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

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.