Bee Gees, Too Much Heaven | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 55^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Too Much Heaven” by iconic brother trio, Bee Gees. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 55^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Too Much Heaven”, performed by Bee Gees.

“Nobody gets too much heaven no more / It’s much harder to come by, I’m waiting in line.” The glorious “Too Much Heaven” appears as the second track from Spirits Having Flown, the 1979 album by iconic, Grammy-winning pop trio, Bee Gees. Brothers Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, and Robin Gibb earned 15 top-10 hits with 9 of those reaching no. 1.  It shouldn’t be shocking that “Too Much Heaven” has the distinction of spending two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Brothers Gibb penned this stunning ballad, producing alongside Karl Richardson and Albhy Galuten.  The backdrop is nothing short of refined – exquisite, lust, and sophisticated to the nth degree. The sound is idiomatic of the symphonic arrangements that graced much of soul and pop music during the 70s.

The sound of “Too Much Heaven” is a big deal. Even bigger, however, are the vocals.  Barry Gibb delivers celestial lead vocals that are ultra-refined.  His tone and the falsetto is nothing short of epic.  Maurice and Robin Gibb sound superb as well, filling out golden vocal harmonies that sound flawless – as perfect as possible.  Truly, the trio emulate heaven as they sing with incredible ease yet pack a mighty punch.  Adding to the excellence beyond the production and vocals are the melodies – tuneful from the opening tip – as well as the songwriting.  The lyrics aren’t complex, but they sufficiently impart the tale. “Ooh, you and me, girl, got a lot of love in store / And it flows through you,” Barry sings in the first verse, adding in the second, “Oh, you make my world a summer day / Are you just a dream to fade away?” Aww! There’s more, of course: “When you are to me the light above / Made for all to see our precious love.” Of course, the centerpiece – the crème de la crème – is the chorus.  Excerpted at the top, it continues, sublimely, “Nobody gets too much love anymore / It’s as wide as a river and harder to climb.” “Too Much Heaven” doesn’t require extensive instrumental or lyrical analysis.  Its greatness speaks for itself.

Bee Gees // Spirits Having Flown // Capitol Music Group // 1979

 Bee Gees, Too Much Heaven: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 55 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol Music Group; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]