How Otis Redding Inspired One of the Bee Gees’ Most Beloved Songs

July 4, 2024, 10:15 a.m.

It is an infallible standard.

However, when the Bee Gees initially released “To Love Somebody” in 1967, it was not a notable hit for the three Gibb brothers.

In fact, it barely made a dent in the UK singles chart, peaking at a paltry number forty-one, despite performing slightly better in the US.

History has been much kinder to much of the Bee Gees’ catalog from this era, with many songs enjoying a second life, “To Love Somebody” being one of them.

Long before their disco days, when they were omnipresent on the airwaves, the Bee Gees were masters of writing heartbreaking, blue-eyed soul ballads.

There’s a good reason why such esteemed figures as Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, The Animals, Tom Jones, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Michael Bolton, Bonnie Tyler and Rod Stewart have all lent their voices to the song.

But “To Love Somebody” was written by Barry Gibb with the intention that one voice in particular would sing it: Otis Redding.

Having broken into the US and UK top twenty with their first single since returning to their home country from Australia with ‘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 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 impressed by the opportunity.

He reportedly came down immediately after their meeting, sang “To Love Somebody” and returned to propose the song to Otis.

According to Robin Gibb, “Otis Redding said he liked our material and that Barry would write him a song,” and that’s exactly what he did.

Sadly, Otis died before he had the opportunity to sing Gibb’s ode, although the Bee Gees had first recorded their own version.

Although it did not achieve much success after its initial release, “To Love Somebody” was adopted in the United States by a large number of artists.

As with most songs that stand the test of time, various stories emerge from the woodwork with many players claiming alternate origins.

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

In an interview given years later to Mojo In the magazine, Barry clarified exactly who he wrote the song for, suggesting that Stigwood’s claim might be the truth.

“It was for Robert,” Barry said in 2001. “I say this without shame. He asked me to write a song for him, personally.”

“It was written in New York and performed for Otis but, personally, it was intended for Robert. He meant a lot to me.”

“I don’t think it’s a homosexual affection, but an immense admiration for the abilities and gifts of this man.”

Gibb clearly maintained his affection for “To Love Somebody”, later designating it as the only song he would choose from the many he had written, because it had “a clear, emotional message”.

It certainly is – and we can only imagine what it would have sounded like with Otis’s imitable voice singing it.