Nights on Broadway

The first time Barry Gibb dared to raise his voice to that high register was to give more power to "Nights on Broadway". Producer Arif Mardin had asked the Bee Gees if anyone could "scream" in the chorus to make it more impactful. Barry, unaware he possessed this ability, began to sing louder and louder until he reached an unexpectedly powerful falsetto. That moment marked the beginning of a sound that would become a hallmark of the group. The lyrics, as the story goes, were born from a dream and speak of a man pursuing a woman who doesn't love him, attributing his situation to the "nights on Broadway" and the love songs sung there. Musically, the melody of "Nights on Broadway" features a tighter rhythm and a rhythmic sway that accompanies the urgency of the lyrics, with a beat that invites dancing.

The recording of "Nights on Broadway" took place in January 1975, at Criteria Studios in Miami, as part of the sessions for the album Main Course. This album marked a significant turning point for the Bee Gees, as it was the first to predominantly incorporate R&B, soul, and disco influences, laying the groundwork for their late seventies sound. The single "Nights on Broadway", released in September 1975, closely followed the number one hit "Jive Talkin'". The version that reached the radio was edited to shorten its duration. The song, written by the three brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, was produced by Arif Mardin and became a hit, reaching number seven on the American Billboard Hot 100. In 1977, Candi Staton recorded her own version of the song.