Ambizioso, inconfondibile, debordante: non paghi dell'eccellente esito artistico di "Idea", nel 1969 i Bee Gees si spingono oltre con "Odessa"; c'è voglia di grandeur in casa Gibb: copertina in velluto rosso con lettere dorate, poi abbandonata per gli eccessivi costi di lavorazione per questo poderoso doppio LP, forse una risposta al "White Album" dei Beatles. Il doppio album è una scelta piuttosto rischiosa: riempitivi ed eccessiva prolissità sono sempre dietro l'angolo, ne sa qualcosa Elton John con il suo "Blue Moves" e persino con l'acclamatissimo "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", ma non è questo il caso: pur caratterizzato da sonorità leggermente più omogenee rispetto a "Idea", "Odessa" regge benissimo tutti i 64 minuti di durata, che scorrono via in una mirabolante infilata di grandi canzoni, trovate geniali, melodie che deliziano il nervo acustico e tanti umori ed atmosfere diverse unite da un comune filo, ovviamente di pregiato velluto rosso.
Prima di "Odessa" raramente una canzone dei Bee Gees superava i tre minuti di durata, ora i sette minuti abbondanti della titletrack si affacciano verso scenari tipicamente prog: cori echeggianti, quasi distanti e arcani, orchestrazioni soffuse, momenti di serena melodia che stemperano un'atmosfera quasi surreale, poi l'inquietudine e i cambi di tempo tornano a dettare leggi; un ossessivo violoncello di sottofondo, chitarre acustiche che disegnano melodie mutevoli e umorali, poi ancora quelle linee vocali riverberate, parlando di naufragi e navi fantasma: decisamente, questo disco non è un bluff, ma le sorprese non finiscono qui, anzi, il meglio deve ancora venire: lo strumentale "Seven Seas Symphony", con orchestrazioni, cori e mellotron in primo piano, è un meraviglioso spleen sinfonico di quattro minuti, intriso di suggestione e malinconia, "Edison", stralunato omaggio all'inventore della lampadina, fa della ripetitività ipnotica e cantilenante del ritornello la propria arma vincente; "Suddenly", "Whisper Whisper" e "I Laugh In Your Face", anche se più semplici e canoniche, hanno tutte un retrogusto particolare, "eerie" per dirla all'inglese: melodie accattivanti con un pizzico di ossessività e follia; mai prima d'ora i Nostri avevano proposto sonorità simili e nei dischi successivi rappresenteranno episodi sporadici ed isolati.
"Marley Purt Drive" e "Give Your Best" propongono uno stile spiccatamente country, addirittura bluegrass per la seconda, anche questo inedito per i Bee Gees, e sono due tra gli episodi più piacevoli e brillanti dell'album; ballate come la giocosa e spensierata "Melody Fair", l'intensa "Black Diamond" e le sofferte "Sound Of Love" e "You'll Never See My Face Again" rappresentano un'evoluzione di quanto già mostrato nei due album del 1968, ed infine ci sono i due pomi della discordia: la natalizia "First Of May", cantata da Barry, e "Lamplight", la ballad capolavoro dell'album, intrisa di sonorità folk sentite e passionali, cavallo di battaglia di Robin: il contenzioso su quale delle due canzoni dovesse essere il singolo di lancio fu vinto da Barry, nonostante la superiorità stilistica di "Lamplight", e Robin lascerà il gruppo: la divisione durerà solo un anno, eppure tanto basta per scrivere la parola fine al periodo più aureo della band, di cui "Odessa" rappresenta l'ideale coronamento.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Odessa (City on the Black Sea) (07:33)
Fourteenth of February , eighteen ninety nine.
The British ship Veronica was lost without a sign.
Baa baa black sheep, you haven't any wool.
Captain Richardson left himself a lonely wife in Hull.
Cherub, I lost a ship in the Baltic sea.
I'm on an iceberg running free.
Sitting, filing this berg to the shape of a ship;
Sailing my way back to your lips.
One passing ship gave word that you have moved out of your old flat.
You love the Vicar more then words can say.
Tell him to pray that I won't melt away.
And I'll see your face again .
Odessa, How strong am I?
Odessa , How time goes by.
Treasure , you know the neighbours that live next door.
They haven't got their dog anymore.
Freezing, sailing around in the North Atlantic.
Can't seem to leave the sea anymore.
I just can't understand why you just moved to Finland.
You love that Vicar more then words can say.
Ask him to pray that I won't melt away.
And I'll see your face again.
Odessa, How strong am I?
Odessa, How time goes by.
Fourteenth of February , eighteen ninety nine.
The British ship Veronica was lost without a sign
04 Marley Purt Drive (04:26)
Sunday morning, woke up yawning; filled the pool for a swim.
Pulled down the head and looked in the glass just to see if I was in.
Went up the stairs and kissed my woman to make her come alive.
'Cause with fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
Fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
That's how they are, so I grabbed out the car;convertible fifty-nine.
Headed to the freeway; tried to find the Pasadena sign.
Ten miles and three quarters more I wasn't feeling any more alive.
'Cause with fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
Fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
I used to be a minstrel free with a whole lot of bread in my bag.
I used to feel that my life was real, but the good Lord threw me a snag.
Now I'm gonna be the same as me,no matter how I try.
'Cause with fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
Fifteen kids and a fam'ly on the skids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
Turned 'round the car and headed for home; I guess I realized my fate.
Ten miles and three quarters more I pulled up outside the gate.
Twenty more kids were stood inside and that made thirty-five.
'Cause with an orphanage full of thirty-five kids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
An orphanage full of thirty-five kids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
Sunday morning woke up yawning; filled the pool for a swim.
Pulled down the glass and looked in the mirror just to see if I was in.
Went up the stairs and kissed my women to make her come alive.
'Cause with an orphanage full of thirty-five kids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
And orphanage full of thirty-five kids,
I got to go for a Sunday drive.
05 Edison (03:06)
He made electric lights to read. He gave us light today.
He gave us cylinders to please.
When Edison came to stay. Edison came to stay.
Edison set the world on fire. He really made the day.
Station to station ; many wires.
Edison came to stay. Edison came to stay.
Oh, how , look at us now. We've still got a lot to learn.
But it's someone else's turn.
Edison's here to stay. Edison's here to stay.
All of the world can taste his glory. All of the people say.
You be the man to write his story. Edison's here to stay.
Edison's here to stay.
Oh, how, look at us now. We've still got a lot to learn.
But it's someone else's turn.
Edison's here to stay . Edison's here to stay.
He made electric lights to read. He gave us light today.
He gave us cylinders to please, when Edison came to stay.
Edison came to stay.Edison came to stay.Edison came to stay.
You be the man to write his story. Edison came to stay.
Edison came to stay.
All of his world can hear his story. Edison came to stay.
Edison came to stay . Edison came to stay. Edison came to stay ..
Edison came to stay (keep repeating and fade out )
06 Melody Fair (03:50)
Who is the girl with the crying face looking at millions of signs?
She knows that life is a running race,
Her face shouldn't show any sides.
Melody Fair won't you comb your hair? You can be beautiful too.
Melody Fair , remember you're only a woman .
Melody Fair, remember you're only a girl. Ah...
Who is the girl at the window pane, watching the rain falling down?
Melody, life isn't like the rain ; its just like a merry go round.
Melody Fair won't you comb your hair? You can be beautiful too.
Melody Fair, remember you're only a woman.
Melody Fair, remember you're only a girl. Ah...
Who is the girl with the crying face, looking at millions of signs?
She knows that life is a running race.
Her face shouldn't show any lines.
Melody Fair won't you comb your hair? You can be beautiful too.
Melody Fair , remember you're only a woman.
Melody Fair, remember you're only a girl. Ah ....
07 Suddenly (02:30)
How can you tell by looking at me ?
How can you tell you like what you see?
Suddenly there's a boy in the rain alone.
Suddenly there's a girl in the rain alone.
How can you humans are real ?
How can you tell you like what you feel?
Suddenly there's a girl in your heart oh boy.
Suddenly there's a boy in your heart oh boy.
Ah....
How can you tell by looking at me?
How can you tell you like what you see?
Suddenly there's a boy in the rain alone.
Suddenly there's a girl in the rain alone .
Ah...
08 Whisper Whisper (03:25)
Whisper, whisper. What have you got ?
I got something that you need a lot .
Stop me and buy one.
You can see better but you better not.
Listen mister can you help me ?
It's my sister . Show her how to fly.
Stop me and try one.
You can see ev'rything blowing by.
Whisper whisper. Keep it quiet.
If you like it you can try it too.
Stop me and buy one.
I am illegal that mean so are you
Whisper whisper what have you got?
I got something that you need a lot.
Stop me and buy one.
You can see better but you better not.
Whisper, whisper, whisper, whisper
I am man and you are women.
Who needs marriage? We are humans all.
If I could please you, arouse and ease you ,
then it would please you if I should call.
Doesn't matter what your name is.
I can do a million things to you .
No explanations; sexual patience.
Most of the nation's doing it too.
No no no no no
09 Lamplight (04:47)
Alons, viens encore, cherie.
J'attendrai patiemment sous la lampe dans la vieille avenue.
Then I may end.
She had things to buy.
I close my eyes.
Yet I don't know why.
I gave her money; said she knew someone.
And she said she won't be long.
Lamplight
keep on burning while this heart of mine is yearning.
Lamplight
keep on burning till this love of yours is mine.
I sat alone with my thoughts and laughed .
Then saw your face in an old photograph.
I didn't think that I could live without you but what am I to do ?
Lamplight
keep on burning while this heart of mine is yearning.
Lamplight
keep on burning till this love of yours is mine
Come home again dear.
I have waited year after year under the lamp in our old avenue.
If all in the world that's laughing, why should it make us cry? Ah...
11 Give Your Best (03:28)
(spoken)
It's a square dance Mr Marshall. It's a square dance on the floor.
It's a square dance Mr Perkins. It's a square dance to be sure, to be sure.
Ev'rybody, grab partners ...
I'm just a clown that used to run around .
I used to have a million friends.
I used to start where ev'rybody ends.
But I just give my best to my friends .
I've done my shows. Ev'rybody knows .
I nearly sold all my clothes.
One man can give; another has to lend.
So I just give my best to my friends.
(spoken)and so you should .
And when you think that your life isn't right.
You know the day isn't always like night.
You've had your peace now it's time for you to fight.
Just give your best to your friends.
I'm just a clown that used to run around .
I used to have a million friends.
I used to start where ev'rybody ends .
So I just give my best to my friends.
And when you think that your life isn't right.
You know the day isn't always like night.
You've had your peace now it's time for you to fight.
Just give your best to your friends.
(music)
And when you think that your life isn't right .
You know the day isn't always like night .
You've had your peace now it's time for you to fight .
Just give your best to your friends.
Just give your best to your friends.
14 I Laugh in Your Face (04:10)
The circus is coming to see you .
The elephant smiles.
Ev'rybody can hear you say that's out of style.
My brother is friendly for reasons, if I am the same.
Just for four hundred seasons we all live in rain.
So I laugh in your face. Your only one race.
Yes I laugh in your face and I'm right.
You lie just like the rest. But there's nobody best.
So I laugh in your face and I'm right.
I'll pull out your plug so your small.
You'll slide down the drain .
On the steps of St. Peter's you all look the same.
So I laugh in your face. Your only one race.
Yes I laugh in your face and I'm right.
You lie just like the rest . But there's nobody best.
So I laugh in your face and I'm right.
The circus is coming to see you . The elephant smiles.
Ev'rybody can hear you say that's out of style.
So I laugh in your face. You're only one race.
Yes I laugh in your face and I'm right.
You lie just like the rest. But there's nobody best.
So I laugh in your face and I'm right.
16 First of May (02:50)
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall
We used to love while others used to play
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by
Some one else moved in from far away
(Chorus)
Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small
And you don't ask the time of day
But you and I, our love will never die
But guess we'll cry come first of May
The apple tree that grew for you and me
I watched the apples falling one by one
And I recall the moment of them all
The day I kissed your cheek and you were mine
(Chorus...)
When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall
Do do do do do do do do do...
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by
Some one else moved in from far away
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