More Than a Woman (Bee Gees song)

{{Infobox song

| name = More Than a Woman

| type = single

| cover = Bee Gees - More Than a Woman.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| caption = The Italian single release of the song, backed with "Children of the World"

| artist = the Bee Gees

| album = Saturday Night Fever

| released = {{start date|1978|4|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bee+Gees&titel=More+Than+A+Woman&cat=s|title=Bee Gees singles}}

| recorded = February–September 1977

| studio = *Le Chateau (Hérouville, France)

Criteria (Miami)
Cherokee (Los Angeles)

| genre = Disco{{cite news|title= Bee Gees bass player dies at 53 |newspaper= The Morning Journal |date= 13 January 2003 |access-date= 15 May 2018 |url= http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20030113/NEWS/301139977}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=15}}

| label = RSO

| writer = *Barry Gibb

| producer = *Bee Gees

Albhy Galuten
Karl Richardson

| misc = {{External music video|header=Lyric video|{{YouTube|uQ9_MwZIaoc|"Bee Gees - More Than A Woman (Lyric Video)"}}|type=song}}

}}

"More Than a Woman" is a song by musical group the Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb{{cite web|first= Donald A. |last= Guarisco |title= More Than a Woman – Song Review |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 29 January 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/song/more-than-a-woman-mt0012742852}} for the soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever. It became a regular feature of the group's live sets from 1977 until Maurice Gibb's death in 2003 and was often coupled with "Night Fever".

Recording and release

The Bee Gees started to record the song from February to March 1977 in the Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville in France, continued it in Criteria Studios in Miami in April, and later in September, the song was finished in Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles.{{cite web|first= Joseph |last= Brennan |title= Gibb Songs : 1977 |agency= Columbia University |access-date= 23 December 2014 |url= http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/77.html}}

The soundtrack includes two versions – one by the Bee Gees and the other by Tavares. Both versions are featured in the film as well. The song has been recorded and performed by various artists and in various forms. The song by the Bee Gees was not released as a single in the US and the UK, but it was in other countries such Italy and Australia. Despite that, it has remained a staple on radio, and is one of their best known songs. An abridged live version of the song, performed by the Bee Gees in 1997, is available on both the DVD and CD versions of One Night Only.

The song has also been included on Bee Gees compilations such as Tales from the Brothers Gibb and Their Greatest Hits: The Record. The very first British pressings of Their Greatest Hits: The Record featured the song with a mastering fault, with the audio noticeably dipping to the right briefly during the first verse. This was corrected after several thousand copies had been distributed.{{cn|date=January 2021}}

A new remix of the song was done by British DJ SG Lewis, which was released in 2021 in response to the TikTok craze.{{Cite news|url=https://edm.com/music-releases/bee-gees-more-than-a-woman-sg-lewis-remixes|title=SG Lewis goes back in time with remix of "More Than a Woman" by the Bee Gees|author=Rachel Kupfer|website=EDM.com|date=27 June 2021|access-date=25 August 2022}} The song also appeared in the Glee episode titled "Saturday Night Gleever", with Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera and Chris Colfer on vocals.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track.{{cite AV media notes|title= Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track |year= 1977 |type= liner notes |publisher= RSO |access-date= 16 May 2016 |url= https://www.discogs.com/release/5333065-Saturday-Night-Fever-The-Original-Movie-Sound-Track/images}}

Barry Gibb – vocals, guitar
Robin Gibb – vocals
Maurice Gibb – vocals, bass guitar
Alan Kendall – guitar
Dennis Bryon – drums
Blue Weaver – keyboards
Joe Lala – percussion

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1978)

!Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 |publisher= Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date= 1 April 2015 |url= http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages=}}

|align="center"|31

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page= 26}}

|align="center"|39

class="wikitable"

!Chart (2021)

!Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboarddanceelectronic|6|artist=Bee Gees|accessdate=13 April 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"

!Chart (2021)

!Position

US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title= Year-End Charts: Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – 2021 |magazine= Billboard |access-date=3 December 2021|url= https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-dance-electronic-songs}}

|align="center"|47

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Bee Gees|title=More Than a Woman|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2024|id=14111|access-date=14 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Bee Gees|title=More Than a Woman|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2023|id=11741|access-date=1 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1978|certyear=2024|artist=Bee Gees|title=More Than a Woman|access-date=13 January 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bee Gees|title=More Than a Woman|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|id=16062-1694-1|access-date=30 June 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Tavares version

{{Infobox song

| name = More Than a Woman

| image = More than a Woman by Tavares Side-A US vinyl.png

| alt =

| caption = US vinyl label

| type = single

| artist = Tavares

| album = Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track and Future Bound

| B-side = {{unbulleted list|"Keep in Touch" (US)|"We're Both Ready for Love" (UK)}}

| released = November 1977

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:25

| label = {{hlist|Polydor|RSO|Capitol|EMI}}

| writer = {{hlist|Barry Gibb|Robin Gibb|Maurice Gibb}}

| producer = Freddie Perren

| prev_title = Whodunit

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = One Step Away

| next_year = 1977

}}

"More Than a Woman" was also recorded by Tavares in 1977, and also appeared in Saturday Night Fever and on the soundtrack album. It also featured on their 1978 album Future Bound. Their version charted at number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.

=Charts=

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1977–1978)

!Peak
position

{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|29|chartid=5486a|accessdate=10 July 2013}}

{{singlechart|Dutch100|34|artist=Tavares|song=More Than A Woman|accessdate=10 July 2013}}

{{singlechart|UK|7|date=19780527|accessdate=1 January 2014|refname="UK"}}

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|title= Tavares – Awards |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 10 July 2013 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tavares-mn0000016227/awards}}

|align="center"|32

US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)

|align="center"|36

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1978)

!Position

Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|title= Top 200 Singles of '78 |volume= 30 |issue= 14 |date= 30 December 1978 |magazine= RPM |publisher= Library and Archives Canada |access-date= 13 May 2018 |url= https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0070b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0070b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0070b}}

|align="center"|199

911 version

{{Infobox song

| name = More Than a Woman

| cover = 911-More-Than-a-Woman-1998.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = 911

| album = There It Is

| B-side = {{ubl|"Nothing Stops the Rain"|"Forever in My Heart"}}

| released = {{start date|1998|10|12|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:11

| label = Virgin

| writer = {{hlist|Barry Gibb|Robin Gibb|Maurice Gibb}}

| producer = {{hlist|Phil Harding|Ian Curnow}}

| prev_title = How Do You Want Me to Love You?

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = A Little Bit More

| next_year = 1999

}}

In 1998, British boy band 911 recorded "More Than a Woman" for their third studio album, There It Is (1999). Produced by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow, this version was released on 12 October 1998 as the album's lead single and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart while also charting in France and New Zealand.

=Release and reception=

911's version of "More Than a Woman" was added to BBC Radio 1's As Featured playlist on 7 September 1998; by the end of the month, it had been upgraded to the station's A-list.{{cite magazine|title= Radio One Playlists |magazine= Music Week |page= 28 |date= 12 September 1998 |access-date= 20 July 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-09-12.pdf}}{{cite magazine|title= Radio One Playlists |magazine= Music Week |page= 18 |date= 3 October 1998 |access-date= 20 July 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-10-03-S-OCR.pdf}} On 12 October 1998, Virgin Records released the song in the United Kingdom as two CD singles and a cassette single.{{cite magazine|title= Reviews > Delayed Releases |magazine= Music Week |page= 8 |date= 3 October 1998 |access-date= 15 September 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-10-03-S-OCR.pdf}}{{cite magazine|title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music Week |page= 29 |date= 10 October 1998 |access-date= 20 July 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-10-10-S-OCR.pdf}} Six days later, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's highest-charting single in the UK until the follow-up, a cover of Dr. Hook's "A Little Bit More", topped the UK chart in January 1999.{{cite web|title= 911 |publisher= Official Charts Company |access-date= 20 July 2021 |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/32786/911/}} For most of the week, "More Than a Woman" outsold Spacedust's "Gym and Tonic", but the latter song slipped ahead to become the number-one song of that week despite mediocre sales.{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |title= Chart Commentary |magazine= Music Week |page= 20 |date= 24 October 1998 |access-date= 20 July 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1998/Music-Week-1998-10-24-S-OCR.pdf}} "More Than a Woman" spent four weeks in the top 40 and 15 weeks in the top 100.

On the Eurochart Hot 100, the cover reached number 18 on 31 October 1998 as that week's Sales Breaker. Elsewhere in Europe, the song charted in France in March 1999, when it appeared on the SNEP Singles Chart for a single week at number 94, becoming the band's only single to chart there. In New Zealand, the song became 911's third of four songs to reach the top 50 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. After debuting at number 20 on 14 March 1999, it rose to its peak of number eight the following week to become the band's highest-charting song in New Zealand. It spent a further seven nonconsecutive weeks in the top 50.

=Track listings=

UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title= More Than a Woman |others= 911 |year= 1998 |type= UK CD1 liner notes |publisher= Virgin Records |id=VSCDT 1707, 7243 8 95389 0 8}}

"More Than a Woman" (radio edit) – 3:11
"Nothing Stops the Rain" – 3:34
"Forever in My Heart" – 4:02
"Interactive element

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title= More Than a Woman |others= 911 |year= 1998 |type= UK CD2 liner notes |publisher= Virgin Records |id=VSCDX 1707, 7243 8 95388 2 3}}

"More Than a Woman" (radio edit) – 3:11
"Nothing Stops the Rain" – 3:34
"More Than a Woman" (Dave Lee's 54 mix) – 7:59

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title= More Than a Woman |others= 911 |year= 1998 |type= UK cassette single sleeve |publisher= Virgin Records |id=VSC 1707, 7243 8 95388 4 7}}

"More Than a Woman" (radio edit) – 3:11
"Nothing Stops the Rain" – 3:34
"More Than a Woman" (Dave Lee's Rare mix) – 6:37

European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title= More Than a Woman |others= 911 |year= 1998 |type= European CD single liner notes |publisher= Virgin Records |id=VSCDE 1707, 7243 8 95426 2 2}}

"More Than a Woman" (radio edit) – 3:11
"Nothing Stops the Rain" – 3:34

=Personnel=

Personnel are adapted from the UK CD1 liner notes.

Barry Gibb – writing
Robin Gibb – writing
Maurice Gibb – writing
Tony Remy – guitar
Henry Thomas – bass
Mikeal J. Parlet – flute, saxophone
Michele Chiavarini – keys
Robert Anderson – percussion

Phil Harding – production
Ian Curnow – production
Dave Lee – additional production and mix
K-Boy Brooks – engineering
John O'Donnell – engineering
Joe @ Virgin Art – artwork design
Richard McLaren – photography

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1998–1999)

!Peak
position

Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/bf6zQFM| title=911 ARIA chart history (singles), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=12 July 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

|align="center"|127

Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|title= Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine= Music & Media |date= 31 October 1998 |volume= 15 |issue= 44 |page= 10 |access-date= 26 January 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-10-31.pdf}}

|align="center"|18

{{singlechart|France|94|artist=911|song=More Than a Woman|accessdate=13 May 2018|refname="fra911"}}

{{singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=911|song=More Than a Woman|accessdate=13 May 2018|refname="nz911"}}

{{singlechart|UK|2|date=19981024|accessdate=13 May 2018|refname="uk911"}}