Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and “British Invasion” pioneers, The Zombies, re-release their debut album this month `Begin Here`. This definitive new edition combines all seventeen tracks from the UK and US versions of their 1965 debut album, remastered in its original mono mix. The release is overseen by Matthew and Jamie White (sons of founding member Chris White), mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, along with brand-new liner notes by the legendary David Fricke. The personnel who were the heartbeat of this classic were Colin Blunstone (lead vocals, tambourine, guitar), Rod Argent (keyboards, backing and lead vocals, harmonica on `Work ‘n’ Play` and `I Got My Mojo Working`), Paul Atkinson (guitar) who sadly died in 2004, Chris White (bass, backing vocals) and Hugh Grundy (drums).
The album opens with a cover of Bo Diddley`s `Road Runner` and what hits you is how youthful Colin Blunstone`s vocals are and the wonderful richness of Rod Argent`s organ keys but you forget that Colin was still a teenager when this was recorded. The fella`s version of George Gershwin’s `Summertime` is so dreamy and the band give it a delicious jazzy vibe.
The Chris White penned `I Can’t Make Up My Mind` has that feeling of aching adolescent love before Rod Argent`s `The Way I Feel Inside` is completely stripped back before organ hues join after the midpoint. The sound of feet stepping up to the mike at the beginning and a coin being tossed or spun at the end add a further almost historical poignancy to this offering.
`Work ‘n’ Play` has a shuffling beat with harmonica hues and brings to mind those classic shows of the sixties when you see couples dancing with wild abandon. The combination of `You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me/ Bring it on home to me` is something that you`d never consider and here it flows wonderfully from one to the other. For me this reimagining of The Smokey Robinson classic is far better than the original and the culmination of the Sam Cooke standard is all too brief.
If i`m honest I came to `She`s Not There`, a song inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame via Santana and sixty years on this song is still breathtaking and the literal and metaphorical images conjured up are still heartbreakingly vivid. There`s almost a riot going on with `Sticks and Stones` with the band really letting rip on this R&B rock out and Colin nigh on howling in pain.
`Can’t Nobody Love You` is a plea for love which drips with longing before the rhythmic `Woman` begins quietly before racing off with a guiding bass line and delightfully rich organ tones. I really loved the next two tracks `I Don’t Want to Know` which has an almost confessional conversational style where ignorance is definitely perceived as bliss here and
`I Remember When I Loved Her` which is almost haunting.
`What More Can I Do` is another Chris White original which opens with an organ refrain then some sweet harmonies and wonderfully intricate guitar chords along with a really understated bass line and accompanying drums, delightful. The McKinley Morganfield who is better known as Muddy Waters standard `I Got my Mojo Working` is given a workover here and it`s a pretty faithful version of the original but with that certain Zombies stamp.
`It`s Alright With Me` has that sixties beat vibe with a rolling drumbeat, a skewed guitar chord and is a pretty fast paced offering with keys but does take a brief time out on route. There`s a questioning uncertainty in the lyrics to `Sometimes` which allows all the band members their share of the spotlight as the number evolves and progresses.
`Tell Her No` closes out this remastered release and it has a delightfully expansive feel and no better a number to end on.
I have to say that listening to `Begin Here` was a real joy and as it`s thesecond of four definitive physical reissues from the band via their own label Beechwood Park Records, following the release of `Odessey & Oracle (Mono Remastered)` so there`s much more pleasure to follow. I loved that this was remastered in mono as it gave it a flavour and sense of those heady days in the sixties that I was too young to enjoy. There are a few vocalists that i`ve been lucky enough to have witnessed who I feel are out on their own such as Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Chris CornellandRonnie James Dio and Colin Blunstone rests eminently amongst them.
I was lucky enough to catch The Zombies live before Rod Argent retired with Colin, Rod`s cousin Jim Rodford sadly departed, Jim`s son Steve and Keith Airey and it was a night that sticks in my memory. Colin is out on the road during May and I’d urge you to get to any of the shows as this legendary singer is not to me missed.
If you can`t make it, grab a copy of `Begin Here` it`ll make you appreciate what you`re missing
Rating 9/10
