Introduction:
“Marley Purt Drive” is a song by the Bee Gees, released in March 1969 on their album Odessa. The song was written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, and produced by Robert Stigwood. It was released as a single in South Africa, backed with “Melody Fair”.
The song is a country rock ballad about a man who drives down Marley Purt Drive in Pasadena, California, to escape his problems. He finds that his problems follow him, however, and he returns home to find that he has even more problems to deal with.
The song was recorded in New York City at Atlantic Studios. The basic instrumental line-up of Barry and Maurice Gibb, Vince Melouney, and Colin Petersen were joined by bluegrass musician Bill Keith on banjo. Two recordings are available, the earlier of these was recorded on August 15 and later appeared on Sketches for Odessa in 2006. The version released on the album was finished at IBC Studios in London in November with the orchestra.
The song was a minor hit in South Africa, but it did not chart in the United States or the United Kingdom. It has been covered by several artists, including José Feliciano and Nash Chase.