argument with the lads or anything like that. It was just a thing between Hughie and I. I thought this is a terrible way for this to go on. I’ve always been friends with the Gibb brothers and Colin, I don’t want to be part of this anymore. It was just too much. After a while I didn’t have a life. I was just too young. Too fast, too young, too naïve.”
Wednesday, November 13, 1968 Their German tour continues in Bochum.
Thursday, November 14, 1968 Another German date is scheduled for Düsseldorf.
Saturday, November 16, 1968 The group (scheduled for a performance in Brunswick, Germany) is once again seen on television’s Beat Club. Meanwhile, the NME reports that Vince might sign with The Beatles’ Apple company once he officially splits from the group. The remaining Bee Gees will spend time completing their upcoming double album, which the paper says is called Masterpiece and is due for a January release.
Monday, November 18, 1968 The band’s German tour hits Munich.
Tuesday, November 19, 1968 The Bee Gees are due to perform in Nuremberg.
Saturday, November 23, 1968 The Bee Gees appear as guests (in a pre-taped segment likely taped in late August or early September) on US television’s Hollywood Palace, performing ‘Massachusetts’ and ‘I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You’.
Sunday, November 24, 1968 At IBC Studio A, The Bee Gees rough mix some of their latest recordings, including a master version of ‘First Of May’, ‘Melody Fair’ and a demo of ‘Odessa’.
Barry will tell the Melody Maker’s Chris Welch around this time: “Most of the songs are sad. We deal in sad songs and we love writing ballads. So before anybody starts saying later on that it’s a drag, please listen to the words and story. ‘Odessa’ is about a man on an iceberg after a shipwreck and his wife has run away with a vicar…it is very weird. It takes eight minutes to listen to, but kids won’t have time if it’s put out on a single. ‘Hey Jude’ was a different matter because it was repetitive.”
Saturday, November 30, 1968 Disc & Music Echo reports that The Bee Gees will not complete the last of their German live dates. Apparently, Barry and Robin have both contracted tonsillitis. However, some dates may be rescheduled before shooting begins on their film, Lord Kitchener’s Little Drummer Boys. Disc will later note that Barry invited Al Jardine and Mike Love from The Beach Boys to his flat this evening for an all-night guitar and vocal jam. So, perhaps reports of at least his tonsillitis were overstated.
Wednesday, December 4, 1968 Robin Gibb marries Molly Hullis at London’s Caxton Hall.
Saturday, December 7, 1968 At IBC Studio A, rough mono mixes are completed of ‘Never Say Never Again’ (with a fuzz guitar part that is later erased from the multitrack), ‘Whisper Whisper’, ‘Marley Purt Drive’,
“‘Odessa’ is very weird.” Barry as elder statesman, late ’68
‘Edison’, ‘Sound Of Love’ and ‘With All Nations’ (with vocals). Some of Bill Shepherd’s orchestration is now in place on the various productions. Over the next few weeks, album sessions will be capped off with three orchestra and choir numbers led by Shepherd: ‘Seven Seas Symphony’, ‘With All Nations (International Anthem)’ and ‘The British Opera’.
“There are two concertos on the album with a 60-piece orchestra,” Barry tells Melody Maker’s Chris Welch. “The ‘Seven Seas Symphony’ in F major has Maurice playing piano. He was extremely nervous with all the musicians watching him. And there is a ‘British Opera’. ‘With All Nations’ is like an international anthem, for the whole world.”
I’ve always been friends with the Gibb brothers and Colin [but] I don’t want to be part of this anymore. It was just too much. I didn’t have a life. I was just too young Vince Melouney
39
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