Fine Line (Barry Gibb song)

"Fine Line" is a 1984 single by Barry Gibb. The song was written by Gibb and keyboardist George Bitzer. It is the second and final single from his debut solo album Now Voyager. It was released in October 1984 in North America by MCA Records and in most countries by Polydor Records. The song was failed to chart in the United States, but it did manage to reach #50 on the Hot Dance Club Songs.[1] The 12" version of this song was remixed by Larry Patterson.[2] This single was less successful than his previous single, "Shine, Shine".

"Fine Line"
Japanese picture sleeve for this song with "One Night (For Lovers)" as the flipside.
Single by Barry Gibb
from the album Now Voyager
B-side
ReleasedOctober 1984
GenrePost-disco, synthpop
Length5:07
LabelMCA (US)
Polydor
Songwriter(s)Barry Gibb, George Bitzer
Producer(s)Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson
Barry Gibb singles chronology
"Shine, Shine"
(1984)
"Fine Line"
(1984)
"Childhood Days"
(1988)

Recording edit

"Fine Line" was recorded as a demo in November or December 1983 in Miami Beach with "Face to Face", "The Hunter", "One Night (For Lovers)" and "The Hunter".[3] The song features The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey singing backing vocals along with Olivia Newton-John and Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band.[4]

The song also contains a rap section by Gibb himself:

It's wild, it's weird, it's what we think about / This ain't no strip club, shame on you / 'Cause you know somebody that got a bead on what you need / Don't sacrifice your love / You analyze, don't minimize / What only you can rise above.

Music video edit

The music video of "Fine Line" was made as a part of Gibb's movie Now Voyager on which all songs on his album of the same name was featured. For "Fine Line", it was filmed in a black and white. Gibb had his trademark beard shaven off in this video.[5] He also shaved his beard on the Bee Gees' music video "Night Fever" and the alternative music videos of "How Deep Is Your Love"[6] and "Stayin' Alive".[7]

Track listing edit

7" promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Fine Line"5:07
2."Stay Alone"3:42
12" promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Fine Line (Extended Dance Version)"6:31
2."Fine Line (Single Version)"5:07
3."Fine Line (Album Version)"5:07
12" and 45rpm promo single
No.TitleLength
1."Fine Line (Extended Dance Version)"6:31
2."Fine Line (Single Version)"5:07
3."One Night (For Lovers)"4:15

Charts edit

Chart (1984) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[8] 50

References edit

  1. ^ Billboard:Hot Dance/Disco. 12 January 1985. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  2. ^ Billboard: Dance Trax (1 December 1984). December 1984. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  3. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1983". Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  4. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1984". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Barry Gibb - Fine Line (Telegenics January 1985. Pop Rock)". YouTube. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  6. ^ "1977 Bee Gees - How deep is your love (Alternate Version)". YouTube. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive [MQ 2nd rare video version 1978]". YouTube. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Barry Gibb - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2014.