Who Wrote Islands in the Stream

(Hint: It Wasn’t Dolly or Kenny)

Islands in the Stream topped the charts when it came out in 1983. Released by Kenny Rogers on his album Eyes That See in the Dark, the song fits the country genre perfectly. Rogers was a country singer-songwriter, and the hit could have easily been one of his. But what if we told you that the tune was not a Kenny Rogers original? Hop on the cruise for the curious as we jump headfirst into the stream and discover the true songsmith.

Who Originally Wrote Islands in the Stream?

Who Originally Wrote Islands in the Stream?

Initially written by the brothers Gibb, Islands in the Stream hit the airwaves in 1983. If you don’t know who that is, maybe you know them by their band name, the Bee Gees. Once topping every chart known to man, the Bee Gees were a force to be reckoned with when it came to disco. Who knew they dabbled outside of their genre? Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton sure did

What Was the Bee Gees’ Creative Process for the Song?

What Was the Bee Gees’ Creative Process for the Song?

After reading Ernest Hemmingway’s posthumous novel, Barry wrote Islands in the Stream. The song features none of the novel’s themes, save for the catchy title. Gibb wrote the tune for Marvin Gaye but decided Kenny Rogers was a better fit. He retooled the instrumentation and sent the future No. 1 hit to Rogers. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Who First Recorded Islands in the Stream?

Who First Recorded Islands in the Stream?

Barry Gibb and the Bee Gees worked on all of the songs on Rogers’ Eyes That See in the Dark album. Islands in the Stream took longer to record than other songs because Barry thought it was missing something. That something was Dolly Parton.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is best known for her work in country music. Her recording career began at age 13 with Puppy Love for the small label Goldband Records. By the time she graduated from high school in 1964, Dolly was a hot commodity. She moved to Nashville the day after her graduation and found success initially as a songwriter. The hits she wrote with her writing partner and uncle, Bill Owens, were recorded by Bill Phillips and Skeeter Davis among others.

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