Odessa (album)

Odessa
Studio album by Bee Gees
Released	March 1969 13 January 2009 (reissue)
Recorded	July 12 - December 1968 IBC Studios and Atlantic Studios, New York
Genre	Psychedelic pop, folk, acoustic, oldies, new romantic
Label	Polydor Atco Records (US/Canada)
Producer	Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb, Robert Stigwood
Bee Gees chronology
Idea (1968) Odessa (1969) Best of Bee Gees (1969)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Glorious Noise	(recommended)
Pitchfork Media	(7.2/10)
Tiny Mix Tapes
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Odessa is the sixth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1969. It was the group's fourth album released internationally, and their first released as a double LP. Odessa is noted in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Odessa would be the final album for the band's original incarnation. Guitarist Vince Melouney would pursue other interests, and Robin Gibb would leave the band over personal and artistic differences with brother Barry Gibb. Barry and Maurice would continue to record with drummer Colin Petersen as the Bee Gees, but disintegrated when Petersen was fired.

History

After the recording of side one of the album, guitarist Vince Melouney left the group amicably, wanting to pursue a more bluesy direction. Prior to release there were disagreements over which song was to be released as a single (the Robin led "Lamplight" lost out to "First of May" a Barry solo vocal). This led to Robin Gibb leaving the group in late 1968, though he would rejoin the group in 1970.

Album cover

Odessa was initially released on Atco Records in a red flocked cover with a gold lettering to the group's name and label symbol stamped in gold on the front and nothing but the flocking on the back, The gatefold has a large dotted image of people leaving a ship in a lifeboat, There are no photographs of the group and they are not named except as to all songs being written by B, R & M Gibb. Due to the high cost of production, as well as allergic reactions among workers during assembly, this design was discontinued. It was later reissued in 1976 as an edited single-disc album with a plain red cover on RSO Records.

2009 reissue

Rhino Records had previously planned on an August 2008 release of the album containing three discs, which would contain mono and stereo versions along with selected rarities. The release of the re-issue had been delayed until January 13, 2009. This edition restored the red flocking originally found on the LP.

Track listing

All compositions by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.

• LP 1

Side one

1. "Odessa (City on the Black Sea)" – 7:33
2. "You'll Never See My Face Again" – 4:17
3. "Black Diamond" – 3:29

Side two

1. "Marley Purt Drive" – 4:26
2. "Edison" – 3:06
3. "Melody Fair" – 3:50
4. "Suddenly" – 2:30
5. "Whisper Whisper" – 3:25

• LP2

Side one

1. "Lamplight" – 4:47
2. "Sound of Love" – 3:29
3. "Give Your Best" – 3:28
4. "Seven Seas Symphony [instrumental]" – 4:10
5. "With All Nations (International Anthem) [instrumental]" – 1:47

Side two

1. "I Laugh in Your Face" – 4:10
2. "Never Say Never Again" – 3:29
3. "First of May" – 2:50
4. "The British Opera [instrumental]" – 3:16

The 1976 single LP reissue deleted tracks 3, 5, 7-9, 12, and 17. Some early CD and cassette editions also omitted the track "With All Nations (International Anthem)".

Deluxe edition

On January 13, 2009, Reprise Records released a 3-CD set of Odessa, complete with remastered stereo and mono version of all 17 tracks, plus a bonus third disc with demos, alternate version, and three unreleased tracks. To date, Odessa was the last non-compilation album to be released, and the status of the re-release program is unknown.

Disc 1: stereo/Disc 2: mono

1. Odessa (City On The Black Sea)
2. You'll Never See My Face Again
3. Black Diamond
4. Marley Purt Drive
5. Edison
6. Melody Fair
7. Suddenly
8. Whisper Whisper
9. Lamplight
10. Sound Of Love
11. Give Your Best
12. Seven Seas Symphony
13. With All Nations (International Anthem)
14. I Laugh In Your Face
15. Never Say Never Again
16. First Of May
17. The British Opera

Disc 3: "Sketches for Odessa" [all tracks previously unissued]

1. Odessa (Demo) -
2. You’ll Never See My Face Again” (Alternate Mix)
3. Black Diamond (Demo)
4. Marley Purt Drive (Alternate Mix)
5. Barbara Came To Stay
6. Edison (Alternate Mix)
7. Melody Fair (Demo)
8. Melody Fair (Alternate Mix)
9. Suddenly (Alternate Mix)
10. Whisper Whisper – Part Two (Alternate Version)
11. Lamplight (Demo)
12. Lamplight (Alternate Version)
13. Sound Of Love (Alternate Mix)
14. Give Your Best (Alternate Mix)
15. Seven Seas Symphony (Demo)
16. With All Nations (International Anthem) (Vocal Version)
17. I Laugh In Your Face (Alternate Mix)
18. Never Say Never Again (Alternate Mix)
19. First Of May (Demo)
20. First Of May (Alternate Mix)
21. Nobody’s Someone
22. Pity
23. Odessa Promotional Spot

Personnel

• Barry Gibb - vocals, guitar
• Robin Gibb - vocals, organ, piano, mellotron
• Maurice Gibb - vocals, bass, piano, guitar, mellotron
• Vince Melouney - guitar ("Whisper, Whisper"), ("Marley Purt Drive"), ("Give Your Best"), ("Sound Of Love"), ("Edison")
• Colin Petersen - drums

Guest musicians

• Bill Keith - banjo ("Marley Purt Drive"), ("Give Your Best")
• Tex Logan - fiddle ("Give Your Best")
• Paul Buckmaster - cello ("Odessa")
• Adrian Barber - engineer