The Zombies: The Complete Studio Recordings

Jeff Tamarkin on November 14, 2019
The Zombies: The Complete Studio Recordings

The Zombies became eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, but it took until this year for the British Invasion-era band to finally get their welcome letter. It wasn’t their own fault, of course: Most HoF voters know them only for three songs—”She’s Not There” (1964), “Tell Her No” (1964) and “Time of the Season” (1968)—and the last of those was released after the band had already split. Those who’ve dug deeper are aware that the album from which that last hit was taken, Odessey and Oracle , is the definition of perfection, but that’s where the familiarity ends for most. This new five-LP vinyl collection aims to widen the appreciation of the group by more than doubling their original LP output. It consists of the band’s two official albums, The Zombies (a.k.a. She’s Not There/Tell Her No) and Odessey , augmented by three others of checkered (or previously non-existent) history. The first, R.I.P. , was what might have evolved into the follow-up LP to Odessey had the group stuck it out—primarily the work of key members Rod Argent and Chris White, with only marginal input from singer Colin Blunstone, it’s skeletal but, at times, quite well done. I Love You was a compilation of mostly stray and recycled tracks, and then there’s the self-explanatory Oddities & Extras , tracks plucked from EPs, singles and the band’s soundtrack for the film Bunny Lake Is Missing , much of it delicious if ultimately not as flawless as O&O , the album that might have been forgotten if not for some true believers who insisted on getting it out into the world.