Zombie Heaven
The Zombies
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THE SONGS: DISC FOUR
LIVE ON THE BBC
The Zombies made over twenty appearances on the BBC Light Programme and Radio One during their career, mostly within the first year, performing a variety of songs, including many not officially recorded. Unfortunately only a selection of these broadcasts have survived, either on transcription disc or as homemade off-line recordings. The following disc has thus been assembled from the best possible source material, but the quality will vary considerably from track to track. We have grouped the songs more or less chronologically according to the programmes they were first featured in (i.e. Saturday Club, Top Gear, etc). However, most of the interviews were made specifically for the transcription service programme, Top Of The Pops, and are not likely to have appeared on the original transmissions.
1. ROAD RUNNER
(Elias McDaniels) Jewel Music Pub Co Ltd
2. YOU MAKE ME FEEL GOOD
(Chris White) Marquis Music Co Ltd
3. EARLY ONE MORNING
(Richard Penniman) ATV Music Lid
4. SHE'S NOT THERE
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
"Saturday Club"
Recorded 29 September 1964
Broadcast 3 October 1964
All titles previously unissued
Possibly the group's first time on the BBC, this session is notable for 'Early One Morning' which the group learned from The Fabulous Little Richard, and an unusual-sounding take of 'She's Not There'. While the single version featured the pianet, here Rod opted to use his Vox Continental organ, and consequently sounds very much like a certain Mr. Manzarek would a few years later.
5. TELL HER NO
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
® 1985 RNLP 120
6. WHAT MORE CAN I DO
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
® 1985 RNLP 120
7. I'M GOING HOME
(Bob Bain) Noel Gay Music Co Ltd
® 1985 RNLP 120
8. FOR YOU MY LOVE
(Paul Gayten) Cecil Lennox Ltd
® 1985 RNLP 120
9. TELL HER NO (acoustic piano version)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
previously unissued
10. SOULVILLE
(Titus Turner, Morris Levy, Henry Glover, Dinah Washington) Windswept Pacific Music Ltd
® 1985 RNLP 120
"Saturday Club"
Recorded 26 January and 2 February 1965
Broadcast 6 February 1965
Owing to the death of Winston Churchill there was no Saturday Club broadcast on 30 January and the Zombies' tracks intended for that programme were combined with an additional session for the following week's edition. It featured this absolutely pounding version of 'What More Can I Do', with extended solos from Rod and Paul. Also note comments about the pianet being out of commission, necessitating the use of the acoustic piano on the second version of 'Tell Her No'. This track, along with the slightly different arrangement of the stage fave, 'I'm Going Home' were actually on ever broadcast as part of the transcription service programme Top Of The Pops. The band also cover 'For You My Love', learnt from James Brown's Showtime album, and Aretha Franklin's 'Soulville', a souvenir of their recent trip to New York.
Rod: "Patti LaBelle was the one that told me to go listen to Aretha Franklin, when Aretha was still singing 'Runnin' Out Of Fools' and all the old cabaret type stuff. She introduced us to Aretha.”
11. RIP IT UP
(Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco) Peter Maurice Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
12. CAN'T NOBODY LOVE YOU
(James Mitchell) Carlin Music Corp ® 1985 RNLP 120
"Top Gear"
Recorded 26 February 1965
Broadcast 6 March 1965
Rod has admitted that he cannot recall ever recording this arrangement of Little Richard's 'Rip It Up' with its idiosyncratic jazz-tinged introduction. The song was one of the rock 'n roll chestnuts that were a staple of the group's semi-pro days.
13. YOU MUST BELIEVE ME
(Curtis Mayfield) EMI Tunes Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
14. SHE'S COMING HOME
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
15. I MUST MOVE
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
16. JUST OUT OF REACH
(Colin Blunstone) Marquis Music Co Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
"Saturday Club"
Recorded 20 April 1965
Broadcast 1 May 1965
Recorded just before their second trip to the States, this broadcast is interesting for the inclusion of the recently-recorded 'Just Out Of Reach', which would not see official issue for another eight months, as well as the Impressions' 'You Must Believe Me', covered by the Hollies around the same time.
17. IF IT DON'T WORK OUT
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
18. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
19. IT'S ALL RIGHT
(Curtis Mayfield) Ivan Mogul Music Ltd/EMI Tunes plc ® 1985 RNLP 120
20. WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW
(Gerry Goffin, Carole King) Screen Gems-EMI Music Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
21. WHEN THE LOVELIGHT STARTS SHINING THROUGH HER EYES
(Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland) Jobete Music (UK) Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
"Saturday Club"
Recorded 20 September 1965
Broadcast 2 October 1965
The sole public performance of Rod's 'If It Don't Work Out', plus versions of the Impressions' 'It's All Right', the Shirelles' 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' and the suitably amended 'When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through Her Eyes', originally by the Supremes.
22. JUST A LITTLE BIT
(Rosco Gordon) Copyright Control
"The Beat Show"
Recorded 8 November 1965
Broadcast 11 November 1965
Previously unissued
Introduced by David Hamilton, this performance comes from a show held before a live audience and broadcast in northern regions only. The popular Rosco Gordon number was actually introduced to the group by Colin via Dave Berry's rendition. Note the unusual modal keyboard solo.
23. SITTING IN THE PARK
(Billy Stewart) EMI Music Pub Ltd
"Easy Beat"
Recorded 8 January 1966
Broadcast 9 January 1966
Previously unissued
Billy Stewart's plaintive 'Sitting In The Park', like 'My Girl', was a close contender for a Zombies' single at one point (the song was ultimately a UK hit for Georgie Fame in January 1967).
Colin: "I think 'Sitting In The Park' was another one where we were beaten to the punch. I don't think we demo'ed it, but we were doing it live on stage. It really hurts when you're desperate for a hit and someone goes and does it, and it was there, you were playing it!"
24. GOTTA GET A HOLD OF MYSELF
(Clint Ballard Jr, Angela Riela) Memory Lane Music Ltd/Copyright Control ® 1985 RNLP 120
25. GOIN' OUT OF MY HEAD
(Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein) Chappell-Morris Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
26. THIS OLD HEART OF MINE
(Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland) Jobete Music (UK) Ltd ® 1985 RNLP 120
"Saturday Club"
Recorded 1 November 1966
Broadcast 5 November 1966
Strong versions of the last two Decca singles and a musical salute from the Zombies to their pals the Isley Brothers. Note Colin's comments on touring Europe.
27. FRIENDS OF MINE
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
28. THE LOOK OF LOVE
(Burt Bacharach, Hal David) Screen Gems-EMI Music Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
Radio One "David Symonds Show"
Recorded 10 October 1967
Broadcast the week of 16-20 October 1967
If there were no other unissued song on Zombie Heaven than 'The Look Of Love'; the project would still be worth it, for this cover of the Bacharach standard features one of Colin's most exquisite vocal performances. The band no doubt modelled their arrangement on Dusty Springfield's version, a Top 30 hit in the US in mid-1967.
Rod: "We did love that song and it always used to go down well. I'm sure Dusty's was the only version we'd heard."
Paul: "When we toured with Dionne Warwick in 1964, she was at the peak of her powers, and she used to sing these fabulous songs night after night. Colin, Rod and I used to stand there mesmerised. We were huge fans of Bacharach, we listened to all those records, and Colin was just a natural for that kind of song."
29. KENNY EVERETT INTERVIEW & JINGLE
Medley: Time Of The Season (Rod Argent) / A Rose For Emily (Rod Argent) / Kenny Everett Jingle (Rod Argent/Chris White) / This Will Be Our Year (Chris White)
Verulam Music Co Ltd ® 1997
Previously unissued
Radio One "Kenny Everett Show"
Broadcast April 1968
An absolutely fascinating curio, if only for the perspective it provides upon the making of Odessey & Oracle ("album of the century", according to Everett) and the group's split. Rod and Chris seem enthusiastic about moving on, and indicate that the lack of success of 'Care Of Cell 44' was possibly a motivation to disband. Rod's choirboy background is evident in the farewell jingle for Everett, who was being dismissed from Radio One for slanderous comments about the wife of Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister of the time. Note also the deejay's comments regarding Rod's trendy afghan waistcoat!
