072 - The Bee Gees - Odessa (1969) (with Tyler Kent)

Jukebox Zeroes

Before conquering the world of disco music in the 1970s, The Bee Gees were better known for their blend of soft rock/easy listening throughout the UK. In their formative years in the 1960s the group maintained a comfortable grip on the UK Singles chart, with high-ranking singles like "I've Gotta Get A Message To You", "To Love Somebody", and "I Started A Joke."
This commercial dominance very nearly came crashing down in 1969, with the release of their sixth studio record; the double album Odessa. Almost certainly inspired by the success of records like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pet Sounds, Odessa leaned heavily into realms of baroque, progressive rock, chamber music, and orchestral pop, all the while jumping across other genres with reckless abandon. At the time of its release it was a commercial flop and made critics shrug their shoulders, while the production led to some of the Gibb brothers' most furious arguments, which even led to the temporary absence of lead vocalist Robin Gibb.
Nowadays Odessa is considered an unheralded work of genius, but we'll be the judge of that. On this episode of Jukebox Zeroes, Lilz and Patrick welcome the arrival of Season 5 with the return of Tyler Kent as their special guest. Join them through a whimsical journey through Odessa, to determine whether or not it was a misunderstood classic, or a bloated mess of pretentiousness and clashing egos.
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