Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Obviously very different from the disco jams of the late 70s
Usually I'm more of a fan of this type of stuff, but it was a little forgetable.
An ambitious album that certainly was the Bee Gees' creative high point of their 60s works, but I think it would have worked far better as a single disc. Artful arrangements and gorgeous vocals, but way too many skippable tracks. Fave Songs: Lamplight, Marley Purt Drive,Never Say Never Again, Odessa (City on the Black Sea), Sound of Love, Whisper Whisper
this album mainly exists to say "did you know the beegees were a folk rock band before doing disco." its not a bad album but its way too long and feels is so boring at some points
The harmonies are all there. The choons are most definitely NOT
Album 186 of 1001 Bee Gees - Odessa Rating : 3 / 5 Favorite Track : Marley Purt Drive I like the Bee Gees. I like a lot of their stuff before, during and after the disco years. This isn't one that really does it for me. It was an ok listen, but just never took off.
Background music and a very easy listen
I was really only familiar with their work on Saturday Night Fever. The Bee Gees were talented! I love the variety.
Weird English guys doing Nashville schmaltz about an old boat and lightbulbs. Not what I was expecting at all, makes me long for disco. Prog adjacent folk with acoustic guitars, lots of strings and bells, the odd French horn - but barely any rhythm section. At best (Marley Purt Drive) they sound like a decent The Band tribute act. Sometimes (whisper, give your best) they sound like a 7th tier Beatles ripoff record playing too slow. Cons: the songs are extremely repetitive and very very boring. Pros: they last forever and there are loads of them. What is it with this list and tedious British concept albums?!
Caught me off guard, not what I was expecting at all. The pop folk worked well, I enjoyed it. Had never heard the song Marley Purt Drive, Bee Gees even thru some twang down on this track, I added this one to a playlist immediately. The Royal symphony type tracks weighed Odessa down like an anchor a bit. 3.5 stars
Weird! There are parts of it that sound like a Hans Zimmer soundtracks and other parts that sound like the B side to a Beatles album. I didn’t mind it!
I am familiar with some of the Bee Gees pre-disco era and some of it is really good. Odessa is a concept album that is an overindulgent mess with directionless songs, a concept no one cares about and a performance that is schmaltzy and cheesy at times. A double album to boot, there is so much filler and with an opening track that is horrible, it sets the expectations low. Granted, there are a few good songs sprinkled into the mix, especially the Beatle-esque pop ones and a couple songs that resemble a poor man's Kinks attempt. I dislike disco (I attended a couple "disco sucks" rallies in the day), but I would actually prefer Saturday Night Fever (ugh!) or Spirits Having Flown and maybe even the Sgt. Peppers soundtrack...okay, it's not that bad!
Bom, mas esperava mais do Bee Gees.
I like the Bee Gees but this is pretty bland stuff. Nothing stands out to be honest.
I did not care for this one. I like sort of knowing the musical breadth of the Bee Gees, but wasn't a fan.
Boring. Hard pass. It makes me wonder how they got so popular in the states.
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
muito bom esse álbum tchê, não conhecia nenhuma mas muito agradáveis, instrumentadas con orquesta e voz agradável
What the hell did I just listen to? I mean it was made by competent people but it wasn't good. I know disco came after but oh boy did they sound better then.
Un buen grupo, pero con un disco que no le llego a pillar del todo. Le falta algo de intensidad o de variedad. Quizás un poco flojo. Pop tranquilo y facilón, estilo Beatles
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.
The Bee Gees Sing and Play a Sprinkling of Shit Beatles Songs, by Barry Gibb.
Shit Beatles, shit Beach Boys, shit Donovan, shit Kinks. So much variety. So shit.
so many flavours of arse in one album
Store-brand Beach Boys mixed with portentous orchestral arrangements with pseudo concept album nonsense sprinkled on top. Features some light-hearted, whimsical lyrics that don't match the instrumentation at all, which makes it worse. I hate this. Side note: It's hilarious to me that Robin Gibb left the band because his song Lamplight wasn't chosen as a single. Buddy, that song sucks. Pick your battles. Best track: You'll Never See My Face Again
Okay
Bleh...disco bee gees are the only Bee Gees I recognize. 1.5/5
Honestly very bland Beatles aping pop maybe worth it for a few tracks but this is way to damn long
Pretty good. Bee Gees get artsy. 7/10
I’m sure there’s so much brilliance here but at first listen it was probably mostly lost on me. Sorry!
Much like "Trafalgar" I don't get the pre-disco Bee Gees. A bit better than "Trafalgar", but still not it. 2.5/5
Started off slow for me but had moments toward the end that I liked. Some songs sounded similar to the beatles toward the end.
What a weird album.
Unbearable. Mind numbing. Listening to this is much like drowning. No, I will not elaborate.
Not what I expected, in a really bad way. What in the actual fuck was this?
_this_ is the Bee Gees? the same stayin alive bee gees. Mind blown, so good.
Wayyyy different than I expected. I'm notvsure why I must listen to this album as part of a list everyone should listen to
Didn't make it past the first song, a slow drowning in the freezing Black Sea would have been more fun. Terrible Beatles rip off
Each song felt like a different class in school, and I’m done with school!
A reminder that before they were an awful disco band, they were an awful sixties band. The lyrics on this album are also awful.
Rating: 6/10
The songs themselves didn’t seem to bad. The melody was nice but oh my gosh their voices are annoying. I couldn’t finish the album because of it.
-this first song is very haunting -i only know the popular bee gees songs so -theres something about the bee gees man -these songs are all so beautiful -this definitely is not the best bee gees album -but i am still enjoying it!
This is not what I expected front the Bee Gees! I thought they were discos music. Lots of this was like The Band or Elton John or then orchestral. It was perfectly pleasant I thought and lots of song I thought were very good. Not sure overall how much I loved it. A 3.5 maybe?
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.
It's all very soft and breezy for the most part, but there's nothing really standing out, and it IS a bit weird. I'm usually a sucker for a violin undercurrent, but this was just a bit bland overall. Especially when you compare it against some of their other bigger (ballad-type) hits - these just can't hold a candle to them. I can't say I'm a fan. Marley Purt Drive was nice though.
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.
Struggled to get into this…
One of the most pretentious, overwrought and frankly misogynistic records I’ve heard. Crazy these guys change course and put out a 5 star masterpiece as a movie soundtrack nearly a decade after this.
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
interesting
I'd never have associated the Bee Gees with the year 1969 if not for this list. To my surprise, this is the Australian disco mega group's 4th album. And it's still a full 8 years before 1977's "Stayin' Alive." Interesting how they moved from soft-pop, prog-rock adjacent double albums like this to MPSTing pop singles in the disco age. Can you imagine if Yes pivoted to become a disco supergroup at the end of the 70s? Of course, Bee Gees were never Yes. Even with this attempt at "serious" music they are much more Seals and Crofts than Yes. Which makes for a slightly less-strange path from soft pop to full-blown disco, I suppose. Other than that mildly interesting history and context, this doesn't do a whole lot for me. Their disco stuff is better. "Marley Purt Drive" would be good if it wasn't so blatantly similar to "The Weight" by the Band (1967.) Similarly, "Melody Fair" feels like a Beatles rip. By “Whisper Whisper” I’m skipping a lot of songs and just recognizing multiple choices as one Lennon-McCartney-Martin regurgitation or another without any of the playful, experimental-pop spirit that makes those Beatles songs great. Just finding this annoying and not distinct enough to warrant revisiting. Yeah this album has nothing for me. I was holding out for “First of May,” but that is not good. 1 star.
I’ve listened to this twice, waiting for something to grab me. Nothing ever did! A shame. I usually like big concept albums. Even the orchestration felt kind of flat to me, and I’m usually an absolute sucker for that kind of stuff. Charlie put me over the edge! It’s true! I thought this was gonna be cool and was bummed out. 1/5
I wouldn't mind never hearing this album again
I'm having a hard time believing that any fan of the Bee Gees is like "this is the s**t right here." There are a couple times where you can feel they are trying to sound like the Beatles, but more important. But the rest of the time it's just... bad. And boring. "I Laugh In Your Face"... um, ok? 2 stars is just... being generous, ok? Wow.
I didn't even realize the Bee Gees were a band in the 60's. Surprising that they have an album on this list from the pre-disco era. But I guess their best stuff is on Saturday Night Fever or Staying Alive, which they produced but isn't all their own. The album isn't bad, I just don't know what makes it so special - they sound like a knock off of the Beatles on poppier songs like You'll Never See my Face Again (or Whisper, Whisper) or Elvis on the half country/half gospel sounding Black Diamond or the Who on country songs like Marley Purt Drive. All solid tunes, and the title track was a decent prog-ish attempt. So the album is a nice listen, just not sure what makes it unique. Perhaps it's the orchestral backing and motif and I may not be appreciating how novel it was at the time. But it was around the point I got to Seven Sea Symphony that I really got that soaring and orchestral feel - that was a sweet sounding instrumental piece. The album kind of picked up for me on Side Three and Four (except for Give Your Best, ugh). Lamplight, I Laugh in Your Face, and First of May were also delightful songs.
didn’t finish. it wasn’t bad but entirely too long - perhaps just not my thing. i feel like they couldn’t choose a sound and stuck to it.
Sin pena ni gloria
An unexpected left-turn by The Bee Gees into narrative rock. Definitely dragged in places, but I appreciate the nerve in going from the brainless fun of ‘Staying Alive’ to an album-long concept-driven journey where each track serves the whole. Need more cool concept LPs on this list, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten one
albumi tehty 1969... neukkuaikoina... odessa palautettu neuvostokontrolliin herran vuonna 2022... secret attack... ei vieläkään uutisoitu..huomattu..western media... (2 päivää sitten oli myös osittainen ukraine konsepti, coincidink?) ja albumista se että tosiaan en näiltä ukoilta odotellutkaan näin syvällistä teosta, päässä huojui poppiluritus ennen kuuntelua...nyt respektiä (3) annettu.... rese 4 rese?...... no ok alkaa hyvin sitten mennään pitkälle tasaiselle tielle...telegraf roadesque...SILTI HYVÄ. odessa
Not impressed with the vocals nor the songwriting.
I guess I just didn't need a concept album from the Bee Gees - it felt disjointed and they leaned into the vibrato too much at times. There were a handful of cool songs, very Beatles/Sgt Pepper's-esque but lost amid the rest
This album was good. It was too long though. I was worried at first I was getting over an hour of disco so it was a relief that it wasn't disco.
If you would have told me that they had discovered never before released Beatles music and made an album, and this was it, I would have 100% believed you. I forget that The Bee Gees weren’t just a disco group, and this was a nice reminder of that. This album was good, nothing great, but I was impressed by how much they changed their sound in their career.
Grandeur? Meaningfulness? More like overdone and embarrassing. They sound like they could have made a credible folk rock band or, who knows, maybe even a disco band in the future. There’s talent here, especially with the vocals (though the over-reliance on the vibrato is tiresome). This seemed to be a band just waiting for the right trend or musical fad.
This is not good. I appreciate that it is very much of its time, but even so, it's barely listenable. They wouldn't have got a recording contract on the strength of this material in any decade but the sixties. There's the occasional familiar flash - echoes of 'Massechusetts' for example, but also a ridiculous rewrite of The Band's 'The Weight'. Laughably grandiose whilst seemingly lacking in self-awareness. So bad, it's almost funny.
big shrug from me bud
The Bee Gees were a lot more successfull at ripping off black artists than they were at ripping off white artists
3.2 - Bold and ambitious, and beautiful at moments; however, taken as a whole, this is an uncomfortable mess and maybe the best example I’ve heard yet of a band unsure about its direction. Woof. Listening to “Odessa”, I can immediately picture a biopic scene - Barry is initially able to rally his reluctant bandmates around his vision of a concept opera about a sunken ship. Fast forward to the studio and they’re all listening to Barry’s billy goat bleatings: “OOOOODESSA” over thin orchestral strings. Barry is beaming with pride while the others look at each other with pained expressions. There are also copycat tracks of Beatles (“Melody Fair”) and CCR (“Melody Purt Drive”). And some forgettable classical style instrumentals.
I can appreciate what they were trying to do, but i don't really think they succeed. Certainly an interesting experimentation by Bee Gees, but that doesn't compare to similar albums of that decade, when psychedelic rock was all the rage.
There's a lot more BeeGees than I had expected of zero BeeGees albums on this list
Ne se trémoussent pas assez.
J'ai attendu tout l'album que les Bee Gees se réveillent en sursaut en nous envoyant un bon gros "Ah ah ah ah staying alive", mais ce moment n'est malheureusement jamais venu.
An unexpected album from the Bee Gees. It's not bad in itself, it just feels average. I cannot recognize the distinct Bee Gees sound that makes their music fun and enjoyable (even when the lyrics are sad). The result is just another "generic pop" album.
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.
I think my total knowledge of the Bee Gees prior to this listening project was Saturday Night Fever/Staying Alive, so all this very English concept folk/rock/country is a pure surprise. This suffers from that musical theater problem I've complained of before - poetic quality suffering for the sake of a kind of weak narrative. Stylistically it is kind of scattered as well, but generally I liked it and found it agreeably odd.
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!
поразительно нежный и искренний альбом с отличными текстами и нежной мелодикой
А что, а как... это точно Bee Gees? Вообще полный шок. Поскольку ожидания от имени группы были совсем другие. Но музыка здесь оказалась настолько затягивающе разнообразной, что прям ах... Где-то это просто кантри-поп песни, где-то это перерастает в Пре-симфонические произведения, от которых даже мурашки по коже идут. Кода в финальном треке The British Opera, например: видимо, детство, проведённое за прослушиванием классики, даёт о себе знать приятными флэшбэками. Опять же, если вы ждали диско - надо ещё лет 8-10 подождать, потом кааак жахнут. Интересно, что их спровоцировало так резко сменить курс. Ну и забавно, что название альбома к Одессе имеет столько же отношения, сколько Великобритания к Чёрному морю.
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.
Felt like a different band and never really hooked me
Huh
Ik vind hier niet bijzonder veel aan. Het is wel aardig, maar er zijn eigenlijk niet echt hoogtepunten. Wel een paar dieptepunten, maar die zijn ook weer vrij zelden. 3 sterretjes dan maar.
I love the Bee Gees but admittedly I am a little unfamiliar with their pre-disco era. I can't say I'm exactly in love with this or preceding albums. In other words, thank god for disco. 5/10.
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.
What was that? I would never have guessed the Bee Gees and I had no idea about their pre-disco era. I'll give it a 3 due to the unexpectedness of it
Best Song: I Laugh In Your Face. For some reason I like the mean-spirited nature of this one. The gang vocals also make it sound like a very theatrical form of bullying. Worst Song: Black Diamonds. Nobody asked for that vocal warble. Overall: Maybe the longest hour-long album I've heard. Boy did this take a while to end. Sure there's some slick songwriting throughout, but does it ever feel like it has a heart? It feels like any potentially interesting imperfection was polished out ages ago, and for some reason they're still polishing. There might actually be more polish than substance now.
You sure this is the bee gees?
3.5/5. Didn’t even know the Bee Gees had a pre-70s era.
Not expected
In this hefty double album from 1969, the Bee Gees invite us on board the Odessa for a one hour and four minute voyage. The concept sinks after just seven minutes, into a sea of treacly three-minute baroque pop songs. There the album would have remained, buried without trace and ignored by press and reviewers everywhere. However, after the Bee Gees broke into the mainstream, critics were forced to reassess their early work, landing “Odessa” in the “1001” hall of fame. I’ve been dimly aware of the Bee Gees’ pre-disco material for a while. My mum has long waxed lyrical about their hit “Massachusetts”, keenly watching archive footage of a doey eyed Robin Gibb performing it on Top of the Pops. I fell for “Massachusetts” too, but it isn’t here: in fact, the only hit worthy of a “best-of” compilation is “First of May”, with its winning lyric on the loss of childhood innocence as measured by one’s relative height against a Christmas tree. So the rest is either buried treasure or deserved landfill, depending on personal taste. After a couple of listens, I’m ending up somewhere in between. “Black Diamond”, “Sound of Love” and especially “Lamplight” might not be to everyone’s taste, but to me they’re all showstoppers: great dramatics and oceanic choruses, with soaring vocals. “Marley Purt Drive” is direct, to the point and oversimplified, but a decent pop song nonetheless. The grandiose instrumentals “Seven Seas Symphony” and “With All Nations (International Anthem)” are where I was most sold on the bombastic orchestral arrangements, though having them back-to-back is some bizarre sequencing. And if still in doubt of the band’s abilities pre-1975, just listen to the chorus of “I Laugh In Your Face” for a sign that those classic Bee Gees harmonies we all know and love were ready to take the world by storm. “Odessa” boasts several decent melodies, and shows assured songcraft, but the main issue is one of quality control, as the band !become bogged down in lightweight repetitions. “Edison”, “Melody Fair” and “Suddenly” bring very little the other songs hadn’t already brought, and too many tracks end up dissolving into a syrupy mush without substance or bite. That said, the diversions from this formula don’t work too well either: when “Whisper Whisper” crowbars in a danceable coda via a jarring edit, it feels glaringly out of place. “Give Your Best” functions as a change of pace, but still plays like a cringey attempt at a hoedown. Perhaps the biggest misstep is the title track, “Odessa (City on the Black Sea)”. Misleading audiences into thinking we’re in for a lengthy concept album, it lacks the tight structure, musical skill or diversity, and strength of storytelling to sell the Bee Gees as a high concept band. They should have ditched it altogether. Ultimately, what we‘re left with is a frustrating listen. “Odessa” could have been something much more special if trimmed down to its least pretentious cuts and most emotive ballads: as it is, it’s an enjoyable collection and worthwhile curio for fans of the band.
Meh underwhelming and a little too long
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.
Wednesday at sunny Piero’s 22nd March.
This one just wasn’t particularly interesting to listen to. Nothing was really offensively bad but nothing was too good either. A lot of it sounded bland to me and nothing about it sparked my interest.
Me: Mom, can we buy The Beatles? Mom: No, we have The Beatles at home! The Beatles at home:
A bit of a slog this one. Not bad but not inspiring either. Enjoyed the orchestral parts.
This was a really good listen. Didn’t know they did music like this. Will def revisit this album. T3B 1. Lamplight 2. I Laugh In Your Face 3. Odessa (City On The Black Sea)
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.
Pretty bad sorry Bee Gees.
Own on Vinyl
Not what I expected, but very pleasant! Four stars.
The Bee Gees back catalogue is a lot more varied than most people would imagine. This double semi-concept album is half Beatles, half Beach Boys, and half Bob Dylan in style. It's like a folky, harmony-heavy, Sargent Pepper, but nowhere near as good. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Lamplight Date listened: 12/03/23
The Bee Gees go Beatles
Not as bad as I thought - or better than I expected. The more I listened the more I liked it.... Then, while listening to it, my Mom died. Now, this album will forever be tied to that event.
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.
Didn't know what to expect from pre-disco Bee Gees but I was expecting better than this shite.
I was not expecting to hear a Bee Gees album today, and I certainly wasn't expecting to (kind of) like it. I knew the Bee Gees started out very differently from their later disco style that became super popular, but this is almost like progressive rock. With maybe a bit of country rock thrown in as well. Very interesting. Probably not something I'll listen to a lot but I enjoyed it. 3 stars.
Definitely not what I expected when I saw this was Bee Gees. The music isn't bad but I wish there was more of a variety in sound, because most songs sound similar. Of course though, amazing voice. Fave track(s): Suddenly, Lamplight
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.
Not at all what I was expecting. I may listen to this again. Who knows.
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
Why?
I was saving this album for a glittery night of disco fun and was a bit sad to realize Bee Gees weren’t always the boogie they’re best known for bringing. I’m sure this album had more merit than my confusion allowed me to see, but ionno, not for me, man
This album had me so confused start to finish. I checked 3 times within the first song that the artist really was The Bee Gees. Song about having an orphanage full of 35 kids really threw me for a loop, followed by an ode to Thomas Edison. Then a symphony to close it all out. Idk what to say about all this but I guess 2.7/5
Where’s the falsetto??? That major disappointment aside, this was a wild album. It has a banjo song followed by a symphony. Nuff said.
6/17, 35%
I melodin till migos bad and boujee ”My beegees bad and boring”
Some pleasant 60s pop tunes. Nothing that really stands out though, even for a double album
Eh
3/5 It wasn't the worst thing in the world, it wasn't the best. There were good and bad in all of it. I liked that it was kind of eclectic and weird, but also it that made it feel disjointed. I like that they highlighted certain instruments like the oboe or whatever, but it got a bit too much overall. I'll listen to Marley Purt Drive again.
This album dragged on too long by at least 30 minutes. It also seemed all over the place - the instrumental songs wtf? - and didn't draw me in at all. Not great.
La soundtrack idéale du grand ménage de printemps
bizarres les types quand même
Not impressed by these talented guys.
Beejeesus
It was better than I expected. Starts off strong. A bit long winded and bloated. I'm glad that I listened before I died, I don't know if I'll be running to listen to it again. If it was cut shorter it would be a solid 4 or 5 in my book.
good, but didnt find it too original
Я не понимаю почему это находится в 1001 альбоме, как и многие альбомы которые я прослушала За Одессу лайк Звучание однообразное тупо среднячок
если было бы не так долго поставил бы три, лучшие треки почти все те, где нет вокала, Bee Gees в роли диско королей звучат круче, хоть и кринжовее, у каждого свое предназначение, у меня например поставить 2 т.к. от Одессы здесь только название Лучшие треки: With All Nations, First of May
Wow. Nope. Very boring and indulgent.
I don’t know what to do with this album after hearing it. Do I hate it? No. Do I like it? No. Is this culturally significant in some way? Idk. Is this an important album in the band’s career? Idk. It’s just here.
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.
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!
Decent set by the Bee Gees. Didn't rock my world but pleasant
Not my style
Heilt greit, mindre falsetto enn eg forventa
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
Just all over the place. Country pop, orchestra, 60s psychedelic, in a supposed rock concept album about a ship? Yeah okay. A weird ass album.
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
I can see why the Bee Gees got some props for doing a sort of departure concept album, but at the same time I didn't particularly get into it. It's hard to square it with the rest of their work, so it came across to me as a bit of an indulgence. I can see why it had such a tumultuous history and reception.
A bit twee. Well done, but not to my liking.
This was drastically different from what I was expecting from The Bee Gees and it made me think that they just did whatever was trendy but less good. This sounded a lot like the Beatles and some random orchestral music but had like nothing unique about it. Then in 76 the went to disco after no one liked them anymore and got successful again. This still wasn’t terrible, give your best and lamplight were good, but it’s destined to the same fate as trafalgar where I completely forget about it after like one day. Low 3
This was a wild listen. It gives you a view into the Bee Gees before they took over the disco genre. And frankly it's...good? Definitely not the Bee Gees you're used to, but they're such amazing songwriters. Every track is catchy. I may end up adding this to some sort of rotation. It's a nice change when I feel like hearing their vocals but tire of the Saturday Night Fever stuff Rating: 3/5 Favorite Track: Never Say Never Again
I don’t know why this generator has given me 3 British concept albums from the ‘60s in a row (Tommy, Village Green Preservation Society, and now this). This is definitely my least favorite of the three, enough for me to give it a 2. It’s not that I disliked it, but I have no idea why it’s here or what the appeal is. Also, it’s kind of long. Shorter than Tommy, but still long. In retrospect, maybe
I was surprised, much more psychedelic rock style than disco.
This is awful. I really hate to yuck anyone's yum. But it's hard for me not to judge someone who likes this. I am still trying though.
Partial all to all Bee Gees genres
The opening song was damn beautiful... and the rest just didn't measure up to it. It was all beautiful, of course. Gorgeous arrangements and heavenly harmonies. But the songwriting here just didn't have enough substance to it to keep me going, especially for such a long ride. I really wanted to like this more than I did. An alluring facade.
Some fabulous Baroque pop that tickles my fancy greatly. Not what I expected from the Bee Gees though!
Good but not my jam
Too cheesy. The only really good songs are "Odessa" and maybe "Edison".
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.
not my Bee Gees
It's the craziest thing, but I woke up this morning hoping that I would get to listen to a dour Bee Gees album about the loss of a fictional ship in the 19th century. I am, of course, being sarcastic, as I could never want that, and I don't see how anyone else could want that either. ' The thing that has surprised me about the two Bee Gees albums that I've gotten on this list (both from their 60s albums) is the joylessness of the music put out by this group I always associated with upbeat disco music. I would describe their music as being similar to the feeling of standing at the jukebox at a bar on a busy night and reaching into your pocket looking for a few quarters so you can listen to your favorite song, but instead you find that your pocket is full of cold oatmeal. Like, sure it's disappointing, but in a very intriguing way. Okay, I was kind of joking before, but this album really is very dull. On lots of songs I can hear the influences on the song, but I can't figure out why they wanted to make the song in the first place. It really feels like they're not trying very hard to make the album interesting. I'm only halfway through at this point, and I don't foresee a future in which I get all the way through all of these songs. I'm honestly glad that this ship was lost. The only problem is that the master tapes for this album weren't on it 2/5
oof... a Bee Gees concept album from when they were a 60s folk band? Nahh. Didn't make it through.
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.
way too long and slow and boring. plus they try to be the beatles too much
Meh.
There were some moments I enjoyed but for the most part this wasn’t for me Album Cover: I like the colors but that’s about it 2/5
Nice pre-disco Bee-Gees
Sounds like the Bee Gees were trying to be the Beatles
Sometimes felt like I was listening to The Beatles, other times Bowie.
This is like an album full of Paul McCartney's weirdest post-Beatles songs, but I think mostly in a good way?
There were some good tracks on here but it was also fairly meandering and long.
Only *nine* reviewers in here gave a 5/5 grade to this. Including a 80-year old lady who stopped giving reviews in 2021 after a few of them. I hope she's doing fine and just got bored with the app. It was lovely reading her impressions. Nice call adding the dates to the reviews, by the way. About *Odessa* now... Knowing this double album's "reputation", I expected to hate its guts. Turns out that out of those four sides, I really enjoyed side two. Everything from "Marley Put Drive" to "Whisper Whisper" was nicely done, with Beatles-like undertones (in the latter's mock-novelty-cuts guise) and/or catchy melodic moments (see "Marley Put Drive" and "Edison"'s choruses). Unfortunately, everything else is just schmaltzy drivel plagued with saccharine layers of nothingness. Those added strings sound as if you're stuck in a mental institution--I can imagine the album being played through speakers in a scene right out of *One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest*. Such music is so ridiculous it sounds like a perverted parody of itself. The songs have no build-up, no sense of direction and no focus (and this concerns the lyrics as well, by the way). Questionable production choices make some moments incredibly awkward. And don't get me started on the Gibbs brothers' leaning to overindulge in those horrid vibrato-laden vocal parts. So grating. Disco would later save the Bee Gees' asses. Who didn't shake a leg on *Saturday's Night Fever*'s soundtrack? But when it comes to *Odessa*, c'mon guys, let's be a little serious for one second. An essential listen this album is *not*. Number of albums left to review: 760 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 120 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 58 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 63 (including this one)
I want to like this more but it's boring :(
Wow! I remember seeing the album at the record stores but I never bought it. In 1969 I was into Abbey Road and still buying a lot of 45s. In 1968 I bought "I started a joke" and "I just got to get a message to you." Then after this album was their big hit "lonely days." I guess we just weren't ready for Concept album yet. I have no idea why this is on the 1001 albums you have to listen to
Date cancelled, good hang though, what a tv show…
Surpreendente, pop com qualidade em que a pretensão de apresentar ao épico se justifica.
I think we got Spirits Having Flown earlier on this list but this is an album I knew nothing about and I'm a pretty decent bee gees fan. Odessa feels like their older stuff (because it is) but very interesting reading how it wasn't a hit at the time and got better with time. I don't know if I agree with that but it's the bee gees so even in the background it's worth listening to. No real stand outs on this one but fun overall.
The Bee Gees as I've never heard them before, in their early folksy pop arc? I didn't even know they made music like this, all I know is the disco stuff (strangely, I don't think their disco albums are on this list). It would've been really funny to have been a fan of these Bee Gees and then be completely devastated when they sold out to John Travolta or whatever. This isn't a bad album at all, it just sounds like a dozen other bands from the late '60s mixed in a blender: Beatles, Rolling Stone, Queen, I can't put my finger on it exactly but I'm currently listening to "Never Say Never Again" and it sounds precisely like some other band, can't think of the name to place it though. Very much reminds me of when I listened to Queen's catalog and heard their Zeppelin-y fantasy folk stuff they started with. I can't in good faith call this a must listen, especially if we don't get the true Bee Gees experience on this list. But it was pretty good, I'm not mad. Favorite tracks: Black Diamond, Marley Purt Drive, Melody Fair, I Laugh in Your Face. Album art: Odessa. Bold. Strong. Colors good. 3/5
It is a common belief that most artists go through two major stages: copying-what-everybody-else-does stage, and coming-up-with-something-original-or-groundbreaking stage. Of course, not every artist went to the second stage. That being said, it is clear that while Bee Gees did reach the second stage, "Odessa" showcases them at the first stage. Good name, promising opener, but ultimately a pompous '60s rock pastiche. Hardly a surprise. After all, they're disco stars, not concept album weavers.
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.
Te zoet
Kwam niet veel verder dan de eerste paar tracks, maar dat was wel voldoende ook geloof ik...
Wat een pretentieuze, zoetsappige bagger is dit! Niet te doen!
Ik snap wel dat ze met hun kopstem-disco succesvoller zijn geworden. Ik vond hier niet zoveel aan. 13 in een dozijn jaren 60 bandje.
Ik had kopstemmen all over verwacht, maar niets van dat al. Wat het wel was, daar ben ik nog niet helemaal over uit. Ik hoorde Disney, ik hoorde The Beatles. Verwarrend.
"Alright so we got a Bee Gees record for you." "Okay, but I'm not the biggest fan of disco." "It's over 1 hour in runtime." "That's... a lot of disco." "It's from 1969!" "That's... a bit early for disco?" "Also it's a failed baroque pop concept album about a fictional ship sinking in 1899." "It's a WHAT?" 60's Bee Gees where have you been all my life? There are some genuinely great songs on this - 'Marley Purt Drive', 'Give Your Best' and 'Seven Seas Symphony'. The lovey-dovey songs are a bit tedious to get through, and the entire album seems a bit disjointed. It left me longing to hear more about the sunken ship!
There are some good intentions on this record. I understand where most of it comes from and I can even sense, what Bee Gees were trying to accomplish. But it just doesn't work. You can feel the concept album that this was supposed to become in the title track and the instrumentals. But instead of a grandiose concept Odessa is strewn with half finished and often lazy songs without much weight behind them. It's obvious that there was turmoil behind the scenes when this was recorded. I truly think that Bee Gees could have done something great here channeling all that energy. It's just not the case at all.
Easy listening, but not often listening, more average
I listen to the radio some hits of Bee Gees but I didn't know his beginning. Certenly, It's new for me and I like it.
This one threw me for a loop. Would have not picked this as the BeeGees based on the more recent/popular stuff.
This strangely sounds NOTHING like what I think of when I think of the Bee Gees.
Interesting folk rock/slightly psychedelic album. I listened to it twice thinking it would grow on me. It did not.
Pop.
This was just absolutely terrible. It is remarkable to me I how a band with seemingly no talent at all just kept making albums over and over and over. Ooof, that first song.
I love The Bee Gees, but I did not like this. Concept albums didn’t work for them.
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.
This aint disco. Reminds me of the beatles. Very cool stuff
Not my cuppa T
A little long but sooo listenable
Didn't know the BeeGees did epic concept albums. Don't think I needed to know. Soaring sounds and odd subject matter. Not something I want to hear again, but glad I was able to hear this side of a band I thought was just disco pop.
Not really for me.
Frekar flatt sixtís albúm. Bítlaáhrif á einstaka stað, sinfó inn á milli og ekki mikið um hinn einkennandi víbrató Gibb-bræðra. Meh.. gerir ekkert mikið fyrir mig.
Ugh, not a fan. Contemplated not even completing a single playthrough several times, but sallied forth in the spirit of the 1001. I guess it's impressive how un-mixed all of the instruments feel at times; everything sounds very compartmentalized. I also would not have placed any of these songs as Bee Gees songs if I'd heard them randomly in the wild; I really only know them for their disco singles.
Liked this, actually. Was surprised that I liked it. I didn't love it, but it was good. 3.25/5
Fine piece of orchestral rock though not entirely riveting to me. Bigger fan of their cheesy disco output personally.
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-?
Very weird album, and I cant help but think that I would be pissed off if I had actually bought this as an LP 50 years ago. I mean, this is a REALLY bad album. Its kind of confusing as to why it would even be on this list, except as a cautionary tale. 1/5
Not classic Bee Gees, who I mostly love for their later stuff, but I guess they had to start somewhere ! 3*
Well that was odd. Not at all what I was expecting and at first I didn't like it but then it grew on me. Although more because I found it funny than anything else which I doubt they were going for....
4 star
3, poetic
Well this easily ranks as equal to the worst thing I’ve had. I’m not going to listen twice, otherwise my streaming service will think I like it. The ones that weren’t terrible all sounded the same. And the lyrics, don’t really reflect attitudes of modern society. It’s a one because there isn’t a zero stars. Why isn’t there a zero stars ?
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
Ick. I can barely tolerate 70s era Bee Gees. I don’t need a double album of their 60s stuff. I could barely finish it.
definitely sounds like an early 60s concept album, influencing the beatles? strings, melodic singing, basic beats. the whole third quarter is big flowy crap.
Much more mellow than expected. Enjoyed the orchestral aspect. Favorite tracks: Seven Seas Symphony and First of May.
hang on i'm confused. i thought this was the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation band? these songs are mellower than a cucumber there's a strong opening track, and i'm not mad at the album, just.. confused
Interesting, has its moments
I hated this overblown, [pretentious piece of over-long wannabe concept album garbage. I could enumerate the ways, but I just want the bitter taste of this record out of my mouth.
has a cinematic quality to it but doesn't really hold your attention
Hmmmmm ok, ça en fait un peu trop mais alz Prefs: You'll Never See My Face Again, Marley Purt Drive, Melody Fair, Whisper Whisper, Lamplight, Give Your Best, I Laugh In Your Face Moins pref: Odessa (City On The Black Sea)
El disc més ambiciós dels Gibb. També el que marca el seu primer punt d'inflexió entre els seus anys psicodèlics i els anys al desert que van suposar els primers 70. Encara eren massa joves per una aventura així, i no arriben al port on segurament intentaven arribar, imagino que perseguint els resultats dels The Beatles poc abans amb 'Sgt. Pepper's'. Tot i així, continua sent un disc d'uns compositors magistrals i amb una inspiració per la melodia molt per sobre de la mitja. L'únic single que va transcendir els anys, 'First of May' està a l'alçada dels seus millors temes de l'època
90 albums in. This is the worst thing I've heard. Its full of dull acoustic dirges with orchestration. Its almost like they said let's make an album hippies will like. Some of the lyrics are hysterically bad. (God, the one about Thomas Edison?) Dull bad dull bad. And its a bloody double album. Why? A disgrace. 1 (one)
A ono. Okej. Mislila sam da više volim beegees
Dosadno i dugo.
Their most ambitious, experimental, yet coherent pre-disco album. You can tell by the felt on the vinyl, an attention grabber for any kid browsing the record store. They fit in well with their 60s pop rock contemporaries, most notably the Kinks, with this reminding me of the humorous concept album Arthur. They're still influenced by their former psychedelia, but here we see a lot more baroque pop, country, and folk. "Marley Purt Drive" sounds like The Band's "The Weight." There's an equal number of strengths and weaknesses. As expected, the highlights are in their vocals, and it's intriguing to see their voices used in such a different way than their disco masterpieces. I like the different styles, with more experimental production that works well in "Odessa" and "Edison." The strings are good as well as the experimental sounds, but the other instrumentals are severely lacking, especially the mulled drums and some of the guitars. The production does sound dated for 1969. It's way too long, and many songs can be cut. But for the most part, they just needed to be developed more: most felt like outtakes. Lack of hooks disinterested me. Favorites: Odessa, Marley Purt Drive, Edison, Melody Fair, Whisper Whisper, Give Your Best
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.
it certainly has an epic quality about it, and the songs are generally pleasant and easy to listen to. much more symphonic than i expected and they throw in some curveballs like Give Your Best. Still, songs like Black Diamond and Marley Purt Drive and Never Say Never are pretty enjoyable. Solid.
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.
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.
Nope
As I have done here before, I will question the wisdom of picking this album for this list. It's pretty obvious this will not be the first album one thinks of when when one thinks Bee Gees. I might be wrong, but none of the hits that gave the band the reputation it rightly acquired can be found here (cough Saturday Night Fever cough). Which leads me to conclude, yet again, that this album was picked as yet another "look at me, I'm so smart, I picked the album you'd least expect" captain's call. Disappointing.
I'm sorry, but who even is this band? The cognitive dissonance I have trying to connect these songs with the group I know for Staying Alive is unbearable. This is not the Bee Gees I know or want. If I'm gunna go Bee Gees it's gunna be disco or nothing. There's no fun here. It's like they're trying to repurpose Brian Wilson's exquisite sadness for themselves and doing a piss poor job of it.
I think this is the first time I have listened to a full record of theirs. Very good.
Wow a totally unexpected sound from the Bee Gees. I'm trying to imagine if this was their only album what a epic little cult album it would be. I found in interesting and probably more interesting that their usual fare. I see that there is another album on this list so I guess I'll find out more then but for now there's some great stuff but also some cringe I guess so 3 stars it is. Fave: Never Say Never Again
Not good. Boring and an hour long, the worst combination. False advertising. This is absolutely not a concept album. There's one song about the "lost ship of Veronica" that's supposed to be the main motif, and then it's just random Beatlesesque love songs and the occasional yeehaw farm music for some reason. (And no, "Seven Seas Symphony" doesn't count. You can name that song "Fartdingle" and it loses any semblance of a connection to the concept). Very close to being a 1/5, but there's like two songs here that I genuinely really liked. "Suddenly" and "Seven Seas Symphony". These guys found their place in music later on. I can't take that one 8-minute long epic progressive pop track on this album seriously because I keep hearing the falsetto "STAYIN' ALIVE, STAYIN' ALIVE" in the back of my mind. Sorry, I don't know why I wrote an entire college essay about this one. I should have just said "Meh, not for me" and moved on with my day.
Insert Krusty 'what the hell was that?' meme
Интересный альбом, есть красивые композиции. Ближе к концу хуже запомнился, чем в начале прослушивания.
not as bad as i thought it would be but still, that voice is unlistenable when it is in focus
nice
There is just too much greatness here to leave it at a 3. The run time is too long and the country tunes throw off the album, but the sound, harmonies, orchestration are so perfect.
The Bee Gees before their trademark Discopop and Falsetto wasn't bad music but unfortunately it was severely lacking identity and something to stand out from. In the end it's not a bad album but one that is without real highlight, too long and also rather repetitive
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.
I do like the beegees, but this is a bit bland for me. No real stand out tracks or moments
I believe that I had never listened to Bee Gees with attention before. This is a nice album and looks a little bit different from what I expected. It's still recognizable as Bee Gees, but it's purposely fancier. I probably never listen to it again in a row, but some songs maybe.
This list did the Brothers Gibb wrong. What do they have against the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack? Instead, we get the Brothers Gibb back when they were trying to be the Hollies making their own Sgt. Pepper. And it works about as well as you'd think it would, which is to say, not at all. There isn't a Barry Gibb falsetto note to be found. Instead, there's too much Robin on lead vocals and multiple instrumental songs. I'm all for honoring the pre-disco incarnation of the Bee Gees, but this clearly isn't it.
I typically enjoy concept albums. This felt like a Beatles knockoff. The songs weren’t interesting and I wouldn’t listen again.
Who knew the people behind Saturday Night Fever could make such a boring album.
This was just largely not enjoyable at all. Not "hurt my ears" terrible, and with the occasional likeable song (Suddenly), but very much not worth the time investment in my opinion.
Oh! It's their Melody Fair!!
Not my favourite album on this list
Not the Bee Gees I expected but still pretty good
decent work listen. fast. Reminds me of how they evolved into disco superstars.
Very weird coincidence to get this album on the day Russia invades Ukraine. Anyway, utter crap.
I was expecting disco, so when the first track played I was like "oh, very cool, they are starting out slow and going to speed up." When it didn't speed up I was like wtf, this is so boring. But then started enjoying it again after realizing just how versatile they are.
Not my cup of tea, but I can see why people do like them
Wasn't sure what to expect from pre-disco Bee Gees. What I got was a very pleasant baroque pop album.
Well, this sure shows I didn't know squat about the Bee Gees. Like most kids who grew up in the 70s and 80s, I knew these guys entirely based upon their success in the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack. They were one of those bands that when I was a teen who thought himself a cool hard-rockin' dude I would make fun of, but secretly bob my head up and down and tap my foot whenever I heard songs like 'Staying Alive' and I'd without a trace of irony in my voice I'd sing along to 'How Deep Is Your Love' when no one was around. This review is supposed to be about this album, so back to it I go. It's very new to me as far as Bee Gees music goes, and although it's not to my taste -- it's just too late-60s folksy for me -- I can hear in it how darn good these guys are.
Weird mix of things that I wasn’t expecting. Probably won’t be returning to it.
This album was not what I was expecting. I was expecting something a little more disco-y like I thought the Bee gees were. No recognized songs
I liked this one better than Trafalgar
bara fínt
This album was new to me, although know It Was Good Day very well. The rest of the album seems in a similar vein, if a bit less laid-back. Solitary samples looping most of the way through each track with Ice Cube rapping on top. Enjoyed some of this more than others, and by the time it got to Good Day it was feeling a bit monotonous for me. The sound (and lyrical content) is very much of its time, but an interesting reminder of that time, nonetheless.
What a shocking album. I struggled to make it beyond the first track. It's billed as a concept album. That concept must be themed around crap. Lyrics such as "You know the neighbours that live next door, they haven't got their dog anymore..." don't help. I wish zero stars was an option.
Для реднеков подпивасов! Возможно и прорывное звучание для шестидесятых, но не для тридцатых!
Moñas... luego movidos... instrumentales orquestales...
Sin pena ni gloria
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
Listened twice in a row
Kind of a B-version of the Beatles and Kinks - tries to be anglophile-twee in the vein of Eleanor Rigby / Village Green, but the Gibbs take themselves too seriously to be able to do it honestly - don't just take my word for it - listen to the excessive vibrato throughout the entire album. But, hey, it was an interesting journey, albeit a little let down, as Bee Gees generally deliver. They showed promise but the Beatles were writing better songs, the Kinks were more fun, the Who did better concept albums and the Beach Boys were more mind blowing virtuosos - this album tried to do all of those things, and well, it didn't quite hit the mark.
TIL that before The Bee Gees were a disco band they were desperately trying to copy The Beatles, to varying degrees of success.
Meh
Vond ik niet zo spectaculair
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.
Interesting concept classical album. Literally put me back to sleep
This is why I'm really enjoying the experience of going through this list. I never expected anything like this from the Bee Gees. I'm so grateful to have discovered this side of a group that I previously had only a singular vision of. Very cool.
Prefer the Disco days of the Bee Gees. Not really my thing.
I expected disco, so I was glad when that assumption didn't hold up. What I didn't expect is just how all over the place this album would be. The album sounds like it was pulled together from many directions, including psychedelic folk, light rock, country and the symphony. Some songs sound like David Bowie tracks ("You'll Never See My Face Again"). Others sound almost like CCR ("Marley Purt Drive"). Others still have a Beatles vibe ("Melody Fair", "Never Say Never Again", and my favorite track "Whisper Whisper"). I don't really get what pulls it all together to make it work, but somehow, the album manages to work. I think the comparison mentioned in the Wikipedia article to Sgt. Pepper is apt.
I prefer the Bee Gees in their disco era, but there's a lot to be said for their prog-pop era, before the falsetto took effect. Like, who writes a pop song that's an ode to Thomas Edison? The brothers Gibb, is who. The album is very much a product of the swingin' sixities, but it has an eye to the future and it demonstrates the raw talent the bros had. I initially didn't realise this was a double album which I feel perfectly fits the mood of the album.
Different sound to the one I am used to
At first I thought, I didn't realize how much I hated the Bee Gees until I heard this. It's sounds like someone shaking a baby on a helicopter. ah ah ah ah ah. But as it went on it got better. Still not a huge fan but one can for sure hear how they we're about to leave a stamp on the 70s.
Some really beautiful songs, but also some meandering, bland ones. Not what I was expecting, when thinking of the Bee Gees.
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
Well, I don't know what I was expecting but it sure wasn't a store-brand Beatles album. If it weren't for Gibb's ridiculous vibrato and the blatant rip-off nature of the album, it'd almost be good. But it's not.
Man, that's a lot of Brothers Gibb.
This was definitely not what I expected. When you think of The Bee Gees, you think disco obviously. But this album could not be farther from that. This is a double album filled with some really beautiful pop songs, some orchestral elements, and just overall the complete opposite of what I thought this would be going into it. The album starts off at an incredible point, if the album had stuck at that level I might be willing to give it a five, but it does eventually slip. Only one or two songs are truly weak but overall the album sorta begins to drag. It's a double album, clocking in at over an hour, and it would be much better if it was just 20-25 minutes shorter. Still some really great songs in here, though.
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
OK, but not great. I didn't realize the Bee Gees were like this before disco. Kind of like a cross between the Beatles and the Beach Boys.
This was not what I was expecting. Super middle of the rock rock yeehaw
Niet echt disco, lijkt me meer zo generiek poppy, slappere versie dan the beatles. Tot zelfs een beetje saai.
How bout that opening track? The album really gets off to a good start - LOL. I find it hard to like anything on Side 1. The start of Side 2 is hopeful as the banjo comes out and they venture to the country on Marley Put Drive, but there is way too much fussing over the vocals for the country sound to work. In the next track, Edison, they decide to repeat the phrase "Edison Came to stay" 100 times. I don't get it. Whisper Whisper ends the side. The keyboards, percussion and guitar in that song are fun. Is this the turning point for the album? Nope. Side 3 starts with Lampshade which is hideous.The fiddle comes out for Give Your Best as they return to country. The fiddle is fine, but the Bee Jees ruin it. This would have been a hard listen if it were a single album. As a double, it's painful.