He's a Liar
"He's a Liar" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Bee Gees | ||||
from the album Living Eyes | ||||
B-side | "He's a Liar" (Instrumental) | |||
Released | 19 September 1981 | |||
Recorded | February – June 1981 | |||
Genre | Rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:00 4:36 (extended intro) | |||
Label | RSO | |||
Songwriter(s) | Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Bee Gees singles chronology | ||||
|
"He's a Liar" is a song by the Bee Gees, released on 19 September 1981 as the first single from their album Living Eyes.[2] The song was written by brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.
Background
Unlike the last three Bee Gees albums – which included primarily their established, longstanding studio and touring band – "He's a Liar" features an array of studio musicians: Don Felder of Eagles on lead guitars, Harold Cowart on bass, Steve Gadd on drums, and Richard Tee on piano. A version with a slightly longer intro was released as a 12-inch single in Germany and later on the Japan-only compilation Rare Collection. It was recorded between the months of February and June 1981.[3] This song is rumored to have been inspired by the feud the Bee Gees were having with their manager (and owner of their record label), Robert Stigwood, at the time. The brothers would later reconcile with Stigwood and remain good friends.
Release and aftermath
Even though this song sounded nothing like the Bee Gees' disco-era singles, the backlash had pigeonholed the Bee Gees as a disco act and radio stations were reluctant to play any new Bee Gees music. After six consecutive number-one singles in the US, "He's a Liar" peaked at number 30, which was far from the heights of their success in the late '70s. The song did better in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In Italy, the single sold 60,000 copies in two weeks.[4] The song's only appearance on a compilation was 1990's Tales from the Brothers Gibb.
Record World said that it has "a loping rhythm, recurring synthesizer bass figure" and "the Bee Gees' trademark harmonies."[5]
Music video
A video was made for the song which featured the three Gibb brothers and Sixteen Candles actress Haviland Morris. Robin portrays a man who is a lover of a woman, played by Haviland. However, Maurice spots the pair kissing, and he shoots them. After fleeing from the house, Maurice evades the police on foot, nearly getting caught. Eventually, he is cornered and thrown into a police car but manages to escape. In the last shot, a car drives down a darkened street and Maurice follows on foot, still being pursued by police. An ambulance with Robin and Haviland inside follows as the video and song fades out. The brothers also mime to the song in several shots.
Chart performance
Chart (1981) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 38 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] | 15 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 33 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] | 68 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 12 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 17 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 82 |
US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 30 |
US Cash Box | 40 |
US Record World | 43 |
References
- ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Islands in the Stream: the Bee Gees". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 479. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
- ^ "Billboard: Bee Gees - 'He's a Liar'". Billboard. September 19, 1981. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1981". Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ Fornari), Francesco (25 October 1981). "I Bee Gees irrompono domani sul mercato poi toccherà a Police, Zero e Frank Sinatra". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 19, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Bee Gees – He's a Liar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0427." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Bee Gees – He's a Liar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Bee Gees – He's a Liar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Bee Gees Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- v
- t
- e
- The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs
- Spicks and Specks
- Bee Gees' 1st
- Horizontal
- Idea
- Odessa
- Cucumber Castle
- 2 Years On
- Trafalgar
- To Whom It May Concern
- Life in a Tin Can
- Mr. Natural
- Main Course
- Children of the World
- Spirits Having Flown
- Living Eyes
- E.S.P.
- One
- High Civilization
- Size Isn't Everything
- Still Waters
- This Is Where I Came In
- The Bee Gees
- New York Mining Disaster 1941
- Melody
- Saturday Night Fever
- Staying Alive
- Here at Last... Bee Gees... Live
- One Night Only
- Turn Around, Look at Us
- Rare, Precious and Beautiful
- Rare, Precious and Beautiful, Volume 2
- Best of Bee Gees
- Inception/Nostalgia
- Best of Bee Gees, Volume 2
- Bee Gees Gold
- Bee Gees Greatest
- Tales from the Brothers Gibb
- The Very Best of the Bee Gees
- Their Greatest Hits: The Record
- Number Ones
- Love Songs
- The Ultimate Bee Gees
- Mythology
- Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits
- Idea
- Cucumber Castle
- The Bee Gees Special
- One for All Tour
- One Night Only
- The Ultimate Bee Gees
- In Our Own Time
- The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
- Discography
- A Kick in the Head Is Worth Eight in the Pants
- "The Barry Gibb Talk Show"
- The Rattlesnakes
- Humpy Bong
- The Fut
- The Bloomfields
- Tin Tin
- The Groove
- Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
- Toe Fat
- Amen Corner
- One World Project
- Robert Stigwood
- Hugh Gibb
- Andy Gibb
- Steve Gibb
- Spencer Gibb
- Statue of Bee Gees
- Douglas, Isle of Man
- Redcliffe, Queensland
- Category