Review Summary: Any time to show you what you need to live?
After their good but ultimately forgettable debut, The Zombies had found themselves in a tight spot. Now that their contract had expired, the two main writers, Rod Argent and Chris White, chose for a new beginning. With a budget of merely a 1000 pounds, the band went into the famous Abbey Road studios without any sort of deadline. Unlike their first album, of which one half consisted of covers and the other of scrambled together singles, Argent and White were going to pen all material by themselves this time around, creating a real album. They however knew this was it: either the new record would make them successful again, or it would be their end.
The Zombies disbanded even before
Odessey & Oracle, as the album was called, was released, and there was no success to speak of (it was close to not even being released in the US). Poor sales meant a quick death of The Zombies’ output, but then something unexpected occurred. The album’s final track,
Time of the Season, was released as a single, and became a big hit in the States, eventually becoming a 60’s classic. You’ve heard it: you recognize the opening bass riff, the claps and aah’s, Colin Blunstone’s distinctive vocal performance, the prominent organ appearance, and of course the harmony chorus. A fantastic and unique tune that had been abundantly referred to in all sorts of media up to this day, but certainly not is what this album is all about.
It wasn’t until much later that people started to realize how brilliant this record actually was. Years and years passed until it finally got the reputation it deserved: one of the best pop albums of the psychedelic 60’s. In stark contrast with their heavily early Beatles-influenced debut, the songs are masterfully crafted, featuring sophisticated instrumentation and stunning harmonies. Because the band didn’t have the money to afford session musicians, they used the rich, orchestral sound of a mellotron in great fashion. Although Blunstone’s vocals are perhaps The Zombies’ main selling point, Argent is, apart from being one of the two main songwriters, their most contributing member. Aside from handling the mellotron, he defines most of
Odessey’s sound, playing piano, keyboards, organ and singing both backing and lead (on
I Want Her, She Wants Me).
The band’s British Invasion roots can only be traced back to a few tracks, only a few of them being simple songs of romance. Although the central theme is still love, there’s often a twist.
Care of Cell 44, for example, is about a man waiting for his girl to be released from prison so they can be together once again (
‘And we'll get to know each other for a second time/And then you can tell me 'bout your prison stay...’). The story of a
Rose for Emily is something completely new altogether: a simple but touching tale of fading beauty and a lonely passing (
‘And as the years go by/She will grow old and die/The roses in her garden fade away/Not one left for her grave’). They are only two cases that show why
Odessey is now held in such high regard: The Zombies were able to move beyond the very restricted borders of pop at the time, and still create highly catchy, simple-sounding songs.
Instrumental highlights include the lush instrumentation of
Beachwood Park; the piano and bass on
Brief Candles; the quite gorgeous and certainly unexpectedly brilliant little guitar solo on
Hung Up On A Dream, and of course the organ on
Time of the Season. The most offbeat and creative moment is however The World War I-themed
Butcher’s Tale. The haunting organ, combined with White’s rather unsteady vocal performance (who sings lead here), proves to be a winning combination that sets a perfect atmosphere in order to convey a soldier’s desperate thoughts in a song. You might argue that it doesn’t quite fit with the rest of the record, but it is certainly proof of how immensely creative this band really was.
As earlier discussed events have already made clear, that creativity sadly was not to last. The Zombies made a quite wonderful little record here that was severely underappreciated at the time it was released. Luckily, its real value is now realized, and the band can look back on their great and unexpected achievement with pride.
Odessey & Oracle is a 60’s album you must own, and the only Zombies record you’ll ever need. If you’re looking at your record collection right now and notice something seems to be missing in the 'Z' section, I’d advice you go on and do something about that. After all, who can resist that vibrant and colourful cover?
Zombie Recs:
Care of Cell 44
A Rose For Emily
Brief Candles
Hung Up On A Dream
Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914)
Time of the Season
