Customer Reviews

Live at Bloomsbury Theatre

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great testament to the songs and talents of Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone. The songs are from Argent to Zombies with a nod to the cult album "Odyssey and Oracle". Colin's vocals are absolutely beautiful and although the smokey voice wavers occasionally, there don't seem to have been efforts to "enhance" the performance and it has the best qualities of live music. The band includes Jim Rollo Rodford from Argent and The Kinks on bass, his son, Steve, on drums. His drumming taps Kenny Jones, Jerry Shirley and Keith Moon! Keith Airey is a fabulous guitarist who's jazzy riffs underpin the keyboard wonders of Argent.
The only thing better is seeing them live.
Highly recommended.
RC McWilliams

I have been a fan of the Zombies since their first album and have followed their solo output through the years.Last year (2004) I was fortunate enough to see the Zombies (Rod and Colin) at BB King's in NYC.They were great.This album captures the same songs that I heard on their tour last year so it is a great sovinier from the show.(A DVD version of this show was released in Europe so I am hoping it will be available here soon.)

This CD is extremely well recorded and crisp and the performances are excellent.The live song arrangements mirror their original recorded versions, no overblown "updated" songs. "Time Of The Seasons" is really tight and they manage to reproduce all of those great Zombies harmonies.Any Zombies, Argent or Blunstone fans should get this asap.It just doesn't get any better.

This live album is well-recorded and well-performed.
Song selection is excellent, as well.
One thing that struck me is the faithful presentation
of the original, even the improvisations. There is
none of the excessive '70's soloing; this band is tight.
And, make no mistake; this is Rod Argent's band, his
arrangements and his gig.
If you've been a fan of Argent/Bluntstone from the
Zombies, or of Argent, you'll thoroughly enjoy
this performance.

No one was more excited to see Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone back on the stage together performing many of their great Zombies tracks together, when they first reunited some 5-6 years ago. I have seen then 4 times in that time.

However, I have to admit a certain hesitation when they (no doubt some marketing folks) decided to stop going by their names and start calling themselves the Zombies. Not that they don't represent a large chunk of the sound of that band, but let's be honest. Could Paul and George go out and call themselves the Beatles? Probably not.

The "real" Zombies only reunited once to my knowledge, in London, some 5-6 years ago, and guitarist Paul Atkinson passed away in April of 2004.

However, the real missing link here is bassist-songwriter Chris White. White penned many of the group's lesser-known (albeit not lesser in quality) hits, including most of the pinnacle of the group's career, Odessey & Oracle. Great songs such as "Leave Me Be" "I Love You" "Beechwood Park" "Brief Candles" and dozens more all came solely from the pen of Chris White, along with stellar bass playing and harmony vocals.

I doubt very seriously if Rod Argent or Colin Blunstone would disagree with me on this point. If Chris White had never been in the band, they wouldn't have been The Zombies. A great band yes, but certainly not the same.

Not that there's anything wrong with Jim Rodford's (late of the Kinks) bass playing, but he doesn't represent The Zombies.

<h3>In short, if they are going to use The Zombies moniker, please get Chris White back in the band!</h3>

Lastly, the guitar playing of Keith Airey (late of Paul McCartney's band) is the weak link here. Turning in pedestrian, noodley solos more fit for a Van Halen cover band than the understated, moody tones that Paul Atkinson originally laid down on these tracks. The Zombies were always an organ driven band, not guitar, and that was what set them apart originally.

All of that being said, and soapbox removed, this is a good document of some great songs, performed well by 2 of the original 5 members of one of the best bands to come out of England in the 1960's. Better enjoyed live in my opinion, but if they can't come to you, then certainly this live CD is a good 2nd option.

Throw in a few decent Argent (as in Rod Argent's solo band of the 70's) and Colin solo tunes and a few obligatory (and mediocre) new tunes and there you have it.

Many of us remember that the Zombies were a mid-sixties British band which had a relatively short-lived career. In fact, their classic hit, "Time of the Season" was released after they disbanded. Leader Rod Argent went on to form the group, "Argent", and lead singer, Colin Blunstone has a minor solo career. Here, the group is back together and better than ever. In fact, the listener is privileged to hear a "greatest hits" amalgam of the Zombies, Argent, and Blunstone.

Highlights include: An extended version of the Zombies first hit: "She's Not There", with a fabulous keyboard solo by Rod Argent, just as a live version should be. Their lovely follow-up single, "Tell her No" is also included, demonstrating Blunstone's superb vocals; Songs from the legendary LP, "Oddessey and Oracle: "Time of the Season" (arguably their best single), "Beachwood Park", "A Rose for Emily; The song, "I Love You", a US hit for the group, "People" (I never knew this was originally a Zombies tune). From Argent: "Hold Your Head Up", and the anthemic, "God Gave Rock and Roll to You"; From Blunstone's solo career, the Russ Ballard-penned, lush and gorgeous: "I Don't Believe in Miracles".

One minor criticism, there is not much verbal banter between songs, but make no mistake the Zombies are live and in fine form. The Zombies are back and I'm glad!

In my opinion, The sound and soul of the original zombies, came from the haunting vocals of Blunstone and the unmatched keyboard work of Argent. The album is fabulous and a great representation of the way the band actually sounds live now. I've seen them twice in the last couple of years and they are better each time and better than they were 45 years ago. the 4 part harmonies far surpass all that was ever done in the originals. The show is a must see and the album is a must have! Certainly, I have respect for the original members and miss their contributions and would love to have witnessed their evolution! We cannot condemn what the zombies are doing in light of what has taken place in the entire Industry. Note -Chicago, moody blues and just about every motown band that ever existed. The list is endless and unfortunately, many folks don't know the names of Blunstone or Argent and for the most part no one has the neme recognition of the beatles, so the gentlemen who used the beatles as a valid comparison was simply way off base and apparently not aware of what's gone on in the business. Ps someone tell him that the stones haven't had their original members for over 40 years. Does he really think they should have billed themselves as Mick and friends? Paleessse! this zombie album and recent concert are better than ever!

I saw the "reconstituted" Zombies essentially as presented in this DVD and CD in the summer of 2009. They were in a show with other 1960's British Invasion groups and were easily the best of the three. I liked them in the 1960's, and I positively LOVED them live this past summer. The CD and the DVD "Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre" is a perfect way to remember the experience I had seeing them up close and live. The quality of the performance is great - as a group - even if it is not all the original members - they really rock! Their playing and singing is full of energy. Some groups, after almost 50 years, would be better off retiring, but I really believe that this version of the Zombies - or, if you prefer, Blunstone, Argent & friends - is a musically exciting group that is worthy inheritor of the Zombies and Argent catalog. I read the review on Amazon that was critical of the drumming, and I must respectfully disagree with the reviewer... I have the original studio recordings of the Zombies and Argent. British Invasion groups studio recordings tended to be light on the percussion. But in my experience live performances are not mixed the same way as studio recordings... perhaps in concert they amplified the drums too much for the reviewer's tastes. Personally, I liked the drumming in this CD / DVD... I thought it brought additional energy to the performance.

Although the big classic hit, "She's Not There," could have sounded a bit better, this is still a must have CD for any fan of the 60's and the Zombies's!