performance, played a crucial role in shaping the final product. It was a complete musical blueprint, giving Kenny Rogers and his team a perfect guide for the final studio recording. In this sense, the demo’s achievement is not in its own sales figures but in its foundational role in a multi-platinum album. It showcases Barry Gibb’s remarkable ability to not only write a song but to also envision its full potential, from a simple demo to a fully-realized hit.
The legacy of “Evening Star” in both its forms is a testament to the enduring power of good songwriting. Barry Gibb’s original demo, with its raw country sensibilities and heartfelt delivery, stands as a piece of musical history—a precursor to a song that would become a staple of 1980s country radio. It represents a period where Gibb’s creative influence extended across genres, proving that his melodic and lyrical gifts were not confined to the disco era. The subsequent release of the demo album in 2006 allowed a new generation of listeners to appreciate the genius of the initial recording and the collaborative spirit that defined so much of the Bee Gees’ work. This version of “Evening Star” is a humble yet powerful reminder of the artistry that exists behind the scenes, a shining example of how a song is born before it finds its way to the world stage.