The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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There are a good many people who remain largly unaware of the incredible contributions the Zombies have made to music over the years. Odessy and Oracle ranks up there with all the rest of the classic albums of that period: The Beatles "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band", The Rolling Stones "Flowers, as well as "Their Satanic Majesties Request" and I will even throw in The Moody Blues "In Search of the Lost Chord".

Perhaps it was something in the air, but whatever it was has left an endelible mark on the music sound of today.

Odessey and Oracle produced the Zombies biggest hit, the stellar "Time of the Season", which is still enjoying considerable airplay on radio stations all over the world.

40 Years later the remaining members of the Zombies with Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, the founder of the Zombies and Argent, Chris White, and Hugh Grundy along with Keith Airey who replaced the late Paul Atkinson played to a sold out crowd on 3 evenings in March at the Shepards Bush Empire, London. This historic and memorable concert has garnered many great reviews, so I will not try to replicatre those, however the subsequent album is enjoying much wear and tear in my car:)

Why? Because the album is a true gem. Not only is the album of Odyessey and Oracle performed live in its entirety, you also have several of the songs that were recorded by Argent, and Colin Blunstone during his solo careeer.

It is simply amazing how much musical history is packed in here, Disc one is the Odessey and Oracle live performance, showcasing the rich harmonies, beautiful soaring melodies, and true musical style that will not quit. Ending it nicely are the 3 major hits of "She's Not There, "Tell Her No", and "Time of the Season".

If anything, the band has shown how they have gotten better with the years, and this recording is the proof.

Disc 2 opens with "I Love You", the song that opens many of their live shows, and to be honest, when I first heard this song in Seattle, and Colin hit that high note dead on, I was sold on the spot. Then there is the journey through the solo career of Colin with "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", the hit he had with Dave Stewart in 1981, and then the string quartet along with Colin perforemes 3 songs from his treasure "One Year", these are "Misty Roses, "her Song", and Denny Laine's "Say You Don't Mind".

As you are left there with your breath litrally taken away, Rod Argent brings it back down to earth with 2 songs from Argent, the rollicking "Rock and Roll Rag" which coveres musical styles from early ragtime i.e. Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton (before ALL our times but well worth the listen!

With the resounding classic hit "Hold Your Head Up" they soar to the heights with the delivery of this song. It is amazing how much musical history os packed in here. The band is enjoying a renaissance of sorts with new generations of fans who are discovering their music for the first time. When you listen to this you understand why.

Highly recommended.

Review by Joy Andis

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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When I was young in the mid 60's and in a "band" there were three great bands that gave my friends music to inspire. The first was the beatles for starting it all, the second was the Byrds for combining folk and rock, and the third was the Zombies for thier fusion of jazz and rock in a very minor key. Chris White and his group, most notably colin Blundstone on wisper vocals had two monster hits for themselves in Tell Her No and She's Not There. The rest of their work never reached the public notice it deserved and so in '68 they produced one last album, Odessey and Oracle. That was their masterpiece! They even had one more hit from it - Time of the Season. Amazing becasue it broke after the band had given up, broken up and moved on to other things. Now forty years latter the surving members have reformed and recreated the album, along with several of the best of their body of songs for this DVD. Featuring a well played string group to "add" to the note perfect recreation we can enjoy this wondeful work again as now "well aged" creators again ply their trade. Very well worth the purchase!!

Review by Don L. Christian Jr.

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close

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The Zombies - Odessey & Oracle {Revisited} (2009) [The 40th Anniversary Concert, Live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire] 2CD + DVD5

Close