History of the ZOMBIES part two |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- In this second part, we look at the years 1967-1969 as the Zombies embark on their magnum opus, Odessey and Oracle. The aborted follow up album is also explored as well as their immediate work that followed the demise of the band. Zombie members Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, Chris White, Hugh Grundy and Paul Atkinson, get their story told here on Pop Goes the 60s.
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Alright The Zombies. A truly underrated band. Rod Argent is a genius. Odessey and Oracle is in my top 10 of all time great records.
Zombies are in my top 10 of all time great bands
While I'm maybe a little younger than the Zombies' "target market," I once found myself at a club watching Blunstone and Argent (the precursor to the modern tours under the Zombies name) and could not stop talking about Blunstone's voice afterward. He's a testament to the ability to preserve one's vocal chords through life, with a little care.
He does operatic exercises to take care of his voice. Robert Plant should have taken a page from that book.
Colin took some vocal chord maintenance instruction from an opera singer teacher and has practiced vocal exercises every day since. His voice is actually stronger now than in the 60's..
@@mrnobody3161 Very audibly so, even in just that tiny "Yesterday" sample.
Colin had such a rich textured voice, one of the best! Girls found his voice sexy.
Colin Blunstone has one of the richest, series, most provocative voices in rock ever. Women love it! ❤️ His early work & harmonizing w/Zombies on songs like I Love You, She's Not There, and Time of the Season is magical. Amazing voice!
such a shame care of cell 44 never got the recognition it deserved, easily their best song and one of the best psychedelic songs of the 60s imo
What a bumpy history and a tribute to the band's tenacity! "This Will Be Our Year" is my wife and I's special song, and it also seems to reflect the band's career. Great historical detail as ever, thanks!
I just recently read an interview with Colin Blunstone where he talked about rehearsing for Odessey & Oracle. He said the only audience they had during the reherasals was the cleaning woman and they got frustrated cause she never really said anything or reacted to any of the songs.
I've always considered the first Argent album to be kind of a "lost" Zombies album. It has much more in common sonically with "Odessey and Oracle" than it does with Argent's heavier progressive music on later albums. Very tuneful, and full of playful keyboard work, Zombies fans who never took a shine to Argent might want to give that first LP a try.
Agreed. I thought the same thing when I heard that first Argent album. I could hear Colin's vocals all over those songs. I saw the Zombies live twice after they reformed, both times with Jim Rodford and it was great to hear the Zombies do a few of the Argent songs... yes, including Hold Your Head Up.. LOL.
Minor correction. "Time Of The Season" peaked at #3 in Billboard, not #2. Of course, it deserved the heralded #1 position as it is the ultimate radio friendly song.
Time of the Season now holds the record for most radio plays in the USA at 6 million and counting.
Plus all the samples
'Odessey and Oracle' is my favourite British album of all-time, hands down. The Kinks are my favourite group, the Beatles are the greatest that ever was, but that album is just so special. If it wasn't for Love's 'Forever Changes' it would be my all-time #1 album.
It seems that there is always something new to discover with this band.
The current guitarist in The Zombies; Tom Toomey used to front a Santana Tribute Band, is a prolific studio musician in the UK, and is the guitarist on most of Robert Plants Solo Albums. Tom also has his own solo band and does music camps in Africa with his wife.
Another wonderful review from an underrated but highly respectable band. They were all very intelligent in their craft and their dedication is admirable. Thank you very much. BTW RIP to Gary Brooker of Procul Harum. Another great band that needs to be reviewed.
I've just read that Brooker has died. Very sad - I saw him 20 years ago (already) with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, but never with Procol Harum, who were so much more than that classic single!
Procol Harum deserves Matt's attention
Their first album, and "A Salty Dog" are both masterpieces.
When one considers the limitations of studio recording back then, the rich quality of the Zombies’ sound is nothing short of remarkable. It reveals just how talented they were. Aside: The People’s version of I love You, which got a lot of airtime, was a favorite song when I was in the 9th grade. Thanks again for a well-researched and thought-provoking video, Matt!
Thank you, Ed! I had People's version of _I Love You_ as a kid!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Matt, that would be an interesting group to cover, especially in regards to Larry Norman. If you haven’t seen the documentary about him, “Fallen Angel, The Outlaw Larry Norman” it’s definitely worth the watch. It has a few interviews with former People! members. Fantastic episodes about The Zombies BTW!
The Zombies regularly perform I Love You in their concert tours.
Well the Beatles, all 2 & later 4 track. Couldn't be bettered. Now there's far too much tracks in scores. We need to go back to the simpler times. I mean Sgt Pepper. Say no more.
Thanks for another great video Matt! I've always heard of The Zombies as "She's not there" would play regularly at my job. I appreciate that you've been able to open up to my eyes to more of their work and more works of artists that I now enjoy like Buffalo Springfield and The Turtles.
My pleasure - thanks for the comment!
Everything The Zombies ever did was a masterpiece. Sad that so many of their songs didn’t get more airplay.
Thanks again for a great series on the Zombies! All the Beatles dug the Zombies: George Harrison was on the BBC's Jukebox Jury and declared correctly that She's Not There would be a hit. Also, as an A&R man, Paul Atkinson later had business with Paul McCartney during the 1970s Wings era. Atkinson apparently never let McCartney forget that he was once a Zombie!
Thanks for those additions, Matthew! Much appreciated.
Argent is one of my secret bands... you know, the band you let someone else ask you about... loved their music in the 70's.
Matt, yet another perfect episode, this is the best, most thorough history of yet another one my favorite bands! Lots of information in this that I wasn't aware of. 0Some somewhat random thoughts:
1. I've always thought Freddy Mercury must have been a Zombies fan, his vocal style is similar in places, I'm basing this on "Imagine The Swan" and "She Loves The Way They Love Her", a la the "when she smiles" part.
2. Thank you for giving Hugh Grundy a shout out, I had a feeling you'd give him some mad props! One of my favorite drummers, easily.
3. Colin dated Caroline Munro? Hello! 4. Their lack of chart success is baffling, I can't help but wonder how the charts were really decided back then. 5. I'm so glad their getting the attention they deserve, from a younger generation. 6. I've seen them twice, in the early 00's, it was stunning, Colin's voice was still there and Argent too!
Thank you, my friend! 🎶🎵🎼💿🎸
Thank you, David. The Mercury comparison hadn't occurred to me but makes total sense. Excuse me but I have to go through more Carline Munro clippings....
@@popgoesthe60s52 Caroline Munro these days presents the Friday night horror movies on the UK Talking Pictures TV channel!
I'm a bit of a freak fan when it comes to The Zombies.
In listening to and reading countless interviews about them, Rod has said the management team was really incompetent in marketing and image creation of the band.
Also the management team ripped the band members off on their incomes from gigs and concerts.
The Zombies did a tour in The Philippines before the recording of Odessey and Oracle. Much to the bands surprise many of their failed singles in the rest of the world, were massive hits in the Philippines. They played multiple concerts to 30, 40 thousand people and got paid 80 pounds split 5 ways.
After the failure of Odessey and Oracle in 68, there just wasn't any money for the non songwriters in the band.
Excellent job, once again Matt. "Odessey and Oracle" an undoubted masterpiece. Just an idea, but it might be worth your time looking at the British Immediate record label in the future. Regardless, keep up the good work. Thanks
Odessey and Oracle is such a beautiful record! I’ve really enjoyed these episodes, thank you.
Matt , Great take on the Zombies! Caroline Munro is very easy on the eyes TOO!
I came across Colin Blunstone’s One Year album recently, and it’s brilliant. Check it out!
I've had One Year in my collection since it first came out in the early 70's. It's a bona fide classic. "Her Song", to my ears, is one of the most beautifully written and performed songs ever.
Russ Ballard is one of the greatest songwriters in British history. Famous for “since you’ve been gone” for rainbow, “there’s something going on” by Frida from ABBA, and “can’t shake loose” by Agnetha from ABBA
I love his voice too - great singer.
Very cool songs!
Did you also know that Russ Ballard wrote 'I Don't Believe in Miracles', which Colin Blunstone recorded as a solo artist in 1972? He recorded it himself for his first solo album after leaving Argent in 1974, which also included 'Fly Away', which, incidentally Johnnie Walker played as one of 3 'ones that got away' I suggested for his BBC Radio 1 show in 1976! (The others I chose, BTW, were 'Natural High' by Bloodstone and 'I saw the light' by Todd Rungren.) Russ Ballard was, I believe, never in The Zombies but of course was a significant member of Argent. Lots of 'nearlies' in both bands' histories but worthy recognition later.
Thanks for the thumbs up! Did you also know that Denny Laine wrote & recorded 'Say you don't mind', which was also recorded by Colin Blunstone? (It reached #15 in the UK charts. 'I don't believe in Miracles' reached #31. Yes, I'm that boring!😂)
Also Liar Three Dog Night I'm winning Santana New York Groove Ace frehley
Enjoying this documentary of The Zombies history and evolving changes in their music and arrangement. ❤🙏 Lots of hard work and blood sweat and tears pouring into their songs.
One of my favorite tracks from this great band is “I’ll Call You Mine” - not a track from O&O, but worthy of that classic imho.
I'm not sure what the problem was when it came to releasing singles for the Zombies? Maybe there wasn't enough promotion of the songs, or just picking the wrong song at the wrong time? A butcher's tale should never have been chosen as a single. Time of the season should have probably been the first single from Odessey and Oracle, but I think there are several songs that could have been hits on that album. Hung up on a dream, Care of cell 44, and Brief Candles are all great songs. I think the version of A Rose For Emily with Cello on it is better than the album version. I'm glad the album, and the band have finally began getting the recognition they deserve.
In My Own Dream is gone from the background, replaced by another in my favorites from that era, Anthem Of The Sun.
Great video thank you - I have only in the last year got into The Zombies. If you are looking to do videos on other under appreciated bands from the 60’s you could do a lot worse than The Move - been a fan since I was in my teens in the late seventies. Thanks again
Well done bringing The Zombies to the forefront Matt ...
When looking for music that captures the sound of the 60s ... you would be hard pressed not to include at least one Zombies track ... such an underrated band ...
Time of the Season is one of those tracks that still after all these years sounds fresh, innovative and in these troubled times ... poignant ...
The first Zombies LP I bought isn't mentioned in the video. It's an odd release called Meet The Zombies and was brought out by Razor Records in 1988. The track listing is as follows:
1 Conversation Off Floral Street
2 Don't Cry For Me
3 She's Not There
4 Imagine The Swan
5 She Loves The Way They Love Her
6 Walking In The Sun
7 If It Don't Work Out
8 I Could Spend The Day
9 Girl Help Me
10 Time Of The Season
11 I Know She Will
12 Hung Up On A Dream
13 A Rose For Emily
14 This Will Be Our Year
15 Tell Her No
Rather bizarre, I now realise, but it hangs together as an LP nonetheless.
I first got into them when I started my first job as the mail boy to a building society. There I met a guy named Paul who loved them and had the LP with all their A/B-sides and Odessey And Oracle. We formed a band with some other guys who worked there, me on drums and Paul on bass. I remember one night at his parents' place where we played the A/B-sides LP and sang along, killing ourselves laughing as we tried to imitate Colin Blunstone's polite Rock 'n' Roll screams.
Two final thoughts- Hugh Grundy is a wonderful drummer, as you say. His drumming on She's Not There is so similar to In My Life that I thought he might've influenced Ringo until I realised that Ringo had already drummed on All I Gotta Do before The Zombies' first single came out.
- Have you ever noticed how similar the rhythm on Time Of The Season is to Spencer Davis Group's I'm A Man? It's like minor vs major in feel. I wonder if Rod Argent was thinking of that song when he wrote his?
Great comments about the Grundy-Ringo comparison. I'm not aware of that album Meet the Zombies but it's got a great track selection!
@@popgoesthe60s52
He thanks for posting this.
Return of the Zombies, or New World came out in '91 to protect the copyright of name The Zombies, without Rod Argent who was contractually obligated to other projects.
Breathe Out Breathe In 2011,
Rod Argent, Colin Bluestone of The Zombies; As Far As I Can See, 2004.
Some other Albums not mentioned.
7:23 Yes a Boise DJ broke Time of the Season. Per Blunstone: ". Tradition has it that one DJ and no one has ever known this guy's name, in Boise, Idaho, started playing ‘Time of the Season’ and he just wouldn't stop. It spread from Boise and eventually it spread around the country."
Anyone who likes Colin Blunstone's singing will love "Old And Wise", where he joined The Alan Parsons Project.
Another (then) underrated band who's legacy will outshine most of the million-sellers of the time forever. To be cherished by generations to come.
Very nice tribute, good to hear you give the fine drummer some credit, very underated position!
Dude, just wanna briefly say that I've been hooked to your channel for some weeks now. Seen most of your stuff and now always look forward to new releases. Keep it up!
Thanks Florian!
I should note that they didn't get Blunstone back to work on those songs, as they were older recordings that additional production was added to, to modernize them a bit.
I had the vinal LP of One Year by Colin Blunstone with Caroline Goodbye being the reason to buy it, hearing it on an underground FM station one day. If you can get your hands on it get it! It is full of wonderful ballads and orchestration, and of course his signature vocals.
I was very young when the early Zombies singles hit. I loved the Beatles of course, but after
"She's Not There," the Zombies were my second favourite band (above the Stones, Rascals, Who, etc.) The deal was sealed with "Tell Her No" and "Time of the Season." Even now, I think their musical sensibilities, harmonic twists, unique vocal and arrangement style, makes them one of the most original bands of the sixties, and I can hear echoes of their music in many artists from 1967 onwards. I love the Zombies, and have learned much from these two videos about their artistic struggles. Thank you.
Thank you for commenting, SullivanWorks!
Odessey and Oracle often finds it’s way onto the turntable when my friends and I are partying out on the patio at night. It’s that kind of record…
Nice series! Enjoyed it.
Several years ago I started a 'project' to collect all the albums in Rolling Stone's top 500 album list (the first version). Odessey and Oracle is on it, so in time I collected it.
Looking at the wikipedia page for Odessey and Oracle, I noticed that, at least for that album, the Zombies had multiple lead vocalists, wrote their own material, and had multiple writers. How Beatles-like!
So I took a quick think on bands that do that, and I threw in playing their own instruments. Here is my list, which of course is not definitive:
The Beatles
The Eagles
The Grateful Dead
Pink Floyd (except for final years)
Fleetwood Mac (Buckingham/Nicks era)
BTO
The Allman Brothers
Chicago
And some bands that don't meet all the criteria, but are close:
The Rolling Stones (Richards does not sing often enough, imo)
The Doors
And some bands (that I like) that do not fit the bill:
Jethro Tull
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Note that all the bands listed above are 'classic'. I am a classic guy.
This is a fascinating story I did not know. "Time of the Season" would not have been released if not for Al Kooper??? That's a really mind-blowing story about a classic song I always took for granted. Show business is a tough grind, man. So many great talents never make it or almost miss like this. It's not as glamorous as people think. THANK YOU for this great series.
My pleasure - more to come.
Matt
Thanks for all of your great videos, this included, as I've always LOVED The Zombies!
I had another serendipitous discovery the other day when I commented on a Cavern performance of The Beatles (audio only) accompanied by photos, a few of which showed them accompanying a black performer, I thought it might be Lord Woodbine but wasn't sure and asked for information, the channel host informed me it was Davy Jones who had a small 'hit' with the song Amapola. So, I looked for it in vain, but accidentally discovered The Spotnicks (thelir Amapola hit #1 in Sweden) !!! Since then I've been binging on The Spotnicks and am glad ! I don't think they got much air time in America when I was kid in the sixties, because I was fan of The Surfaris, Ventures, Chantays, and I did know of The Shadows (due to my being a Beatlemaniac, as The Shadows weren't heard much on American radio as far as I knew at the time). Anyway, if you do a video about these instrumental guitar groups it would be SUPER !
Absolutely fantastic videos on the Zombies.
I know it easy to say years later that this song or that song should have been a hit in regard to any band, one has to look at the time period in which a band recorded an album and release a single and what they were up against on top 40 stations at the time. that being said in my opinion the Zombies work hard to get the recognition that they got in the 60's and should be better known then just three songs (She Not There, Tell Her No, Time of the Season)
Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Hugh Grundy, Chris White are talented musicians in their own rights and Paul Atkinson was. the Zombies recorded some very overlook songs at the time (Is This the Dream, She's Coming Home, Summertime, Whenever You're Ready, Butcher's Tale Western Front 1914) just to name a few. Thanks, Matt, for giving the Zombies their due credits that they deserve.
Grundy is considered one of the best best generation drummers..
Thanks for the insight into this great band. Zombies unsung heroes for sure.. Lots of life in them yet !!
This might be a good time to do my favourite 60s Band- Procol Harum
Their arrangements became more daring & sophisticated...just at the right time when psychedelia grew.
I Would really like for you to do a complete History of The Hollies, and Badfinger.
I believe Pop Goes the 60s DID review the group, Badfinger, if I'm not mistaken.
Great content. Will there ever be a Fugs video? Thank you Matt
"Predictably 'Butcher's Tale' didn't chart" I love some of your toss away lines like that ... these series are some of the better stuff out there. Really solid! Keep on keeping on 😎
Thank JayHawk - I will keep 'em coming!
It's a great song but weird choice a single.
"Butcher's Tale" is the only black eye on the album. It's like if the Beatles had included "Only A Northern Song" in the middle of Sgt. Pepper.
Would love to see some Downliners Sect and the Troggs.
Always liked the Zombies. The R.I.P. album sounds great! I might have to look for that one. Argent's "Liar" has long been one of my very favorites. (I didn't know TDN recorded it, but wasn't a huge fan of TDN, so it shouldn't surprise me, I guess). Thanks for the great info! Always informative.
Thanks for stopping by, Roger. I appreciate the comments.
Sounds like good music 🎶
If I do get a chance to see them I will
Thank you so much for reviewing this band, Matt. You have opened up my ears to new (old) music. I have a few of the high charting singles that the Zombies released on 60s compilations and Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" remains one of my fave Juke box tunes from when I was a teen (btw, I will never forgive Kiss for their dismal cover of another Argent tune). I was always unsure of which music of the Zombies I should pursue and dive into. Now, I can see the answer is pretty well much all of it. Thanks Again.
The Zombies were a great pop band with an edge. Most obvious was the jazz influence. They also featured keyboards as the instrumental solos instead of guitars. Their vocals were top shelf. Extremely underrated band.
Hey i dont comment much but i just wanted to say i always look forward to and enjoy your uploads. You have a classy channel. I've also been subbed to John Heaton and James Corbett for years and it was cool to know y'all knew one another. Thank you for what you do🎶
Hello Eddie - thank you for watching and for the warm comment. More to come!
Thanks for this Zombies history, you did a great job. We have got to find Afterlife.
I have a link to it in the description under the video. Check it out - it's very afforable.
I have Still Got That Hunger on vinyl signed by Rod Argent & Colin Blunstone. Helped crowdfund it!
First comment! That's an interesting practise, not being signed to a record label but leasing the song to one. I wonder if that was often done then.
I know the Yardbirds did that as well.
Great video, man! I really need to check out & pick up their whole catalog.. I only have the Odessey & Oracle on wax. ✌️
There is also an album in the early 90's without Argent, but with the four others. They did it to reassert onership of their name.
Yes, the Return of The Zombies. Rod Argent was busy composing the theme music for the World Cup of Football ⚽️, and working as a producer of other artists.
Phenomenal job Matt!! Awesome..thanks for another great show..ZOMBIES..go 60s
You made my Night!!!!!! As the Bass Player in a Regional popular New England band known as the Century I adored these guys. We used to do quite a lot of Zombies material in fact. While doing a gig with the Vanilla Fudge, Tim came up to me after our set and we chatted about the Zombies for quite awhile as he loved them as well and we became fast friends as a result. The Zombies were absolutely Fabulous.......as is your Show here on TH-cam. Thanks so much for what you do....... (psst. 10 C.C.)
Thank you, Rich! I appreciate you sharing the Fudge story.
Odyssey and oracle has got to be one of the greatest pop albums of all time.
Also just listened to my copy of 'wake up.. it's tomorrow' right before watching your video, noticed it on your wall!
he is right, hugh grundy was a great and unique player
Great to have you cover these guys, and mention some of the strong songs, "If it don't work out", etc. that sadly weren't hits... And well done in mentioning Hugh Grundy, often overlooked, but his drums were always tuned well and sounded great !
In 1978, I think, K-Tel released a Zombies 45 of remake versions of " Time Of The Season " b/w " She's Not There ". This versions actually sound amazing !!! They are on you-tube
Other than Richie Furay, Colin Blunstone is the only vocalist I can think of whose voice has lost nothing to this day. I guess The Iveys could have sued them, too. 🙂
Anthem of the Sun on the wall, Nice!
I had always read that their last album was not purposely misspelled but the artist who created the artwork misspelled odyssey and they decided to keep it because it would be too expensive to redo the album artwork
No that is a myth dispelled by Rod Argent in recent interviews. To cover up the mistake they said it was "a play on words" and was intentional. In the interview, Colin Blunstone exclaimed - "I didn't know that!"
@@popgoesthe60s52 Thanks for clearing that up. I'd been wondering if maybe the same artist had designed the cover for the first "The Mama's and Papa's" album with its ridiculous apostrophes.
Interesting Caroline Munro connection, I recently saw her in the films Starcrash and Maniac
Since the first time I listened the "Odessey and Oracle" album, I always feel that I'm having a very special musical experience. It's, for me, a masterpiece. In my Zombies' CD collection, there are different editions of that album. In one of these editions (about one of the anniversaries), there's a very interesting unreleased version of "A Rose For Emily", with the melancholic sounds of the mellotron and cello. For me, it's a touching combination. It's normal the influence that some band can bring to another, and, although I may be wrong, I see in "A Rose For Emily" echoes of "Eleanor Rigby"; and in "Beechwood Park" something of "Penny Lane". It's my opinion. A curious fact about the album's cover, at least according to what I've read somewhere, would be the designer error, that wrote "Odessey" instead of "Odissey". But it can be a legend. Other two Zombies' CDs I'd like to highlight are: "The Singles A"s % B's" (1994) from the british "See For Miles" label; and the double "The Decca Stereo Anthology" from the british "Big Beat" label (even with some tracks from that "RIP" album). Congratulations, my friend Matt, for this great review!
Thank you, Denis. Rod Argent has confirmed "artist error" in several recent interviews and that they lied originally saying it was a "play on words" to cover up the embarrassing faux pas.
I actually love this video and appreciate you spreading the story but there's alot of stuff missing here
Matt, I'm glad you covered the Zombies. My highschool bandmate Michael Fennelly turned me on to them. We covered several of their songs while we were building our own songbook. We studied each of their new singles (A and B sides) as soon as they were released. Since we did not want to be a top 40 cover band, their lack of chart success was a point in their favor, as far as we were concerned. In one of life's nice coincidences, when Epic signed Mike for a solo LP, after being in The Millennium and fronting Crabby Appleton, he got to choose his own producer and flew to London, where Chris White produced him (with Jim Rodford on bass). In a bit of symmetry, his solo LP didn't chart much better than the Zombies had, despite some excellent songs and an uncredited solo by Jeff Beck on one track.
Wow, that is a great connection to the Zombies you have!
I always learn something from you video' s Matt. Thank you for this excellent trip through "Zombie Heaven." I like that you mentioned the LP "Time Of The Zombies" as that was the first LP I got by them also. It was impossible to get any Zombies recordings in the Mid 70s and when I saw that 2-LP set, I grabbed it, but was a little hesitant, as the cover was so weird.. LOL. That was a killer compilation! Nice to see they're getting some overdue recognition. Great band. I'm excited to see who you'll be covering next. :- )
I'm so glad I didn't that album by that terrible cover - one of the best values I ever got.
We got to see them in MYC one of the first tours in the early 2000´s. They are masters.
Odeessey and Oracle sounded so very 1967, but had to wait until 1969 to chart. Time of the Season was the odd song on the album in that it sounded more like an early Zombies' song than like the other songs on the album. In early '69 it was on the radio constantly, it was kept out of #1 by tommy Roe's psychedelic bubblegum song, Dizzy. I was unaware of those 80's releases - that 2-lp set was a real gift.
Gotta love "I want her, she wants me"
Fun Fact about RIP: Half of those songs were actually recorded in 1964~66 [that is: "If It Don't Work Out," "I'll Call You Mine," "I'll Keep Trying," "I Know She Will," "Don't Cry for Me," and "Walking In the Sun"]. They were overdubbed with strings and/or extra vocals from White and Argent ("Walking in the Sun" got a new lead vocal from Colin Blunstone). The fact that they released "I Want You Back Again" but sat on "If It Don't Work Out" blows my freakin' mind.
It's a case, I think, of the pros of having an excellent producer. Ken Jones was... okay to meh. Had they somebody like George Martin, they would've gone far. Alas, it was not to be.
Yes, they are worth catching live, you won't be sorry.
We'll never know how some of those great songs didn't chart. They're very welcome ear candy. An excellent look at them.
Another bit of trivia is some of those 1965 tracks they recorded for a possible 2nd LP were some of the tracks that were brought out of the vaults and 'fixed up' by adding some instrumentation for the proposed "R.I.P." LP! ("Don't Cry for Me", "If It Don't Work Out", "I'll Call You Mine", for example)
Mick Jagger is considered to be a BETTER SINGER than Colin Bluntstoner?? (Whatever.) Even in his youth, Jagger couldn't hold a candle to Colin B. (See what I did there?) Jagger's thing is his stage performance, not his vocal prowess.
Side question...am I going nuts or didn't Three Dog Night also have a huge hot with Liar???
Yes, it was a top 10 hit in 1971.
@@popgoesthe60s52 You helped me feel just a few clicks younger...thanks!
A great video Matt I’m really glad you focussed on them. Very unique ‘English’ sounding songs. Love how you picked out and highlighted the mellatron sounds on O & O. 👍
Thank you, Nigel - this was a fun one to do because I really enjoy the Zombies music.
Right, must get some Zombies. Saw Colin Bluestone with 'others' in Edinburgh in the 90s. The 'others' were... Manfred Mann, minus Mr Mann but everyone else including both Paul Jones & Mike D'Abo! With guests was Colin, Chris Farlowe & Alan Price. Doing all the hits. Alan Price was sooo funny as well. Best concert ever for £10! Beat that.
Thank you so much for this 2-part offering. The Zombies had a unique sound and made some incredible music. The story of John Lennon's Mellotron use by them is very interesting. Keep up the good work!
Greetings Matt ✌ Fantastic series on The Zombies, I enjoyed both parts very much👍Your Always insightful in your presentations and I always learn something New on these great artists on Pop Goes 60's ,-One thing that stands out for me is Colin Blunstone's voice -Love his voice on songs like I Love You and The Zombies cover of The Look of Love and Blunstone's version of Harry Nilsson's Without Her are Superb!!!
Thank You, Matt, for the depth and breadth of your podcast. Rediscovering The Zombies Music is always a joyful experience.
The Zombies must hold the record for stretching their music career, over the longest timeframe, with only 3 USA chart hit singles, and no hit albums. Love to learn more about what sustained their efforts, especially when the music market rejected them, time and time again. Are there any books on The Zombies that you highly recommend?
The Zombies are another classic example of why other key players and factors are important to lasting artistic and commercial success.
As you showed, the collective recordings of The Zombies is most impressive.
I appreciate the comment Vital Marco Ortiz!
In the Box Set Zombie Heaven there is an accompanying book documenting their story. In essence they love to create, write and perform; what They Like and Feel, whether anyone else likes it or not. I'd recommend their Album from the 21st century; Breathe In Breathe Out. A favorite of mine.
Also, UK Big Beat issued a ground-breaking "Stereo Decca Anthology" with their entire Decca/Parrot catalog in stereo...including many never before released in stereo...and it sounds great (right down to added drum bits from the mono "She's Not There", which Hugh Grundy reproduces using the same snare drum he used in 1964!!)
Thank you for your episode on The Zombies. I don’t have any of the band on vinyl, but enjoyed you showing us your vinyl journey. Your first (double) album purchase ‘Time Of The Zombies’ appears to be the perfect one stop shop. I bought the CD -Zombies in Stereo, the Ken Jones era. They meticulously did Stereo mixes for the first time,from the master tapes,that they owned.’Afterlife’ is a treasure trove, assembling Post Zombies rarities by Colin,Chris & Rod. Russ Ballard needs a episode on his own. Master songwriter and the guitarist & vocalist in Argent, of course.
Very nice overview here! I think one of the major points about the Zombies reunions shows -- which have been going on in earnest since the late 1990s at this point -- is the quality of Colin Blunstone's voice. I first caught a reunion show in NYC in about 1999 or 2000 (Colin and Rod were the only original members... along with Jim Rodford... so there were just as many Argent members on stage as Zombies!), and even at that time, I was floored that Blunstone's voice had lost no power, depth, or character. The "Odessey & Oracle" shows (with Hugh Grundy and Chris White in tow) later on down the road were just as magical.
White had an unerring ear for melody. One of the best songwriters of the '60s. Thanks for doing this. The A's and B's disc is great, but so is something called "The Decca Stereo Anthology." All of it is must-have.
Thanks for another great video Matt! Out of all of the Zombies releases “Into the After Life” has to be my favorite cd out of there discography! It has such great songs in it like Colins time as Neil McArthur with the string arrangement behind him at times as well as fuzz box guitar. Also don’t get me started about the Argent/White demos because they also sound amazing! But unfortunately they didn’t get released at the time but no matter luckily we have them now. 👍 One curios song on there however that I really like is “Mr. Galileo” which I find quite catchy despite its weird tale. Heck I even ask Chris about it one time and he said it was about a guy he knew go figure!
Thank you, Eli!
I'd also recommend 'Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London' 2005 double CD. Thanks again for such a lovely presentation.
Please please do ART / Spooky Tooth. Art Supernatural Fairytales top 100 album of all time. Every track a winner especially Stephen Stills track. ART.
I saw the Argent/Blunstone show in New York at BB KIng's and Colin autographed my Australian 45 of "It's Not Easy" by his pseudonym, Neil McArthur. He even sang some of the chorus of that song while he was signing it.
I can't imagine for the life of me how some of their songs from '65-'66 didn't chart much higher than they did, if they did at all. Colin's "Just Out Of Reach" was everything a song in the fall of '65 should be to be a hit, yet it missed. Same for "Don't Go Away" and "Indication" in early '66. You are likely correct about the sophistication of the songs, but I also think part of the blame was piss-poor promotion.
Later in '66 they recorded a beautiful song that they never released, "A Love That Never Was". They backed off on it because they were afraid it was too Beatlesque. It would be nice for a group that's into retro music to pick that one up. My personal choice for that would be the MonaLisa Twins, who are lovely and very talented Austrian twin sisters who have covered many songs of this genre. They have many videos here on YT. I have pitched that to them. Perhaps they could save it from being "a song that never was"!
Colin sang on some Alan Parsons Project albums, as well. Love The Zombies! I had the Date single with Time of the Season/Friends of Mine when I was 6.
Back in the Sixties, we (my high school rock band) loved the Zombies. We covered Tell Her No, She's NotThere, and I Love You (we never heard the Zombie original, but knew of it. We bought the People version which is virtually identical). I was elated when they got into the Hall.
I saw them in Belgium around the time of Out of the Shadows under the name of Argent and Blunstone or the other way around.🙂 The crowd was no more than 50 people I estimate but they played as if they were performing for the queen. Such a great band and truly professional. Jim Rodford (RIP) on bass and Steve Rodford (Son of) on drums. I had a chance to talk to Collin and got my cd signed. A memory that will last.
BTW, great story telling. I enjoyed part 1 and 2.