Guilty (Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb song)

"Guilty" is a vocal duet between Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb. The song was written by all three Bee Gees: Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. Released as a single from Streisand's 1980 album of the same name.^[4] "Guilty" peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 5 on the adult contemporary chart. In the UK, the song reached No. 34 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was certified gold by the RIAA. In addition, "Guilty" won a Grammy Award in the category Best Pop Vocal Performance, Duo or Group. The song also appeared on the 2001 Bee Gees compilation, Their Greatest Hits: The Record.^[5]

"Guilty"
Single by Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
from the album Guilty
B-side	"Life Story"
Released	October 1980
Recorded	1980
Studio	Middle Ear (Miami)^[1]
Genre	Lounge-pop^[2] yacht rock^[3]
Length	4:23
Label	Columbia (US) CBS (UK)
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Gibb-Galuten-Richardson
Barbra Streisand singles chronology
"Woman in Love" (1980) "Guilty" (1980) "What Kind of Fool" (1981)
Barry Gibb singles chronology
"Woman in Love" (1980) "Guilty" (1980) "What Kind of Fool" (1981)
Audio
"Barbra Streisand - Guilty (Official Audio) ft. Barry Gibb" on YouTube

Record World said that "Barbra's vocal glistens like an early morning dewdrop while Barry adorns with plush harmonies"^[6] In 2023, American Songwriter and The Guardian both named "Guilty" as Streisand's second-greatest song.^[7][8]

There is also a version by Tom Jones and Gladys Knight. It is also used in the films Madea's Witness Protection and Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.

Personnel

• Barbra Streisand – lead vocals
• Barry Gibb – lead and backing vocals, guitar, horn and string arrangement
• Robert Stigwood-record producer
• George Terry – guitar
• Cornell Dupree – guitar
• Richard Tee – electric piano
• George Bitzer – electric piano
• Harold Cowart – bass
• Steve Gadd – drums
• Joe Lala – percussion

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1980–1981) Peak position Australia (KMR)^[9] 37 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[10] 9 Canada RPM Top Singles 13 Ireland (IRMA)^[11] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[12] 15 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[^[13] 12 Norway (VG-lista)^[14] 4 Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[15] 11 UK Singles (OCC)^[16] 34 US Billboard Hot 100^[17] 3 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[18] 5 US Cash Box Top 100^[19] 8 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[20] 15

Year-end charts Chart (1980) Rank US Cash Box^[21] 82 Chart (1981) Rank US Billboard Hot 100^[22] 29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[23]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Human Nature version

"Guilty (One in a Million)"
Single by Human Nature
from the album Walk the Tightrope
Released	August 2004
Recorded	Sydney, Australia
Genre	Pop
Length	3:50
Label	Sony BMG
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Human Nature singles chronology
"When You Say You Love Me" (2001) "Guilty (One in a Million)" (2004) "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (2007)

Australian band Human Nature, released a cover version of the song as the second single from their album Walk the Tightrope. It introduced rapper Kelly K.A.E. The song peaked at No. 33 in Australia.

Music video

A music video was released to promote the song; with the group and Kelly K.A.E. singing the song in a studio. At one point, you see them flicking through vinyl records, one of which is the album “Guilty” by Streisand.^[24]

Track listing

CD single

1. "Guilty"
2. "Guilty" (Instrumental)
3. "When You Say You Love Me" (Ben Hudson Drums Mix)
4. "Haunted"

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[25]	33

Barry Gibb version

"Guilty"
Song by Barry Gibb
from the album The Guilty Demos
Released	November 2006
Recorded	October 1979 at Criteria Studios, Miami
Length	4:02
Songwriter(s)	Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)	Barry Gibb

"Guilty" is a song originally recorded by Barry Gibb as a guideline to Barbra Streisand for her album Guilty. On which Gibb on guitar, Blue Weaver on keyboard and Albhy Galuten on synthesizer.

The demo however sounds like the others, and since Barry sings it in falsetto throughout he had probably not yet decided to make it a duet. (By contrast, parts of "What Kind of Fool" are natural voice.) It was said to have been the last song submitted for the album.^[26]

Personnel

• Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
• Blue Weaver – keyboard
• Albhy Galuten – synthesizer, drum machine

References

1. . Archived from the original on June 27, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. Breihan, Tom (April 10, 2020). "The Number Ones: Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 15, 2023. "Guilty," a soft and chintzy lounge-pop number, peaked at #3.
3. Molanphy, Chris (July 31, 2021). "What a Fool Believes Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
4. Discogs.com. "Barbra Streisand - Guilty". Discogs.
5. Discogs.com. "Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits: The Record". Discogs.
6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 1, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
7. Patton, Alli (January 28, 2023). "Top 10 Barbra Streisand Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
8. Petridis, Alexis (October 27, 2023). "Barbra Streisand's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
9. . Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
10. "Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guilty". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
12. "Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
13. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. January 18, 1981. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
14. "Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty". VG-lista. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
15. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
17. "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
18. "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
19. . Tropicalglen.com. January 24, 1981. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
21. . Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
22. "Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
23. "British single certifications – Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
24. "Human Nature - Guilty (One In A Million)". YouTube. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
25. "Human Nature – Guilty". australian-charts.com. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
26. "Gibb Songs : 1979". Columbia.edu. Retrieved October 19, 2016.