Run to Me (Bee Gees song)

"Run to Me" is a song by the Bee Gees, the lead single from the group's album To Whom It May Concern (1972). The song reached the UK Top 10 and the US Top 20.

"Run To Me"
Single by Bee Gees
from the album To Whom It May Concern
B-side	"Road to Alaska"
Released	7 July 1972
Recorded	12 April 1972
Studio	IBC Studios, London
Genre	Pop, soft rock
Length	3:11
Label	Polydor Philips Atco
Songwriter(s)	Barry Gibb Robin Gibb Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Robert Stigwood, Bee Gees
Bee Gees singles chronology
"My World" (1972) "Run To Me" (1972) "Alive" (1972)
Audio sample
"Run to Me" file help

Writing and recording

Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb are credited as co-writers of "Run to Me".^[1] Later, Robin Gibb recalled, "We recorded 'Run to Me' and Andy Williams cut it on his LP. If Andy Williams came up to us and said write a song and we wrote 'Run to Me' for him, he probably wouldn't have recorded it. But we recorded it and then he recorded it."^[2]

"Run to Me" was recorded on 12 April 1972 at London's IBC Studios, on the same day as "Bad Bad Dreams" and "Please Don't Turn Out The Lights" were recorded. The song was similar to the band's last two successful singles, "Don't Wanna Live Inside Myself" and "My World". "Run to Me" includes vocals by both Barry and Robin Gibb.^[1]

Release and live performances

Released on 7 July 1972^[3] as the lead single off of the album To Whom It May Concern, ^[4] "Run to Me" climbed to number nine in the UK; in the US, it reached number 16.

Cash Box said that the song "features [the Bee Gees'] best chorus in years."^[5] Record World said that it "is as gently irresistible as 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.'"^[6]

A promotional video for this song was filmed in black and white, featuring Barry and Robin singing in front of Maurice's grand piano.^[7]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1972) Peak position Argentina Singles Chart[8] 10 Australia (Go-Set)[9] 3 Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 3 Bangkok[11] 1 Brazil[12] 2 Canada (RPM) Top Singles[13] 6 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary[14] 8 Denmark[15] 10 France (SNEP)[15] 85 Ireland (IRMA)[15] 7 Italy (Musica e Dischi)[16] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 28 New Zealand (Listener)[18] 6 South Africa (Springbok)[19] 3 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19] 8 UK (Official Charts Company)[20] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 16 US Billboard Easy Listening 6 US Cash Box Top 100[22] 11 US Record World[19] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1972) Rank Australia[23][failed verification] 27 Canada[24] 91 South Africa[25] 16 US Cash Box[26] 97

Personnel

• Barry Gibb – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
• Robin Gibb – lead and harmony vocals
• Maurice Gibb – harmony vocals, bass, piano, rhythm guitar
• Clem Cattini – drums
• Alan Kendall – lead guitar
• Bill Shepherd – orchestral arrangement

Cover versions

• Dionne Warwick and Barry Manilow released a version in 1985, which reached number 12 in the US Adult Contemporary chart^[27] and at number 86 in the UK.^[28]
• Barry Gibb re-recorded the song as a duet with Brandi Carlile for his 2021 album Greenfields.^[4]

See also

• List of number-one Billboard Hot Latin Tracks of 2000

References

1. Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs : 1972". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
2. Hughes, Andrew (2009). The Bee Gees - Tales of the Brothers Gibb. ISBN 9780857120045. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
3. "45cat - The Bee Gees - Run to Me/Road to Alaska". 45cat. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
4. Houghton, Cillea (9 January 2021). "LISTEN: Barry Gibb, Brandi Carlile Shine on 'Run to Me'". Taste of Country.
5. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 15 July 1972. p. 20. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 15 July 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
7. "1972 Bee Gees - Run to Me (Good Sound)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
8. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. 23 December 1972. p. 45. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
9. "Go-Set Australian Charts". Go-Set. 7 October 1972. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
10. Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992, Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W., ISBN 0-646-11917-6, 1993.
11. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. 23 September 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
12. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. 18 November 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
13. "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. 7 October 1972. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
14. "RPM 100 Singles". RPM. 30 September 1972. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
15. "Songs Written by the Gibb Family on the International Charts - Part 2" (PDF). brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
16. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bee Gees".
17. "Bee Gees - Run To Me". Dutchcharts.com. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
18. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
19. "Songs from the Year 1972". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
20. "BEE GEES - UK CHART HISTORY". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
21. "Bee Gees - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
22. "Cashbox Top 100". Cashbox Archives. 30 September 1972. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
23. "Australian Chart Books". Austchartbook.com.au. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
24. "Songs from the Year 1972". Tsort.info. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
25. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1972". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
26. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". 22 October 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
27. "Barry Manilow Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
28. "BARRY MANILOW | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 February 2022.