97. Odessey and Oracle — The Zombies
A fine example of the modern lifecycle of disposable youth culture to canonical artefact. Practically ignored on its release in 68, Odessey (sic) and Oracle was kept alive by word of mouth until demographic changes shuffled its fans into positions of influence, and technological progress allowed the songs’ wide distribution.
I couldn’t get hold of it in ’95: no local LP copy; no CD release in the UK. Now it’s everywhere, thanks to streaming. One of its tracks was used as the theme for a hit podcast and the band’s surviving members can finally make some money by telling well-whooped stories to businessmen on something called AOL Build.
What’s It Like?
Oh, it’s lovely.
If you’ve only heard their name, you might think that The Zombies are an American garage band, teenagers bashing stuff. Like The Sonics.
Nothing like that.
The album is more like a British version of Love’s Forever Changes with some Beach Boys harmonies. If you like that kind of thing, then you’ll probably like this kind of thing.
The most famous song here is Time of the Season, overly familiar as the soundtrack to footage of hippies wandering around Haight-Ashbury. It is not particularly representative of the rest, which is less spare, and more interesting.
Interesting how the first bloom of psychedelia was so sweet and childlike, poppy and light, with space for mellotrons and harpsichords. (See also Arnold Layne, She’s a Rainbow etc.) Just a year or two later “head music” would be characterised by swirling grooves and heavy jams, a habit it’s never quite escaped.
Quick note that parks are particularly important for British bands. For the Small Faces it was Itchycoo, for the Zombies it was Beechwood. The UK’s population density and relatively low rates of car ownership (in the ’60s) meant that youthful voyages of self discovery were less about lying on the hood of a car, watching the sun go down at Joshua Tree, and more about getting away from your mum and dad by popping down to the local rec.
Here are those young people, now turned into old people, and still sounding pretty good.
Is it better than Rumours?
Yes, think it just passes Rumours. Gets a lot done in 35 minutes. More efficient.
Standout track for the Spotify Playlist:
Care of Cell 44.
Next up: Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin.
Originally published at 100greatestalbumsrevisited.home.blog on February 3, 2019.
