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From the Vault...
01/14/2001
#716 |
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info
Bee Gees
"Odessa"
© Polydor Records
Year of Release: 1969
Rating:
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track listing
Odessa (City On
The Black Sea)
You'll Never See
My Face Again
Black Diamond
Marley Purt Drive
Edison
Melody Fair
Suddenly
Whisper Whisper
Lamplight
Sound Of Love
Give Your Best
Seven Seas Symphony
With All Nations
(International
Anthem)
I Laugh In Your Face
Never Say Never Again
First Of May
The British Opera
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Bee Gees
"Odessa"
People always recognize The Bee Gees as the act that launched Disco, but
what most did not know that the Brothers Gibb had released albums long before
Disco became a household word. Back in 1969, their Odessa album was
released, and whether you like disco or not, it's always amazing how their
albums sounded like before the disco movement ever existed.
For starters, the title track "Odessa" (City On The Black Sea)"
sounds more of a progressive-type song, in the style of such groups as Emerson,
Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, or even The Moody Blues. Speaking of which,
focusing on the accoustic guitar and strings, "You'll Never See My Face
Again" resembles The Moody Blues, from such albums as A Question Of
Balance and/or In Search Of The Lost Chord. "Black Diamond"
features the common pop sound of the very early Bee Gees' career.
"Marley Purt Drive" is more upbeat, as compared to the progressive
feel heard in the first three tunes, and this song has a feel like Bad Company's
"Shooting Star". A mix of pop and progressive returns with "Edison."
The Bee Gees' early years featured pleasant sounding ballads, with their
beautiful harmonies and string arrangements, as "Melody Fair" proves this.
"Suddenly" is upbeat and pop, as a Moody Blues upbeat pop tune.
"Whisper Whisper" on the other hand, is also upbeat, yet it doesn't
capture the greatness of the other songs, and can easily be one tune that could
be ignored. "Lamplight" is another listenable ballad, again, showcasing
the harmonies and string arrangements, best heard in their early music.
"Sound Of Love" is another pop Bee Gees common sound ballad.
"Give Your Best" is an upbeat country-tinged banjo plucker, and is very
interesting, and has a comparison in sound to a Monkees upbeat number. The
piano and string arrangements are incredible in "Seven Seas Symphony,"
an instrumental. "With All Nations (International Anthem)" is another
instrumental, having a more classical approach. The remaining songs on the
album -- "I Laugh In Your Face," "Never Say Never Again," "First Of May"
are all Bee Gees pop ballads, with great harmonies, and beautiful instrumentation.
"The British Opera" features another classical approach, and is very
impressive and theatrical.
Two things that have always stood out in any pre-Disco Bee Gees albums:
the beautiful harmony vocals, and the instrumentation. Odessa showcases
musical styles as pop, progressive rock, and classical; all unique for an act
that would later also help form and launch another unique sound -- Disco.
Ignore the fact that The Bee Gees were the ones who put Disco on the map,
and realize in listening to their early releases, that the Brothers Gibb were
very creative, and exceptionally talented long before the Disco craze would
become a part of musical history.
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