The Zombies - "Next Steps"

 

Odessey and Oracle, the final album by The Zombies’ original lineup, was recorded in the summer of 1967, and released in the UK in the spring of 1968. Neither the initial single nor the album did much in the UK, and the album wasn’t initially released in the U.S. at all. Al Kooper became the album’s champion and eventually convinced CBS to release the album in the U.S. A single, “Time of the Season,” had flopped in the UK in the spring of ’68, but after being released in early 1969 in the U.S., it became a huge hit.

Suddenly, The Zombies were again a popular band, something they really hadn’t been since 1964. CBS wanted another album, but the group had already disbanded. Using six tracks recorded by bandmembers Rod Argent and Chris White’s new group Argent, as well as newly overdubbed Zombies demos from previous years, the album R.I.P. was assembled. But two singles, “Imagine the Swan” and “If It Don’t Work Out,” didn’t sell well, and the album was shelved. It was eventually released 30 years later in 2000.

But if R.I.P. had been released and proved successful, I was curious about whether yet another “Zombies” album could be created.

SIDE A

1. I Hope I Didn’t Say Too Much Last Night

2. Unhappy Girl

3. I Can’t Live Without You

4. Though You Are Far Away

5. Telescope (Mr. Galileo)

SIDE B

1. It Never Fails to Please Me

2. Her Song

3. Let Me Come Closer to You

4. To Julia (for When She Smiles)

5. Caroline Goodbye

With The Zombies’ popularity increasing in the 1990s and 2000s, several new compilations were issued, including Greatest Hits (1990), the boxset Zombie Heaven (1997) and R.I.P (2000). In 2007, an album titled Into the Afterlife was released that included several demos recorded by Argent and White (as well as several cover songs recorded by lead vocalist Colin Blunstone under the alias Neil MacArthur).

I took the unused Argent and White songs from Into the Afterlife and combined them with songs Blunstone wrote for his debut solo album One Year, which was produced by both Argent and White in 1971. I also included the B-side of a Blunstone single, “I Hope I Didn’t Say Too Much Last Night,” which I ended up using to open the album. The overall result, I think, is a very Zombies-sounding album.

I thought Next Steps was a good title and then went about searching for a photo that I thought captured the feeling of the album.

Here's a YouTube playlist to determine for yourself.

The Zombies -- "Return of the Zombies"

In my opinion, The Zombies were one of the most talented of the British Invasion bands. They had great pop tunes and excellent recordings but were almost completely ignored while they were together. “She’s Not There” was a big hit, and “Tell Her No” did OK. But after that, there was little to no interest until the band broke up and “Time of the Season” was issued posthumously.

In between the band’s first album, Begin Here, and its second (and last), Odessey and Oracle, the group issued a lot of singles. There was a compilation album issued in 1966 called I Love You (with a silly cover) that included many of the singles, but also included songs that had been on Begin Here. It was issued in The Netherlands and Japan only.

I’ve taken the track list for the I Love You album, removed the songs that had already been included on Begin Here, and then added the missing tracks to complete what could have been The Zombies’ second album, which I’m titling Return of the Zombies. All but two of the songs had been issued on singles in the U.K., U.S. or both.

SIDE A

1. Tell Her No

2. How We Were Before

3. Is This the Dream

4. Whenever You're Ready

5. She’s Coming Home

6. I Want You Back Again

7. I Must Move

8. You Make Me Feel Good

SIDE B

1. Gotta Get A Hold of Myself

2. Indication

3. Don't Go Away

4. I Love You

5. Leave Me Be

6. Goin’ Out of My Head

7. She Does Everything for Me

Songs removed: "The Way I Feel Inside," "Woman" and "She's Not There."

The following songs were added: "Tell Her No," "She's Coming Home," "I Want You Back Again," "I Must Move," "Goin' Out of My Head," and "She Does Everything for Me."

The result is what could have been a great followup to Begin Here, and shows the band's progress before Odessey and Oracle. All tracks are available on the box set Zombie Heaven. The cover is another simple whip-up by me, taking the band's existing art and adding a title and record company logo.

Here's a YouTube Playlist of the album.