The Zombies were an English rock band formed in St Albans in 1962. Led by keyboardist/vocalist Rod Argent and lead vocalist Colin Blunstone, the group had their first British and American hit in 1964 with "She's Not There".
In the US, two further singles—"Tell Her No" in 1965 and "Time of the Season" in 1968—were also successful.
members: Paul Atkinson, Colin Blunstone, Chris White, Hugh Grundy, Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, Jim Rodford, Darian Sahanaja
formed in: St Albans
labels: Decca, Parrot, Date Records, Columbia Records, Tower Records, Red House Records, The End Records
genres: psychedelic rock, rock music, pop rock, baroque pop, beat music, rock and roll, soft rock
awards: MOJO Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
Originally named the "Mustangs", the band soon realised that other groups had that name. According to Blunstone, "Every young band wants an original name. We were just in our teens. We tried the Mustangs. To be honest, I didn’t really know what a zombie was". "It was Arnold who came up with "the Zombies". Argent said "Well, we chose that name in 1962 and, I mean, I knew vaguely that they were: sort of, you know, the Walking Dead from Haiti and Colin didn't even really know what they were". "It was Paul [Arnold] that came up with the name. I don't know where he got it from. He very soon left the band after that". Arnold explained the name, saying, "I thought this was a name that no one else is going to have. And I just liked the whole idea...
Richie Unterberger of AllMusic wrote: "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 its era. Perhaps too unique to find mass mainstream success." He also credited the group with "redefin[ing] the concept of the rock album with 1968's Odessey and Oracle."
Are you them, or do you know them? The mail slot is open.
"Time of the Season" is a song by the English rock band the Zombies, featured as the final track of their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. It was written by keyboardist Rod Argent and recorded at the EMI Abbey Road Studios in September 1967.
Over a year after its original release, the track became a surprise hit in the United States, rising to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Cashbox chart. It has become one of the Zombies' most popular and recognizable songs, and an iconic hit of 1960s psychedelia.
"She's Not There" is the debut single by the English rock band the Zombies, written by keyboardist Rod Argent. It reached No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1964, and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States at the beginning of December 1964.
In Canada, it reached No. 2.
Rod Argent built the lyrics of "She's Not There" from a John Lee Hooker song, whose title – "No One Told Me" – became a part of the opening phrase of "She's Not There". Following a 29 April 1964 performance by the Zombies at St Albans Market Hall, Argent played the one verse he had written of the song for Ken Jones who was set to produce the band's first recording session. Jones encouraged Argent to write a second verse, intending the band to record it. Argent recalls: "I wrote the song for Colin's range" – referring to Zombies' vocalist Colin Blunstone – "I could hear him singing it in my mind." Describing his first impression of the song, bassist Chris White stated: "It was absolutely fascinating. The song was breathtaking in its...
"She's Not There" was the second of four songs recorded by the Zombies at a 22 June 1964 recording session at Decca's West Hampstead Studio 2. The backing tracks needed seven takes. One of the song's most distinctive features is Argent's electric piano sound; the instrument used was a Hohner Pianet. The backing vocals are in a folk-influenced close-harmony style. To make the song sound stronger for single release, Ken Jones organised Hugh Grundy to record a strident drum line overdub which only appears on the original mono single mix.
The song was later included both on the Zombies' debut album Begin Here, released in the UK in December 1964, and the US album The Zombies issued January 1965. It was also included on the soundtrack to the 1979 feature film More American Graffiti and the 2021 feature film Titane.
"She's Not There" was a hit for Santana when it appeared on their 1977 album Moonflower. Their version peaked at No. 11 in the UK. It was also a hit in the US, spending 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at No. 27, as well as reaching No. 20 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart. Their take on it features Greg Walker as the lead vocalist.