Arrow Through The Heart
Encyclopedia
Arrow Through The Heart was the final song recorded by singer-songwriter Andy Gibb
before his death in 1988. The song was publicly released in its entirety for the first time on the Bee Gees
' 2010 compilation box set Mythology
.
The song was written by Barry
, Maurice
, and Andy Gibb
as the last of four songs that would have led to an Andy Gibb comeback album after his long battle with drugs. As preparation for that never-to-be album (which would have been released by Island Records
), Andy and two of his Bee Gee brothers, Barry and Maurice, recorded demos of the four songs, one of which was "Man on Fire", the latter would ultimately be released on Andy Gibb's 1991
self-titled album. "Arrow" would turn out to be the final song Andy would ever record, in late 1987.
The lyrics, about a man's vain search for happiness, would prove to be prophetic for Andy (he died in 1988, several months after he recorded this song).
"Arrow" would be unreleased to the public for many years until VH1
's Behind the Music
series profiled Andy Gibb in an episode that would debut a segment of the song over the show's end credits. The entirety of this song has been bootlegged. However, the estates of the deceased Gibb brothers (Andy and Maurice), the surviving Bee Gees (Barry and Robin), and Warner Music Group
would eventually sanction an official release of the complete song for 2010's Mythology
, an anthology set covering the careers of Andy and the Bee Gees.
Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of the family whose other male siblings formed the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.-The early years:...
before his death in 1988. The song was publicly released in its entirety for the first time on the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' 2010 compilation box set Mythology
Mythology (Bee Gees album)
Mythology is a box set compilation of recordings by the Gibb Brothers, mostly performed as The Bee Gees, arranged in a four disc set each highlighting each Gibb brother. Barry and Robin chose their own songs , with Maurice's songs selected by his widow Yvonne and Andy's songs selected by his...
.
The song was written by Barry
Barry Gibb
Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major...
, Maurice
Maurice Gibb
Maurice Ernest Gibb, CBE was a musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was born on the Isle of Man, the twin brother of Robin Gibb, and younger brother to Barry. He is best known as a member of the singing/songwriting trio the Bee Gees, formed with his brothers...
, and Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was an English singer and teen idol, and the youngest brother of the family whose other male siblings formed the Bee Gees: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.-The early years:...
as the last of four songs that would have led to an Andy Gibb comeback album after his long battle with drugs. As preparation for that never-to-be album (which would have been released by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
), Andy and two of his Bee Gee brothers, Barry and Maurice, recorded demos of the four songs, one of which was "Man on Fire", the latter would ultimately be released on Andy Gibb's 1991
1991 in music
See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
self-titled album. "Arrow" would turn out to be the final song Andy would ever record, in late 1987.
The lyrics, about a man's vain search for happiness, would prove to be prophetic for Andy (he died in 1988, several months after he recorded this song).
"Arrow" would be unreleased to the public for many years until VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
series profiled Andy Gibb in an episode that would debut a segment of the song over the show's end credits. The entirety of this song has been bootlegged. However, the estates of the deceased Gibb brothers (Andy and Maurice), the surviving Bee Gees (Barry and Robin), and Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
would eventually sanction an official release of the complete song for 2010's Mythology
Mythology (Bee Gees album)
Mythology is a box set compilation of recordings by the Gibb Brothers, mostly performed as The Bee Gees, arranged in a four disc set each highlighting each Gibb brother. Barry and Robin chose their own songs , with Maurice's songs selected by his widow Yvonne and Andy's songs selected by his...
, an anthology set covering the careers of Andy and the Bee Gees.