On Oct. 29, 1983, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Islands in the Stream.” The song spent two weeks at the top, according to American Songwriter , after knocking Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” out of the top spot.

It also reached No. 1 on the country and adult contemporary charts. This is the first anniversary of that run since Parton’s death in August. Rogers died in March 2020.

A Bee Gees Song Built for Someone Else

Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote “Islands in the Stream” as an R&B song. They took the title from Ernest Hemingway’s 1970 novel of the same name.

Who it was originally for depends on which Gibb brother you ask. Barry Gibb has said they wrote it for Diana Ross. Robin Gibb said in a 2001 interview that it was meant for Marvin Gaye. Stereogum notes that Barry has mentioned both singers over the years.

How Kenny Rogers Ended Up With It

In 1983, Rogers was thinking about making a duets album and called Barry Gibb to ask if he had any songs.…