Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I usually try to at least listen to the entirety of the album, but I got really bored by the 4th song. I really dislike how the vocalist(s) overuse vibrato in songs. Other than that my life has been completely unaffected by this album. NNN
it was alright don’t think i would listen again
Easy listen. Not bad, a little redundant. Wasn’t familiar with this side of The Bee Gees.
Nice and pleasant. Almost boring.
Wow. Can we fast forward to disco please?
I wish I could less than one star
The Bee Gees are proof positive that man can lead a rewarding and successful life after self-castration. Though it is still not recommended.
Ugh that vibrato is incredibly grating. I don't think I'll be able to make it through the full hour at this rate... Thankfully that has subsided. I didn't know the Bee Gees ever did anything other than disco. I won't say this is good and I wouldn't call it terrible, but it definitely does not rise above its contemporaries. This just sounds at points like countless other mid-career Beatles album facsimiles. You know what? Never mind. The vibrato is back. I got halfway through and wish I hadn't.
Really a nice variety of sounds and each are executed quite well! A bit slow for my taste but it was a nice simple listen. 5/10
I don't know if it's Andy Gibb or not, but one of these guys went to The Sing-Like-a-Sheep School of Music with Stevie Nix. But, they're from Australia, so..... As for the music, pretty standard pop stuff, fluffy pablum. There were only one or two Bee Gees tunes I liked, and they aren't on this album.
I was surprised that I liked this. It had Bee Gees sound- which I like a lot- but was different and somber. I could listen to this regularly.
Favorite track: Give Your Best
Thought this was quite mid. I think it lags behind a lot of contemporary pop music, especially the Zombies, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys. The orchestral stuff is a bit much, and they also really struggle to find a catchy tune for a lot of this. Best Track: I Laugh in Your Face Worst Track: Seven Seas Symphony
Feels v over important Best Song: First of May Worst Song: The British Opera
I'm usually a fan of grand, sweeping, earnest work, even when ultimately ridiculous. But this album tested even my mettle. By Sound of Love I was pretty sure I was over it and then Seven Seas Symphony broke me. I'm afraid this album isn't anything they wanted it to be. Perhaps it's on the list as a counterexample? I will admit I kind of liked The British Opera, star for that.
This didn't really feel like a cohesive album, but there were some cool elements in there I guess. Not what I expected at all. 3/5
Irritating vibrato and excessive orchestral instrumentation (those God-awful, elevator-music strings, in particular) plague an otherwise interesting collection of tracks. Really liked the diversity of styles on side 2 (Whisper Whisper is the best song on the album and sounds like a Lennon/Beatles track). Also liked the ambition of the opening track, Odessa, though it gets tedious at times. Never Say Never Again is kinda catchy. The rest is hard to listen to, though, and will prevent future visits.
If you are a Saturday Night Fever BeeGee - good luck. The earlier stuff is very much Folk and little falsetto this brings out the musicality of the brothers Gibb.
was expecting disco, got knock off beatles instead, not bad 👍
Quite enjoyable
Less of a snooze than "Trafalgar," but still not great. The People Demand Saturday Night Fever!!!
Definitely older BeeGees. Not a disco album. Recording quite good. Too long. Did not finish both discs.
What an absolute snoozefest of an album. I'll give it credit for having a concept and being somewhat clever but my god they should have just waited for disco.
I had never listened to any of The Bee Gees non-disco stuff before. Honestly I wish I kept it that way. It’s not offensive, but it’s so clearly trying to copy The Beach Boys / The Band / The Beatles and it just comes off as lame.
Nope.
"I cannot understand why you just moved to Finland" sort of encapsulates why this is such a dreadful self-indulgent album. Some awful cod American accent stuff. Some Beatlesish melody songs. Some of the worst lyrics the Gibb brothers ever put down on record. Altogether a struggle to get through.
bee gees but not disco :O
bG
Solid 3
I was intrigued to listen to this because I like 60’s Bee Gees songs a lot, and this was a double album from 1969 where I only knew one song (Run to Me). Appreciated the ambition, but overall didn’t love the songs. It was rereleased as a single album, and that was probably a good idea. This is the album to listen to: https://music.apple.com/us/album/best-of-bee-gees/1440901853
Better than I expected
This dude loves the Bee gees for some reason
I did not care for this album. I previously heard other early Bee Gees albums but this one is a bit too heavy on the orchestral parts for me. It also doesn't help that this is a double album. I did like the track Marley Purt Drive, but would pass on the rest.
Pretty interesting mix between what sounded like the Beatles and Bowie. Might have to give this one another shot to see if it grows on me. Also didn’t know The Bee Gees had non-falsetto songs
Boy was this a slog. These are not The Bee Gees you’re looking for - they’re much worse
Quite cool to listen to pre-Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees but not my favorite
Interesting to hear their pre disco sound. Almost sounded like the Beatles and The Band on some songs. That being said it was pretty boring beyond the novelty of getting to hear another side of the famous band.
Bee gees have some songs before their disco era that stand out, but they were not nearly as interesting back then, sadly. There's nothing wrong with this album production wise really, and the song is good. But it's just so boring. There isn't really any song that stands out to me, but there are a few that I really don't like, such as 'I Laugh In Your Face', and the sudden cowboy song of 'Give Your Best' that doesn't fit at all in the record. Very forgettable album, no idea why it's on the list at all.
Was expecting disco and instead got some type of progressive folk. I mean the album is ok, with good musicians and all but I have grown a bit tired of this genre after too many similar albums. The ending changed into some nearly classical feature. I feel I've given so many similar albums a 3 but given that I don't feel like listening to it again at all i'll give it a strong 2.
I felt like a teenager again!
2.5/5. Meh, I didn't really get this. It's not bad, but I'd never choose to put this on.
Sin pena ni gloria.
If I was a massive Beatles fan, maybe I'd like this more. But if I'm wanting to hear music like this, I'll listen to the real deal. I thought some of the later Bee Gees stuff was cool but this record is just straight up boring Beatles to me. It doesn't help that it looks like this record came out much after Beatlemania - what's new about this?
Total surprise! Pretty mega sound! Triumphant! Didn’t enjoy the first half. Loved the second. 3.4
Pre-disco Bee Gees, huh? There was some quite lush instrumentation within here that made it not too unpleasant to listen to, but it was just so boring. I listened to this on my car radio and my Bluetooth connection cut out about halfway through - when it reconnected I genuinely don’t know if it carried on from the same place or started either the song or the whole album from the beginning again. Maybe a bit harsh as it did sound very pretty in places, but this was like listening to some nice paint drying
I don't know what is so special about Odessa. I love the Bee Gees, but this album doesn't showcase very much about them. Their vocals are what make them stand out, but so frequently their voices aren't being used to their full ability. The beautiful instrumentals were the highlight of this album (and were perhaps the only highlight on a subpar album), but what a shame the Bee Gees' vocals wasn't the focus. I heard similarities with the Beatles, which isn't surprising for 1969 release, but then that leaves me wondering how original the Bee Gees' first sound was.
Another Bee Gees album on this project, and yet again, absolutely zero disco Bee Gees. This really does seem like a crime. Their non-disco music is just SO generic, whereas their disco music is just so iconic. I am just going to copy/paste the majority of my review from the previous album, because my feelings are mostly the same and I really do feel passionate about this: There is no disco era Bee Gees on this project. What an incredibly ridiculous miss. Do yourself a favor and go out on your own and check out these additional listenings for a better taste of the Bee Gees: -Saturday Night Fever soundtrack -Main Course -Spirits Having Flown -Hell, even "Greatest" is a worthy endeavor of all of their hits (containing, of course, their DISCO songs, NOT songs from the albums found on 1001). I'm all for some music history on this project, but if you want to experience something that truly changed the landscape of music at the time, something that should be experienced by anyone taking on a listening project like this, it's Bee Gees' disco music, not this. This album could have been sung by virtually any other soft rock act of the time. Disco is what set Bee Gees apart and made them so special.
Love Barry Gibb and his falsetto, but definitely don't love this album.
I liked this a surprising amount. Pretty chill and hopeful.
Solid album! The opera influence at the end went dummy
oh this album? absolute dog meat trash that should be nuked and never played again. I never wanna see this red album cover another day in my life and that’s on baby
Mietin olisko ensimmäinen no comment arvostelu mutta jätetään tähän nyt kuitenkin.
When I see a Bee Gees album this morning, I was expecting a fun disco album, not this. Didnt realise they had a 60’s sound, I feel it’s inferior to other 60’s album, so not convinced about its place on this list.
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.
God damn it. I didn't know I'd have to start my day by giving the Bee Gees 1 star. Gutted. My dog's opinion was that he hated the cymbal clashes in With All Nations, and he'd like you to know he's usually very chill about loud sounds in music. I thought the album was over and my auto-play had gone to Danny Elfman for some reason, but that was the last track, The British Opera, so I guess that's my favorite song.
Comfortably one of the worst albums I've heard on this list. Like a knock-off Beatles record lacking any of their charm or wit, a real slog
One recognizes that they likely viewed this as their Sgt. Peppers. As such, their ambition might be called hubristic; yet one senses they themselves were unconvinced or less than fully committed, anyway. One will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the symphony was foisted upon them. The excess of melodrama comes directly from an excess of vibrato and the onslaught — nay, the avalanche — of mawkish orchestration. (Compare these schmaltzily-slathered-with-sentimentality songs with the aggressive, all-in, vibratoless approach to “Nights on Broadway”.) The ominous backing vocals are like bad and obvious show tunes. What does it say that the outright rip-offs and parodies are the best cuts? A coincidence, perhaps? There are moments, sure; such an overdone four-sided exercise, nearly Mahlerian at times, could scarcely avoid the odd winning melody or serendipitous harmony. And the vocal quality is strong throughout (vibrato surfeit notwithstanding). Like variety shows, platform shoes and smoking, this is a late-’60s relic best left unturned over and un-revisited. Give me the disco records, which make a far more meaningful — and inordinately more enjoyable— legacy. The best that might be said of this is that it’s good to know what came before Saturday Night Fever, and that it edges into “so-bad-it’s-good” territory.
Kinda boring and just not my music taste, still feels like a soundtrack for a movie.
3 stars
There were some interesting songs here... Look, call me uncultured or whatever, but I prefer the Bee Gees disco shit. 3/5
It’s like the Wiggles tried to be relevant.
I liked this more than the other pre-disco Bee Gees album. Nothing special but I really didn't mind it and a couple songs were pretty good.
p165. 1969. 3 stars. Pros: well, they knew how to knockout a tune, and the production is excellent. Cons: suspect lyrics - something they never sorted throughout their long career - Robin Gibb's voice (the equivalent of vocal jelly) and a complete lack of any musical direction or coherence. It's a mess, but worth listening to.
Went in expecting ass due to the many 1 reviews. I cant really point to anything good, but definitely not as bad as some reviews say it is. The lyrics are not a highlight, but if you ignore them it sounds okay
Most definitely not their best effort.
There were some nice moments but for the most part its 60's mush. I don't think the Bee Gees would've been remembered so much if not for the 70's.
I enjoy a good concept album, but the concept of this one kind of goes away or at least is pretty unnoticeable after a little while. It also sounds nothing like what I would expect a Bee Gees album to sound like, and they're not playing to their strengths. Some of the songs sound like straight Beatles rip-offs. Just kind of a miss overall. Wishing it were a "classic" Bee Gees sound. Favorite Song(s): Edison, I Laugh in Your Face
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.
nah. unmememorability in a minor key
An unfinished concept album, without concept, that tries really hard to be a Beatles album. 2/5
This one suprised me in a good way
It was better than the other Bee Gees album I had which was terrible. This is a bit too long and a lot of the songs didn't really do much for me.
No. I’m not doing this to myself. 3 track in and I’m hating it
I was not even aware of this album and it wasn’t “my cup of tea” but kudos to them for trying. I prefer my Bee Gees in disco attire.
Truly awful
Ganska fin platta.
Wake me when its over
Too slow
Je ne suis pas vraiment fan, mais c'était une surprise de découvrir cette période musicale des Bee Gees qui m'était totalement inconnue ! Mais ... catastrophe, le premier morceau instille un ennui profond, presque jamais démenti par la suite. Je n'ai pas pu aller au bout ... et je n'ai aucune envie d'essayer.
Never have been a big BG fan, and after listening to this, know I will never be one. A lot of the same old thing
Majestic beautiful baroque and chamber pop and folk.
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.
I guess it's a little fun that this book likes the Bee Gees pre-disco stuff so much that they have 2 full albums here. Unfortunately, I just don't think Bee Gees' approach to baroque pop is all that exciting. I liked this one more than Trafalgar though I guess.
Sounds like a Beatles rip off
Saw Bee Gees and expected a disco album but instead got a weird concept album with sounds similar to the Beatles. Was pretty good.
Not at all what I expected from the Bee Gees. This was fine, but I'm more of a disco Bee Gees fan.
So this is definitely a super weird album. But I don't get the hate for it. I mean I would never have guessed this was the Bee Gees, maybe that's why? People see Bee Gees and you automatically think 'disco' but this is not that at all and (apparently) the Bee Gees did a lot of other stuff before they got famous for disco. Honestly I had no idea this album even existed. A sort of 60's folk rock concept album that occasionally delves into what seems like cheery film score. I wouldn't be surprised if they were intending this to be made into a film. But I don't know, man, this is not really for me. It's not bad for what it is I guess. 2.5/5 rounded to 3 just because of the surprise that this is the Bee Gees.
The Bee Gees 'Pet Sounds'. No really, this is a really deep album. Everybody knows the 'Saturday Night Fever' Bee Gees of the Disco era, but the absolute heavy hitters from before that period go unnoticed. For example, Odessa, while a weird idea for a concept album has some legs on it. 3.5/5
Some good songs in there but it got a bit bogged down in its tweeness by the end.
This is mellow 60s rock opera. I eventually tuned it out, but it wasn't bothersome. Hopefully, we'll get 70s Bee Gees soon.
Lost interest pretty early on. Just not my bag.
Wow. I knew the Bee Gees had "another side", but this was even more different than I expected. And there's some quality stuff on here. Especially the stuff that isn't trying too hard to be artsy, rock opera / ballads. I'm glad I listened to this. But even so, it's not an "8 out of 10", which is largely would it would take to give this 4 stars. But it's good enough for 3.
3/5. It's like experimental soft rock? I did enjoy the album and I can even see many bands today taking inspiration from the experimentation. There are basic singles for sure, but I respect the ability to make a double album about a boat, I think? It's not even the whole album, unless there's a lot of hidden meaning I am missing. It is was enjoyable though, and some songs had that beauty this band can be known for. Also country songs sometimes? Respect the audacity. Best Song: Odessa, Lamplight, First of May
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.
Too be honest I am shocked to see the Bee Gees had at least 6 albums before the 70s. Basically an album per year is a pretty good clip. This album actually sounded more like a Beatles album than I expected. A few tracks you could hear one of the Gibbs trying to hold back from going full Gibb like a Jimmy Fallon skit. Overall, pleasantly surprised with the offering, although it does seem a bit boring at points. Favorite track "Melody Fair" 3/5
Not at good as other albums, for me.
Man, this was boring. I never knew the Bee Gees did rock music before the disco era, but boy am I glad they left it.
Boring!
Pleasant, non-challenging. 3
4-
This is the Bee Gees. So disappointed. If it was a random act. A low 2. but this is the bee gees. Everything was so forgettable.
As a child of the 70s, all I really knew of the Bee Gees was their Saturday Night Fever era disco music. I am blown away that their early music was inspired by the Beatles. Some of it sounds like Paul or John wrote it! While this concept album isn’t my favorite, the Gibb brothers’ harmonies are just. so. good.
Most artists found disco and embarrassed themselves. The Bee Gees were ahead of the curve and managed to embarrass themselves before finding disco.
To think they had 5 albums before this, and then 8 years later came Saturday Night Fever. That gives a whole new meaning to never giving up and just “staying alive”.
I’m not sure if I was listening to an ambitious yet failed attempt to try and be The Beatles, or the Queen’s coronation…or Spinal Tap which for once is not a good thing. I can appreciate the variety, but this thing is all over the map. Maybe the mysterious lost ship should remain lost.
Snooooooooze fest. Seems like Bee Gees needed another decade to marinate. Appreciation of the musicianship is getting me up to a 2 but I didn’t enjoy it and took everything not to skip through (although in full honesty I did). Also felt like there were a lot of “influences” in this that were more of wannabe Beatles songs. And Marley Purt Drive is the same song as The Weight, right?
This isn’t The Bee Gees I want… it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be after the first track. But cmon man. 2.25/5
This album just made me kinda angry for some reason
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…
Ei. Bee Geesiltä pitää kuunnella discoa. Ei tätä! 2/5
Okei mitä helvettiä. Voisin ehkä antaa tälle kaksi tähteä säälistä, jos olisi lyhyempi, mutta tsiisus. Onneksi disko tapahtui.
Ihan hyvä pop-levy, muttei kuitenkaan ihan nelonen.
The title track for this is a monstrosity. Warbling and overindulgent, it doesn't even make up for it by being interesting. At 7:35 it is a chore, and I look at the total running time of an hour and five minutes - it sends shivers down my spine. I really hope the rest of this album gets better. After about 25 minutes, I realise that it probably isn't going to. "Whisper Whisper" is a significant uptick, but then it tails off again, and I'm done with it. Not for me.
Could not get through this
Not buying the hipster narrative that their disco heyday was a sellout, and that the late sixties stuff is some kind of Nuggets buried treasure. This is at times embarrassing and pretentious - if you're names not Eurovision or the Champions League then better not be writing a 'National Anthem for All Nations'. Hoping the Sat Night Fever soundtrack be on this list, but only 250 left to go and its not so far.
I feel like the 1001 album selection is an elaborate troll. Where is Saturday Night Fever? Why this album?
Not for me
This isn't Saturday Night Fever, what the fuck?
The best decision the Bee Gees made was to embrace disco. This is meh folk rock.
Proof that concept albums aren't always good.
Wenn das ein damals angesagtes Konzeptalbum werden sollte, dann ist das gründlich schief gegangen.
I was looking forward to a bit of funky bee gees instead I got some experimental bee gees. I think I prefer the funky bee gees. Way too long as an album also. Low 2.
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
This is definitely conjecture, but after reading about this album I think the only reason it was included here was because it almost tore apart the band. No 70's Bee Gees, the exposure to disco white people get looks very different. Regarding the actual music, it's a typical late 60's slog. Virtually nothing stands out to me here, aside from the vocal work, but it's just a reminder of what's to come. This is a sub-par Bee Gees record, compared to themselves. It's nothing to write home about in the genre it exists in, either. The album is annoyingly long, too. Just a slog to get through.
I liked the orchestral songs!
Not my fave, was too theatrical in my humble opinion I felt like I was at a play
not my favorite. i can hear the beegees sound, but no particular song on this album strikes me.
I enjoy each song individually and it seems like they all have the same feeling and should go on the same album. Don’t try to convince me there’s some kind of underlying story throughout the whole project. Writing is fairly good, production as well, vocals as well, instrumentation as well. It all is. There’s nothing bad here, but definitely nothing to write home about. Frankly, I’m underwhelmed and disappointed. 3/5
I've never been a super big Bee Gees fan, but their disco stuff is orders of magnitude better than whatever this was. I respect the ambition to make a concept album but...you take big swings and sometimes you miss. It's like Neil Diamond and Broadway but schmaltzier. And so long. And boring. I maybe liked a song or two, but I can't even remember what they were. 2/5
I - like most people - think of Disco when we think The Bee Gees; this is definitely not Disco. This is a more Folk, at times country, oriented Bee Gees. It was impressive. New respect for an old band.
Got kinda lost in the length of this one, lost my interest. Songs started sounding the same and I think this album could’ve been trimmed down a few songs
Not what I was expecting from The Bee Gees. Liked it better than I thought I would. A little slow and repetitive at times, and not too many stand out songs for me. I would rate 2.5 if I could but gonna go with 3 with the thought it could grow on me
Loved some bits, bored by most
Are we sure the Stayin Alive band made this boring church choir ass shit?
This is really weird. Usually when I say that, I mean it as a positive. But in this case it’s just… odd. I only know the BeeGees as the Saturday Night Fever guys so was taken aback by the country-and-western-influenced 70s-pop-sounding historical concept album thing. Songs about shipwrecks and Edison. An instrumental “international anthem”!? Wtf. A sound like the Monkees crossed with Willie Nelson trying to make Sergeant Peppers… This album was released in 1969 and I’m feeling the effects of the concept album era here - but without the psychedelic atmosphere, just the grandiosity. I don’t know what to make of it. Sometimes I was resisting the urge to shut it off (it’s taken me several attempts to listen to it), sometimes it was… alright. Anyway, I’ve listened to it but I won’t be coming back.
Very enjoyable and not what you’d expect from the disco kings….
It's interesting to hear a pre-disco Bee Gees album, but this seems like an overwrought album. tracks 3, 5, 7, 13 and 17 probably could have been left off the album and it would probably made the album better. The rest of the album seems very derivative -Dylan, Beatles, Beach Boys. Give Your Best has an obvious country/bluegrass inflence, but it just comes off like it's mocking the music, almost Rocky Raccoon-ish. My picks for this album would be Melody Fair, Barley Purt Drive, and Never Say Never Again.
Yo, this is a piece of excrement.
I have to say that I'm not familiar with any of the Bee Gee's music other than the disco hits of the 70s. (which is excellent btw!) So this was my first listen to this record. Billed as a concept album, this attempt falls short of an album like "Sgt. Pepper's" or the rock opera "Tommy", but it is good sixties rock and a very enjoyable listen. I think the production is very high quality but overdone and some of the musical interludes could have been scrapped for a tighter finished product.
The is a surprising album from the Bee Gees. This was a concept album, almost approaching sixties psychedelia at points. The concept of the album may have been lost in revisions and a significant rift in the band. The result is not a product of 70's disco stars - this is more the work of a country or folk band. Some tracks could be Creedence - without Forgerty's distinct sound. Other tracks on this odd mix are orchestrated pieces which could be part of a John Williams movie score. It is a strange mix, and a strange album, composed of pretty songs.
Not what i expected from the Bee Gees almost more of a folk album . 3.8
Early Bee Gees are the best Bee Gees.
DID NOT EXPECT A LOVE LETTER TO THOMAS EDISON! In the end this wasn’t as bad as I thought but not great still. 2.05 per track
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
Ambitious.
album was way too slow for me, expected upbeat tunes like Stayin Alive, but not on this album.
Not what I expected, pre disco Bee Gees
thanks, but no thanks. this concept failed!
Not really what I was expecting. OK for once, not really worth listening again.
A bit long with too many slow songs
Weirdly dramatic in a boring way
Somewhat decent baroque pop but this album is wayyyyy to long for what it has to offer.
Just because your album has an hour long concept doesn't make it less boring.
I was full of enthusiasm at the beginning of the album, but ultimately it is a kind of very very light version of The Kinks. It's like easy-listening-baroque-pop. Like... The Carpenters are more brutal than that.
One of the best albums I've heard. It sort of invokes a certain feeling of evening tunes to listen to after a rough day . Loved the instrumentation and the vocals were top notch. Favourites have to be marley put drive and Edison
Very good.
Editors of the 1001 “ hey we should put some Bee Gees albums on here” “ Do you like super famous late 70s disco albums?” “ no, they have a late 60s concept album about a ship”. “
Slap album, af en toe beetje Beatles vibes maar voor de rest kut.
Bee Gees heeft andere muziek dan Staying Alive??? The fuck Lang album, veel verschillende muziek, beetje klassieke dingen maar ook country Marley Purt Drive doet me denken aan "The Weight" van The Band Random ass volkslied ook in het midden (With All Nations) Wel oke
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!
not the funky bee gees i was hoping for :(
I can never listen to the Bee Gees without thinking of Kenny Everett and his skits. The Bee Gees kit and mass of chew sets just still make me laugh. I thought this started off quite well, but then everything was a little one dimensional and didn’t seem to go anywhere. I think they are good songwriters and craftsmen in their way, but after early promise, I lost interest. And it went on way too long. I’m going back to Kenny Everett.
At a certain point I thought that Spotify started playing another album/artist. Marley Purt drive sounded so much like The Weight!
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.
This didn't work for me. I don't think it's a coincidence that their later music had the biggest impact of their career. Some bands can pull off bloated concept albums. The Bee Gees are not one of them. Melody Fair was ok.
Man oh man am I glad they discovered disco. The sweet harmonic vocals are nice for sure but the melodrama... Kudos to the graphic designer for the font selection on this album. That blew me away way more than the music. Extra point for kerning!
There's some decent songs on here, but nothing outstanding. As a whole too long and boring
Unexpectedly pleasant. Not The Bee Gees I thought it would be.
Not my favorite.
Not sure what they were going for here. Some decent Simon & Garfunkel feels, but just so-so for me.
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.
Such different from other Bee Gees albums and it is great
This album is a bit odd, starts with a story about a ship wreck, has a song praising Thomas Edison, some operatic and orchestral music. I don't get it. But somehow Bee Gees still have a few songs on here that are just incredible (Whisper Whisper) and I can't justify a score lower than three. Really lovely voices too
Sometimes reasonably enjoyable. Other times borderline unlistenable. A few times the lyrics made me shake my head because WTF were they trying to say or accomplish?
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
Not at all what I expected! This is not what I think of when I think of the Bee Gees. It's a lengthy concept album that didn't leave me impressed.
Very frog coded album, no I will not elaborate
7/10 - 3/5 Liked the sound, but I didn't listen to the whole thing. I've been waiting on a banger album and this just wasn't it.
It’s nice music but didn’t grab me at all
I can imagine when it came out… it made an impact. But once again? I don’t know how it is a “must” listen album
Here The Bee Gees are still developing. Pre-disco; when I liked them better. Some good songs - some not so much. I like “First of May”. “A” for effort.
This 60's fantasy/political Lyricing really hasn't aged well. These days I find it so naff. A somehwat tedious easy listening progr/concept album. Has nothing of the trademark Bee Gees disco/funk, and somehow the vocals sound so generic. Tedious and uninspiring.
An album where they sing very high in their vocal ranges without popping into their disco era falsettos. Not great, but pretty interesting.
Wow, this is incredible. Some songs sound like early Beatles which is a good thing and makes sense, because this is also from the 60.
What the hell was the point of that?
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.
Surprising
This was... unexpected? I figured it would be classic BeeGees and it was not. Surprising. Not bad at all! I'd say 2.5 round up.
Pretty awesome
Didn't seem like the Bee Gees but was alright.
Not what you imagine when you think of the Bee Gees. Some good stuff on here.
Beatles ripoff (complimentary)
Komisches Album. Sehr ruhig, lange Stücke. Kenne mich mit der Band gar nicht aus. Schon eher anstrengend. Auch, wenn es natürlich auch irgendwie interessant ist, dass sie so ein weirdes Konzeptalbum machen. Ja okay, inzwischen nervt es so sehr, dass ich es ausmachen muss.
bit boring imo - 2.5
can’t believe this was pre 70s, damn
I wouldn't say this is my favorite Bee Gees album, but you can never go wrong with the Brothers Gibb.
You ever create an album whose birth is so torturous that it leads to your band (temporarily) breaking up? Odessa is notable mostly for the streamlining of The Bee Gees which would enable their incredible 70s run, but it’s also an above-average baroque pop collection.
Some of the music is alright when they're not trying to be the Beatles, but dear god are the vocals annoying. The Gibbs' voices is like a mosquito in my ear. And it goes on for over an hour.
What did I just listen to.
All over the place with influences of the 60s. A few good songs.
I didn't even know the Bee Gees existed before disco. Now I understand why.
Überraschung. Ich kannte die Bee Gees letztlich nur vom Namen. Es ist teilweise etwas dick aufgetragen, aber ein schönes Konzeptalbum (?). Die Stimmen sind gut, aber nicht immer mein Geschmack. Musikalisch ist es ebenfalls gut.
Odd selection, but those voices are golden.
Not my favorite Bee Gees album, but a solid listen.
I know this album is thought to be one of their best. Not for me though. I love The Bee Gees but not this album so much
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
Pleasantly surprised. Had only heard a couple of these songs before. Sounds like a mix of Beatles songs and Elton John songs. They can def write a hook and a melody. Marley Purt Drive and Whisper Whisper are cool songs.
This isn't it. I think most view the Bee Gees as a fun and energetic group with excellent falsettos and harmonies and you can dance. This album is a slog. Long and meandering. Not a single song was memorable. The high points sound slightly Beatles-adjacent without the fun. No thanks to this album.
Heard of the Bee Gees, not the album. Pop from 1969. Not bad actually, was expecting it to be cheesy but quite enjoying. High 3 so far.
Unusual. Very unusual.
Sounds too much like a Moody Blues/Beatles rip off, and the vocals just don't do it for me.
Not bothering
Smooth groove easy listening. Nothing particularly distinctive.
Gear: Dunu SA6 Mische: irgendwie überraschend hochwertiger Mix und Soundstage, dämliche Vocals mit zu viel Hall, theatralische Streicher unerträglich Mugge: okay, das ist definitiv nicht Disco - aber leider definitiv auch nicht gut🕺☠️👍 Wertung: 1-2/5
This was really interesting. Kinda had a Beatles/Kinks vibe
I LOVED this album. I need more Bee Gees in my life. Previously I though the Bee Gees were like a boy band from the 60s – bubble gum pop. But this album felt more like a Pink Floyd album: connected, thoughtful, and diverse.
Kinda surprised they made it as far as disco on this evidence I'm not even sure what this album wants to be. Apparently it started life as a concept album about a ship that sank but that didn't stick. A lot of it sounds like the Beatles, there's one song that I thought sounded like "The Weight", and a random square dance?? And two orchestral instrumentals in the second half. It's all a bit "throw mud at the wall and see what sticks". Tempted to give 1 star but I think it's just about better than that
While I may have gained a little appreciation for the Bee Gees beyond the “unbuttoned satin shirt and greasy chest hair” image we’ve come to know them for, this album and Trafalgar were both absolutely tedious to listen to. Odessa is the sound of a band ruminating in their own wind.
Whisper Whisper ok, aber der Rest ... gääähn
For me, it seems the inclusion if this album on this list works as possible form of enlightenment? I don't think I realized this band had been putting music out this early, nor did I know they sounded anything like this during this period. What I determined pretty quickly is I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. The baroque pop elements are good with interesting flourishes here and there, but it just doesn't quite get into areas that feel very deep. I also didn't care much for the vocals in places which is a big part of their sound. As an album, this feels like a dirge and lacks direction sort of leaving scraps behind. Also, Edison was not a good person, even though this song about him is pretty weird, and I kind of dig it.
Oh you can't be serious - I had to hear it to believe how crappy this is. A response to Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds? Yeah, sure - this has nothing comparable to the worst tracks off those albums. My only issue - 1 star or 2?
This was not what I was expecting. There were some songs I didn’t hate, but also a lot that I did.
This album is the Bee Gees' most ambitious. It is sweeping concept/double album that draws heavily on the British Folk Revival while wading into symphonic pop, 60s pop, and even country. Throughout the album, it seemed as though the Bee Gees were doing a Beatles impression which isn't so much a criticism as an observation. I think overall this album works but it certainly could have used a producer who was willing to make some significant cuts.
I enjoyed this album. After reading some of the reviews I went in with low expectations. I think that kept me open and that led me to want to give this album another listen in the future.
It’s an ok album with no songs that are recognizable hits. It’s amazing that it comes from The Bee Gees as the band that I found myself comparing it to the most is The Fleet Foxes. Which I guess makes sense as the music is mellow with a lot of harmonizing. Also, is it just me, or does “The British Opera” melody sound an awful lot like the theme for The Polar Express?”
It all sounds really nice, but it doesn’t really capture the attention I suppose. The writing is lacking, it just doesn’t meet the level of auditory beauty.
I can see why people like it, but it just isn't my genre.
The Bee Gees really know how to turn tragedy into song and it's obvious how much they put into songcraft. (Also low-key this album art is 10/10.) As a whole I find the album kind of odd but I like it. The overwrought emotion of some numbers get to me a little and bum me out but the gall of the Brothers Gibb to make an album like this in a world where Jimi Hendrix was still fucking shit up is respectable.
not a fan
This was not my favorite. Not my vibe
Nope.
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.
As an extremely casual Bee Gees fan, I haven't heard any songs made by them other than "Stayin' Alive" and similar. So to my big surprise, Odessa was a big jump in genres, almost lie a trip from Earth to... Earth, but somewhere else on the globe. Unfortunately, while their biggest hits are hits for a reason, I never heard of this album probably because it's just too boring and mediocre at best. I'm very disappointed and I won't be exploring any more of Bee Gees discography, just in case.
love these guys
This is some old school Bee Gees. Way before the disco era. It's just middle of the road later '60's type of folk music.
I always thought of the Bee Gees as a late-70s band, but it turns out they actually formed in 1642. This sounds like modern indie in places, but very dated and weirdly patriotic in others.
Not that good
I (like alot of the common music consumer) haven’t heard too much by the Bee Gees “pre-disco” era. Listening to this was…. interesting. I kid you not, but I feel like I’ve heard “this” kind of album before but…. Better? Somebody like a Bowie or the Beatles have executed much more interestingly. I don’t know it just didn’t permeate like I wanted it to. It’s not bad per se, I know they have better in them. R.I.P to all the sunken ships out there. 3 out of 5 stars indeed.
This is so different than the disco falsetto music I've heard from them, but in a good way, this album is very lovely. Like a blend between The Beatles and The Band. More of their music that sounds like this should be more popular. Could've slimmed the run time a hair, maybe lose the instrumental tracks.
Another album that I would not have sought out on my own. Might never go back to it, but was worth a listen
Is this shit country? Wasn’t expecting it. Either way ew
2.5
It throws you off when you don't hear those high notes that own can only achieve with a voice from the Gibb family. Or very very very tight disco pants. This album is anything but disco. And no diss to disco. The Bee Gees were prominent and perhaps defined that genre. I say that because when I think of disco, I think of Stayin' Alive. And you do too. Admit it. The first song on the track sounds almost medieval. Not in a cliche, evil sense, but a thematic sense. Lyrically, it is poetic akin to something of Gordon Lightfoot. Marley Purt Drive sounds like it could be a song from The Band, and Melody Fair is simply a Beatles type song. Arguably with better melodies and harmonies. There is no doubt that The Bee Gees are incredible. I really hope those don't get sucked into the tight pants and bulging vortex of their disco era and over look their records before that. Very beautiful melodies, simple but purposeful instrumentation. I'm familiar with this type of Bee Gees as my mom listened to them. I prefer this to the disco stuff, but even the disco stuff is great! Fantastic listen. Would listen to them again.
Good
Bee Gees range is always impressive and this is a great full concept album.
What the actual fuck is this?
This was rubbish! Doesn't sound like you'd expect a Bee Gees album to in any way, it's a 3rd tier prog album. There is not a single song here I'd want to revisit. Not unlistenable, but not in any way interesting. 2/5.
Weird as fuck.
If there's one thing that this endeavour has taught me... it's that the Bee Gees stole a living... especially Robin with his strangled goat impression
Nothing really great about this album, but it is so much better than Trafalgar, which I have previously listened to on this list. There are a couple of songs that are at least passable as good music. I kind of liked "Marley Purt Drive". 2/5 Won't listen again
This seemed a bit darker than I was expecting from the "Stayin Alive" guys. Not really my cup of tea either way.
No disco
Baroque Pop which leaves me unimpressed.
This one caught me off guard! I know some Bee Gees songs of course but nothing from this album. Not what I expected at all! This starts off incredibly beautiful. Interesting progressive pop type thing going on in the first track. Strong baroque vibes going on throughout this whole thing. It's definitely a little too long, some of these songs could have been shortened down or cut altogether I feel. Some really cool stuff on here though! I really like Marley Purt Drive which kinda sounds like that song The Weight from the Band which came out around the same time... Some stuff on here just rubs the wrong way I can't quite put my finger on it, maybe a bit melodramatic and tedious (Lamplight is a good example). I think maybe they were going for that melodramatic sound, but it comes off a but much on some of these songs. They tone is best on songs like First of May.,
Did not expect this from Bee Gees! It was not what I was hoping for either. But it was an interesting experience, heavily reminiscent of the Beatles in the 60s
Not much to say about this. It's not my kind of music or at least it wasn't hitting the right spots in my brain. Though it was a very surprising to hear Baba Blacksheep as the starting point lol
While better than Trafalgar this still blows. Can't believe a successful movie soundtrack created one of the most overrated acts in history. Oh wait, yes I can
Would’ve been totally fine dying without having heard this.
mom: "we have The Beatles at home" The Beatles at home: mange af sangene er egentligt fine, bare... uinspireret vel? ret tydeligt at deres styrker ligger andre steder. Pet Sounds/Sgt. Pepper it is not
Ved ikke helt hvad jeg skal sige til den her, men jeg lærte i hvert fald virkelig noget nyt om Bee Gees i dag! Ekstremt ambitiøs plade, anden halvdel var meget underlig. Jeg respekterer det en del selvom jeg ikke synes det hele virkede.
Det er sgu lidt for storladent til mig. Og så kan man slet ikke danse til det.. 😢
Where are the good Bee Gees songs?
I quite enjoyed the 3 albums preceding this, but here they take the morbid melancholy to extreme lengths in every possible way, which makes the final listening experience of this double album a bit of an uphill trek.
Man alive, wasnt expetcing this, not really disco but really, really terrible. This has made me very sad.
Met all my expectations of a pre-disco BeeGees concept album. It was rubbish. If the concept was to try to emulate 60's Beatles/Pink Floyd/Kinks/Elton John and drag it out for over an hour then mission accomplished boys, but why did you bother?
These are not the Bee Gees I was expecting! Where's the falsetto disco gone? Pleasantly not unpleasant. Not great either, though.
This album has completely thrown me off guard, not what I was expecting at all! Unsure what to make of it all.
better than expected icl
Melody Fair
The TBI Beatles
Lots of tear jerkers. Done well, but not my taste. I don't hate it. I played the entire record and I don't remember any song.
HL: “Lamplight”, title track, “Melody Fair”, “The British Opera” A pleasant album. An hour of pleasantries November 15, 2023 (later)
Can't think of what to think. Sounded like early Bowie morphing into a Christmas album.
A lot more southern rock influenced than I expected. Not terrible, but this isn’t the band I know or expected.
Good but a little weird
8/10. Disgusting Edison propaganda.
I'll put this in the same bucket as Trafalgar. Not the worst album I've heard but far from the best Bee Gees album and far from the most important album from 1969. Why did we get these guys imitating the Byrds imitating the Beatles instead of Saturday Night Fever? 4/10
Just very boring and uninspired
Nice a bit Experimental
A strange album, I really enjoyed some tracks but yet another double album that could have been a good single album Nice to hear the Bee Gees before disco
Eh, dit is toch pure palingsound? Sinds wanneer komen de Bee Gees uit Volendam? The Cats hadden dit gemaakt kunnen hebben, die licht bombastische harmonische samenzang, die uitgekiende arrangementjes, het gegalm. Met af en toe een raar uitstapje naar een ander genre (een Stones-achtig nummer, country, een 'International anthem'...) Maar waar zijn die gekke hoge stemmetjes gebleven, waar is de disco? Het luistert allemaal wel aardig weg, het is geproduceerd om door een ringetje te halen zo helder, maar er spat iets teveel suiker vanaf. Er is in die periode toch beter spul gemaakt, met meer ballen dan dit.
'Kan die Beatles-na-aap-band uit' wordt mij thuis gevraagd. Daarmee is gelijk duidelijk in welk hoekje dit gezocht moet worden en dat dat niet mijn hoekje is. Toch vind ik het iets prettiger dan de Beatles. Het is in de basis behoorlijk theatraal. Theater biedt vaak overdreven emoties om het maar duidelijk over te brengen. Nadeel is dat het soms erg nep wordt. Zet daar een realistische film tegenover. Daarin wordt vaak veel kleiner geacteerd. Veel echter. En, ironisch genoeg, dat komt dan bij mij vaak veel duidelijker over. De Bee Gees lijken te kiezen voor een theatrale muzikale achtergrond. Maar houden zich wat betreft de zang soms in. Het is in elk geval geen Staying Alive. Ergens pakt dat me toch wel.
Ik wist wel dat de Bee Gees al heel lang actief waren voordat ze aan de welbekende hoge noten en disco begonnen. En ik kende ook wel een aantal nummers van ze. Maar dit is een verzameling slechte musicalliedjes en smartlappen voor songfestivals, die zelfs voor die tijd al gedateerd waren. In 1969 kwam ook gewoon Led Zeppelin of Black Sabbath uit, de 70s stonden voor de deur. Dat je dan hiermee durft aan te komen, is echt een verschrikking. Ik heb het hele uur uitgeluisterd en mag nu dus met recht een dikke 1 geven.
I was ready not to finish this one, but it was surprisingly good. Drags a bit at the end, but not bad.
Priem
Wow, I feel the exact same way about this album as I do the other Bee Gees album I got. There are traces of something good. There are parts I quite like, but no one song is devoid of something boring. A lot of this album is just boring. Close to being something I like, but not there. This album started out really, really boring and I was worried I'd dislike this one more than Trafalgar, but it picked up after awhile and I'd say they're about even now. I think if I liked their voices more, i would maybe enjoy the music more, but there's just something about the vocals that doesn't do it for me. A low three. My favourite song was Melody Fair.
Not my cup of tea. Incredibly boring.
more warble than groove on this one.
Not a bad album by any means but not The Bee Gees sound that is popular. This is even more unlike their sound than the previous album. This one is more folksy and a bit more melancholic and even a little pretentious. Some of the songs were interesting choices lyrically. All in all it was an alright album it may have been lowered rated if it wasn’t by The Bee Gees. 6.5/10
very good album, enjoyed it.
+1 for being ambitious chamber pop, -1 for being a “concept” album
It was a weird album for the Bee Gees. They were doing their typical funk music. It seemed like they were trying to emulate the Beatles or other pop music. I will round up but it was close.
I mostly enjoyed it! I liked the big, full sounds in some of the songs. Orchestral
Not what I expected. 1.5/5
I gotta be honest, I had no idea Bee Gees did anything non-disco and let's just say thank god they found disco. This is like a bad mix of The Who and The Beatles.
I guess this is the Bee Gees before most of the world knew them. When they were still a band who sounded more like the Beatles - before the disco Bee Gees. Nothing here really stuck with me. Not bad, just nothing I'll be coming back to.