Face to Face (Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John song)


"Face to Face" is a ballad performed by Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John. It was released as a single from Gibb's 1984 album Now Voyager in Germany and Spain. It was also released in Brazil by Mercury Records. It was released as a single in the Philippines with "Temptation" as the B-side. It was also included on Newton-John's compilation Love Songs.
It is one of the two songs on the album along with "She Says" that was not featured on the 1984 film Now Voyager starring Gibb himself and Michael Hordern.

Background

It was written by Gibb, along with Maurice Gibb and George Bitzer in 1983. The solo version of "Face to Face" was recorded by Gibb as a demo in late 1983 with his brother Maurice and Bitzer along with four other songs.
"Face to Face" is almost a Newton-John's record with support from Gibb. Gibb and Newton-John also provides harmony vocals. Near the end of the song, Gibb is heard singing his trademark falsetto from 1975.
Newton-John also contributed background vocals on "Fine Line", a song also included on Gibb's Now Voyager.

Critical reception

critic William Ruhlmann called "Face to Face" as "a steamy ballad duet with Newton-John that wouldn't have been out of place on Guilty and might have a good single".