How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Barry and Robin Gibb wrote How Can You Mend a Broken Heart in August 1970, with Lonely Days, as the brothers reconvened after their split. Barry said that Robin came to his place and that afternoon they wrote the song, which he called a link to their coming back together. Robin said the whole thing took about an hour. It was originally offered to Andy Williams. The single version was recorded in London on 28 January 1971 and opens Trafalgar.

Released on 28 May 1971, it was the Bee Gees' first US No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 in Cash Box for two weeks. It was also No. 4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and Billboard ranked it the fifth song of 1971. It failed to chart in the UK. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Live and covers

The Bee Gees performed it on The Midnight Special on 10 October 1975 and last played it in 2001. Among the 320 logged setlists that list songs, it appears in 200. Barry re-recorded it as a duet with Sheryl Crow for his 2020 album Greenfields. Al Green recorded it in 1972, and Michael Buble recorded it in 2003 with Barry singing backup.