The Zombies: The Zombies And Beyond

Elly Roberts reviews

The Zombies And Beyond
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  • Released: May 2008
  • Rating: 8/10
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Few songs define an era or generation quite like Time Of The Season.

Formed in St.Albans, England in 1961, they were lead by pianist Rod Argent andsinger Colin Blunstone they scored hits in the USA with She’s Not There (1964),Tell Her No and Time Of The Season (USA #2 Canada #1).

They began recording with Decca Records after winning a beat-group competitionsponsored by the London Evening News. The result was hit, She’s Not There,a jazz-tinged classic which peaked at number 2 in the UK, making it their onlyTop 40 hit. In the states, it was aired on rock station WINS in August 1964. Itwas soon followed by Argent’s self –penned pop folk gem Tell Her No in early1965 becoming another big seller but failed to make the Top 40 in the UK.

There are six other Zombies tracks here showing their wide ranging repertoiresuch a psychedelic pop rush Indication and the Californian folk inspiredI Love You. Blunstone gives one of his most challenging and masterful performancesever. A Rose For Emily, a stunning pop song, has the feel of the SummerOf Love and could have fitted neatly onto Sgt.Peppers.


The harmonies and melodies have elements of Brian Wilson mid-60s template. Thecollection then moves through their individual songbooks. After the failure of1971’s Mary Won’t You Warm My Bed (not included) and lightweight folk-popgem Caroline Goodbye, Blunstone struck gold the following year with hitsI Don’t Believe In Miracles and Say You Don’t Mind, though it wouldbe another 8 years before he charted on a duet with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) ona synth – heavy, but tasteful, cover of Jimmy Ruffin’s classic What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, peaking at 13 in the UK.

Meanwhile Rod Argent’s career developed along the rock route, releasing anthemicand mini-opus (nigh on 7 minutes of) God Gave Rock & Roll To You and perennialsoft-rocker Hold Your Head Up in the early 70s.

File under : Essential, even the lesser known songs.

Weblinks:colinblunstone.co.uk /rodargent.com


The full list of tracks included are :

1. Time Of The Season *
2. She’s Not There *
3. Tell Her No *
4. Summertime *
5. Indication *
6. I Love You *
7. This Will Be Our Year *
8. A Rose For Emily *
9. Friends Of Mine *
10. I Don’t Believe In Miracles **
11. Say You Don’t Mind **
12. Caroline Goodbye **
13. I Want To Fly ***
14. Southside Of The Street ***
15. Old And Wise Alan Parsons Project ****
16. God Gave Rock & Roll To You *****
17. Hold Your Head Up *****
18. Keep On Rolling
19. Pleasure *****
20. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted ******

* Zombies
** Colin Blunstone
*** Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent
**** Alan Parsons Project
***** Rod Argent
****** Colin Blunstone (and Dave Stewart)

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