...............................................album of the week

The Zombies - (1965) Begin Here

Review by Richie Unterberger (AMG)

The tragedy was that throughout 1965 and 1966, the Zombies released a string of equally fine, intricately arranged singles that flopped commercially, at a time in which chart success of 45s was a lot more important to sustain a band's livelihood than it would be a few years down the road. "Remember When I Loved Her," "I Want You Back Again," "Indication," "She's Coming Home," "Whenever You're Ready," "Gotta Get a Hold of Myself," "I Must Move," "Remember You," "Just out of Reach," "How We Were Before" -- all are lost classics, some relegated to B-sides that went virtually unheard, all showing the group eager to try new ideas and expand their approaches. What's worse, the lack of a big single denied the group opportunities to record albums -- only one LP, rushed out to capitalize on the success of "She's Not There," would appear before 1968.

Their failure to achieve more widespread success is a bit mystifying, perhaps explained by a few factors. While undeniably pop-based, their original compositions and arrangements were in some senses too adventurous for the radio. "Indication," for instance, winds down with a lengthy, torturous swirl of bitter organ solos and wordless, windblown vocals; "Remember When I Loved Her," despite its beautiful melody, has downbeat lyrics that are almost morbid; "I Want You Back Again" is arranged like a jazz waltz, with the sorts of sudden stops, tempo shifts, and lengthy minor organ solos found in a lot of their tunes. The group were also, perhaps unfairly, saddled with a somewhat square image; much was made of their formidable scholastic record, and they most definitely did not align themselves with the R&B-based school of British bands, preferring more subtle and tuneful territory.

· Track List:

01. Road Runner
02. Summertime
03. I Can't Make Up My Mind
04. The Way I Feel Inside
05. Work 'n' Play
06. You Really Got A Hold On Me/Bring It On Home To Me
07. She's Not There
08. Sticks And Stones
09. Can't Nobody Love You
10. Woman
11. I Don't Want To Know
12. I Remember When I Loved Her
13. What More Can I Do
14. I Got My Mojo Working
15. It's Alright With Me
16. Sometimes
17. Kind Of Girl
18. Tell Her No
19. Sticks And Stones (Alternate Take)
20. It's Alright With Me (Alternate Take)
21. I Know She Will
22. ll Keep Trying


· Personnel:

Colin Blunstone – vocals
Rod Argent – organ, piano, keyboards, vocals, Mellotron
Paul Atkinson – guitar
Chris White – bass
Hugh Grundy – drums


· About...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zombies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begin_Here


·Video:

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The Zombies - (1968) Odessey And Oracle

Review by Richie Unterberger (AMG)

Aside from the Beatles and perhaps the Beach Boys, no mid-'60s rock group wrote melodies as gorgeous as those of the Zombies. Dominated by Colin Blunstone's breathy vocals, choral backup harmonies, and Rod Argent's shining jazz- and classical-influenced organ and piano, the band sounded utterly unique for their era. Indeed, their material -- penned by either Argent or guitarist Chris White, with unexpected shifts from major to minor keys -- was perhaps too adventurous for the singles market. To this day, they're known primarily for their three big hit singles, "She's Not There" (1964), "Tell Her No" (1965), and "Time of the Season" (1969). Most listeners remain unaware that the group maintained a remarkably high quality of work for several years.

The Zombies formed in the London suburb of St. Albans in the early '60s, and didn't actually entertain serious professional ambitions until they won a local contest, the prize being an opportunity to record a demo for consideration at major labels. Argent's composition "She's Not There" got them a deal with Decca, and the song ended up being their debut release. It was a remarkably confident and original first-time effort, with a great minor melody and the organ, harmonies, and urgent, almost neurotic vocals that would typify much of their work. It did well enough in Britain (making the Top 20), but did even better in the States, where it went to number two.

In fact, throughout their career, the group would experience a lot more success across the waters than they did at home. In early 1965, another piece of classic British Invasion pop, "Tell Her No," went into the Top Ten. Yet that was as much Top 40 success as the group would have for several years.

· Track List:

01. Care of Cell 44
02. A Rose for Emily
03. Maybe After He's Gone
04. Beechwood Park
05. Brief Candles
06. Hung Up on a Dream
07. Changes
08. I Want Her, She Wants Me
09. This Will Be Our Year
10. Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
11. Friends of Mine
12. Time of the Season


· Personnel:

Colin Blunstone – vocals
Rod Argent – organ, piano, keyboards, vocals, Mellotron
Paul Atkinson – guitar
Chris White – bass
Hugh Grundy – drums


· About...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zombies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odessey_and_Oracle


·Video:

...............................................album of the week

The Kinks - (1965) The Kink Kontroversy

Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

Although they weren't as boldly innovative as the Beatles or as popular as the Rolling Stones or the Who, the Kinks were one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion. Like most bands of their era, the Kinks began as an R&B/blues outfit. Within four years, the band had become the most staunchly English of all their contemporaries, drawing heavily from British music hall and traditional pop, as well as incorporating elements of country, folk, and blues.

Throughout their long, varied career, the core of the Kinks remained Ray (born June 21, 1944) and Dave Davies (born February 3, 1947), who were born and raised in Muswell Hill, London. In their teens, the brothers began playing skiffle and rock & roll. Soon, the brothers recruited a schoolmate of Ray's, Peter Quaife, to play with them; like the Davies brothers, Quaife played guitar, but he switched to bass. By the summer of 1963, the group had decided to call itself the Ravens and had recruited a new drummer, Mickey Willet. Eventually, their demo tape reached Shel Talmy, an American record producer who was under contract to Pye Records. Talmy helped the band land a contract with Pye in 1964. Before signing to the label, the Ravens replaced drummer Willet with Mick Avory.

The Ravens recorded their debut single, a cover of Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally," in January 1964. Before the single was released, the group changed their name to the Kinks.

· Track List:

01. Milk Cow Blues
02. Ring the Bells
03. Gotta Get the First Plane Home
04. When I See That Girl of Mine
05. I Am Free
06. Till the End of the Day
07. The World Keeps Going Round
08. I'm on An Island
09. Where Have All the Good Times Gone
10. It's Too Late
11. What's in Store for Me
12. You Can't Win

Bonus Tracks:

13. Dedicated Follower of Fashion
14. Sittin' on My Sofa


· Personnel:

Ray Davies – vocals
Dave Davies – lead guitar
Mick Avory – drums
Pete Quaife – lead guitar


· About...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kinks


·Video:

...............................................album of the week

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - (1967) Are You Experienced?

Review by Richie Unterberger & Sean Wastergaard (AMG)

In his brief four-year reign as a superstar, Jimi Hendrix expanded the vocabulary of the electric rock guitar more than anyone before or since. Hendrix was a master at coaxing all manner of unforeseen sonics from his instrument, often with innovative amplification experiments that produced astral-quality feedback and roaring distortion. His frequent hurricane blasts of noise and dazzling showmanship -- he could and would play behind his back and with his teeth and set his guitar on fire -- has sometimes obscured his considerable gifts as a songwriter, singer, and master of a gamut of blues, R&B, and rock styles.

When Hendrix became an international superstar in 1967, it seemed as if he'd dropped out of a Martian spaceship, but in fact he'd served his apprenticeship the long, mundane way in numerous R&B acts on the chitlin circuit. During the early and mid-'60s, he worked with such R&B/soul greats as Little Richard, the Isley Brothers, and King Curtis as a backup guitarist. Occasionally he recorded as a session man.

· Track List:

01. Purple Haze
02. Manic Depression
03. Hey Joe
04. Love or Confusion
05. May This Be Love
06. I Don't Live Today
07. The Wind Cries Mary
08. Fire
09. Third Stone from the Sun
10. Foxey Lady
11. Are You Experienced?


· Personnel:

Jimi Hendrix – lead vocals, guitar
Noel Redding – bass, backing vocals
Mitch Mitchell – drums, tambourine


· About...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jimi_Hendrix_Experience

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix


·Video:

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze