The Zombies Acquire Rights To 1960's Recordings Including "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season"

The Zombies' incredible story keeps defying the odds more than 60 years after the beloved group's formation. Here is the latest news about the groundbreaking British band...Robert Kinsler

The Zombies (from left) bassist Chris White, keyboardist Rod Argent, the late
guitarist Paul Atkinson, singer Colin Blunstone and drummer Hugh Grundy.
Photo courtesy of The Zombies

“British Invasion” pioneers, The Zombies,

acquire rights to their classic 1960’s recordings, including

“She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season”

 

***For immediate release***

 

 

Psychedelic-Pop icons, and 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, The Zombies, have acquired the rights to their 1960’s recording catalogue.  The deal includes their timeless hit singles “She’s Not There”, “Tell Her No”, and “Time of the Season”, as well as the ground-breaking 1968 album Odessey & Oracle, a regular entry in “Best Albums of All Time” lists in publications like Rolling Stone and Mojo Magazine. 

 

Via a newly-formed Partnership entity between the four surviving original members, lead singer Colin Blunstone, keyboardist Rod Argent, bassist Chris White, and drummer Hugh Grundy, along with Helen Atkinson, the widow and Estate Trustee of late guitarist Paul Atkinson, the band secured their catalogue rights from Marquis Enterprises Ltd., the independent UK production company they originally signed with as teenagers in 1964.  “Zombies Partners LLP” will house the band’s shared interests in their recordings, merchandise and life-rights, and will be overseen by Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva of The Rocks Management in New Jersey, the group’s managers for the past 10 years.

 

The original incarnation of The Zombies only had a short period of recorded output before splitting in late 1967, due to a perceived lack of success.  Despite this, interest in their moody jazz-inflected and harmony-laden recordings slowly compounded over subsequent decades, boosted by prominent film, television and advertising placements, including a global Chanel campaign starring Keira Knightly (“She’s Not There”), Disney’s blockbuster movie “Cruella” (“Time of the Season”), and the closing scene of the beloved “Shitt’s Creek” series finale (“This Will Be Our Year”).  Today, The Zombies boast well over 3 Million monthly listeners on Spotify - more than 3.5 Million people have opened their Shazam app to identify “Time of the Season” alone - while their physical re-issues regularly appear on vinyl sales charts. This catalogue announcement comes on the heels of the film festival premiere of Hung Up On A Dream this March at SXSW in Austin TX. The new Zombies documentary, slated for public release later this year, chronicles the band’s unusual 6-decade journey to becoming part of the 2019 Class of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Janet Jackson and Radiohead, and is directed by musician and filmmaker Robert Schwartzman, and co-produced by Schwartzman’s Utopia Films, The Ranch Productions, and Tom Hanks’ Playtone.  At the same time, Blunstone and Argent’s current touring and recording lineup of The Zombies debuted their latest album Different Game (Cooking Vinyl Records) at SXSW, followed by a 5-week UK tour in the Spring, with a North American run on-sale for October. Keyboardist Argent reflects, “I know we’d all like to thank [Marquis Enterprises Director] Carole [Broughton] for a fantastic stewardship.  I particularly feel that in those early years, soon after the original version of the band broke up, she did a brilliant job, spreading the word abroad by tirelessly licensing and relicensing our songs  - to the point where now, all these years later, our entire catalogue is streamed and enjoyed by an audience of several millions every month, all over the world - an audience still continually growing by the addition of many new young fans.  It is so gratifying to feel that 60 years later our music still has relevance, and we are now in the position to own our own recordings.”

 

An “indie band” decades before the term existed, The Zombies innocently avoided the path of many of their peers during the dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll, whose recordings eventually became the property of major entertainment corporations.  Formed in 1961 by Argent after scouting nascent musicians at local schools in St. Albans, a small and historic city North of London, The Zombies developed a strong regional following in the South of England before entering The Herts Beat Competition in the Spring of 1964, a battle sponsored by the London Evening News to find the best “Beat” band in Hertfordshire County.   Winning the final round with their unusual cover of Gershwin’s “Summertime”, The Zombies brought home the £250 grand prize and an offer to record a single for Decca Records.  Rather than immediately signing a contract with the prestigious record label, the band sought the advice of a family friend, producer Ken Jones, who together with his partner, publisher and “song-man” Joe Roncoroni, ran Marquis Enterprises.  Jones proposed that he would produce their first recording session, and that Marquis would negotiate terms to license the single to Decca.  Jones also suggested the band try writing original songs for the session, rather than recording the (mostly American R&B) covers they performed live.  Argent and White both took his advice, and each brought a song to the studio the next week.  Argent’s “She’s Not There” was chosen as the A-side, and mere months later, The Zombies found themselves at the forefront of the “British Invasion”, becoming the 2nd UK band after The Beatles to reach #1 in the American charts with a self-written single. 

 

The relationship with Marquis continued, although with Argent and White eventually taking over the producers’ role from Jones for their Odessey & Oracle album.  Licensed to CBS Records for release in 1968, the album initially flopped, until the final single “Time of the Season” became a surprise world-wide hit in 1969, over a year after The Zombies had disbanded.  Marquis Enterprises reclaimed control of The Zombies’ catalogue after the Decca and CBS agreements expired, and remained independent during the intervening decades.  Carole Broughton, Director of Marquis Ent., was an employee when The Zombies first signed to the company in 1964, and since acquiring Marquis in 1977, has personally overseen the licensing of the catalogue for re-issues, placements and digital distribution. "Now 60 years on I still have the same passion for the Zombies music as when I first heard and worked on “She's Not There” with Joe and Ken in 1964. I have absolutely loved working on The Zombies amazing catalogue and dealing with such a lovely bunch of guys, so it is a bittersweet moment for me to be handing the catalogue back but I wouldn't have wanted it to be in the hands of anyone other than The Zombies themselves. I personally will continue to enjoy their music for many years to come and am excited to see what the future holds for them. It has been an absolute pleasure working with them and I know the catalogue will continue to thrive and be enjoyed by their many fans."

Zombies co-manager Tuthill adds, “Together with Monika Tashman and the amazing legal team at Manatt, it’s been an absolute privilege to help bring this precious and influential catalogue into the hands of its creators.  Everyone at The Rocks Management is excited to continue building a team of champions around the band, and are thrilled to be part of sharing The Zombies’ body of work to countless future generations!” 

 

 

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Out Today: Colin Blunstone’s 'One Year' 50th Anniversary Edition Available Today via Sundazed

A very exciting days for fans of legendary singer-songwriter Colin Blunstone. I'll be reviewing this special release in an upcoming column as well...Robert Kinsler

Colin Blunstone’s One Year 50th Anniversary Edition Out Today

 

Double LP of 1971 Solo Debut from The Zombies’ Vocalist Features 14 Previously Unreleased Recordings, Nine Unrecorded Compositions, Never-Before-Seen Photos and New Blunstone-penned Liner Notes 

 

Exclusive Los Angeles Show Slated for January 22, 2022 with Composer Joe Wong 

and special guests Susanna Hoffs, Weyes Blood, among others

 

That Same Year, the second LP from the 50th anniversary edition of The Zombies’ frontman Colin Blunstone’s landmark solo album, One Year, is out today at DSPs and on CD from Sundazed Music; listen/buy here. The double LP, which features One Year, already at streaming services, and That Same Year, will follow on December 10.  

 

Originally released in November 1971, One Year is the debut solo album from Colin Blunstone, recorded over the course of “one year” following the band’s break-up and the posthumous success of their single “Time of the Season.” That Same Year is a collection of Colin singing his own compositions, many accompanied solely by his acoustic guitar, and gives a deeper introspective look into that time in his life.

 

One Year 50th Anniversary Edition is garnering critical acclaim:

 

“It’s impossible not to become engrossed with Blunstone’s distinctive world weary voice across both albums.” --The Rocking Magpie

 

“...Blunstone’s first/greatest solo album is so different—a hushed, intimate, chamber-pop stroke of genius.” --Shindig! 

 

“Every song on this collection has its own identity, and they are as relevant and compelling today as when he recorded them over half a century ago.” --Digital Journal

 

Coinciding with the anniversary release, Colin will join forces with composer Joe Wong (Russian Doll, The Midnight Gospel, Master of None) to recreate One Year live on stage in its entirety for the first time, with an exclusive show at Los Angeles’ Downtown Palace Theatre on January 22nd with special guests Susanna Hoffs, Weyes Blood, and more to be announced. Tickets are now on sale here.

 

Wong’s solo debut, Nite Creatures, was released by Decca last year. The collection of baroque psychedelia received praise on both sides of the Atlantic from outlets such as MOJO, NPR, and Rolling Stone. Wong, who will open the show and then accompany Colin for One Year, has recruited a 20-piece ensemble of top musicians, featuring drummer Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog), Mary Timony (Helium, Ex Hex), and a chamber orchestra including members of the Orchid Quartet (leading up to the Anniversary, the LA-based string quartet will also be releasing a series of One Year tribute videos, the first with guest vocals from The Voice finalist India Carney, which debuted September 17).

 

Included in The Guardian’s “1,000 Albums to Hear Before You Die” list, One Year was primarily recorded in Abbey Road Studios, and co-produced by Colin’s former Zombies bandmates Rod Argent and Chris White. The album chronicles tales of love and heartbreak, split between upbeat rockers, with Colin backed by Rod’s newly-formed outfit Argent (Rod alongside Russ Ballard, Jim Rodford & Bob Henrit), and haunting ballads, accompanied by Chris Gunning’s delicate string arrangements. Highlights include the incredibly gorgeous bossa nova cover of Tim Hardin’s “Misty Roses,” which erupts into a Bartók-inspired string break, Colin’s own lament “Caroline Goodbye” with the Argent personnel accompanied by string arrangements from Rod Argent & Tony Visconti, along with the full string-backed version of Denny Laine’s “Say You Don’t Mind,” which became a chart hit in the UK.  

 

One Year has gone on to touch a diverse array of artists, ranging from Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, who called it “a gorgeous example of classic British pop music…very personal, very sophisticated in its sentiment” (NME), to Neil Tenant of Pet Shop Boys, who cites Colin as “the missing link between Dusty Springfield and Nick Drake” and hails One Year as “an incredibly romantic album, which is why it's been with me such a long time” (The Guardian). According to Steve Berkowitz, the late Jeff Buckley’s Executive Producer at Columbia Records, “Part of the reason that Grace has those beautiful and interesting strings, by Jeff Buckley and Karl Berger, is because Jeff was affected by having heard Colin Blunstone and the way they wrote the strings on that record, particularly on the incredibly beautiful ‘Caroline Goodbye.’”

 

For the Anniversary edition, Colin penned the liner notes that fill the gatefold jacket along with unseen photos from that year. The notes go track by track through One Year along with background on That Same Year. This period marked the point where Colin came into his own as a songwriter, having previously only contributed two songs to The Zombies. This is evidenced by the tracks on That Same Year, fourteen beautifully sparse demo versions of Colin’s compositions that were being considered for One Year, recently unearthed from co-producer Chris White’s archives. Colin accompanies himself on acoustic guitar, with help on some tracks from Rod Argent on piano and the late English singer-songwriter Duncan Browne on classical guitar.

 

Only three of these compsitions graced One Year, “Caroline Goodbye,” “Though You Are Far Away” and “Let Me Come Closer To You”, while “Too Much Too Soon Last Night” found life as a B-side, and “I’ve Always Had You” made his second album, Ennismore. Beyond these early versions of familiar songs you will find Colin’s singular voice and wit come through on nine completely unheard compositions that remained lost until now; including “Sing Your Own Song,” a protest after reading about his own death in Rolling Stone.

 

From the album’s liner notes, Blunstone says of One Year:

 

“Fifty years on, there’s a dream-like quality to my memories of One Year. Almost seeming like another lifetime, a time of innocence and naivety and a time when anything seemed possible. Chance and circumstance had brought Rod Argent, Chris White and myself together again for the first time since we'd played in The Zombies. This time Rod and Chris would be producing me as a solo artist, a step into the unknown, a moment of truth, a turning point in our lives.

 

The first tracks were recorded at Sound Technique Studios in Chelsea but we quickly moved on to the more familiar setting of Studio 3 in Abbey Road where we had previously recorded Odessey And Oracle and where we were once again guided through the recording process by the brilliant engineer Peter Vince.

 

Shortly after we had relocated to Abbey Road we had a moment of epiphany when we were introduced to the stunningly beautiful string arrangements of Chris Gunning as they went on to be the musical backbone of this project taking it to places rarely approached in contemporary music and giving it its own unique appeal. And now all the principal performers are assembled and as the music plays I start to drift and so many of the ghosts who hide inside the secrets of this album suddenly come alive and yesterday becomes today, again!”

  

One Year Track Listing:

1. She Loves The Way They Love Her

2. Misty Roses

3. Smokey Day

4. Caroline Goodbye

5. Though You Are Far Away

6. Mary Won’t You Warm My Bed

7. Her Song

8. I Can’t Live Without You

9. Let Me Come Closer to You

10. Say You Don’t Mind

 

That Same Year Track Listing:

1. Are You Ready

2. I’ve Always Had You

3. Sing Your Own Song

4. Caroline Goodbye

5. I'd Like To Get To Know You Better

6. Though You Are Far Away

7. Too Much Too Soon Last Night 

8. I Wonder If You Know What You’ve Begun

9. I Won’t Let You Down

10. You Gave Me A Reason

11. I’m Coming Home

12. I Really Do Love You

13. Let Me Come Closer

14. You Really Were A Surprise 

 

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About Colin Blunstone

Predominantly known as the frontman for The Zombies, Colin’s solo career began in earnest in 1971 with One Year on Epic Records, from which the hit single “Say You Don’t’ Mind” was taken. Two more albums on Epic followed, Ennismore and Journey, which spawned the hits, “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” and “How Can We Dare To Be Wrong.” This was followed by a spell living in California where he signed for Elton John’s label, Rocket Records and released three critically acclaimed albums, Planes, Never Even Thought and Late Nights in Soho.

 

Returning to the UK, Colin supplied the vocals for Dave Stewart’s hit version of “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” followed by further hits with Smokey Robinson’s “Tracks Of My Tears” and The Alan Parsons Project’s “Old And Wise”. These tracks were followed by three further albums, Greatest Hits, Echo Bridge and The Light Inside, before Colin decided the time was right to play live again where he was joined in 1999 by fellow Zombies founding member, Rod Argent. This led to two decades of touring and recording with the new incarnation of The Zombies, including their 2015 Billboard-charting album Still Got That Hunger and 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.  Colin still found the time to release and tour two solo albums, The Ghost of You and Me and On The Air Tonight, and is now back in the studio with The Zombies recording their planned 2022 release. 

 

About Sundazed Music 

Sundazed Music proudly presents original albums, expanded editions, unique compilations and more on vinyl and CD. The catalog is bulging with classic and overlooked blast from the 60s and 70s: a universe filled with the sounds of garage, pop, soul, surf, psych, country, and much more.

The Zombies to unearth three legendary LPs on vinyl this summer

Any day I can share news related to one of my all-time favorite bands is a reason to celebrate...Robert Kinsler

Fall in love with The Zombies three times again via vinyl reissues releasing July 31, 2020

Classic albums 'The Zombies,' 'I Love You' and 'R.I.P.' available for pre-order now

Los Angeles, CA (June 8, 2020)—It’s time to take a deeper dive into one of most influential bands of the ‘60s, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees,​ The Zombies​. That’s why the iconic group is proud to announce reissues of their classic albums, ​The Zombies​, ​I Love You​ and R.I.P​ on vinyl. With a slated release date of July 31, the vinyl collection will be available for casual fans and dedicated followers alike to add to their collection.

The Zombies​ is the classic debut album from the rock icons including smashes “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No”. ​I Love You​ is best known to Zombies fanatics as the crucial compilation, originally released as an introduction to the American public, featuring the top 5 hit “She’s Not There.” The reissue of ​I Love You​ will be the record’s first wide re-release in the United States.

Originally scrapped in 1969,​ R.I.P​ has gone down in musical lore as the legendary group’s “lost” album. Assembled in the wake of the success of “Time of the Season” the album contains the band’s last recordings and other assorted unreleased numbers including, “Imagine the Swan” and “If It Don’t Work Out.”

Pre-order the vinyl reissues​ ​here​, exclusive bundles available at the Craft Recordings store.

The first wave of the 60’s British Invasion saw a diverse influx of sounds and styles infiltrating the soundwaves. At one end of the scale were the students of American R&B, whose music emphasized inspirations drawn from jazz and blues of a bygone era. On the other end lived the sophisticated, intricately arranged atmospherics of ​The Zombies​. There was no other band whose sound filled space as gorgeously and completely as The Zombies: the jazz-inflected electric piano of ​Rod Argent​, the choirboy vocals of him and his St. Albans schoolmates, bassist ​Chris White​ and lead singer ​Colin Blunstone​. Other schoolmates, ​Paul Atkinson​ on guitar and vocals, and drummer ​Hugh Grundy​, rounded out the classic original lineup, which endeared itself overnight to the most loyal and dedicated army of fans, to which any rock band can lay claim.

At the end of the day, it always comes back home to the triad of career-defining hits by The Zombies that beg the question: Where were you the first time you heard “She’s Not There” or “Tell Her No” or “Time of the Season?” Their second and final album ​Odessey and Oracle​ has earned its reputation (and its spot inside the Top 100 on ​Rolling Stone​’s list of the ​500 Greatest Albums of All Time​) alongside such masterworks as The Beatles’ ​White Album​ and The Beach Boys’ ​Pet Sounds​. Rod Argent’s eponymous band gave majesty and definition to the ’70s, but The Zombies, which he and Colin Blunstone have been helming on records and tours for the past decade, are truly a rock band for all seasons.

About Craft Recordings:

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord Records, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover.
Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com​  and follow  on ​Facebook​, ​Twitter​, ​Instagram,​ ​YouTube​, and  ​Spotify​.

THE ZOMBIES
WEBSITE​ ​|​ ​FACEBOOK​ ​|​ ​TWITTER​ ​|​ ​​INSTAGRAM

Terry Quirk remembered

This year continues to get worse by the day...Very sad news to hear about the death of talented artist Terry Quirk

June 1, 2020

Terry Quirk, the artist best known for painting the iconic psychedelic cover for The Zombies’ 1968 album Odessey and Oracle, passed away suddenly early this morning at his home in Salisbury, England.

Terence “Terry” Quirk was born June 22, 1941 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.  His association with The Zombies began long before the band’s formation, meeting future singer Colin Blunstone and bassist Chris White in the local grammar school.  Quirk and White went on to attend art school together, and they shared a North London flat with keyboardist Rod Argent in 1967 when Argent and White were writing the songs that would become “Odessey and Oracle”.  The musicians asked Quirk to design their album cover, and brought the artist into their recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios for inspiration.

As Quirk explained in his biography, “I can remember sitting on some stairs, and it was around half past one in the morning, and they were thinking of titles. I had a pad and a pencil, and they were having a discussion, and out came the word ‘odyssey,’ and I just wrote it in this floral writing. And then out of it came ‘oracle,’ and I wrote that down. When the guys came back from a break, I showed it to them and said, ‘How about this?’ And they said, ‘Perfect, absolutely perfect – color it in, put some figures in. You know what the songs are about.’ And that was it.”

Quirk’s now infamous misspelling of ‘odyssey’ in the album title - an error that went unnoticed until after the record had gone to print - is as much a part of Rock legend as the artwork and songs themselves.  Released by a CBS Records subsidiary in 1968, The Zombies Odessey and Oracle was initially considered a commercial failure, but a year later spawned the world-wide hit “Time of the Season” and went on to be named in Top All-Time Album lists from the likes of Rolling Stone and Mojo Magazines.  Quirk’s friendship and association with The Zombies continued over the next 5 decades, most recently painting the covers for the band’s 2015 album “till Got That Hunger (The End Records/BMG) and tabletop book “The Odessey: The Zombies in Words and Images” (BMG Books/Reel Art Press). 

A prolific and irrepressible creative force, Quirk wrote and illustrated children’s novels, penned books of poetry, and staged musical productions for local schools.  At the time of his death, he was collaborating with Chris White on a musical about The Zombies.  Quirk’s artwork has been featured in exhibitions at The O2 Arena and Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and his original cover paintings for Odessey and Oracle and Still Got That Hunger are currently on display at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.

Terry is survived by his wife Erica, their 5 children and 7 grandchildren.

Quotes:

Chris White of The Zombies

‘My oldest friend, artist and and co-writer, Terry Quirk, died this morning. A great loss to myself and all his friends. His creativity and laughter will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his family.’

Rod Argent of The Zombies

“Chris White phoned me this morning with the incredibly sad news that his lifetime best friend Terry Quirk had died suddenly a few hours earlier.

I’d known Terry since the earliest days of The Zombies; from 1962. He, along with Chris, was my flatmate when I first moved away from home in the sixties. He was then, as he remained all his life, the loveliest man, hugely talented and unremittingly enthusiastic, with a terrific and never- ending capacity for work. Terry was honestly one of that rare breed that cast a pool of sunshine wherever he went. He’ll be so missed.”

Karen Herman, Vice President & Chief Curator, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

“Terry Quirk’s iconic cover art for 1967’s Odessey & Oracle added a visual style that matched the Zombies’ unique sound. We’re thrilled to have the original artwork on display as one of the highlights of the 2019 inductees exhibit. Museum visitors have been astounded by both its intricate beauty and its presentation of a bold new aesthetic.”

Website:

https://www.terryquirk.com/