Soul
The song was written by The Bee Gees, that is, Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. They wrote it in 1978, and it was their contribution to the “Music for UNICEF” fund. They performed it at the “Music for UNICEF” concert on January 9, 1979. The song was supposed to be used in the 1978 film Moment by Moment, which starred John Travolta. Evidently, Barry Gibb did not care for the film, which a story about an older woman and a younger man. They also wanted to move into more of an R&B, soul direction. In 1978, The Bee Gees announced at the United Nations that the publishing royalties of for this single would go towards UNICEF to celebrate the International Year of the Child (that is, 1979). The song earned $7 million in royalties. President Jimmy Carter invited The Bee Gees to the White House to thank them for their donation. They presented him with a black satin tour jacket. Carter said that while he was not a disco fan, his daughter Amy loved their music.
In 1978-1979, the song skyrocketed to #1 in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It went to #2 in France, Ireland, and The Netherlands; #3 in the U.K., #4 in Finland, #5 in Australia, and #10 in Germany. It certified Platinum in the U.S. and Canada and Gold in the U.K. and France. “Too Much Heaven” found its way onto their 1979 album Spirits Having Flown.
The brothers Gibb were among the world’s best-selling music artists of all time. Barry is now the only surviving member.
