Reviews (page 2 of 7)
The Bee Gees are one of those bands where I can only name five or so songs off the top of my head, but I’d bet that there are loads more that have fallen out of the confines of my petite brain. Let’s listen to an album in full today and see what we thing! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Odessa, Melody Fair, First Of May There were times listening to this today when I had to check that I was still listening to the correct album. I had incorrectly assumed that the Bee Gees were entirely a disco band, but this album is far from it. It’s comparable to The Beatles at times, and has grandiose symphonies at others. First Of May leading into The British Opera gave me full body goosebumps and was something I’d never have thought would be the Bee Gees. If you’ve heard any Bee Gees disco music, regardless of whether you liked it or not, you should still give this a listen and see what you think.
This was not what I expected. As soon as I saw Bee Gees I almost didn’t even want to listen to it because I’m not a fan of disco at all. WOW. A genre-bending magical journey is the only way to describe this album.
It was really well done, and their original sounds with this album is fantastic. It’s either a hit or miss but don’t sleep on this, deserves a listen
Well this just smacks of quality. This isn't the Bee Gees I grew up with but it is top-notch!
I’m a big fan of The Bee Gees, but up until this project had not really looked into their 60s catalog of albums. It’s something I’ve meant to do, so I’m glad this project has finally jump-started this long overdue endeavor. The versatility and craftsmanship of The Bee Gees is quite evident when you consider the many decades and styles of music they have created. Now that I have listened to two of their 60s albums, I’m further impressed at their work. This album is fascinating, beautiful and ambitious and after a few listens I can now say I’m a fan of every decade of The Bee Gees. I loved the orchestral grandeur, the concept and backstory, and the songs. While they may not have the fierce hooks of some of their later hits, the songs on Odessa still have great melodies and complex arrangements and the songs opened up more with every listen. I only wish I was listening to the original flocked album!
Some fabulous Baroque pop that tickles my fancy greatly. Not what I expected from the Bee Gees though!
This aint disco. Reminds me of the beatles. Very cool stuff
Definitely influenced by The Beatles and the Beach Boys this album is great musically and can be put in the same category as some of the top albums of the 60s and 70s. Enjoyed this one a lot more than any other Bee Gees album I've heard.
nice
Oh! It's their Melody Fair!!
Listened twice in a row
This was beautiful, and sooooo different from what the Bee Gees are known. I mean, there was even some Country in there! Very pleasant listening experience.
This was an amazing album. I was well pleased.
Bee Gees.
Different vibe for The Bee Gees.
When I think of the Bee Gees, the first thing that comes to mind is Barry Gibb's high-pitched voice singing "Stayin' Alive" and all that disco music from the album *Saturday Night Fever*. But before they became that, they were already an incredible band. 4 stars
Sounds like the Beatles at some point, but without the magic and sounds like the moody blues at other times but also without that spark. But it's still very cool. A nice album that I liked a lot. Just not world class.
I want to give it an unconditional four stars because I remember liking pre-Disco era BeeGees when I discovered it 30 years ago… but now it’s all carnival meets bard impersonator. It’s 3.5 for me but rounding up because I can.
I liked this more than I thought I would, but the orchestral/instrumental pieces seemed out of place. They weren’t bad, just not necessary. Maybe it’s some kind of concept that, of course, no one understands but the artist. Good songs.
I was floored that this was the BeeGees. I only knew of their Disco hits which are fun but overdone. This was amazingly different and incredibly varied. Although it is not the type of music I would usually listen too I was pleasantly surprised as each song played through as a listening experience.
Surprisingly interesting
The Bee Gees were much more than "Staying Alive." This is an ambitious chamber pop country-esque album with a ton of variation and some classical instrumentals. And most of it works. Their melodicism carries the album and there are some really good, interesting songs here. Points off for Robin's annoying warbling tremolo voice on a couple of the songs like the title track. But Barry's voice makes up for it--they should have let him sing lead on all of it. This one was a nice surprise and I wish I had known about this album when I was making fun of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the late 70's/early 80's. Nah, I still would have made fun of them. They were always kind of an easy target. Who knew they had created a soft rock gem like this album?
Honestly...I liked this way more than I thought I would. A little too much symphonic passages as the album went on, but not at all what I expected from the Bee Gees.
I’m surprised how low the album is rated overall because I loved it?! I know nothing about the bee gees but I’m intrigued
Not what expected
great songs some boring ones, especially loved odessa
Not what I expected from the Bee Gees, really good 60s inspired pop rock 4*
I love old Bee Gees stuff. What a strange group.
Surprisingly good, and consistently enjoyable, with some unique ideas.
I found this strangely epic, with orchestral sounds. But then it would contrast with some banjo and country bumpkin sounding music. It had some memorable lyrics, and a diverse sound. I think I have to give it a 4.
Who knew billy goats could sing such good harmonies?
I seriously had no idea Bee Gees - the fucking Bee Gees - had an album like this in them, an hour long concept album about a ship, that absolutely blew me away? Listened while on a gorgeous sunny run and it just flawed me how much I enjoyed this. They made Stayin’ Alive and THIS??? HOW???
Not what I expected, but good!
Certainly not what I expected from a Bee Gees record. Much of it sounds reminiscent of some of the Beatles' output. More of a slow artsy pop style. But then I don't know crap about the Bee Gees. All I've really heard is the disco stuff. Not a big fan of Black Diamond. The couple of orchestral songs don't do much for me. It's a bit long. The rest of the album is pretty solid though. Nice music, nice vocals.
You have to give yourself some time with this one. I have been listening to the Bee Gees pre 1975 albums for a couple of years now The first time I listened to Odessa I did not like it at all. I went back to it a few times and left it on while I was working. Then after enjoying it as background I did a close listen and really liked it that time. Now it pops up on the generator and I'm giving it 4 stars. Also keep in mind that this music is almost 60 years old (as of 2025). It was a different time.
Me gusta este álbum, sus canciones son mejores que los hitasos que otros. Por ahora no me han decepcionado los álbumes de Bee Gees en la lista.
Not as good as their hits. But enjoyed it
7/10 Not just Stayin' Alive
much different than later BeeGees - music spanned from folk, country, pop, orchestral, hymnal... very interesting and shows off their talent as musicians
One of the weirdest listening experiences I had during this game... I know and actually love disco bee gees. It used to be my guilty pleasure music before I understood this has no meaning. So listening to this was something I was planning on anyway. Such a weird thing. I must say I mostly like it. It has nothing to do with what we think when we think about the bee geese. Psychedelic and moody. Dark but funny in a way. Very ambitious but an unclear concept. I had a great moment with many tracks here. The title tracks ambition. Black Diamond with Robins unique vocals. The beautiful ballad Melody fair. The weird but super fun Whisper Whisper Another great robin led "Lamblight". Sound of Love features Barry vocals that hint the falsetto future. Seven Seas Symphony is a surprising and lovely instrumental piece. Love the main melody and hint of vocal harmonies in the background. I lough In your Face is one of my favorite songs on the record. Lyrically questionable and beautifully executed. First of May is a very strong finish (for me). One of Barry's best singing. I enjoyed it better the second time I think! And, man, although some songs here are skips, the strong one I just love. Plus it's a long album that works really well. Not boring at any point. Enough talking, I'll give it a flat 4.
actually quite enjoyable
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!
I knew surface-level Bee Gees. Wasn’t familiar with their game.
Easily their best 'early' album. And possibly a bit of a shock for those who only know 'the' Bee Gees. Love it.
I enjoyed Marley Purt Drive. This was not the sound I was expecting from the Bee Gees. Whisper Whisper has a Beatles sound to it. Very folky. Previously, I was only familiar with their 70s sound.
Love old Bee Gees before they turned into like disco music
If you played this for me and told me it was The Bee Gees, I would literally have to Shazam it to know that you were telling the truth. Not at all what I expected from them, but still a very pretty-sounding album. I’m a sucker for mallet bells usage too.
40 songs… sounds a lot like the Beatles but I didn’t listen to the whole album.
Really good album and a great reminder there was way more to the bee gees than dicso
Didn't sound like the bee gees at all! Sounded like the beatles. I liked the song about declaring war on spain
beatles-esque
Sounds like CSN and Beatles
4/5
Okay, so I was quite drunk when I heard this album. It sounded like nothing I expected. And it was cheesy as hell. But it still kind of moved me. Pretty sure I'll listen to this again. That's my criteria for four stars.
This was an enjoyable listen. Some touches of the psychedelic, particularly on the title track. Say what you like about the Bee Gees, but they certainly know how to write a tune
This is an album I kinda wish I liked better than I do. I like this album more on the parts where where the Baroque pop or the symphonic pop shined, but when it really comes down to it when it comes to Baroque pop the Beatles in the stones did that better and when it comes to symphonic pop the Moody Blues did that better. But I think what really sends it kind of jarring is that it really does sound like what it is which was a failed concept album. All the pieces are there but they don't necessarily connect as well as they should. But as with all Bee Gees there are a lot of great Tunes scattered throughout the album which still makes it a pleasure to listen. (7.85)
Me queda claro que este disco no es para todos. Inclusive no es para muchos fans de los Bee Gees, que no dudo que no entendieran qué demonios era esto que estaba lanzando la banda como una nueva entrega, tremendamente comercial y sobre todo con música que podría ser de un montón de grupos diferentes, pero no de los Bee Gees. Me tardé un poco en conectar y tal vez sea porque aunque me considero fan de los Bee Gees, ni de lejos soy un especialista ni conzoco toda su obra, entonces tal vez estaba un poco más receptivo. Pero de que resulta extraño y saca de onda, eso seguro. Para la tercera o cuarta canción no entendía nada de qué iba esto, pero sí me estaba gustando. Siento que este disco conceptual pudo ser algo similar a The Wall de Pink Floyd, guardando las distancias, pero algo se atravesó en el camino. No mala escucha, creo que el público ha sido un tanto injusto con este trabajo. Tiene muchos detalles que me parecen geniales.
Um classico!
My first reaction was shock: I was expecting to hear something like "Stayin' Alive," but instead I heard strange psychedelic music. At first I thought it was just another piece of nonsense from the 60s, but the more I listened, the more I realized that it was actually very beautiful and uplifting music. The only downside is the frankly silly songs, which make up a good half of the album. For being able to surprise: 4 out of 5
Not their best, but a start of an era.
My apologies to the Bee Gees, I wasn't familiar with their game
Was unfamiliar with most of these, but this album really slapped
Wow was really not expecting this to be great. I've only heard staying alive, but I do quite like that song, but I was just worried that the whole album would be that sort of thing but worse, but I guess they got to that stuff later on in their career. I really like the slightly mystical feeling with the strings and stuff makes it feel really interesting. I feel like it is quite derivative, even for the time, as quite a lot of this sounds like Sergeant Pepper's era Beatles or Donovan stuff, but I think there's quite a lot of interesting ideas, like the instrumental orchestral film soundtrack-esque bits. The vocal reverbs in particular are really nice, as well as the harmonies, which maybe could be seen as Beatles rip-offs, but I think they're done in slightly differently. Favourite songs: you'll never see my face again, Edison, melody fair, whisper whisper, seven seas sympathy, with all nations, I laugh in your face, never say never again, first of May. Overall around 7/10
I had no idea the Bee Gees could sound like this - being only familiar with their hit singles. This album felt like a movie.
This is the second non-disco Bee Gees album I’ve heard now thanks to the generator
There is no doubt that Barry Gibb is one of the greatest pop songwriters of the 20th century. And the bee gees one of the greatest pop groups. Barry had all ten songs in the top ten in the uk at one point. Actually that might not be right but the number of absolute bangers, bops, classics and even a standard or two is phenomenal. This is a good album marred by ego trips and a lack of focus. Still, a good album. I don’t think Barry could write a dud song. And the leads and the harmonies of the brothers … just magic. They were to get better so 3.5 rounded up.
So I knew that the Bee Gees started out as a rock band before moving into disco. I did not know that the transition apparently included whatever the fuck this is, but it's good.
I honestly didn't really realize that the Bee Gees had a big pre-disco career. Interesting work.
Crazy how much this sounds like late Beatles stuff.
What can I say, I love sad Bee Gees
Mature and remarkable record! Give it a listen.
Wonderful album. I didnt know the Bee Gees played rock. I only knew them for their iconic disco songs. Enjoyed this album a lot. my rate: 9 out 10
Tässä oli niin makeita biisejä että listalle meni!
I think it might be hard for some people to accept that the Bee Gees were, at one point, a rock band. Heck, just that they existed **at all** before the SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER soundtrack. The way their legacy is this day, you'd think they poofed into existence specifically for "Stayin' Alive" and that they hadn't been a band since **1965** — singing 14 Barry Gibb songs, no less! Of course **I** know that, thanks in part to the knowledge that Chumbawamba covered their song "New York Mining Disaster 1941", but I wouldn't blame anyone else for getting this album or the other one on the list (TRAFALGAR) and just being... Y'know, baffled. The same guys who made "Night Fever" — they also made **this**? What **is** this, then? Well, if the Bee Gees (pre-disco) were at one point considered a successor to The Beatles (yes, really), then this would be their WHITE ALBUM. Not just for the fact that it's a double album, but also because it caused such internal strife that Robin Gibb temporarily left the band! Yeah, for a whole dang album, he was just gone. And then there's also the fact that this album is a bit of a mess. As much as THE WHITE ALBUM — no, it's not. But it's still a bit all over the place. Just consider, this was originally meant to be a concept album (about what, I couldn't begin to guess). That got scrapped at some point, so we're left with an album that mixes these spacey, more progressive tunes together with the more-standard pop balladry I'd expect from this group. And there's country music, too. Imagine if a fifth of THE WHITE ALBUM sounded like "Don't Pass Me By". Like all double albums, this one suffers from the problem of "But did this **all** need to be here?" Double albums can be a particularly perilous balancing act in filling and justifying all of the added space an extra disc can allot you. If you're not extra careful, you can come off sounding like an egomaniac. And while I don't think the Bee Gees come off that way, I also can't tell you there's probably a better "single disc" version buried in here. (I mean, heck, from what I read, the Bee Gees didn't even **want** to do a double album; their label nudged them into it. So if I wanna point fingers at anyone, a big one would hafta be directed at the label.) I know "Edison" would be on **my** chopping block. And maybe I woulda spread out the two strictly instrumental orchestral tracks on side three so they weren't back to back? I'unno, this is a thought experiment for another day. And all that to say... Y'know, despite its status as a double album, I don't think it's bad? Not at all? Like the worst it gets is just kinda "Fine, but why did it **need** to be here?" Otherwise, there's something about the scope of it I kind of admire. Just that, in being nudged to make an album like this, they just threw shit at the wall and it often came out pretty well. I mean, I'm a sucker for the Bee Gees' brand of pop balladry (if my enjoyment of the parody "Meaningless Songs" ("in very high voi-seh-heh-heh-heh") is anything to go). They sing in falsetto and let those thousand violins soar, I'm more than happy. And the country's not bad, either — the worst one's the square dance deal "Give Your Best" on side three, and that's in part because only two tracks later it's followed by "With All Nations" — apparently, the international anthem of, like... The world, I guess? Who was at the U.N. when they voted to approve the Bee Gees on this? Or is this more like how "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" is the recognized anthem of World Contact Day? And even that's probably more official. Still: lovely orchestration. I read that one of the previous titles they were considering for the album was MASTERPIECE. And I must ask the same question I asked Elvis Costello's IMPERIAL BEDROOMS when it was marketed as maybe being one: "is it?" I'd say in the grand scheme of music... No. Not really. I don't even know if I'd say it ranks all **that** highly among all of the 60's albums I've heard. But all the same: is it the masterpiece of the Bee Gees discography? Oh, sure, I'd say so. Maybe one of their single disc albums could clear, if just on being a tighter experience than anything else. However, if I were to judge things based on ambition, and on what I imagine would be the peak and pinnacle of their sound — y'know, before they were shakin' their groove thangs... I have a hard time imagining any of them could really top this. And that's again acknowledging that this thing could still be trimmed down. I mean, no masterpiece is flawless. And then might have more than some others — but it's not exactly unworthy, in the right context. And to bring it around to the top again, I guess I'd have a hard time accepting the Bee Gees as a rock band after all — 'coz they're really more of a pop combo. A soft rock trio at best. Whatever they are, they made a lot of good shit, and ultimately, more than any box you wanna shove 'em all, that's all that really matters.
Still weird to me that these guys would go on to make the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, but I guess it goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. Solid 4 Stars.
Different
Sounds fresh for a 1969 album! Bold inclusion of symphonic pieces. These guys are even more talented than I thought. There is something unique about this effort. 4
not a disco album surprisingly
Well I had a whole fucking note typed out on my phone but then something crashed. Safe to say this album is at least a 4
Genuinely surprised how much I liked this. More to the Beegees than high pitched disco...
Consistently lovely music, harmonic singing and random as hell lyrics. Having just listened to Abbey Road, I'm guessing that was just the theme of music in 1969? I don't think I'll ever listen to this again, but I did enjoy it. Great use of the damper pedal. A standard 4 stars.
An unexpected pleasure! There was theatricality and storytelling that I really appreciated about this record.
it's a calm listen. nothing like I expected. liked it very much, no one can hate a good concept album. but lacked something, so 4 stars
I enjoyed that.
It's like a more sober version of the Beatles "Yellow Submarine." I do like it. Apparently this was like the original concept album? Wild!
It’s very calm and seems like a good album if you want to chill.
Sounds like The Beatles Mellow; definitely not Stayin' Alive vibes Didn't like Edison Whisper Whisper was weird in a good way The Seven Seas was instrumental, sounded like a Disney soundtrack for an ocean movie The British Opera was another interesting and fun instrumental piece, also soundtrack like Rating: 4 stars (probably would listen again)
good
dunno why there's so much hate for the album here. I liked it :)
Hated then loved. Interesting
HOW are these the same guys that sing the michael scott CPR song??? Odessa took my breath away from the very first song, a latin rock opera masterpiece. Lost m e for a couple songs, but the beggining and end were just beautiful. Would give 4.5 stars if I could.
good
I’m going to be fully honest, I hate the Bee Gees’ disco era. Like fully hate it, their voices are very annoying to me and I already don’t like disco, but I had a small bit of hope because this one was from 1969, before they went to that sound so I was cautiously optimistic about this one. When they aren’t singing like a bunch of idiots they sound quite nice. I also really like the guitar work and string section on the first two songs. The album has a folky and country feel at times, and it’s jarring to enjoy an album by a group that I only know for music that I hate. I really loved “Melody Fair”. Despite having no vocals the “Seven Seas Symphony” sounds wonderful. This is my most surprising discovery yet.
Масштабная работа с завитушками.
É curioso e até meio triste que grande parte das pessoas não conheça essa fase pop e até, vai, psicodélica, dos Bee Gees, com arranjos orquestrados, sopros e tudo mais. As harmonias vocais e os vibratos, marca registrada da banda, já existia aqui. Imagino que quem só escutou os hits ficaria surpreso com o rock "Whisper Whisper" e sua guitarra distorcida ou a country "Give Your Best". Um disco de muito bom gosto, apesar de um pouco longo.
This is a beautifully crafted record, filled with great melodies and string arrangements. I don’t really love that it’s a concept record, and many of the songs sound similar, but there is a lot to love here.
Favorite Track: I Laugh In Your Face
Wow. This is so different from the Bee Gees later material. I like it :-)
This feels like a better version of Trafalgar. Definitely has more of a theatrical/dramatic flair and less dancy but a cooler rock / pop album.
This was surprising. I know of these guys from the ridiculous harmonies and folk music, plus their later disco period with Saturday Night Fever and the remake of Sgt. Peppers. This record felt very progressive rock in places, probably due to the orchestration and the general trippy nature of some of the proceedings.
ambitious, psychedlic, sprawling - but all with a certain charm, and I prefer albums where the reachs exceeds the grasp of the makers, rather than albums where everyone plays safe, plays within known boundaries.
some good tracks in all fairness
On first listen, and seeing some other reviews, I was ready to dislike and dismiss this album. And don't get me wrong, I didn't exactly love the album, there were moments that made me feel embarrassed for the band, BUT there were a few moments that really surprised and delighted me. Some were more groovy than expected, like in the jazzy breakdown in Whispers, others were just plain beautiful, like the melancholy melody in I Laugh In Your Face. Listening through this a few times added many more layers to the Bee Gees. So much more than Stayin Alive! They're really living! Ambition! I'm glad this album made the list ❤️
Its weird hearing the Bee Gees not singing at their usual "im crushing my balls" pitch but it was a welcome change. Really enjoyed this album, very whimsy and had some tunes which wouldn't have been out of place in a Disney film or some sort of epic fantasy film. My top faves were: Lamplight Give your best With all nations
Very listenable
I only ever knew the Bee Gees as disco; that a great surprise of an album. This was interesting throughout. It was long but covered a huge amount of ground in tone, instrumentality, and focus. I'm glad to have heard this and think things like this being part of the list is important. It doesn't land it on every song but the ambition is fantastic. I'm glad they took the shot even though you can half hear it falling apart throughout the album.
The opening track alone almost comes off as an album itself. There is a version of this album in here with a couple tracks taken off that make it much tighter. The country song Marley Purt Drive causes some whiplash. Also Melody Fair could be cut. I Laugh in Your Face is a big song. I like Black Diamond, Edison, and I Laugh in Your Face. Some big production going on here. This is an ambitious album that got a little lost along the way.
A soft and smooth album. A lot of very pleasing to the ears songs.
Odessa is peak pre-disco Bee Gees—dramatic, orchestral, and full of ambitious songwriting. Before they were ruling the dance floor, they were crafting moody, baroque pop epics like this. The title track sets the tone with its haunting strings, and the rest of the album keeps that grand, melancholic vibe rolling. It’s definitely a weird one, but in the best way. Proof that the Bee Gees were more than just falsettos and gold chains. Favorite song: I Laugh In Your Face
en plena forma. luego sobreviven con el falsete y la musica disco.
Most people know the disco phase of the Bee Gees - I'm including myself in this group. So I was pleasantly surprised to go into this baroque pop folky early album of the band which has lots of great music and lyrics. A great feel for all of it. The opener is something for the ages. Only the later tracks fizzle out a bit.
A reminder that the Bee Gees were a much weirder band than their Saturday Night Fever-era bangers suggest. I’m glad I heard this overlong, sometimes beautiful and deeply odd album.
Disco fun one of my faves with so many good and fun memories tied to it.
If this was labeled The Beatles people would flock to give it 5 stars. Because it’s The Bee Gees they can’t get the feel of velour and sounds of Stayin Alive out of their heads. The album is big (are double albums ever really necessary?) and the ideas are pretty grandiose. But the songwriting was sound. Big flourishes added feeling and there was depth in the content. I’ll listen to it again.
Overall I dug it - there was a lot of material here so a re-listen is necessary, but dug the vibes.
i am a bee gees fan, and i do really like their early stuff (as well as their disco stuff) and so i was excited to listen to this one, as i'd never heard it but have always heard good things. and it was good. a bit uneven. this album has one of my favorite bee gees songs of all time, 'lamplight' and there are a handful of other songs on here that are great, but there's a lot of mid here too. don't get me wrong, there is some beautiful orchestration on here and some other great moments, but as a whole, it was a little bit disappointing for me.
This is not at all what I expected out of the Bee Gees. I was thinking 60s pop/beach rock. This felt more like a rock opera or movie score. Seven Seas Symphony was great.
Funny album that had a combination of good 60s rock with some songs thrown in the second half of the album that sounded like they could be in a musical. When (International Anthem) came on I thought I was about to start the Olympics. This is a low 4/ high 3 but will go 4 because I really liked the singer
It's not my favorite Bee Gees album, but it still is a pretty damn good album!
I am more used to their mid to late 70s work, so this was a bit of a disconnect for me. Still an amazing album.
4.3 - This was great! Some really good tunes and feels quite epic.
Kinda blew me away...a double albums worth of music all songs I had never heard from a band that I though I knew well. I didn't find anything not to like about this album. Lots of nice melodies, beautiful harmonies and songs that sound from one turn like The Kinks to then The Band to then The Beatles. This is very much a roots music, Americana folk album that seems to transcend it's time and its influences. Bravo. 4 stars
4.0
if you gave me a million guesses to try and name what band this album was by i don’t think i’d ever say The Bee Gees. in the best way possible though! kind of early floyd, beatlesque, abba, king crimson at times. very cool
Non disco Bee Gee's is weird. I mean, I hate disco, but when someone says the band name Bee Gee's, what you expect to get is fuckin Stayin' Alive. This album is more soft rock/pop. It is apparently a failed attempt at a concept album about the sinking of a ship in 1899, and its a double album. The band fought so much about the direction of the album, and which songs should be released as singles, Robin Gibb temporarily quit the band. Favourite songs: Give Your Best, Marley Purt Drive, Lamplight, Melody Fair, First of May, Odessa (City on the Black Sea) Least favourite songs: The British Opera 4/5
Great album. A little long, too much filler. And I admittedly wasn't paying attention to the concept of the album. But some awesome songs. God they have some weird and wonderful voices Best tracks: Marley Purt Drive Melody Fair (sounds like McCartney / Lemon Twigs) Whisper Whisper Lamplight Sound of Love Give Your Best Never Say Never Again First of May
This album is sweet. Bee Gees are better and more interesting than I thought for sure. Long and ambitious concept album with just excellent songs and parts all over it. Great album.
This album is really good, but I just can't help being disappointment that this and Trafalgar are on the list, and somehow Spirits Having Flow isn't. On its own, though, Odessa is a very good album.
Brittish Rock
very cool. i like the instrumentals too. 4 stars
I was expecting disco so this threw me. I listened part way through, then stopped to come back later with a fresh mind because I really wasn't liking it. So after coming back with a fresh mind this isn't a bad album. There's some great songs here, but also some filler. Overall the album seems a bit bloated and confused. I think that if some songs were dropped and others were made a little shorter, this could have been a single album rather than a double, and it would have been much stronger for it. With all that said this is actually quite good as is.
something I never thought I would write but I like pre disco Bee Gees, I really enjoyed this album especially the back half.
The Bee Gees depth goes much more than I would've thought with this one. It's charming, whimsical, and nautical: surely a more dramatic predecessor to Yacht Rock. Things weren't stead for the brothers here either, but this definitely moved them more towards their most signature style
Chad. Ez 4.5. Possibly a 5 after a re-listen.
Solid, it ends very strongly with the last four songs.
Oh here comes a controversy one. I love Odessa so much it's like one of my all-time favorite tracks from Bee Gees (I'm not a fan of disco, obviously). It transports me to another time and space, like a spiritual journey on the Titanic or whatever the ship is. I love other songs in this album too, especially the strings, and that classic, nostalgic '60s sound is beyond satisfying. Seven Seas Symphony is massive. I love this one, and I even think it deserves a 4/5.
8/10
Boisterous, loud, interesting - and not disco. Worth a listen and quite good. Felt like a journey.
I had braced myself for an album of disco crap, and was pleasantly surprised by this mellow, pretty album!
I didn’t hate this as much as everyone else on here seemed to do. I’d really not heard any pre-disco Bee Gees and this is obviously a band trying to find their lane. A couple of songs sound like the Beatles, some CCR, some country. Eventually disco would become their thing and they excelled at it. It’s a journey.
Surprised by the opening to this album, given the only thing i know about Redcliffe's finest is all their disco shit, this was wildly different. I don't know what to even call the genre? Reminds me of the Beetles? Soft rock maybe? Either way this album is genuinely facilitating in terms of its range of sounds and switching up. The vocals were good but not really sucking me in as much as the instrumentals. Has that 60s feel to in terms of sound. Overall really interesting album and definitely something i would not have listened to without this 1001 gen. 4/5
I always quite liked the Bee Gees 60’s stuff and went into this quietly optimistic My initial reaction was very wtf But this slowly grew on me. It’s not great and there are moments where the songwriting is weak but those moments are normally followed by an interesting turn or orchestration Like a rough draft of a Scott Walker album A generous 4
You know what?? Screw all of you guys this was great! It was a very well written concept with album with beautiful melodies and lovable tunes! I’m sorry it wasn’t disco or anything, give the band a break!
Listening to the Bee Gees is a spiritual experience
Fikk Beatles vibes egt
I'm a sucker for a Slavic sound, however corny, so if the whole album had followed in the tone of the first track, I might be rating this a 5. But then it's got some so-so rocky and country stuff. Then again, "Seven Seas Symphony" and "With All Nations" and "The British Opera" -- basically the neoclassical instrumental ones -- are fun, and the variety of styles has its own appeal.
Big surprise here not what I was expecting some nice tunes
Très narratif, parfois épique, parfois presque comique, comme une somme des genres et styles. Toujours beau et mélodieux. Me fait beaucoup penser aux Beach Boys.
Quite enjoyable
I liked this a surprising amount. Pretty chill and hopeful.
Solid album! The opera influence at the end went dummy
These songs are beautiful. This is a whole new Bee Gees for me. I have only ever heard their more poppy, disco, 70’s music.
Always have preferred the earlier Bee Gees stuff over the later. Only knew "First of May" but the rest is also pretty good. Added this and some other older albums to favorites for future listening.
This one suprised me in a good way
I think this suffers from being too long in places but there is loads of it I really enjoyed and I like the overall concept feel of it. It seems they were trying to show the world they were more than just 'Stayin Alive' and job done, because I had no idea this sort of work was lurking in their catalogue and I'm glad to have found it now.
Really good, not what I was expecting, 4 stars.
I didn't care for the first 2 or 3 songs but liked the later ones. I still prefer the disco-type music that came later in their career.
This is a whole double album of Bee Gees songs I'd never heard before -- and it was great. I could see quite a few of these songs becoming hits; I don't know why there weren't any hits off this album. Will definitely listen again.
4-
Dripping with late 60s flavour. I wasn’t expecting to like this, the Bee Gees are mostly famous for their work in the 70s, much more upbeat and poppy. But this surprised me. Actually pretty good song writers and boy can they hear a melody…
This was not at all what I expected. There were times I couldn’t tell they belonged on the same album, so heavily influenced/mimicking the Beatles or Beach Boys.. but even on the same album there were so many different sounding songs, it was quite disjointed. Still was a decent listen, some songs missed the mark but some were great. 3.5/5
Not what i expected from the Bee Gees almost more of a folk album . 3.8
Early Bee Gees are the best Bee Gees.
Surprisingly enjoyable, shame the Bee Gees moved away from this sound into disco. This album feels more timeless and interesting. Also could have removed some of the songs to make a perfect single LP. Top tracks: Odessa, You'll Never See My Face Again, Melody Fair
Very good.
What a range. I listened to the album through several days instead of one sitting, but it felt like it was a different album every time I picked it up again. Really beautiful melodies and beats. What a unique album!
This was fantastic. I liked the fact that it was a long double album as I warmed up to the sound and songwriting more and more as the record progressed. I'll spin this one again. I was taken by the sprawling scope of the album, certainly played as an ambitious and serious endeavor, and while there were moments when the vibrottic trills were a little much (was that Robin? I don't know the distinctions of the brother's voices), the harmonies and symphonic treatment and grandness of the production were impressive and well executed. This might be a 5, there was too much to take in in my first listen, but these guys get more interesting the more you listen.
Never heard of this album before. I was a bit surprised by the backlash, I thought a lot of this was great. I generally dislike albums that are over 50 minutes so yeah this one starts to drag a bit but I had a really great time listening to the first few tracks. Fun album! Folksy, rock, psychedelic, orchestral, lots of different sounds to love here. Maybe that's why it's disliked since it's such a grab bag. And maybe that's what I liked about it.
Before they were Disco... 1969 Standouts: First of May, Lamplight, I Laugh in Your Face, Never Say Never Again. 3.75
colonisation type beat i liked it not the greatest bee gees album by far but still nice might go take over france or something 3.8/5
This is not The Bee Gees I knew as a kid. This is a good start. Could be my mood today but this just sounds like “the 60s” and nothing jumps out. Nothing remarkable to me so far. Just started Black Diamond. Marley purt Drive is grabbing me. This one I like. This album goes in and out of genius. Lamplight is a great tune. Sound of love. Great song. This album really finds its stride half way through. “I laugh in your face is a great song”. For real. How does this keep getting better? Never say never again. What a hook. I started out not liking this album and by the end I loved it.
Pretty awesome
Not what you imagine when you think of the Bee Gees. Some good stuff on here.
I wouldn't say this is my favorite Bee Gees album, but you can never go wrong with the Brothers Gibb.
Fina melodier. Bra 60-tals pop rock med drag av klassisk musik. Möjligtvis lite för långt och konceptet är lite oklart. Alla sånger är dock underhållande
Goeie indruk van de nee gees. Staying alive is echt een kutnummer
This is a Bee Gees I’ve never heard. I really like it.
Bee Gees range is always impressive and this is a great full concept album.
better than expected icl
8/10. Disgusting Edison propaganda.
I mostly enjoyed it! I liked the big, full sounds in some of the songs. Orchestral
Obviously very different from the disco jams of the late 70s
I really only knew the Bee Gees from Stayin’ Alive, so I kind of assumed that’s what they were. Turns out that’s not the case. This is fairly early-ish Bee Gees (though still their 6th album), and has more of a Beatles early rock sound. It’s a longer concept album, which generally isn’t my favorite. The album gets off to a bit of a slow start, but hits its stride with Marley Purt Drive, which is more of a country sound and is great. This album is really hit or miss for me. A lot of songs I like a lot, and a lot that just sound old and boring (Lamplight is on while I’m writing this old and boring comment). There’s also a weird stretch of two symphonies about 2/3 of the way through, interesting choice. Generally though I’ve enjoyed this. Definitely has its ups and downs and is too long, but the vocals are solid and there’s enough interesting stuff going on to keep me engaged. This is probably another 3.5 for me, but there’s enough good to round up. Favorite song: Marley Purt Drive Other: Black Diamond, Melody Fair, Whisper Whisper, Sound of Love, I Laugh in Your Face, Never Say Never Again
I didn't save a ton of these songs, but the album's constructed very well. It has some interesting songs like The British Opera, it's very unlike what I'm used to with Bee Gees
A solid 4. Every song was different and unique, which The Bee Gees use to their benefit… most of the time.
So I'd heard that the Bee Gees weren't really a disco band but that's just the bit they did that people know about. This was a pretty cool album and although I probably won't listen to it much I definitely thought it was well written, varied and interesting.
first listen i had no idea the bee gees did something other than falsetto disco
Gillar ju Bee Gees sextiotal men har helt missat denna lilla pärla.
A pretty weird but quite enjoyable progressive pop record. The concept of the album might have been a bit too ambitious and abstract - or put another way, it went over my head without leaving any coherent impression. Nonetheless, I found it very enjoyable background listening - rounded up from 3.5
Un album concept qui me dit pss grand chojse, mais des chaons bien produites et pas sinmal que ca. J’aurais jamais su que c’etait les beegees, c’est peut etre une bonne chose ? 3.85
Why is everything form 1969 so good? Even pop like this which wouldn't typically be in my wheelhouse just hits differently. Some gorgeous harmonies here.
я восхищен разнообразием музыки в этом альбоме сидишь себе слушаешь просто приятный альбом, а потом проживаешь несколько "вау" от того, как двигается музыкальная мысль внутри не могу сказать, что музыка сама по себе какая-то невероятно удивительная но вот какое-то общее ощущение крайне приятное!
If nothing else, this album completely changed my perception on The Bee Gees. Who knew they had a White Album/Sgt Peppers-esque album in their catalog, this is almost completely unrecognizable from their later disco work. Moving past all that, as a concept album, this is definitely sprawling and complex. I could see myself finding on repeat listens that this has some fantastic gems, by the third listen I was already greatly enjoying the three song run of Marley Purt Drive, Edison, and Melody Fair. Even the Moody Blues sounding opener grew on me. This album is somewhat proof that you couldn’t walk around in the late 60s without tripping on a good album.
Not expected
Well put on market Marley Purt Drive and you'll never guess who this is. Well, put on most of this album and I won't have a clue. And actually I prefer this side of the Bee Gees. No disco, no high pitch wailing. An actual album made by actual musicians. Rock on.
Own on Vinyl
Not what I expected, but very pleasant! Four stars.
This album was not expected. I had no idea they did non disco material and this album was cohesive and full of surprisingly fun songs. Also had crazy legit bass for an album of the era. Surprised 4 stars.
Hvað á maður að segja? Þetta er afar söngleikjalegt og metnaðarfullt, svo metnaðarfullt að hljómsveitin var næstum hætt, og hér er margt áhugavert og áheyrilegt. Þetta er ekki sérstaklega eftirminnileg tónlist við fyrstu hlustun, en svo nær hún manni. Borgar sig að hlusta aftur.
This really surprised me as I hadn't heard of it before. And there's one song on it (First of May) that I remembered hearing in a film way, way back.
I've never knew this side of Bee Gees. OK, all I knew was the only "Staying alive" side, to be honest. But this album is magical.
Where’s the falsetto??? That major disappointment aside, this was a wild album. It has a banjo song followed by a symphony. Nuff said.
La soundtrack idéale du grand ménage de printemps
Although this was a long double album, it certainly had a bit of everything to keep it interesting. And a lot of vibrato. Made me laugh a bit to read that it was re-released with the surging popularity of the disco era Bee Gees. Not sure this is what you'd want if "Stayin' Alive" was your thing. But it's a pretty cool experience and artifact of its time.
I can't quite dance to the Bee Gees of the 60s the way I can to the Bee Gees of the 70s, but there is still a sound that I am fond of. A few tracks did leave me a little cold though.
Disney theme with funky sound staging
the bee gees are fucking great. there's so much talent that goes into making music that sounds this good, and voices that mesh this well. always always a cool listen
huh never listed to any pre-disco Bee Gees before pretty interesting, I guess they kinda just sound like Beatles wannabes there’s some really good stuff here but nothing that stood out as too spectacular solid 8/10 to me
A third double album in a row and this is taking up much time! After trashing their album Trafalgar - one of the worst records I have ever heard - I was pleasantly surprised by Odessa. Exemplary songwriting, luscious arrangements, big baroque pop. Ambitious, sure, exhausting, perhaps, but a showcase for the talented brothers.
I surprisingly kind of loved this. Who knew the Bee Gees have more depth than their cheesy disco would lead you to assume. I shouldn't be surprised since I knew First of May from an old mix my mom would play in the house while cleaning but had somehow forgotten about. This deserves another listen, but what a pleasant surprise.
This is like an album full of Paul McCartney's weirdest post-Beatles songs, but I think mostly in a good way?
Surpreendente, pop com qualidade em que a pretensão de apresentar ao épico se justifica.
This is a very sprawling album that is not what you think of when you think of the Bee Gees. A lot of it was cringy and pretentious which is the big risk when you do a concept album like this. Enjoyed it overall even though there I had some undeniable second hand embarrassment during some of the more corny parts. 3.75 stars.
Very enjoyable
Surprisingly great. I hadn't ever listened to a Bee Gees album before and had no idea they had music that sounded like this. Love the mix of orchestral, baroque pop, country, folk, and other styles. Very rich sound and well-produced.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It was different from what you'd normally think of when you hear the Bee Gees. Not sure how often I'd relisten to it, but it's got a worthwhile place in the 1001 albums.
A little long but sooo listenable
Oh wow. So like most people, I only really know the Bee Gees from their disco hits, although I did see their documentary and was aware that they started off in white R&B. I didn't realize that they went full Pet Sounds at some point, though! Honestly, I like this a lot more than their falsetto-heavy hits, and I can see this be a real grower. C+, maybe B-?
4 star
Had expected this to be on the list, given the album's reputation as the best Bee Gees album of the sixties/early 70s. Not sure why: most of those albums seem to consist of >>5* singles and some lesser material. And in my memory this album is quite uneven as well (apart from being a bit more orchestral). Listened to it again a few times todays and it started to grow on me: 4 stars.
Its an interesting concept album, you can see they tried to replicate the magic that The Beatles and Beach Boys were doing in the late 60's. 7/10 Favorite Tracks: Odessa, Lamplight
I didn't think I'd be able to make it past the seven minute plus title track. But the more I listened, the more it grew. By the end, you forget that it's a double. I'll take two more, please.
Fun vibey rock album. Reminds me a bit of the beatles in the quirky songs
Never thought they were not into dance music from the start. A very interesting piece.
I think this is the first time I have listened to a full record of theirs. Very good.
Интересный альбом, есть красивые композиции. Ближе к концу хуже запомнился, чем в начале прослушивания.
I was surprised by this album. I have always associated the Bee Gees with disco, and this wasn't that. Quite a range and depth here.
Not the Bee Gees I expected but still pretty good
Man ba va händer. Sexigt av dem att göra det här albumet
Toppen, visste att den skulle vara bra men blev ändå glatt överraskad. Kanske saknar några 'klassiker' och skulle behöva tightas till på ställen för att verkligen bli ett 5/5 album dock.
Det här var hur bra som helst??? Inte alls beredd på soundet, trodde det skulle va disco. Riktigt nära att dela ut en femma men håller mig i tyglarna! Goa Supertrampvibes! Bäst hittills av det jag inte redan har hört
Lots of interesting stuff here! Parts were very charmingly folksy, some parts felt a touch country, some parts sounded like the Beatles. There were songs made me feel warm inside, like Lamplight and First of May. I loved the opening track, full of drama. Really liked the tracks without words too, especially the album closer. Lots of magic here; sometimes I even got Christmas vibes somehow. A lot of the tracks blended together for me. I think I'd need more time with this album to properly appreciate it, but there's a lot here to love.
Cool!! Orchestral and christmasy
12/02/2021 Today's Album: "Odessa" by Bee Gees - Usually when I think of the Bee Gees, I think of the high-pitched singing in tracks like, "stayin alive", but this album really shows their musical range. Slow ballads, strange psychedelic sound scapes, somewhat cloudy or rustic production, catchy hooks, soft melodies, smooth psychedelic pop, Beatles worship, and more make this album what it is. I like how much this album makes me want to sway and there really isn't too much to complain about in the instrumentals. If anything, I would say the record drags on in the middle few songs, but it makes sense as they are seemingly experimenting with a ton of different ideas. Piano ballads, upbeat country tracks, and general bangers come out of the second half. This album is really good and I think it took me a few listens to really understand it, but now that I gave it the time it deserves I like it a decent bit. Score: 8/10 Fun, creative, and enjoyable Highlights: You'll Never See My Face Again, Marley Purt Drive, Edison, Melody Fair, Lamplight, I Laugh In Your Face, First Of May
This was pretty gloriously unexpected! Took a second listen to get my head around what I was hearing. Only really knowing the Bee Gees' disco output, a sweeping melodramatic concept album about the close of the 19th century rather took me by surprise! Fave track - "Edison", maybe? Or "Whisper Whisper". More listens are probably required...
That was not what I was expecting. A bit of prog, a bit of country, a bit of folk-rock and no disco in sight. Surprisingly enjoyable.
Entretenido, pero siempre en mi poco conocimiento, si no me dicen que son los Bee Gees y lo hubiera escuchado, habría jurado que eran los Beatles o algo así. 8/10
An interesting concept album, different than I was expecting from Bee Gees (who I mostly enjoy for their greatest disco hits). Almost Beatles-esque, I can see why it's compared to Sgt Pepper's. The touches of country and psychedelic vibes were interesting too. The whole album really took me by surprise for the style and tone. Great choice! My top pick is 'Marley Purt Drive' - feels more like CCR than Bee Gees!
Pretty good. Too many songs on this album and a few were instrumental
Huh. I didn't expect Bee Gees to be so versatile. Or a 1969 album to be so long :D But yeah, listenable ^^
Ambitious in scope, trippy, complex, engaging, and psychedelic. In which the Bee Gees get their Sgt. Peppers on. It’s probably too long and it doesn’t make a lot off narrative sense as a concept album, but I still really enjoyed this.
Catchy!
Decent songs, each sound a little too similar to one another though.
I love it. This feels like a warm hug. A little bit dated (you can so tell it’s from the late 60s / early 70s) but one I will definitely be revisiting. Turns out these boys can do much more than Stayin Alive
I only knew the disco Bee Gees, but this is surprisingly good.
Zobaczylem nazwe bee gees i obawialem sie, ze czeka mnie kolejne diskowe sluchowisko, bo wlasnie z synthowego disko i teledyskow wpaczajacych w kamere kojarze te bande, ale poza tym nic wiecej o niej nie wiedzialem, a dostalem cos nieoczekiwanie dobrego podwojny albumik, ponad godzina muzyki ktora okreslilbym jako pomost miedzy beatelsami a beach boyami, glownie przez to ze jest to albumers konceptowy, wiec odniesienia do sierzanta peppera, czy pet sounda wydaja mi sie jak najbardziej na miejscu, zwlaszcza biorac pod uwage podobny styl wokalny jakim operuja bee geesy, takze banda braterska, wiec harmonijne wokale tworza ciekawe kompozycje, jestem calkowicie zbaflowany jak roznorodne jest to 60 minut, klasyczne rokowe traki jak you will never see my face again, influencje muzyka country w give your best czy marley purt drive, a tutaj kolejny zwrot akcje psychodelika beatelsowa sie wylewa z suddenly, whisper whisper czy i laugh in your face, koniec no nie zupelnie, sa rowniez traki calkowicie instrumentalne mini symfonie british opera czy seven seas symphony, cala trojka braciowa ma swoje traki na ktorych wokaluje, ale reszta jest wtedy wsparciem, dodatkowi dwa czlonkowie niebraterscy ogarniaja gitarke prowadzaca i drumersy, instrumentalnie bez zbednych ekscesow i nawet traki kontrowe w ktorych naprawde duzo sie dzieje, przez dodatek studyjnych banjosow czy smyczkow nie sa zbyt chaotyczne, kawalki sa tak prosto pisane, a jednoczesnie bardzo sluchalne przez gwalcenie kaczowych refreniorow i ich chorowanie, od strony technicznej nie mam sie do czego przyczepic, produkcja zrobila robote, bo spotifajowa skarbnica zawiera ultra deluxowa wersje prawie 2 i pol godziny, na ktorej znajduja sie early mixy i alternatywne tejki, wiec mozna uslyszec jaka roznice zrobili w koncowym produkcie, wiec kolejny raz jestem milo zaskoczony, ze poznaje na nowo zespol ktory juz znalem, zwlaszcza dostaja w rece taki konceptowy gem, no i redemption ark brytowej muzyki popularnej
aint no b without the g's broooooo
Interesting. I only knew bee gees because of their disco dance music. This album is kind of a mishmash of other styles.
I thought the The Bee Gees were Disco, but this sounds like the poor man's Beatles and I swear I don't mean that as an insult.
4.5 Que sorpresa de álbum, es algo que movió totalmente mi percepción sobre los BG's. Siempre creí que solo habían hecho música disco. Comienza muuuy lento para la mayoría de la gente pero como a mi me gusta mucho el progresivo, solo me tomó por sorpresa que no fuera disco, ya para "Marley purt drive" se pone mas movida la cosa y después de "Whisper,whisper" va bajando el ritmo tal como si fuera una opera con el gran finale de "the british opera". muy bien ganado el lugar como una de las primeras bandas en hacer opera rock/rock sinfónico (sinceramente pensé que eso había nacido con KISS y Metallica). Sigo impresionado con toda la mezcla musical del álbum, que sea el sexto y que no es música disco. Sin duda alguna se va a colar entre mis discos favoritos. Me gusta mas sin el falsete de Barry, le voy a dar una vuelta a los demás discos
Really diverse music, very enjoyable
This sounded nothing like I was expecting it to.
Got some nice Beatles vibes, and tons of great orchestral stuff.
Good album, not a typical “Bee Gees” album
everything and nothing at once. some nice parts
I enjoyed this enough... didn't have any of the classics I know though.
3,5
Одесса - мама
extremely long and sleepy and gloopy, but not without interesting moments or overall feel. i thought a few times about the likes of ziggy stardust and tommy...the former for the apocalyptic bittersweet Last Flashes Of Life rock album concept, tommy because honestly i think even at its most kitschy and sappy there is smth here that actually captures the emotional atmosphere of what theyre attempting, far more than tommy's bizarrely stilted sterileness. i dont wanna oversell this, its way too much of one flavor, but there are at least some emotional layers to the flavor...and even kind of unique, unlike a lot of other "artsy" 60s rock there's almost no Britishness here, they even pull out the country twang sometimes
5/10
Not what I was expecting!
There's a lot going on here. Some of it great, some of it weird.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but this feels like it’s on the list to prove that The Bee Gees were not always a disco pop group. I’ll confess that this was my first time being aware of it! So we have a baroque pop record from the 60s. It’s nice, but when I hold it up against its contemporaries (The Zombies, The Millennium), it doesn’t do much for new. Perhaps it’s in their already-annoying nasality, or simply that the songs themselves didn’t stick with me.
There are some good songs here, but I think the strength is in the expansiveness, with orchestral tracks, and different compositions mixed together to form what they were trying to do, to make a Sgt. Peppers or Pet Sounds or Village Green... However, most of this album just comes off as a copy-cat and not original enough to push it above 3 stars for me. It doesn't stay memorable for me, above it just having the arc and appearance of something more grand, though when looking closer, it falls apart.
Early Bee Gees is the best version of The Bee Gees!
Very different influences: "The Beatles", "Demis Roussos", some country and some epic soundtrack stuff. Not the "Bee Gees" I'm used to hear, I liked it.
TL:DR story time. One time when I was about 10 year's old, I attended the yearly Christmas party at the Police Station (dad was a cop). They had a DJ, quiz etc. I won the music quiz, because I was a nerd. My prize was a Bee Gees vhs of some live show they had recorded. I watched it several times and came to love many of the songs. But till today, decades later, I have not listened to any of their albums. This is a work of boundless, misguided ambition and creativity. What that means is you get too damn many songs of varying styles and quality - everything is thrown at the wall, there is no consistency or coherence, and as a result only half of it is any good. It starts off all Prog, grounds itself with some good stuff, goes off the rails with Country and Instrumental fluff, and then circles around. A sign of a band who had not yet learned who they were and how to rein themselves in.
This thing was a fucking journey, first half is a contemporary (at the time) rock cover sampler, then it shifts gears into cinematic strings and symphony arrangements (which were really enjoyable). I guess it's a three, but I could defend a 2 or a 4.
3.5
achei meio pombo e eu daria 2 PORÉM esse album tá taggeado como disco (o que ta looooonge de ser) e eu não quero que minha nota nesse estilo diminua. sou roubona.
I only learned that the Bee Gees had a life before disco last year. That being said, it's fine. Not GREAT, but not bad.
While the process of listening to this album led me to learning very interesting things about The Bee Gees, the album itself just sounded like some above average Beatles impersonators.
I like the Bee Gees, but am only really familiar with their big disco hits. The genre of this album was therefore unexpected, and I don't think it really landed with me. One thing's for sure and it's that these guys are really great singers - the harmonies are sublime, the vocals are clear but also rich with emotion. But the album is just kind of boring (maybe because I was expecting something poppier going in), and it very much overstays its welcome too. Ending what was already a longish album with some orchestral instrumental stuff is a bizzare move in my opinion and didn't really add anything to the experience
I prefer 70s/80s Bee Gees
Better than Coldplay
When I listen to this I Bee like, Gees. This is music. I dunno guys
Not what I expected from the band that made "Stayin' Alive". This album is a unique mix of country rock and weirdly epic orchestral rock. Interesting but nothing that really impressed me. 2.5 stars.
I liked this better than the last Bee Gees album that I got here. Might actually return to this one.
Álbum bem legal da banda. É interessante ver que antes de ser um fenômeno da discoteca as música dos Bee Gees já tinham algo dançante. QoA Cloudscape.
Listened to on my 7.1 surround sound set up. Though the Bee Gees have a lengthy, storied career spanning many albums, I--and I assume most people--only really have a knowledge for their disco hits associated with the release of the 'Saturday Night Fever' film, in which they have a handful of songs. What took me by surprise going into this album was the orchestral pop sound that dominates this release, feeling so disconnected from the Bee Gees that I am familiar with. In fact, they waste no time delving straight into it with their opening track 'Odessa (City on the Black Sea), a seven and a half minute long epic with storytelling that wouldn't sound out of place on a prog rock album from around this time. If your only knowledge of Bee Gees is something like 'Stayin' Alive', this is such a strange departure. But it's one that is well-executed over 17 tracks spanning a bit over an hour, with unique stories spun through the tracks and even some pure orchestral instrumentals that help build the grandiosity of this release. It's not necessarily mind blowing pop, and after some supplemental reading, I do wish they were able to execute their original vision of a conceptual release, as I think it would have made for a more singular and cohesive album, but between all of the solid singing by the trio and the lush instrumentation that accompanies are some hidden gems of emotional delivery and interesting storytelling. 'Black Diamond' stands out particularly to my ears, as one of the few tracks led by Robin Gibb of the Gibb brothers that sing, and I just love his voice. The song isn't necessarily deep, but there is a heartache that really comes through in Robin's delivery which is great. The following track 'Marley Purt Drive' is probably the storytelling highlight of this album, almost a lyrical exercise in withholding information to re-contextualize the song by the end, with the beginning sounding like a man selfishly running from his responsibilities before developing into the idea of a man looking for a break from his absolutely massive and noble responsibilities (he's not running from his family, he's just clearing his head cause he spends his week running a big orphanage). I appreciated as well the 3 instrumentals that pop up towards the end, which--although feeling a bit like fragments of that lost original album idea--help break up the monotony a bit. See, this album is very fine on the whole, not exactly earth-shattering but certainly pleasurable. However, it makes it hard to point out a whole lot that really comes across as interesting or particularly notable. It's just a nice piece of orchestral pop with ideas from time to time of grander ideas. A good listen all around, and an informative dive into the history of the Bee Gees, but not something that rocks my world.
I love the Bee Gees but this album not so much. There are a few songs here that I like; most are just ok, and a couple are not good at all.
Underrated
Weird… bee gees but not disco and a kind psych folk concept album. Didnt hate it but didn’t leave much of an impression either
why they keep randomly switching the vibe
Es klingt wie der Moment, in dem eine talentierte Band unbedingt in die Sphären ihrer Zeitgenossen aufsteigen will – Beatles‑Ambition, Pink‑Floyd‑Atmosphäre, Stones‑Größe – aber schlicht nicht die Mittel hat, diese Höhen zu erreichen. Das Ergebnis ist ein krampfhaftes Konzeptalbum ohne echtes Konzept: episch gemeint, aber oft zu lang, um spannend zu bleiben, und zu zerfasert, um wirklich zu tragen. Die Brüder streben hier hörbar nach dem großen Wurf, nach Hits, nach Kunst – doch kein Song kommt auch nur in die Nähe eines Ohrwurms, und die Dramaturgie wirkt eher bemüht als inspiriert. Trotzdem bleibt Odessa ein interessantes Zeitdokument: der ehrliche Versuch, größer zu sein, als man jemals sei konnte.
Solid and a little different than expected
- I feel as if the album so far has been taking me somewhere, sort of on a journey - Robin Gibbs lead vocals just sound so much more pained than Barry's. I'm not exactly sure why but it feels more emotional, whereas Barry's vocals sound a bit cleaner - I like the vibe of this album. No songs really stood out to me but I enjoyed it
Great album, “You’ll Never See My Face Again” was very good.
Impressive and almost enjoyable. I love this band, but a concept album about a fictional 100 year old shipwreck is a bridge too far.
I'm sure it's a great album, but I'm just not feeling it today. Didn't necessarily dislike it, just wasn't getting a whole lot from it.
what in the beatles. definitivamente not what I was expecting.
Can't say I knew much about them besides Stayin Alive. It was ok. I guess it sounded like the beatles? I liked the instrumental tracks most, lol.
I didnt realise the Bee Gees formed in the 50s and had a decade of non-disco stuff before the 70s. This is a wildly ambitious record that often falls flat for me and ends up sounding like a lesser version of The Beatles or the Kinks. It's all listenable, and I enjoyed a few songs, like Marley Purt Drive, even if it owes a lot to The Weight. Just trying to do too much, but not bad.
Odessa has lots of variety, several different music styles from bluegrass and country to opera, pop, and a symphony or two. Musically and vocally it is well performed, the lyrics are thoughtful and humorous at times. But the album is all over the place, wimpy and doesn’t hold up. I do agree that it’s 1001 List worthy. (2.8*s) Who knew The Bee Gees were a band before disco? Nobody.
I know these guys. I know a lot of their stuff but haven't listened to an album. so far this album is meh to me.
Definitely not what I expected. I like it better than disco era BeeGees.
I enjoyed this more than I expected to!
On first listen I don't know if I'm into the bee gees will finish later today.
I was kind of surprised by this. I really only knew stuff like Staying Alive. But this wasn't all in falsetto. Not really something I'll listen to a lot. But I enjoyed it.
I was surprised by this album. When I think of the Bee Gees I think disco, but this felt more similar to Beatles/Kinks, which makes sense because it was from the 60's. The non-disco vibe made me enjoy it more than I thought I would, but still nothing really grabbed my interest.