Zombie Heaven
The Zombies
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THE SONGS: DISC THREE
IN THE STUDIO RARE & UNISSUED
While most collections of demos and 'works-in-progress' can be testing for the listener, in the case of the Zombies that maxim does not apply, for they could literally do no wrong. Every note the band performed is of interest. This disc collects several hard to find tracks along with a hefty chunk of previously unheard gems. For the die-hard Zombies fan, it will be a revelation, but the casual listener will also marvel as to how often the band 'threw away' songs and performances that other artists would kill for.
1. SUMMERTIME (demo)
(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward. Dorothy Heyward) Chappell Music Ltd
Recorded 29 April 1964
Jackson's Rickmansworth
Previously unissued
The Zombies' first recording session was a frequently referred to episode in their history before they became famous. What's interesting to note is that it took place before the final of the Herts Beat competition that supposedly brought them to the attention of labels. The arrangement on 'Summertime' is very similar to the officially released version, with the exception of the longer piano break.
Paul: "I remember very clearly that first demo session at Jacksons. Ken Jones heard that and liked 'Summertime' very much, so we re-cut it at the first Decca session.'"
2. WOMAN (demo)
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 13 August 1964 Ryemuse Sound, South Molton Street, London
Previously unissued
3. KIND OF GIRL (demo)
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 13 August 1964 Ryemuse Sound, South Molton Street; London
Previously unissued
4. LEAVE ME BE (demo)
(Chris White) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 13 August 1964 Ryemuse Sound, South Molton Street, London
Previously unissued
Three fascinating song sketches. Note the chunkier feel (and different lyrics) of 'Kind Of Girl', whilst 'Leave Me Be' is probably closer to what the group intended the single to be. Also of note is the middle eight section of 'Woman’ excised by the time they recorded the song at Decca a few weeks later.
5. I'M GOING HOME
(Bob Bain) Noel Gay Music Co Ltd
Recorded 24 November 1964 Decca No 2 Takes 1 (false start) & 2
Previously unissued
With Ken Jones urging the group to fall back on stage material at the sessions for Begin Here, it's not surprising they chose this obscure Gene Vincent number, for it was a highlight of their early set. The song was written by Bob Bain, an expatriate American who MC'ed many package tours at the time, and was recorded by Vincent in England for Capitol in 1961. This wild early take, whilst flawed, gives us a glimpse of what the "Zombies R&B" sounded like at a sweaty Old Verulamians' gig.
6. I'M GOING HOME
(Bob Bain) Noel Gay Music Co Ltd
Recorded 24 November 1964 Decca No 2 Take 14
See For Miles LP 30 1984
The master take of 'I'm Going Home' remained unreleased whilst the band was extant, although a stereo mix was prepared but not used for the American Early Days album in 1969. In 1984 it appeared by mistake on a Zombies' singles collection as 'She's Coming Home', an error for which there is a simple explanation: at the session the engineer - probably Gus Dudgeon - labelled the tape box with the title 'She's Coming Home', even though that particular song had yet to be written.
7. SOMETIMES (intro)
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 5 September 1964
Decca No 2 Takes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
8. SOMETIMES
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 31 August & 5 September 1964
Decca No 2 Take 8
Decca EP DFE 8598 - January 1965
9. IT'S ALRIGHT WITH ME
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 12 June 1964 Decca No 2 Take 6
Decca EP DFE 8598 - January 1965
10. KIND OF GIRL
(Rod Argent) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 31 August & 5 September 1964
Decca No 2 Take 11
Decca EP DFE 8598 - January 1965
These three tracks, along with the version of 'Summertime' that ended up on Begin Here, constituted an eponymously-titled EP released in the UK at the same time as 'Tell Her No', although 'Sometimes' and 'It's Alright With Me' had appeared a couple of weeks earlier on the American debut album. The latter was the first original song the band ever learned. Once again, this mono version of 'Kind Of Girl' features drum overdubs not present on stereo remixes.
Chris: "Everything we recorded we used. Ken Jones never liked to throw things away. When the first EP came out, there were things like 'Kind Of Girl' that could have been done a lot better, they were almost like demo recordings. We thought we'd go back to 'Kind Of Girl', we wanted to do more to it."
Rod: "What was motivating with me at the time was to try and be exciting with songs, and with that first song, 'It's Alright With Me' I had that feeling with which to construct something that was exciting."
11. WALKING IN THE SUN (undubbed)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 25 November 1964
Decca No 2 Take 6
Previously unissued
This undubbed version of 'Walking In The Sun' features Colin's original vocal to this marvellous Rod Argent song. A mix was delivered to Parrot in the US which indicates that it may have been under consideration for use.
12. STUDIO CHAT
13. THE WAY I FEEL INSIDE (rehearsal)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 25 November & 10 December 1964
Decca No 2 Take 2
Previously unissued
An early run-through of the song utilising the full band in a very 'Beatle-y' arrangement, but quickly rejected. This is the only piece of music amongst the Decca tapes that was not used at some later point.
Rod: "We were on the tour, and I had the idea for the song on the loo, so I stayed there writing it out. This first arrangement ended up just being a bit of a strum behind the voice, so maybe Ken said, 'Can't we find something more structured, or a little bit more unusual', and that's where the a cappella treatment came from."
14. I WANT YOU BACK AGAIN (alternative version)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 25 November 1964 Decca No 2 Take 5
(US) London LP PS 557 - May 1969
This earlier take of 'I Want You Back Again' first appeared on the Early Days collection, although it was not identified at the time as being a different recording to the Parrot single. The two versions are actually very close in feel, which begs the question as to why it was attempted twice, especially when the song was not released in the UK. Incidentally, it was a popular choice for other artists in the 1960s, with at least half a dozen covers, and a music press report at the time stated that Johnny Kidd's combo the Pirates were considering recording the tune (under the song's original title 'Somebody Help Me').
15. NOTHING'S CHANGED (backing track)
(Chris White) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 31 March 1965
Decca No 2 Takes 1 (false start) & 2
Previously unissued
16. NOTHING'S CHANGED
(Chris White) Marquis Music Co Ltd
Recorded 31 March 1965
Decca No 2 Take 16
Decca LP LK 469521 - May 1965
One of the most remarkable features of Zombies' recordings is that the group invariably arrived at the studio with the songs arranged, rehearsed and ready to go, so there is generally little difference between the first take and the master take. Additionally, the entire performance would always be used for the master, i.e. parts from earlier takes were never intercut to create a composite master. This says a lot for the symbiotic chemistry within the band as musicians, and sets them apart from many other groups of the time.
We have included the entire Take 2 of the backing track to the rare Chris White composition 'Nothing's Changed', to illustrate the tight ensemble feel of the band, and the dynamics and palette of colours they were able to employ behind the chord sequence and melody. The song itself, again typical of Chris' tunes in its partitioned structure, was performed by the group in Bunny Lake Is Missing, although it actually made its first appearance some months earlier on a charity album in both the UK and America.
17. REMEMBER YOU (soundtrack version)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 31 March 1965
Decca No 2 Take 17
RCA LP LOC 1115 - November 1965
This version is notable for a slightly different arrangement and a slower tempo.
18. COME ON TIME
(Colin Blunstone/Harold Bunbrim) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 2 March 1965
Decca No 2 Take 18 (organ solo taken from Take 10)
Previously unissued
Recorded for the Bunny Lake trailer with Otto Preminger present in the studio, the jovial atmosphere is at odds with the rather more sombre subject matter of the movie (and the presence of the difficult director). The various references to punctuality and "the clock" are a promotional tie-in with the movie, where cinemagoers would not be admitted before or after certain times.
Chris: "I remember doing that with Otto Preminger and him saying 'You can't say clock, you have to say clarrk, because American's won't understand it'. This was to Colin, whose one thing was that he sang with an English accent!"
19. I'LL KEEP TRYING (undubbed)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 24 June 1965
Decca No 2 Take 8
Previously unissued
An absolutely wonderful song that has not been properly released even in its overdubbed form. 'I'll Keep Trying' has everything that made the Zombies great: insanely catchy melody and lyric, arresting parts and chord changes, and an engaging exuberance to the entire proceedings that sucks you in. The cut also features some of Hugh's best work, confirming his status as one of the finest drummers Britain has ever produced.
20. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY (demo)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded April or June 1965
Jackson's Rickmansworth
Previously unissued
21. YOU'LL GO FROM ME (demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded April or June 1965
Jackson's Rickmansworth
Previously unissued
Two demos notable again for slight differences to the officially issued versions. 'Whenever You're Ready' features a different solo, and 'You'll Go From Me', an early version of Chris' 'Don't Go Away', was to undergo a considerable rearrangement.
Rod: “After the first couple of sessions we started doing demos, and sometimes we would get a sense from them that we felt we couldn't repeat on the final record. It was to do with things like having equal three part vocals, whereas Ken would always tend to favour Colin and think of the other two voices as being behind.”
22. I KNOW SHE WILL (undubbed)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 8 July 1965
Decca No 2 Take 6
Previously unissued
23. DON'T CRY FOR ME (undubbed)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 8 July 1965
Decca No 2 Take 5
Previously unissued
24. IF IT DON'T WORK OUT (undubbed)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 8 July 1965
Decca No 2 Take 2
Previously unissued
It's hard to believe that this one July session could produce songs as strong as these three, that were not used at the time. Though these tracks will be well-known to aficionados, it is still a revelation to hear them in their raw original state, sounding as fresh as the day they were recorded.
25. ONE DAY I'LL SAY GOODBYE (home demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 1966 68, High Street, Markyate
Previously unissued
26 I DON'T WANT TO WORRY (home demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded 1966 68, High Street, Markyate
Previously unissued
Two songs not used later, although 'One Day I'll Say Goodbye' provided the basis for 'Maybe After He's Gone'. Despite the necessarily basic nature of the recording, these tracks are classic Zombies and feature all the group except Hugh.
Chris: "Those were done on an old Grundig machine. We used to tape ourselves round at my dad's place, who had a tape recorder downstairs."
27. A LOVE THAT NEVER WAS (demo)
(Rod Argent) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded October 1966 Central Sound, Denmark Street, London
Previously unissued
Rod Argent takes lead vocal on this charming mid-tempo ballad that employs several trademark Zombies' touches but unusually features little in the way of keyboards, until the very end. The very Beatlesque middle eight may have kept the group from pursuing the song further.
Rod: "The lift from the Beatles wouldn't have been conscious. Like every other band around at that time, bar none, we were hugely influenced by the Beatles. I'd never heard anything like them. The trick was to let your own voice come through as well."
28. CALL OF THE NIGHT (demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded November 1966 Regent Sound, Denmark Street, London
Previously unissued
The astute Zombie-phile will instantly recognise this splendid tune as a precursor to 'Girl Help Me', but whereas that song was recorded after the split, this late 1966 demo features the original band and, most notably, Colin's voice.
29. OUT OF THE DAY (demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded November 1966 Regent Sound, Denmark Street, London
Previously unissued
An extremely odd, yet likeable song from the pen of the enigmatic Mr. White. While structurally it bears little resemblance to anything else the group did, the background chanting on 'Out Of The Day' has vague similarities to some of the vocal arrangements written for Odessey.
Rod: "The backing vocals are intrinsic to the song. That 'Batman' part is a bit like Pearl and Dean!"
Chris: “Apparently I wrote this!" (laughter)
30. THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR (demo)
(Chris White) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Recorded November 1966 Regent Sound, Denmark Street, London
Previously unissued
31 BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING promo spot
To music of COME ON TIME
(Colin Blunstone/Harold Bunbrim) Verulam Music Co Ltd
Previously unissued
Logged with its original title of 'Took A Long Time To Come', this demo differs from the official version in that Rod is singing lead.
