Odessa

OMG, there are so many low points in the first few songs my head was spinning trying to decide the lowest. Was it the pompous and schmaltzy Odessa, inspired by Robin Gibb seeing a travel brochure? Or trying to sound backwoods West Virginia on “Marley Purt drive” (with a “gotcha” at the end, letting us know the 15 kids are actually from an orphanage) or the choir in a song detailing Thomas Edison’s accomplishments? Or possibly the three symphonic pieces on the second disc that sound like they were written for “Lassi Come home”? Wikipedia tells us “The album was not well received by the public or the music press on release, and led to a decline in the band's fortunes.” No kidding.

Well. Not just a Bee Gees album, but a Bee Gees concept album. Not just a Bee Gees concept album, but one where significant creative differences resulted in not just one but two Bee Gees concept albums. About a Ukranian port. The first song alone lasts 1 day, 7 hours and 34 minutes.

Ik vind de bekende hits van Bee Gees geweldig. Als je met die veronderstelling aan het album begint, dan klinkt het in eerste instantie erg raar. Helaas wordt het ook niet echt veel beter. Dit is niet wat ik ken van de Bee Gees. Misschien voor de liefhebber juist goed, maar voor mij gewoon ronduit vervelend. **

A weird one, for sure--this is not the Bee Gee hits that you know (like "Stayin' Alive"), it's a moody concept album, and it wasn't well-received (Wikipedia). But playing the opening track (Odessa, City on the Black Sea)--I get it. They're doing something with a bit more of a timeless sound. Most of the album has that oozy feeling that I dislike about music of the era, but some of it is timeless and innovative.

6,5/10

Before becoming the name synonymous with Disco, the Bee Gees made some pretty fancy pop. Odessa presents itself as this grand sweeping double album, the stuff of legendary bards. Akin to epic poems from ancient Greece, accompanied by orchestral strings upon strings, Odessa so badly wants to be larger than life. Simple gold lettering laid atop a royal red, it is simple yet effective in conveying to those who judge books by covers that this album is the last great album of the 60's. It's okay. I can appreciate the amount of effort that went into this though; a concept double album is a grand undertaking and with all the tensions on the group at the time, it would be no small feat to complete a project as ambitious as this. However, I find the Gibb brothers to be underwhelming songwriters. Not bad, just underwhelming. A bit boring, even. There are some good bits in there, but the whole product does not impress me as much as it would like to impress.

This was pretty gloriously unexpected! Took a second listen to get my head around what I was hearing. Only really knowing the Bee Gees' disco output, a sweeping melodramatic concept album about the close of the 19th century rather took me by surprise! Fave track - "Edison", maybe? Or "Whisper Whisper". More listens are probably required...

That was not what I was expecting. A bit of prog, a bit of country, a bit of folk-rock and no disco in sight. Surprisingly enjoyable.

Expected something different.

Qué bueno que descubrieron la música disco. Según yo el disco chido de ellos es el primero.

Entretenido, pero siempre en mi poco conocimiento, si no me dicen que son los Bee Gees y lo hubiera escuchado, habría jurado que eran los Beatles o algo así. 8/10

An interesting concept album, different than I was expecting from Bee Gees (who I mostly enjoy for their greatest disco hits). Almost Beatles-esque, I can see why it's compared to Sgt Pepper's. The touches of country and psychedelic vibes were interesting too. The whole album really took me by surprise for the style and tone. Great choice! My top pick is 'Marley Purt Drive' - feels more like CCR than Bee Gees!

Pretty good. Too many songs on this album and a few were instrumental

The disco Bee Gees are a guilty pleasure of mine. The pre-disco band is not. All songs are mediocre, down tempo ballads and it goes on and on and on… 😱

Not bad, but felt like a chore. Whisper whisper is good though.

This evening I found a cold wet washcloth behind the toilet in my kids' bathroom and found it more interesting than this album. I was actually looking forward to this, but the Bee Gees Odessa is terrible, has zero personality and was a huge disappointment.

I never knew there was a pre-disco version of the Bee Gees. Turns out I didn't really need to know either. I'm not a disco fan. But I accept the iconic role the Bee Gees had in shaping that era in music and culture. However, "Odessa" feels like an also-ran in a late-60s era of much better, similar music.

Boring and too long. No wonder they made the pivot to disco.

I feel sorry for pop fans in 1969 because this album is boring. I was expecting to dance. Not offensive, but zzzzzzzzzzzz…

När det gäller Bee Gees går kopplingen otroligt snabbt till "Stayin Alive" och det är väl inte direkt något jag lägger högst upp i min musikhylla. Men det här albumet gav lite av ett annat intryck. Jag tycker bitvis det är väldigt lätt att höra att de är samtida med 4 av mina favoritgrabbar: Paul, John, George och Ringo. På samma gång är det rätt olikt dock, men jag vet inte riktigt vad det beror på. Jag tycker det är ett helt klart godkänd musiktimme jag får av Odessa, men det är nog inte så många låtar jag tar med mig. Med vissa album är det så, även om upplevelsen som helhet är fin så finns det ibland inget som sticker ut tillräckligt mycket för att bära med sig det. Det är några låtar som sticker ut dock. Där albumet lite grann går ifrån sin identitet och blir något annat men som ändå passar in rätt väl. Albumets sista spår "The British Opera" är helt instrumental förutom en kör som står och gapar, vilket blir väldigt kraftfullt och mysigt för att ta ett album i hamn. Det är nog något med just kören också som får mig att dra kopplingar till Pink Floyd, fint. "Seven Seas Symphony" är även det en instrumental låt, den här gången är det dock stråkarna som skapar stämningen, även om det finns körsång här också. Men ingen av dessa låtar känns så malplacerade trots att känslan är att de kanske borde göra det. Bäst: Vet inte.

Unsurprisingly this wasn't good. Some of the music was tolerable but the wobbly voice was awful

Huh. I didn't expect Bee Gees to be so versatile. Or a 1969 album to be so long :D But yeah, listenable ^^

Mature, mostly orchestral backed down beat folk/pop. Some 60s/70s dated styles. Good, but not my cup of tea.

I usually like Bee Gees, but this just doesn't click with me. I'm sad about that.

This was an amazing album. I was well pleased.

Finding it hard to articulate why I didn't like this. I hoped it would be some bee gees bangers (they must have some right?) but I guess it wasn't...

I have respect for the surprising versatility of the Bee Gees, but i didn't much enjoy listening to it.

Expectation: Some funky Bee Gees beats to energise my day Reality: What the hell is this

Pre-disco Beegees has a different flavor to it, with a lot of tracks here having a Kinks/Beatles (even Stones-y) vibe about them. But I just don't enjoy the style of singing, which sounds off key and tuneless. Not a fan of this one.

2.5

i only knew the bee gees from saturday night fever so this was quite a nice surprise, its a decent album with their famous harmonies

Not a favorite of mine.

Not for me

Art Pop mit guter Schippe Folk. Der titelgebende Opener setzt die Weichen für einen opulenten Trip, den Kohlenwagen im Schlepp voll Pathos, der im Barock verzierten Zugwagen kräftig verfeuert wird. Diese Form des Reisens inspirierte über die Jahrzehnte von Scott Walker bis zum (ernsten) George Michael so einige, die sich der Eleganz und dem savoir vivre verpflichtet fühlten. Auf gesamter Strecke im omig-gemächlichen Tempo schwitzt der Pöpes im muffig-staubigen Samt-Sessel, das servierte Chateaubriand lässt sich mit dickem Portwein auch nicht ganz easy runterspülen und wären die Gesangsharmonien einmal nicht ganz so zuckrig, wäre ich auch nicht traurig. Es bleibt ein Gefühl wie nach Marzipankartoffeln: an Weihnachten mehr als ok, aber sonst… Dennoch mag ich es, hin und wieder darf, ja, muss es sein. Dickflüssige 3.3

Hui, da hüpft das Schlagerfanherz und tanzt mit Abba Ringelreihen. Mit einem Auge nach den Walker Brothers schielend, mit dem anderen die Monkees genau im Blick, bums!- schon ist man vor den Pfosten gerannt, so vernehmlich dass sogar Lennon/McCartney kurz rüberschauen. Manches ist ja schon schön* auf diesem Megamix aus Folk, Orchesterschmock, jugendfreier Psychedelik und Ziegenlauten, aber ... ja, ach nee. Udo Jürgens hat mich auch nie überzeugt. *Melody Fair, Whisper Whisper

Ambitious in scope, trippy, complex, engaging, and psychedelic. In which the Bee Gees get their Sgt. Peppers on. It’s probably too long and it doesn’t make a lot off narrative sense as a concept album, but I still really enjoyed this.

bad

This album showcases two things, neither of them good. Firstly, it highlights the problems that arise when an artist takes themselves too seriously; secondly, it illustrates how concept albums, although sometimes excellent and often make the lists of the best albums of all time, can also be hugely overrated and misguided. This album, to me, takes all of the fun out of a band that have created a lot of good, danceable tunes, without providing anything with any genuine further substance. At over an hour long, this thing rambles along with ideas that aren't nearly as interesting or profound, or even just as epic-sounding, as the Bee Gees must have thought it was at the time of recording. Suddenly and Whisper Whisper were the highlights on this for me, being two good tracks that didn't go on forever and were enjoyable to listen to. The rest of it went down like the Odessa

Catchy!

Nothing will ever make me like their voices.

Kind of boring, but whatever.

Kinda like a chill concept album. Not bad ish

Decent songs, each sound a little too similar to one another though.

Odessa starts of with a great concept and a more melancholic sound than I would expect from the Bee Gees. The catchy melodies, orchestral arrangements and vibrato impressed me, and convinced me of this record's quality. The best thing I can say is that there is not a single terrible track, but there is not a single terrific one either. As I consider it to be an above average album, though not particularly my taste, a 3/5 is my score.

Huh, before disco. Nice but not for me

I yawned more than I expected too.

i thought the 'love theme' strings were played out and the theme of the disappearing ship from 1899 didn't really seem to maintain any through line. some of the lyrics were progressive and they did seem to be a bit adventurous with a track here and there but largely it was boring as hell. i don't have the desire to listen to any of the tracks ever again.

I don't dislike the Bee Gees but this album was not for me.

Not what I need on a Sunday. Drivel at best but oh y god what a band . Best group ever

Not exactly what I was expecting from the Bee Gees. It was an okay album, it sounded very much like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. I really liked You'll Never See My Face Again and Marley Purt Drive, though. 3/5 stars.

I knew the disco friendly version of the Bee Gees is only a part of their work, but I had never heard much outside of their disco era. The Bee Gees use 17 tracks to give you a wide variety of musical styles that seems to sample from a selecton of what was popular at the time. There were things that reminded me of the Moody Blues version of prog rock, other songs that seemed to hint at the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and early Pink Floyd. "Marley Purt Drive" sounds like it could have been played by the Band. "Give Your Best" relies on some country fiddle and a backing banjo. The connecting link to most of the music is the backing orchestra on most of the tracks. The album was interesting and worth a listen, but some of the sweepingly dramatic orchestration and some warbly vocals (e.g. Robin singing lead on "Lamplight") would keep me from putting this album on for a full re-listen.

I love it. This feels like a warm hug. A little bit dated (you can so tell it’s from the late 60s / early 70s) but one I will definitely be revisiting. Turns out these boys can do much more than Stayin Alive

Achei Lamplight a cara dos beatles, aliás, várias do álbum, inclusive alguns diálogos que apareceram em algumas músicas. Nada parecido com as músicas mais famosas/baladinhas.

eh, some special orchestral stuff, didn't expect that

I like them have many of their songs on my play list.

I only knew the disco Bee Gees, but this is surprisingly good.

Folkige Bee Gees, irgendwie cool!

Hat noch nicht den typischen bee gees sound. Das macht es hörbar

It's quite weird. Psychedelic BeeGees. Sounded like a soundtrack, decent vibe but not much stood out.

every single track on it sounds like its from a soundtrack to a film about a little boy who lost his family and grew up round the back of the bins but has such a chipper spirit that he manages to find joy in the desolate waste ground he lives in. come to think of it thats probably why its named after a ukranian city. either way its shit and we should probably nuke the isle of man in retribution for forcing this on us.

better than expected but my bar was pretty low.

Bee Gees.

Get these guys a statue. 2nd best band from the Isle of Man... Sexy Breakfast if you're wondering...

Thank Jeebus disco happened.

Hmmmm bit weird. The opening track was the most interesting, then got quickly boring. I love a bit of orchestral strings, but this was all over the shop - I don't think it fit this album at all. Lyrics were definitely sub par...

Another fine album I guess? Nothing really stands out. I enjoyed Odessa It sounds like another song that I cant put my finger on, but I am sure its just the sound from the era?

Early Bee Gees is still new to me, so I was pleased to see this album pop up. First couple of songs seemed to be the Gibb’s acknowledgement that the Beatles were pretty fucking good. Their efforts fell short of that standard, but still not bad. “Marley Purt Drive” was the one track I truly enjoyed - made for a playlist that surprises your friends: ‘RYFKm!? this is The Bee Gees?!” After that, however, it slips. A few great moments paired with a lot of mediocrity. Solid #3.

The group members may disagree for personal reasons, but Odessa is easily the best and most enduring of the Bee Gees' albums of the 1960s. It was also their most improbable success, owing to the conflicts behind its making. The project started out as a concept album to be called "Masterpeace" and then "The American Opera," but musical differences between Barry and Robin Gibb that would split the trio in two also forced the abandonment of the underlying concept. Instead, it became a double LP -- largely at the behest of their manager and the record labels; oddly enough, given that the group didn't plan on doing something that ambitious, Odessa is one of perhaps three double albums of the entire decade (the others being Blonde on Blonde and The Beatles) that don't seem stretched, and it also served as the group's most densely orchestrated album. Yet amid the progressive rock sounds of the title track and ethereal ballads such as "Melody Fair" and "Lamplight" were country-flavored tunes like "Marlery Purt Drive" and the vaguely Dylanesque bluegrass number "Give Your Best," delicate pop ballads like "First of May" (which became the single off the album), and strange, offbeat rock numbers like "Edison" (whose introduction sounds like the Bee Gees parodying Cream's "White Room"), and "Whisper Whisper" (the latter featuring a drum break, no less), interspersed with three heavily orchestrated instrumentals. Even the seeming "lesser" numbers such as "Suddenly" had catchy hooks and engaging acoustic guitar parts to carry them, all reminiscent of the Moody Blues' album cuts of the same era. Moreover, the title track, with its mix of acoustic guitar, solo cello, and full orchestra, was worthy of the Moody Blues at their boldest. The myriad sounds and textures made Odessa the most complex and challenging album in the group's history, and if one accepts the notion of the Bee Gees as successors to the Beatles, then Odessa was arguably their Sgt. Pepper's. The album was originally packaged in a red felt cover with gold lettering on front and back and an elaborate background painting for the gatefold interior, which made it a conversation piece.

Zzzz

Ehh it was pretty good, but like pretty similar to the other albums we've gotten from this decade.

Not bad, but pretty unspectacular and less than I was hoping for from the bee gees

Zobaczylem nazwe bee gees i obawialem sie, ze czeka mnie kolejne diskowe sluchowisko, bo wlasnie z synthowego disko i teledyskow wpaczajacych w kamere kojarze te bande, ale poza tym nic wiecej o niej nie wiedzialem, a dostalem cos nieoczekiwanie dobrego podwojny albumik, ponad godzina muzyki ktora okreslilbym jako pomost miedzy beatelsami a beach boyami, glownie przez to ze jest to albumers konceptowy, wiec odniesienia do sierzanta peppera, czy pet sounda wydaja mi sie jak najbardziej na miejscu, zwlaszcza biorac pod uwage podobny styl wokalny jakim operuja bee geesy, takze banda braterska, wiec harmonijne wokale tworza ciekawe kompozycje, jestem calkowicie zbaflowany jak roznorodne jest to 60 minut, klasyczne rokowe traki jak you will never see my face again, influencje muzyka country w give your best czy marley purt drive, a tutaj kolejny zwrot akcje psychodelika beatelsowa sie wylewa z suddenly, whisper whisper czy i laugh in your face, koniec no nie zupelnie, sa rowniez traki calkowicie instrumentalne mini symfonie british opera czy seven seas symphony, cala trojka braciowa ma swoje traki na ktorych wokaluje, ale reszta jest wtedy wsparciem, dodatkowi dwa czlonkowie niebraterscy ogarniaja gitarke prowadzaca i drumersy, instrumentalnie bez zbednych ekscesow i nawet traki kontrowe w ktorych naprawde duzo sie dzieje, przez dodatek studyjnych banjosow czy smyczkow nie sa zbyt chaotyczne, kawalki sa tak prosto pisane, a jednoczesnie bardzo sluchalne przez gwalcenie kaczowych refreniorow i ich chorowanie, od strony technicznej nie mam sie do czego przyczepic, produkcja zrobila robote, bo spotifajowa skarbnica zawiera ultra deluxowa wersje prawie 2 i pol godziny, na ktorej znajduja sie early mixy i alternatywne tejki, wiec mozna uslyszec jaka roznice zrobili w koncowym produkcie, wiec kolejny raz jestem milo zaskoczony, ze poznaje na nowo zespol ktory juz znalem, zwlaszcza dostaja w rece taki konceptowy gem, no i redemption ark brytowej muzyki popularnej

This one falls in that Blood and Chocolate solid 3 category for me. I was shocked to put on a bee gees album and not feel like I was in a cocaine fueled dance off with John Travolta in the 70s! Took a second to get used to the Bee Gees copping the popular sound of other successful 60s bands but they made it work for them. Completely tolerable 60s pop/rock ripped straight from the Beatles. I also found myself totally into the orchestral interlude bits...might have been more interesting than the Gibbs proper songwriting. "Marley Purt Drive," was the standout track for me but it was a copy paste of "The Weight" by The Band. When the opening of the track began I started singing the lyrics to "The Weight" and it fit a little too perfectly. For a concept album about an old timey ship lost at sea this turned out just ok.

4

Me ha sorprendido, y mucho. No conocía mucho su discografía a parte de las famosas y he descubierto una gran instrumentalización. Me ha gustado

opening track has promise. yea i think this album needs another and deeper pass in order for me to really get it, but the sonic atmosphere is pleasant. though there is a bigger sonic change midway into the second side of the 1st LP. Give Your Best comes out of nowhere. nice climactic finish. yea i just missed a lot of the concept album stuff just listening to it at work

Moñas... luego movidos... instrumentales orquestales...

aint no b without the g's broooooo

meh

Interesting. I only knew bee gees because of their disco dance music. This album is kind of a mishmash of other styles.

I thought the The Bee Gees were Disco, but this sounds like the poor man's Beatles and I swear I don't mean that as an insult.

Shockingly not too bad. I expected the screechy 70s, disco Bee Gees. This had a more 60s, concept album vibe. The instrumental tracks were very enjoyable. A little drag in the middle. But a pleasant surprise. 3.5

An den beegees ist noch keiner gestorben

2.5 | Resulta que los Bee Gees tenían friegos de discos antes de hacer disco en los 70's. Resulta que hacían pop sesentero y de repente les dieron delirios por hacer una obra maestra de disco conceptual opera rock extraño. Resulta que es un disco... que de verdad esperaba que me gustara más de lo que me gustó. Cuando inició y escuche música que para nada era lo que esperaba agarró mi atención. Esa primera canción mostraba promesa, un concepto para el disco, un sonido especialmente sesentero cercano a lo que hacía Joan Baez casi música protesta en sus coros. El problema es que hay canciones buenas como Lamplight u Odessa pero el disco termina sin saber qué es.... Hay pop, música barroca, cantos gregorianos, country, unas voces con reverb crecido al 1000%, canciones que suenan a copia carbón de los Beatles. No sabe en qué se va a asentar el disco, líricamente termina de la misma manera medio sin pies ni cabeza; lo que inicia como una idea de... un barco en el siglo XIX? supongo? pasa a letras ya casi irracionales, brincando por una canción sobre EDISON!? y una canción instrumental bastante decente... Es un disco... "bloated" Larguísimo para lo que ofrece. Siento que había muchas buenas intenciones, hay cosas que me gustaron mucho pero le falta mucho, se termina sintiendo como muchas canciones pegadas de distintos lados, copiando cosas que otros grupos ya estaban haciendo mejor con esperanza de gritarle al mundo que podían hacer música profunda. Creo lo podría volver a escuchar y quizá después de varias veces le agarraría más cariño pero la verdad si ese es el requisito es que algo esta no del todo bien con tu proyecto. Inicié escuchando lo que creí iba a ser un 4 y se quedo en el intento.

Bah. Beatles rip off mixed with musical soundtrack.

No sabía que hacían música distinta a la conocida disco de siempre. Un disco por demás melódico pero un poco repetitivo y muy extenso. Las piezas instrumentales me parecen buenas pero para el track 17 no sé qué tan buena idea haya sido. 3.5 que baja a 3 estrellas porque al final se me hizo un poquito cansado. Songs: You'll Never See My Face Again, Whisper Whisper, Sound of Love, First of May

Fine but whatever

this seems cutesy. is this their most essential listen?

I have enjoyed the Bee Gees from time to time but largely I think of them as a band who has kind of a schtick for overly emotional songs and occasional disco party jams (Stayin Alive). This album felt slightly more sophisticated than my caricature at times, but at other times lived up to it. Some serious Beatles vibes at times. I get that it was in the air back then, but wow, dead ringer at certain moments. I kept finding myself thinking 'this is a kick ass song' and then the lyrics would all but ruin it for me.

Somber orchestral ballads. I didn’t hate it but was a bit disappointed this wasn’t from their disco era. I didn’t know they had such a different style before that. So interesting but wouldn’t really listen again

bom mas triste, já tem tristeza dms na vida

mt deprê mas bom

boring

i kinda liked this, not what i expected. bit of a beatles vibe there.

A bit Beatles and a bit warbler singing in parts

I like the Bee Gees pre disco albums. This is sort of their magnum opus - a big sprawling concept album in the wake of Sgt Pepper's, with hints of Beach Boys/Pet Sounds, Dylan's more country inflected sound here and there, and maybe a bit of Nilsson? I'm a sucker for this sort of ambition. One thing that I think holds this album back is the lead singing style, which often comes across so melodramatically when they lean in on that vibrato. I can see how it can be a big turn off to some but to me it is just sort of funny - which I'm sure is not the intended reaction. This sounds like the soundtrack to a musical and I find it quite enjoyable. Drags on a bit towards the end though.

My only knowledge of Bee Gees is their disco stuff. This seems like completely typical late 60s/early 70s easy listening rock/folk. It does not do much for me. It's not offensive, but it moves me not. Vocals are fine, instruments are fine, but I'm completely ambivalent. 2.5 down to 2.

Estoy convencido de que la única razón por la que este álbum fue incluido es porque los autores se imaginaron la cara de WTF de la gente al escucharlo. Sobre el álbum en sí creo que no hay mucho que decir. Es bastante X y aburrido. Es como una mezcla de hippie + country, algo así como The Mamas & The Papas. Los BeeGees deben estar agradecidos con el universo por haber descubierto la música disco, de lo contrario probablemente ni los conoceríamos.

It's boring but there are some pretty moments. Sounds a lot more like CCR and The Beatles than what I expected from a BeeGees album.

4.5 Que sorpresa de álbum, es algo que movió totalmente mi percepción sobre los BG's. Siempre creí que solo habían hecho música disco. Comienza muuuy lento para la mayoría de la gente pero como a mi me gusta mucho el progresivo, solo me tomó por sorpresa que no fuera disco, ya para "Marley purt drive" se pone mas movida la cosa y después de "Whisper,whisper" va bajando el ritmo tal como si fuera una opera con el gran finale de "the british opera". muy bien ganado el lugar como una de las primeras bandas en hacer opera rock/rock sinfónico (sinceramente pensé que eso había nacido con KISS y Metallica). Sigo impresionado con toda la mezcla musical del álbum, que sea el sexto y que no es música disco. Sin duda alguna se va a colar entre mis discos favoritos. Me gusta mas sin el falsete de Barry, le voy a dar una vuelta a los demás discos

Country. Bleh.

Jamás me imaginé que los Bee Gees pudieran hacer algo así. Aunque sigo sin ser fan del falsetto y la temblorina de borrego que aplica Barry Gibb, este disco me cambió mucho la perspectiva de lo que fue esta banda. Los discos conceptuales en general me gustan, y en este además me gusta mucho que se animan a mezclar con cosas casi sinfónicas que para ese tiempo pocas bandas habían hecho. Le daría la 4 estrella si no supiera que en unos años fueron de eso a 'Night Fever'.

No disrespect to Redcliffe but this was average at best. Their harmonies sometimes sounds like Free Willy calling out for his mum when he was stuck in the fish tank. Suddenly and Whisper Whisper were good though.

This album was terrible.

Really diverse music, very enjoyable

good

This sounded nothing like I was expecting it to.

Average Bee Gee album. Does include some songs that are known. This album may have brought them onto the world stage, but was not part of their disco era releases that they are most well known for.

Wow, didn't expect this at all, I quite liked it. I wonder when they changed their style drastically, might investigate..

Very interesting album.... I was relunctant at first since I don't normally like the Bee Gees. However I was glady surprised! 1. This is clearly a concept album (Gabibo!!!) 2. It's not disco like other stuff I've heard from the Bee Gees. Good melodies, a bit more on the rock (almost prog) side, but a bit too slow paced for me and sometimes some weird Bee Gays sounds appear in songs... I was about to give 3 stars but imo the second half of the album is way better than the first, so I would say 3.5.

Sounded like a cover band except all they played were song I never heard. Thank god they found their sound later because it was painful to listen to them trying to sound like other bands. Sad.

Wanted to like this but god, Barry’s vibrato is annoying

Like Nick said - a solid Blood & Chocolate 3. It was alright, but I remember looking up and realizing I was only on the fourth song when I thought I was like halfway through the album. I would have never guessed Marley Purt Drive was by the Bee Gees! I think the middle portion of the album was best. Didn’t really understand how it was a concept album but I also didn’t look much into the lyrics.

I wasn’t expecting something so orchestral. Man the vibrato is a lot to take

Best of the early albums. Lovely at times, 1960s weirdness but hints of the future.

MISSÄ DISCO?!

Marley Putt Drive was a semi bright spot in a dull album.

Not bad.

Didn’t listen - I hate the BeeGees.

Got some nice Beatles vibes, and tons of great orchestral stuff.

-March 30th, 1969 Release Date (Spotify) -17 songs • 1H 4M - Not what I expected to hear from The Bee Gees. Expected 1970s staying alive but received more Prog-Rock-Pop vibes. Almost like The Beatles. -Marley Purt Drive -So far – coolest part of the album isn’t even the lyrics. The sound is nearly interchangeable with something like a Beatles Album. Some songs do something interesting with their direction. The most surprising part of the album is more the fact these kinda of sounds are coming from the same group associated with a disco scene -Suddenly -Whisper Whisper -Sound of Love — yo wtf is this song. It starts of so corny almost too much but ends with a combination of woodwind piano and brass. -

Unexpectedly fun.

Staying alive pretty much sums up my experience listening to this album

Meni aika huomaamatta ohi, en kuunnellu toista kertaa. Aika mitäänsanomaton, mut kuitenki musaa

Heavily, heavily indebted to The Beatles and what sounds like late 60s early 70s pop music (lush strings, etc). Opening track has a hint of prog-rock, but it's not really shown the rest of the album. Not the Bee Gees I'm familiar with, and I prefer the Bee Gees I'm familiar with. Favorite tracks: "Marley Purt Drive", "Lamplight"

This is an absolutely bizarre project, in a way that I am extremely partial for. Not entirely, perhaps due to being primed by Trafalgar first. In chronological order, that album comes across as a less interesting and slimmer version of Odessa. However, the songs here ride the edge of too cute for their own good, and there are maximal arrangements galore stretched out over a double album. Essential? Not on first listen, but this could be a favorite once the palette is cleaner.

Gotta give this a 3/5 cause even though it went for fucking FOREVER it was kinda cool at least some of the time. Kinda realised that there was this point in the late 60s where all those bands who'd just gotten popular on the back of the 60s rock a la Beatles sound had gotten sick of it, wanted to experiment etc - this is like 50% "safe" songs like the ones John Lennon started complaining about the beatles making about the same time, and then 50% trying to break away from the safe stuff, as if to say "ok the times are a-changing but we're just gonna dip our toes in for the moment". The first song is... huge. Totally aiming for the sky kinda stuff, wasn't expecting that kinda thing from a 60s band.