How Otis Redding inspired one of the Bee Gees' most beloved songs

4 July 2024, 10:15 | Updated: 5 July 2024, 11:15

It's a sure-fire standard.

Though, when the Bee Gees initially released 'To Love Somebody' in 1967, it wasn't a notable hit for the three Gibb brothers.

In fact, it barely made a dent in the UK singles chart, peaking at a measly number forty-one, despite faring slighter better in the US.

History has been much kinder to much of the Bee Gees' catalogue from that era, with numerous tracks going on to have second lives, with 'To Love Somebody' being one of the aforementioned.

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Pre-dating their falsetto-indebted disco era - when they were seemingly ubiquitous on the airwaves - the Bee Gees were a dab hand at writing a heart-wrenching, blue-eyed soul ballad.

There's a valid reason why the esteemed likes of Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, The Animals, Tom Jones, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Michael Bolton, Bonnie Tyler, and Rod Stewart have all lent their voice to the song.

But 'To Love Somebody' was penned by Barry Gibb with the intention of one voice in particular singing it: Otis Redding.

After breaking through to the US and UK top twenty with their first single since relocating back to their home country from Australia in 'New York Mining Disaster in 1941', they quickly tried to build on that momentum.

A moment of inspiration struck Barry Gibb, who was visiting New York City for the very first time and staying at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Barry was visited by one of his musical heroes, Otis Redding, and was overawed by the occasion.

He reportedly went downstairs immediately after they met, thrashed out 'To Love Somebody', and returned to offer the song to Otis.

The Bee Gees - To Love Somebody (1967)

According to Robin Gibb, "Otis Redding said he loved our material and would Barry write him a song," and he did exactly that.

Sadly, Otis died before getting the opportunity to sing Gibb's ode to him, even though the Bee Gees recorded their own version first.

Though it didn't fare too well after its initial release, 'To Love Somebody' was embraced Stateside by a swathe of artists.

Like with most songs that stand the test of time, various tales pop out of the woodwork with numerous players claiming alternate origins.

The band's manager Robert Stigwood reportedly encouraged them to write a song in the style of the R&B duo Sam & Dave for Otis.

In an interview years later with Mojo magazine, Barry clarified exactly who he wrote the song for, suggesting Stigwood's request might have been the actual truth.

"It was for Robert," Barry said in 2001. "I say that unabashedly. He asked me to write a song for him, personally."

"It was written in New York and played to Otis but, personally, it was for Robert. He meant a great deal to me."

"I don't think it was a homosexual affection but a tremendous admiration for this man's abilities and gifts."

Gibb clearly maintains his affection for 'To Love Somebody', later naming it the one song he'd choose out of the many he'd written, because it has "a clear, emotional message".

It certainly does - and we can only imagine what it might've sounded like with Otis' imitable vocals singing it.