The Zombies - Greatest Hits [SUPER AUDIO CD - DSD]

The Zombies

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Please Note: Requires SACD-compatible hardware
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Super Audio CD - DSD
• Label: Audio Fidelity
• ASIN: B000083GLT
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,007 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Pop > Oldies > Baroque Pop

Track Listings

1. She's Not There

2. I Can't Make Up My Mind

3. Tell Her No

4. You Make Me Feel Good

5. Kind Of Girl

6. Leave Me Be

7. Sometimes

8. Don't Cry For Me

9. It's Alright With Me

10. I Don't Want To Know

11. I Love You

12. Nothing's Changed

13. I Remember When I Loved Her

14. Indication

15. Just Out Of Reach

16. What More Can I Do

17. She Does Everything For Me

18. Time Of The Season

19. She's Not There (Single Version)

20. Time of the Season (Alternate Mix)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) recording offers high-resolution sound and is playable on both standard CD players and SACD-compatible devices.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great sound, uninspired tracklisting, September 12, 2003

By	David Goodwin (Westchester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

To say that the Zombies have "several" Greatest Hits compilations would be understating it just a tad; that's like saying the Who milk their fans for cash "every once in a while." This late in the game, if another entry is going to be made in the Zombies Greatest Hits pantheon, it ought to have *something* special about it and offer something previous sets haven't; otherwise, another "Great Pop Bands of the 60s" set doesn't really have an audience. Thankfully, The Zombies Greatest Hits from Audiofidelity *does* have several things going for it.

For one, these twenty tracks have never sounded better. Barring some dropouts inherent in the source material, this really sounds stellar, easily beating even the Decca Stereo Anthology on some tracks (although to be fair, that set attempts to duplicate the EQ and 'verb of the original mono mixes, whereas many of the stereo mixes presented here are under no such illusion).

For another, this disc is an SACD hybrid (meaning it plays on almost all regular CD players--some DVD players have trouble with hybrid discs--as well as on SACD players), and is cheap, to boot. Now, granted, many people have troubled discerning a huge "night and day" difference between the high resolution and CD layers, but it's still a nice thought, and who'd have thought the Zombies would ever be considered for a SACD entry?

So yes. Enough with audiofetishism for now, and on to the music. Unfortunately, the main failing of this set is its slightly uninspired track selection. The compilers were clearly more fond of the earlier, British-invasion stylings of the group as opposed to their more developed Odessey and Oracle vibe; consequently, the vision presented of the group is a bit skewed (although in all honesty almost every Zombies comp has the same problem). I love "I Don't Want To Know" and "It's Alright With Me," but I can't help feeling that they're not necessarily the best tracks for a "Greatest Hits" compilation.

Indeed, the tracklisting is very, very similar to this disc's predecessor, the DCC "Greatest Hits" compilation. However, whereas that disc actually had a unique track (the "organ intro" version of Imagine the Swan), this disc doesn't actually have anything unavailable elsewhere. Collectors who're satisfied with the quality of the DCC disc thus don't "need" this, as all of its tracks and mixes do appear elsewhere.

The verdict? If you're just getting into the Zombies, I humbly suggest that one pick up a slightly more comprehensive collection. The Big Beat discs, for example, are far more attractive in track selection, cover art, and liner notes. However, the sound on this disc just can't be beat, so for the "experienced" Zombies listener, this is one Greatest Hits compilation that shouldn't be idly passed over.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars for sound - 4 stars for content, June 8, 2004

By	Andreas Martin - See all my reviews

The Zombies only had a few hits, but they released a series of singles, EPs and two albums with a consistent quality that guarantees their place in rock history. Their entire studio ouput (if one ignores mono/stereo/alternate mix variations) can be found on the box set Zombie Heaven.

The most obvious advantage of this CD is its astounding sound quality. Steve Hoffman has proved again what can be done with old and sometimes problematic tapes. Here, the voices sound crystal clear, the instruments full and the air and ambience of those recordings is still present. No noise reduction, no apparent digital manipulation has been done. It sounds like 1964/1965, but as if you listened to it live in the studio during the recording. Whenever there was a choice for one of the songs, the stereo mix was used for this compilation.

The track selection is not without fault. While the big hits are all presented here (She's Not There, Tell Her No, Leave Me Be, Time Of the Season), some of their minor single successes (She's Coming Home, Whenever You're Ready, Is This The Dream) are not included. Also, only one song from their masterpiece "Odessey & Oracle" means that the "British Invasion" aspect of their earlier songs is emphasized, while their later "psychedelic" era is left out. But let us simply hope that a second Zombies CD/SACD from Audio Fidelity will solve this problem.

It should be noted that this disc does NOT require SACD compability. A regular CD player is sufficient in order to play the CD layer.

Resumee:
Recommended both for new fans (who will get the big hits plus some B-sides and album tracks) and for experienced collectors (who will get upgraded sound quality).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is no better digital recording of the Zombies!, January 25, 2003

By A Customer

First off, this is mastered by Steve Hoffman from the original master tapes. The sound quality is outstanding. However, as this is a compilation, and different tracks come from different master tapes, some tracks sound better than others. Some tracks are in mono, while some are in stereo.

The disc has the Zombies' three biggest hits, "Time of the Season," "She's Not There," and "Tell Her No." I was not a big Zombies fan before I bought this, but I am now! The songs that weren't hits are great, too.

This is a hybrid disc with SACD stereo and redbook CD layers. This disc will play in all CD players and all SACD players. The SACD layer is otherworldly. The CD layer, CD having somewhat less resolution and narrower soundstage than SACD, is obviously inferior to the SACD layer, but the best Zombies redbook material EVER! The best of both worlds at a great price. Don't be surprised if this disc goes out of print in the not so distant future, so get 'em while you can!