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Odessa (Bee Gees album)

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Odessa is the sixth studio album by the Bee Gees, originally released on 30 March 1969. Regarded as the most significant of the group's Sixties albums, it was released as a double vinyl record initially in an opulent red flocked cover with gold lettering. An ambitious project, originally intended as a concept album on the loss of a fictional ship in 1899, it created tension and disagreements in the band regarding the album's direction; finally, a dispute over which song to release as a single led to Robin Gibb temporarily leaving the group.[4][5] The album was not well received by the public or the music press on release, and led to a decline in the group's fortunes until their disco period in the mid 1970s.

Released in March 1969 by Polydor Records in the UK and Atco Records in the US, it was the group's fourth album released internationally, their sixth overall, and their only double album of original music. Odessa would be the final album for the band's original incarnation, and this was the last album to include guitarist Vince Melouney. The album contains "First of May", "Lamplight", "Marley Purt Drive" and "Melody Fair".

The album was reissued as a single-disc in 1976 when interest was revived in the Bee Gees career, since when the album has gained increasing critical acclaim; it was reissued again in 2009 as a deluxe 3 disc set, and is included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[6]

Origins and recording

The originally intended name for the album was An American Opera. This later became Masterpeace and finally Odessa.[7]

Colin recalls about the country influence on Odessa. "It was my idea that we do that sort of thing, and Maurice is the one who will take more time out to listen to what I have to say, although within the group, the okay has to come from Barry". Their manager Robert Stigwood says, "Barry is the Bee Gees coordinator, I used the word advisedly, as there is no leader of the group as such. He has a tremendous feel for soul music a la his composing work for The Marbles, but he is also a fantastic solo singer in his own right".[8]

The first song recorded for the album was "I Laugh in Your Face" on 12 July 1968, the same day the group recorded "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" (released from the American version of the group's fifth album Idea). After recording eight songs for the album, guitarist Vince Melouney left the group amicably and joined the group Fanny Adams, wanting to pursue a more bluesy direction.[9]

A reel tape of mono mixes dated 24 November 1968 has "Odessa (City on the Black Sea)", "First of May" and "Melody Fair" called a "rough mix with orchestra". Therefore, about as soon as they returned to the studio, they were with Bill Shepherd arranging and conducting orchestral tracks to complete the album. This puts the re-make of "First of May" early in the November sessions, yet the song would be the last Bee Gees band session for the album. However, after recording "First of May", the instrumental tracks, "Seven Seas Symphony", "With All Nations" and "The British Opera" were recorded by Bill Shepherd. Also done somewhere around here are the final vocals for the New York songs and the added organ part for "Edison".[1]

Release

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.[6]

Prior to release there were disagreements over which song was to be released as a single when the Robin led "Lamplight" lost out to "First of May" a Barry solo vocal. This ultimately led to Robin Gibb leaving the group in early 1969,[10] though he would rejoin the group in August 1970. The split was a result of months of animosity, which concurred to the album's final mix. As Barry explained:

Everything got out of hand and we didn't know which way we were heading. We'd never really finished the album. It was our own production and we were very proud of it, but it all turned out different. It marked a period of breaking up and we weren't talking to each other, so we weren't in the studio together half the time and weren't as friendly toward each other. The recording took three or four months which was a long time in those days. Bee Gees 1st was done in a month. It would be nice to re-master the album once and as a bonus maybe do a live version of some of the songs.[7]

The last performances of the group including Robin were on early 1969, when they performed "First of May" (they also performed "I Started a Joke") on The Tom Jones Show (21 February[11]) and Top of the Pops (6 March[12]). Robin left the band in 15 March[7] and made his decision public in 19 March.[13] Robin told Mojo magazine in 2003 about his departure from the band after the release of Odessa saying "We had egos".[14]

Maurice later described the album as 'heavy'. "People thought it was an in-depth album", he recalled, "like, 'What do they mean by those lyrics?' and 'What's this all about?' There's all sorts of different areas on it. It went up and down in places, but a lot of people regard it as our Sgt. Pepper. To us, I don't think it was the best album we made, but the main title 'Odessa' I loved". Barry responded to Maurice saying, "I guess I have strong personal feelings about it because it was a time when the group was splitting up".[8]

In July 1969, "Marley Purt Drive" was released as a single, backed with "Melody Fair" only in South Africa.[15]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Glorious Noise(recommended)[17]
Pitchfork Media(7.2/10)[18]
Rolling Stone[3]
Tiny Mix Tapes[19]

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 until their disco period in the mid 1970s.[20][21] The album has since received positive critical attention, is regarded by many reviewers as their most significant Sixties release, and has been re-released in a deluxe three CD set.[21][22]

Reissues

The album was reissued in 1976 as an edited single-disc album with a plain red cover on RSO Records. 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)". On 13 January 2009 Rhino released a deluxe remaster of the album containing three discs containing, respectively, the album in stereo, the album in mono and selected rarities. The third disc, entitled Sketches for Odessa featured demos of the songs plus a vocal take of With All Nations (International Anthem) and the previously unissued tracks Nobody's Someone and Pity. This edition restored the red flocking originally found on the LP.

Track listing

All tracks written and composed by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb.

Side one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Odessa (City on the Black Sea)"Robin7:33
2."You'll Never See My Face Again"Barry4:16
3."Black Diamond"Robin3:27
Side two
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
4."Marley Purt Drive"Barry4:26
5."Edison"Robin and Barry3:07
6."Melody Fair"Barry3:48
7."Suddenly"Maurice2:29
8."Whisper Whisper"Barry3:24
Side three
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
9."Lamplight"Robin4:47
10."Sound of Love"Barry3:27
11."Give Your Best"Barry3:26
12."Seven Seas Symphony"Instrumental4:09
13."With All Nations (International Anthem)"Instrumental1:46
Side four
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
14."I Laugh in Your Face"Barry and Robin4:09
15."Never Say Never Again"Barry3:28
16."First of May"Barry2:50
17."The British Opera"Instrumental3:17
Deluxe edition

On 13 January 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 album to receive the deluxe remaster treatment with extensive sleeve notes, and the status of the re-release program is unknown.

Deluxe edition track listing

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

Bee Gees
Additional musicians and production

Charts

References

  1. ^ a b Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1968". Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. ^ Dale, Jon (24 June 2015). "Robin Gibb – Saved By The Bell – The Collected Works Of Robin Gibb 1968-1970". Uncut. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b Walters, Barry (5 February 2009). "Odessa [Expanded Version]". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. ^ Iain McIntyre (2006). Tomorrow Is Today. Wakefield Press. p. 133.
  5. ^ Robert Dimery (5 December 2011). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Hachette UK. p. 165.
  6. ^ a b 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. New York, NY: Universe, 2006. pg 165. (ISBN 0-7893-1371-5)
  7. ^ a b c Marion Adriaensen (25 November 1966). "History Part 4". Brothersgibb.org. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b Hughes, Andrew. The Bee Gees – Tales of the Brothers Gibb. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  9. ^ Coston, Daniel. "Excerpt from new Vince Melouney (Bee Gees) interview". The Coston Chronicles. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. ^ Bee Gees: The Authorized Biography by David Leaf. Chappell, 1979. (ISBN 978-0903443357)
  11. ^ Classic TV Archive. "This Is Tom Jones (1969-71)". Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  12. ^ Nostalgic Music TV. "Top of the Pops - The Full Shows 1966-1970". Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  13. ^ Brennan, Joseph. "Gibb Songs: 1969". Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Robin Gibb, 1949 – 2012". Mojo. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Bee Gees – Marley Purt Drive / Melody Fair". 45cat. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  16. ^ Odessa at AllMusic
  17. ^ Totale, Todd (10 December 2008). "Lost Classics: Bee Gees – Odessa". Glorious Noise. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Bee Gees: Odessa | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  19. ^ Brusie, David (12 February 2009). "Bee Gees – Odessa | DeLorean". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  20. ^ Alexis Petridis (30 January 2009). "The Bee Gee's Odessa file". theguardian.com.
  21. ^ a b Bruce Eder. "Bee Gees Odessa". allmusic.com.
  22. ^ Luke Torn (13 February 2009). "Spellbinding restoration of the Gibb masterpiece". uncut.co.uk.
  23. ^ Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  24. ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 11, No. 9". RPM. 28 April 1969. Retrieved 5 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)Note: user must select 'Bee Gees' from drop-down.
  26. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  27. ^ "Bee Gees > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 5 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Allmusic: Odessa : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  29. ^ "Album Search: Bee Gees – Odessa" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  30. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1969 par InfoDisc" (PHP) (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  31. ^ "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1969" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  32. ^ "Billboard.BIZ – TOP POP ALBUMS OF 1969". Retrieved 12 October 2012.
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