Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London [LIVE]

The Zombies (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 3, 2007)
• Original Release Date: February 8, 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000LV6RG4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,827 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Their Odessey and Oracle is considered a pop classic, but unfortunately the Zombies had disbanded by the record's 1968 release. Four decades later, eternal versions of that album's "This Will Be Our Year," "A Rose for Emily," "Beechwood Park," "Care of Cell 44," and "Time of the Season" make this 25-song live reunion of founding members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent worth the effort. Though no other Zombie was aboard for the 2004 project (including underrated guitarist/vocalist Chris White), Argent's burning keyboards, Blunstone's inimitable voice, and skilled backing musicians assure that the entire band receives its due, particularly on the Odessey selections and nuggets from the singles collection, including Argent's "Tell Her No" and "Indication," Blunstone's "Just Out of Reach," and White's "I Love You." The harmonic backing vocals that littered the Zombies catalog are astoundingly intact, with only the occasional ramble into Argent's eponymous post-Zombies band (remember "Hold Your Head Up"?) left to clutter the sequencing. (A 16-song DVD of performances from the Bloomsbury Theatre show is also available, including multiple camera angles, immaculate sound, and four of the CD's five Odessey and Oracle numbers.) --Scott Holter

Product Description
Captured live in the West End of London at the famed Bloomsbury Theatre, this 2005 concert brings the house down with an empeccably recorded program of timeless Zombie hits, Argent classics, solo Blunstone gems, and more!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice to Hear Them Again, but Where Is Chris White?, May 25, 2007

By	Thomas D. Ryan "American Hit Network" (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In the broadest sense, I think it's fair to say that the Zombies got a raw deal. They were one of the most talented and intelligent bands during the latter part of the British invasion, and yet they were thrown on the scrap heap of history. Two ridiculously catchy hit singles swept through America during our '64-'65 obsession with the London scene; "Tell Her No" and "She's Not There" combine raw rock and roll with a jazz sensibility that still sounds fresh today. Subsequently, their record company rewarded the band by refusing to issue their brilliant psychedelic album masterpiece entitled "Odessey and Oracle." Thankfully, Al Kooper (of Blood, Sweat & Tears, the Dylan sessions, et. al.) saw the folly of this decision and begged Columbia to right the situation. Eventually, the album saw daylight, but sold poorly, despite the extracted single that became a best seller. "Time of the Season" sounded ahead of its time in 1968, despite the fact that it was recorded nearly two years before its release. Eventually, the band collapsed under the weight of so much indifference, and the most we've heard since then is the occasional project by keyboardist Rod Argent.
"Live at Bloomsbury Theatre" celebrates the reunion of Rod Argent with vocalist Colin Blunstone. Technically, they alone cannot represent a reforming of the Zombies, since songwriter/vocalist Chris White has always been an integral part of the band. His absence is felt, but after so much time, it's nice to hear these tunes, even without White's crucial input. The CD is a generous 2-disk set containing 25 songs, while the DVD pairs the song selection down to a less unwieldy 15 tracks. The editing is a good thing, allowing the video to hold the viewer's interest significantly better than the CD collection. All of the major hits are here, including Argent's best-known solo work, such as "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You." The performances are admirably executed, often utilizing a string section to augment that standard rock and roll configuration of the actual band. Argent sounds great and Blunstone is in fine voice throughout. In summation, "Live at the Bloomsbury" is a fine but faulted collection, never quite transcending its aura of nostalgia, while glossing over the absence of Chris White. B Tom Ryan

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zombies - Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre , September 21, 2007

By	Richard F. Truscello (Johnstown, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Not much to say since after seeing them live I had a good idea of what to expect. While everyone knows the iconic hits, there are a number of hidden "gems" and the version of "Hold Your Head Up" is as great as it was live. If you like the Zombies, and that brief but exciting British invasion era, you should like this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Group , February 10, 2008

By	Rondall Banks "Rondall Banks" (Toccoa, Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Here is another great group from the 60's & the 70's that got back together for one heck of a concert some may or may not know the name of the group Argent but if you know the song hold your head up or the Zombies biggest hit time of the season then this live 2-disc of them live in concert is a great way to remember them.

Rondall