Too Much Heaven

Album: Spirits Having Flown (1979)
Charted: 3 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, the Bee Gees find a new way to express their abiding love, telling the lady that nobody gets too much heaven, so they should be together always. The group is often remembered for uptempo hits like "Stayin' Alive," but love songs like this one and "To Love Somebody" were also very effective.
  • The Bee Gees ruled 1978 with three #1 US hits, plus three more they (or at least Barry Gibb) wrote for other artists ("Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb, "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman, "Grease" by Frankie Valli). Remarkably, they had another three chart-toppers in 1979, starting with "Too Much Heaven."

    It was the lead single from their Spirits Having Flown album, followed by "Tragedy" and "Love You Inside Out." By the end of the year, American listeners had gotten too much Bee Gees, and their subsequent singles fizzled. They pivoted to focus on writing songs for other artists, which worked out very well. One of their biggest songwriting hits was "Islands in the Stream," a #1 for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1983.
  • The Bee Gees donated royalties from this song, estimated to be at least $7 million, to UNICEF. Along with Donna Summer, John Denver, Abba, and a few other big names, they pledged a song as part of the Music For Unicef Concert on January 9, 1979, held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Their song, "Too Much Heaven," ended up being the #1 hit in America that week and the centerpiece of the show, which aired as a primetime special on NBC the next evening. It was later included on the soundtrack album.
  • The horn section from the band Chicago played on this track, reciprocating for the Bee Gees singing on the 1978 Chicago song "Little Miss Lovin'" along with Chicago vocalist Peter Cetera.
  • The Bee Gees - Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb - wrote this song on a very productive day when they also wrote "Tragedy" and "Shadow Dancing." They had been working on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band movie, but were on a break from filming.
  • If it's a good one, you can never get too much chorus. This song opens with the chorus, which comes up again twice between verse lyrics, then closes out the song with three repetitions.

Comments: 1

  • Helena Skilton from QldI Was In A Childrens Home at Sandgate , My Mother was Hospilased with a nervous breakdown as a prisoner of war i poland I geewas Placed into a Childrens home I First Saw the bgees at RACQ Childrens Day Where were were treatred to see B Gees Perform Barry Was On Guitar And Twin Brothers Vocals Song IM Like a Rubber Ball Baby thats I am to you Twins Maurice & Robin Vocals Bouncy Bouncy Since Then the is Nothing that touches my Soul My Life Like You Appreciate Helena
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Early Days of MTV

Early Days of MTVFact or Fiction

If you can recall the days when MTV played videos, you know that there are lots of stories to tell. See if you can spot the real ones.