"Love You Inside Out" is a 1979 song by the Bee Gees from their album Spirits Having Flown. It was their last song to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1979. This song replaced Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" at the top, and it was the third song from the album to reach number one. In the UK, the song reached number 13 for two weeks. It was the ninth and last number-one song for the Bee Gees in the United States and the twelfth and last number-one song in Canada. The group did not return to the top 10 until ten years later with the song "One."
Background
The song is a slow funk-style track. While recording the song, the Bee Gees played a joke on their manager, Robert Stigwood, by sending him a version that included the line "backwards and forwards with my cock hanging out" to test if he was paying attention to their work. In the version that was officially released, the line was changed to "backwards and forwards with my heart hanging out."
Achievements
"Love You Inside Out" was an important achievement for the Bee Gees. It helped them earn a lasting spot in rock history after reaching number one on the US Billboard charts. This was their ninth number one in the US. If you count "Lonely Days," which reached number one on the Cashbox charts in 1971, it would be their tenth. This is more number one hits than any other artist from the 1970s. It was also the Bee Gees’ sixth number one in a row in one year. Only The Beatles had done this before. Additionally, it was the third number one in a row from their album Spirits Having Flown. This came after three number ones in a row from their previous album, Saturday Night Fever. At that time, no other artist had three number one hits in a row from two albums in succession. This placed them fourth among all artists with nine number one singles and fourth in total weeks (27) at number one. The song started at number 28 on the UK charts.
Reception
Billboard described the song as having a disco-style melody with unique high-pitched singing and harmonies. Billboard selected "Love You Inside Out" as one of the best songs on the album Spirits Having Flown. Cash Box referred to it as a well-arranged and performed love song. Record World noted that the song has some disco elements and the Bee Gees' high-pitched harmonies. Smash Hits called it a calm, moderate-paced song that is usually well-made but has very high vocals. I think it's boring. Not bad, just boring.
Personnel
- Barry Gibb – lead vocals, harmony vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Robin Gibb – backing vocals
- Maurice Gibb – bass, backing vocals
- Alan Kendall – electric guitar
- Dennis Bryon – drums
- Blue Weaver – synthesizer, keyboard, programming
- George Terry – electric guitar
Samples
In 1996, the R&B group Total used parts of the song on the album track "When Boy Meets Girl" from their self-titled debut album. In 2004, the song was covered by Feist under the title "Inside and Out" on her 2004 album Let It Die. It was released as the third single from the album in 2004. Saxophonist Arturo Tappin's smooth jazz version, titled "Love You Inside and Out," is on his 2007 album Inside Out. The song "Love You Inside Out" was used by Snoop Dogg in his 2005 rap single "Ups & Downs" and on the rap group Nemesis' hit "Cantifiguritout." This song was also used in R. Kelly and Jay-Z's hit "Honey."