Post by Pete70s on Sept 17, 2003 12:06:41 GMT -5
So it's my turn to review an album! Well, I have thought of several, and I will do others in the future. The album I have chosen for today is one I have been introduced to only within the past five years, although it is my favorite album by a group I have loved my whole life:
Odessa - Bee Gees, 1969
(Actually, my favorite is a tie between this and Horizontal, but I'll do that one at a later date.. Today, it's Odessa)
First off, here is the track list:
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
This album came out at a crucial point in the bands history, and at a crucial point in rock n' roll history as well. It was the last album they recorded as a five-piece (although Vince Meloney would leave the group during rehearsals), and was their fourth album overall.
It was also their first and only studio double album, originally concieved as a concept album. At a time when many bands were doing double albums, the group's management wanted the Bee Gees to do one as well. However, the 1969 Bee Gees were in no shape to do a double album, and the group has often said that they wish it had been a single (in fact, RSO re-issued a single disc version in the mid-70's, I'm not sure what songs were cut).
The simple truth is that the group was falling apart at the time. This was the Bee Gees at the peak of what they would call "first fame". Robin believed that HE was the dominant force in the group and was always at odds with Barry. They would argue over lyrics, songs, everything. Eventually the concept album idea no longer existed. It became a matter of getting it done before they imploded.
I do believe, however, that the best music comes out of turmoil, and this is why I love this album so much. No other Bee Gees album is so full of emotion, anger and pain. Through it all, the orchestral arrangements are lavish, and the melodies are beautiful.
You can tell from the chant that opens the first track ("fourteenth of February, 1899, the British ship Veronica was lost without a sign") that this is unlike ANY of their previous efforts. The album contains three instrumental pieces (With All Nations, Seven Seas Symohony, The British Opera), one each for the three brothers.
Perhaps the two most notorious tracks, though, were the A and B sides of the single. "First Of May" and "Lamplight". The dissention over what song would be the A side drove the final wedge between Barry and Robin. "First Of May" won, and became a minor hit. (I personally would have chosen "Lamplight").
Other tracks I particularly like are Marley Purt Drive (a charted hit for Jose Feleciano), Black Diamond (NOT the Kiss song), and Never Say Never Again (Which contains the best line on the album, "You said goodbye, I declared war on Spain").
I always skip over "Give Your Best", though. It's a square dance-type number, not very interesting.
By the time this album was released, Robin was out of the group. They would not speak to each other for over a year, before re-uniting in 1970. As much as I like their early 70's singles, I don't feel that they ever again captured the raw emotion and overall feel of Odessa. And of course their disco output was a FAR cry from this!
One more side-note, the original album came in a beautiful red velvet gatefold sleeve. It would make #20 on the Billboard album chart.
Odessa - Bee Gees, 1969
(Actually, my favorite is a tie between this and Horizontal, but I'll do that one at a later date.. Today, it's Odessa)
First off, here is the track list:
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
This album came out at a crucial point in the bands history, and at a crucial point in rock n' roll history as well. It was the last album they recorded as a five-piece (although Vince Meloney would leave the group during rehearsals), and was their fourth album overall.
It was also their first and only studio double album, originally concieved as a concept album. At a time when many bands were doing double albums, the group's management wanted the Bee Gees to do one as well. However, the 1969 Bee Gees were in no shape to do a double album, and the group has often said that they wish it had been a single (in fact, RSO re-issued a single disc version in the mid-70's, I'm not sure what songs were cut).
The simple truth is that the group was falling apart at the time. This was the Bee Gees at the peak of what they would call "first fame". Robin believed that HE was the dominant force in the group and was always at odds with Barry. They would argue over lyrics, songs, everything. Eventually the concept album idea no longer existed. It became a matter of getting it done before they imploded.
I do believe, however, that the best music comes out of turmoil, and this is why I love this album so much. No other Bee Gees album is so full of emotion, anger and pain. Through it all, the orchestral arrangements are lavish, and the melodies are beautiful.
You can tell from the chant that opens the first track ("fourteenth of February, 1899, the British ship Veronica was lost without a sign") that this is unlike ANY of their previous efforts. The album contains three instrumental pieces (With All Nations, Seven Seas Symohony, The British Opera), one each for the three brothers.
Perhaps the two most notorious tracks, though, were the A and B sides of the single. "First Of May" and "Lamplight". The dissention over what song would be the A side drove the final wedge between Barry and Robin. "First Of May" won, and became a minor hit. (I personally would have chosen "Lamplight").
Other tracks I particularly like are Marley Purt Drive (a charted hit for Jose Feleciano), Black Diamond (NOT the Kiss song), and Never Say Never Again (Which contains the best line on the album, "You said goodbye, I declared war on Spain").
I always skip over "Give Your Best", though. It's a square dance-type number, not very interesting.
By the time this album was released, Robin was out of the group. They would not speak to each other for over a year, before re-uniting in 1970. As much as I like their early 70's singles, I don't feel that they ever again captured the raw emotion and overall feel of Odessa. And of course their disco output was a FAR cry from this!
One more side-note, the original album came in a beautiful red velvet gatefold sleeve. It would make #20 on the Billboard album chart.
I have the 45 of First of May / Lamplight - both are fine tunes. 
None of these were on their never-on-CD Gold album, and I think only First of May is on that 2 disc collection that came out a year or two ago, and I haven't gotten to know it. 