45 single, picture sleeve. RCA (PB 13615) (1983)
Image credit: Grandmasrockin at 45cat.com
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"Islands in the Stream" is a single by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released on August 15, 1983, by RCA Records as the first single from Rogers' Eyes That See in the Dark album. The song was written by The Bee Gees (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb). It was produced by Barry Gibb, Karl Richardson, and Albhy Galuten. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Dolly's seventeenth song to top the chart. It won Single Record of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards and has been certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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Track listing
Original 45 single
Side A
European 45 single
Side A
Side A
- Islands in the Stream (duet with Dolly Parton) (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) 4:08
- I Will Always Love You (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb) 4:20
European 45 single
Side A
- Islands in the Stream (duet with Dolly Parton) (Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb) 4:08
- Midsummer Nights (Barry Gibb, Albhy Galuten) 3:47
Recording
The instrumental track for "Islands in the Stream" was recorded on an unknown date at Middle Ear Studio in Miami, Florida. Kenny and Dolly recorded their vocals from April 11 to April 15, 1983, at Kenny's Lion Share Studios, in Los Angeles, California. The strings were recorded on an unknown date at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California.
Audio
Critical reception
The single was reviewed in the August 27, 1983 issue of Billboard magazine. The review said, "Three of the strongest musical personalities on the scene merge in a seamless bit of teamwork as Rogers joins forces with Parton and the Brothers Gibb in his debut single for RCA. Pop, AC and Country bases are all covered for a clear crossover smash."
Cashbox also reviewed the single in their August 27, 1983 issue. It said, "The first entry from Kenny Rogers' new label and production team shows another dramatic change from a man whose extraordinary career is full of them. The tuneful Bee Gees-penned love duet also marks the first time that Rogers and Dolly Parton have recorded together. Barry Gibb's input has the same golden touch which shone so bright on earlier like efforts with Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick. The sound is simply gorgeous, as is the melody, as are the voices."
Cashbox also reviewed the single in their August 27, 1983 issue. It said, "The first entry from Kenny Rogers' new label and production team shows another dramatic change from a man whose extraordinary career is full of them. The tuneful Bee Gees-penned love duet also marks the first time that Rogers and Dolly Parton have recorded together. Barry Gibb's input has the same golden touch which shone so bright on earlier like efforts with Barbra Streisand and Dionne Warwick. The sound is simply gorgeous, as is the melody, as are the voices."
Billboard review, August 27, 1983.
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Cashbox review, August 27, 1983.
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Commercial performance
"Islands in the Stream" debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated September 3, 1983. It peaked at number one on the chart dated October 29, its ninth week on the chart and remained there for an additional week. It charted for 23 weeks. The song re-entered the chart for one week at number 20 following Rogers' death in March 2020. It peaked at number one on both the Cashbox County Singles chart and the Cashbox Top Singles chart. The song already reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The single was also successful in Canada, peaking at number one on the RPM Country Singles chart, the RPM Top Singles chart, and the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The single peaked at number five in Venezuela.
The single saw success in several European countries also. It peaked at number one in Austria, number two in Ireland and Norway, number three in Sweden, number four in Belgium and the Netherlands, number 7 on the UK Singles Chart, number 25 in West Germany, number 28 in Spain, and number 49 in Italy.
It peaked at number one in Australia on the Kent Music Report and number two in New Zealand. It also peaked at number four in South Africa.
The single saw success in several European countries also. It peaked at number one in Austria, number two in Ireland and Norway, number three in Sweden, number four in Belgium and the Netherlands, number 7 on the UK Singles Chart, number 25 in West Germany, number 28 in Spain, and number 49 in Italy.
It peaked at number one in Australia on the Kent Music Report and number two in New Zealand. It also peaked at number four in South Africa.
Accolades
Islands in the Stream" was widely recognized by several award organizations. It won Single Record of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1984 and Favorite Country Song at the American Music Awards in 1984 and 1985. It was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, Single of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards in 1984, and Single of the Year at the 1984 Music City News Awards.
The single has been certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for 3 million certified units. In the UK it has also been certified 3x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, recognizing 1.8 million units. The single has been also certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for 70,000 units, Platinum by IFPI Sweden for 50,000 units, and Platinum by Music Canada for 240,000 units.
The single has been certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for 3 million certified units. In the UK it has also been certified 3x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, recognizing 1.8 million units. The single has been also certified Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for 70,000 units, Platinum by IFPI Sweden for 50,000 units, and Platinum by Music Canada for 240,000 units.
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the 2009 box set, Dolly. They are representative of the Eyes That See in the Dark album as a whole and not this track specifically.
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