Odessa (3 CD Deluxe Edition) [Box set]

Bee Gees | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Rhino Records
• ASIN: B001HZ9ABM
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,732 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #38 in Music > World Music > Australia & New Zealand
  • #53 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Baroque Pop

Editorial Reviews

Three-disc expanded Deluxe Edition of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb's 1969 double-LP pop masterpiece, presented in deluxe packaging that reproduces the original release's red-flocked cover, including a poster and sticker. Disc one features the original stereo mixes of the title's 17 song sequence. Disc two marks the U.S. recording debut of the original mono mixes of the same 17 songs. Bonus disc 3 boasts 22 previously unreleased recordings, including 20 alternate takes and demos plus two songs not featured on the original album-'Pity' and 'Nobody's Someone.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic gets the royal treatment, January 13, 2009

By 

Lou1972 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odessa (3 CD Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

There's no doubt that the Gibb brothers are masters at writing timeless music with great melodies, catchy lyrics and perfect 3-part harmony, but delving deep into their vast catalog of music finds, "Odessa", the grandest of them all. Coming off three hugely successful albums, with the most recent being the joyful "Idea", The Bee Gees set out and created an album with many varying styles, with grand orchestration and moving epics such as the title track, Odessa (City On The Black Sea) and beautiful ballads such as Melody Fair. There were several choices for singles such as "Never Say Never Again" and "Marley Purt Drive", but the first and only single was ultimately "First Of May", a wonderful choice in its own right.
The packaging on the Deluxe Edition is first rate. The original red velvet cover has been restored as well as track by track details, plus several photos from the period. The bonus disc "Sketches For Odessa" gives us a glimpse into the evolution of these great songs as well as some unreleased tracks that were left off the original album. This is a must for any Bee Gees fan or any fan of 60's baroque pop.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY..."Odessa" done right (aside from the original vinyl), January 13, 2009

By 

Larry Davis "powerpoplarry" (NYC/Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odessa (3 CD Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

First off, the packaging...in a lovely, luxurious red velvet BOX, not a slipcase as I originally thought it would be...with the title gold embossed. Open it up and the treasures flow out...first a round red Bee Gees sticker, then a huge poster (double-sided), then a great photo-packed booklet (love the B&W cover, and Robin's buggish sunglasses...he looked downright alien-ish...a precurser to Flaming Lips head genius Wayne Coyne!!)...with incredible, informative liner notes that said what we've always known...prior CD issues were crap (abridged, bad sound, etc) and this was an opportunity to give "Odessa" the full glory treatment, and info on EVERY song...all versions.

Now, the songs, oh man, THE SONGS!!!! There are 3 CDs (as I guessed it would be when I first heard of this deluxe (an understatement if there ever was one) release...CD1 is the 17-track album in stereo, CD2 is the album in MONO (first time released in the US) and CD3 is the REAL treat, the 23-track "Sketches For Odessa"...cool and fascinating demos, alternate takes (sometimes both), 2 UNRELEASED tracks and a promo spot for the album from some record stores, not the radio.

I won't go into the riches of the songs TOO much, but the lovely folks at Reprise/Rhino must have known about how grand this album is (possibly the Bee Gees' best album ever, a true masterpiece) and how crap prior issues were, so they pulled out all the stops and made this clearly the best-sounding CD version of the album. I don't know what is better, the stereo or the mono...they both sound great. I love the songs on "Odessa", exquisite orchestral pop with killer melodies & 3-part harmonies and excursions into alt-country/rootsrock a la The Band, and orchestral interludes...it works best playing from beginning to end as one piece, yet each track coulda worked as a killer single (except the 3 instrumentals of course). Faves are def "Melody Fair", "Marley Purt Drive", "Give Your Best", "Never Say Never Again" (ESPESH the CD3 alt version with the fuzz guitar, AWESOME, it rocks a la Jesus & Mary Chain!!!), "I Laugh In Your Face", the awesomely cool Maurice-led "Suddenly"...on and on, one of THE great pop/powerpop albums EVER made, and that's an understatement...

Now, the REAL treats are the TWO unreleased tracks, "Nobody's Someone" & "Pity"...those songs are AMAZING, and it's wild to know they were in the vaults for 40 YEARS!!!!!!!!!! They could have been hit singles easily, they sound finished and complete, with great hooks and harmonies, just killer. Another thing is the album was not done justice by the choice of single released, "First Of May"...nothing against the song, it's lovely, but it would NOT have been my first choice of first single..."Melody Fair" or "Marley Purt Drive" or the title track would have caught people's attention, and the album would have done better, not widely forgotten except for collectors, hardcore fans and powerpop freaks...

NOW, with this GRAND 3CD reissue, people will realize what they truly missed, the treasures in store for them.

So far, best reissue of 2009...nothing will top this.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpeace, January 15, 2009

By 

R. Betts (Central Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Odessa (3 CD Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

Ok, so I bought the original album when it came out. ok, so I bought the album on reel to reel. Ok, so I bought the album when it came out on cd. Ok, so I bought the UK mono Odessa because it was never released in the U.S. I think I've pretty well covered any aspect of this classic release other than 8 track. I have been waiting for this remaster like the 1st, Horizontal, Idea package. I can't take it out of my disc player.

The best side 1 of any recording I have ever heard-Odessa, You'll Never See My Face Again, Black Diamond. It's not just pop music, it's not just rock, it's not just harmony vocals, it's not just the orchestral backing, it's not just country influences, this encompasses the spectrum of music. Marley Purt Drive, love it, Give Your Best(ow!), Whisper Whisper, where'd this come from, Vince Melouney the forgotten lead guitarist, where'd he go. Disc 3 with demos and the scat singing that is how they developed their songs is just wonderful to listen to. Melody Fair, Edison and those fantastic three part harmonies. Maurice and his prowess as one of the first masters of the mellotron shines on disc 3. Wow. All that and nothing said about 1st of May........I'll take side b-Lamplight and the two versions on disc 3. Take it all in, it's a classic from a golden era of popular music.