In 1978, Andy Gibb released his sophomore album, the immensely popular Shadow Dancing. Seven of the ten songs are written or co-written by Andy, and they are all noteworthy and special in their own way.

Smack dab in the disco craze, and with his brothers the Bee Gees (the undisputed kings of disco) as co-writers, it is no wonder the title track skyrocketed up the top of the charts and stayed there for 7 weeks. With soaring strings, a complex melody and memorable lyrics, I still feel "Shadow Dancing" is a great song to dance to!

But that song is only one highlight in a CD jam-packed with them. "Why" is a bouncing and biting pop tune that is also fun to sing along to. "Good Feeling" is sweet, light, upbeat and fun. "I Go For You" begins like an Eagles song (their guitarist Don Felder guests on this song): on the downbeat with the low guitar/bass background, like "One of These Nights" and "I Can't Tell You Why". Andy later donated the song's rights to UNICEF.

The three most heartfelt songs on Shadow Dancing would earn a "recommended" from me even if the rest of the album was bland filler. "An Everlasting Love" is a lovely, mid-tempo number filled with strings and multi-tracked voices. And the title is now immortalized on Andy's grave.

There's also "(Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away". This is one of the most stirring, haunting and beautiful ballads I've ever heard. Barry Gibb supplies touching back-up vocals. A couple of years ago, the Bee Gees recorded a live concert CD (One Night Only), in which they performed this song in tribute to Andy. If that's not enough to send chills down your spine, Andy's voice (on tape, of course) comes in at the beginning of the second verse after the gorgeous instrumental interlude. I can only imagine how poignant the moment must have been in person, but the crowd's thunderous cheers on the CD really do say it all.

To close out the CD is the soft, beautiful and sweet ballad "Waiting For You". During the recording of Shadow Dancing, Andy and his wife Kim had just parted ways. Out of his heartache and loneliness, Andy wrote this song, pining to meet his partner for life, his soul mate. Andy was still only 20 at this time! Nonetheless, he laments to this phantom lady, "I'll be waiting for you...and I'll wait all my life..."

Andy's second album, Shadow Dancing, is the finest out of his three studio albums. It has the best songs, and flawless production once again by Barry Gibb and co. The only two songs I couldn't warm up to were the so-so B-sides "Melody" and "Fool For A Night", but those are only minor quibbles. It's just too bad Andy couldn't keep up the momentum, both personally and professionally. (See my epinion of After Dark.)

Recommended: Yes