Have I mentioned how much I like using the phrase Live Zombies?
One of the most pleasant musical experiences I've yet had in this young century was catching the 2005 reunion tour by Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, working together as The Zombies for the first time since 1967. So I'm pleased to report that Rhino Records has just released a two CD document of said tour, "Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London."
Like the Manhattan show I attended, the gig immortalized here includes chill-inducing version of songs from the band's sublime "Odessey and Oracle" album, plus some old Argent hits (Argent bassist Jim Rodford, later of the Kinks, is in the band), a few of Colin's solo efforts (including the gorgeous version of "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" he did with the other Dave Stewart on Stiff in the early 80s) and of course Zombies numbers both familiar ("Time of the Season," "She's Not There") and semi-obscure (the oft-covered "I Love You") and wonderful ("Indication," perhaps their hardest hard-rocker). I could have done without the Argent stuff (I don't think anybody needs to hear "God Gave Rock N Roll To You" ever again, quite frankly). But most of what's here is pretty remarkable, if for no other reason than the fact that Blunstone's breathy choirboy tenor -- perhaps the most inimitably gorgeous vocal sound to have emanated from the British Invasion -- is totally undimmed by time.
To prove our point here's a nice live clip of Time of the Season from a different gig on the tour, and as a bonus, the original band doing Tell Her No on "Shindig" back in the day.
Oh, and Rhino's also releasing a DVD video of the album if you're so inclined.
Live Zombies, indeed
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