Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978
NEW 2024 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: March 1, 2013
“Shadow Dancing” is a hit disco track by English singer Andy Gibb, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive seven weeks in 1978. Produced and arranged by Albhy Galuten, with contributions from Barry Gibb, the song marked a peak in Andy’s chart success. In July of that year, Andy performed “Shadow Dancing” at Miami’s Jai-Alai Fronton Studios, where Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb unexpectedly joined him on stage. This was the first time all four Gibb brothers performed together live.
According to Billboard’s Book of Number One Hits, Andy Gibb became the first solo artist in U.S. pop history to see his first three singles reach the number-one spot. “Shadow Dancing” was not only the top single of 1978 on Billboard’s year-end chart but also peaked at number eleven on the soul chart, selling 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone.
The song was a collaboration among Andy and his brothers—Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb—written in Los Angeles while the three elder brothers worked on the film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Andy recalled, “One night, while we were relaxing, we started working on tracks for my album Shadow Dancing, which later reached #7 on the U.S. album chart. In just ten minutes, we had a group going with the chorus.” This track became Andy’s final U.S. chart-topper, though he would achieve three more Top 10 hits in America.
On March 5, 1988, Andy Gibb celebrated his 30th birthday in London, in the midst of working on a new album. Tragically, just five days later, on March 10, he passed away from myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart muscle brought on by a recent viral infection and worsened by his years of cocaine abuse.
The B-side of this 12″ release features “Manhattan Skyline,” an instrumental by American composer David Shire. This track, from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, reflects Shire’s expertise in film, television, and stage musicals.
- Denotes vinyl-only
SIDE A:
Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing (Special Disco Version)+ 6:06
Producer – Albhy Galuten, Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson
Written-By – Andy Gibb, Barry Gibb-Robin Gibb-Maurice Gibb*
SIDE B:
David Shire – Manhattan Skyline (Instrumental) 4:43
Producer – Bill Oakes, David Shire
Written-By – David Shire
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Shadow Dancing | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1978 | Shadow Dancing | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #8 |
| 1978 | Shadow Dancing | U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles | #11 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RSO – RPO 1000
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Single
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Disco, Funk
NOTES:
12″ housed in a white jacket with front title/artist text. Gold stamped rear.
A:
Produced by arrangement with The Robert Stigwood Organisation.
Extended version from Andy Gibb’s forthcoming album “Shadow Dancing” RS-1-3034
B:
From the RSO Records Soundtrack Album “Saturday Night Fever” RS-2-4001
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.
I know I’m late to the party, but thanks for the new transfer Paul!! I didn’t realize this was as big a hit as it was, even being the biggest hit of 1978! Man, everything The Bee Gees touched back then turned to gold, whether for themselves, their brother Andy, Yvonne Elliman (#1 hit If I Can’t Have You) or Samantha Sang (#3 hit Emotion). I really miss them. For me, Samantha Sang’s Emotion stands out from that time period being constantly on the radio. And that backup singer sounded familiar, Lol. Funny you posted this Paul, lately I’ve been… Read more »
Better late than never, Retro Hound. The Bee Gees were truly the sound of the 70s, and I loved their work in the 80s. “One” is my favorite late Bee Gees track.
I love “One” too. I have the 45 RPM and, of course, your pristine transfer of the US 12″.
Andy Gibb was such a tragedy. He was rumored to have never felt deserving of his success because he was riding on his brothers’ success. This may have fed his cocaine use that ultimately led to his death. I remember being excited he was working on a new album, then he died. A subsequent “Andy Gibb” 1991 compilation album gave us the unreleased “Man On Fire” & then The Bee Gees 2010 Mythology box set gave us “Arrow Through The Heart” with it’s haunting refrain “I’m too young to die.” Such a small taste hinting at what might have been.… Read more »
I hope you like the new transfer. I’m curious to know what you think. My favorite album is “Flowing Rivers” which was his debut my second is “After Dark” because of the two ONJ duets. 🙂
So true! If only Andy was in Xanadu!!!
That would have been amazing!
Oh man, great choice – thanks so much! I remember like yesterday when ‘Shadow Dancing’ was a hit … in fact, I believe it was the overall top radio hit of all of 1978. I was a devoted Kasey Casum listener at the time and remember the year-end countdown … I’d make notes about every single song. I wish I could find those notes now !!!
I did the same thing, Grant. I still listen to AT40 in the care iHeart radio plays them. “Shadow Dancing” was rated Billboard’s #1 single of 1978.
I’m glad to know my memory does retain some things correctly, lol!! And I believe that the prior year he also had the #1 hit of 1977 with “I Want To Be Your Everything” … or in the top 5 at least.
And that’s cool that you were/are an AT40 fan! Something about it … I never missed an episode back in the day. And it’s still soothing to hear Kasem’s voice.
I agree.
I love this song, Paul. Andy Gibb had it going on for sure! This brings back fond memories for me. It’s impressive that it reached number one for seven weeks. I still think songs back then deserve so much credit for their chart positions than music released today. Back then it was more about physical sales and maybe, radio airplay. Now, with streaming and such, I’m not sure the music has the staying power and impressions it once had. And, please, don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of current stuff which I love, but the way success is measured… Read more »
Thanks, Jeff. I agree that it felt more like you had to work for that chart position if people bought your record and radio played it you got the coveted spots on Billboard. I hope you and everyone else have a great weekend. 🙂