Record #0843: Time of the Season / Friends of Mine – THE ZOMBIES

Date 2-1628 (original?) USA, 22. October 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Rod Argent; Side B – Chris White
Musicians: Colin Blunstone (lead and backing vocals), Rod Argent (keyboards and backing vocals), Chris White (bass and backing vocals), Paul Atkinson (guitar and backing vocals), Hugh Grundy (drums and backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by the Zombies at the EMI (Abbey Road) Studios, London, UK, on 14. September 1967 (Side B unknown)
Highest chart positions: Side A – US #3, US Cash Box #1, Canada #1, Australia #43, Netherlands #14; Side B – none

When this entered Billboard Hot 100 on 8. February 1969, the Zombies was already long gone, as they disbanded in 1967.

Initially nobody wanted to release this. The album containing this, “Odessey and Oracle”, was originally rejected for US release. Legendary producer Al Kooper discovered the album in England, fell in love with it, and begged Date Records to put out "Time of the Season" as a single.

Because the real band refused to reunite to tour for their sudden #1 hit, American promoters created multiple fraudulent "Zombies" clone bands to tour the US and lip-sync to this exact record. Before teaming up with Billy Gibbons to form ZZ Top, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard were part of one of those fake Zombies bands.

Reportedly first released on 30 April 1968 as Date 2-1604, backed with “I’ll Call You Mine,” it flopped; surviving copies are mostly promos and are worth more than the later hit single.

List price: VG+ $6, NM $12

 

Record #0842: She’s Not There / Tell Her No – THE ZOMBIES

London 5N-59029 (re-issue) USA, 1979
Words & Music by:  Side A – Rod Argent; Side B – Rod Argent
Musicians: Colin Blunstone (lead and backing vocals), Rod Argent (keyboards), Chris White (bass and backing vocals), Paul Atkinson (guitar), Hugh Grundy (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ken Jones at the Decca Studios, London, UK; Side A - on 12. June 1964; Side B – 25. November 1964
Highest chart positions: None with the re-issue. Original: Side A – US #2, US Cash Box #1, Canada #2, UK #2, Australia #11; Side B – US #6, US Cash Box #6, Canada #6, UK #42, Australia #60

This re-issue has the first two hits of the Zombies. The original release of “She’s Not There” (Parrot 45-9695 in September 1964) had “You Make Me Feel So Good” as its B-side, whereas “Tell Her No” (Parrot 45-9723 in December 1964) had “Leave Me Be” on the flip.

When recording “She’s Not There”, the lead singer Colin Blunstone was incredibly nervous in the studio. To cope, he used a breathy, whispered vocal delivery. Ken Jones loved the eerie, jazz-like atmosphere it created and kept it. This "whisper-singing" became the band's trademark sound.

The flipside has the word “no” sung 63 times in 2 minutes and 9 seconds. That’s got to be a world record. Message delivered. 😊

List price: This is not in any of my catalogues. I wouldn’t pay more than $2 for this re-issue. Don’t get me wrong; the songs are good.

 

Record #0841: Time of the Season / I’ll Call You Mine – THE ZOMBIES

CBS 3380 (original) the Philippines, 1968
Words & Music by:  Side A – Rod Argent; Side B – Chris White
Musicians: Colin Blunstone (lead and backing vocals), Rod Argent (keyboards and backing vocals), Chris White (bass and backing vocals), Paul Atkinson (guitar and backing vocals), Hugh Grundy (drums and backing vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Rod Argent and Chris White at the EMI (Abbey Road) Studios, London, UK, on 14. September 1967
Highest chart positions: Side A – US #3, US Cash Box #1, Canada #1, Australia #43, Netherlands #14; Side B – none (I have no idea how this single did in the Philippines, talaga)

Surprisingly, the song was not a hit in the UK during the 1960s, despite becoming a major success across the Atlantic.

I was also surprised to see that this copy was made in the Philippines as I bough this in the States.
I’ll always remember Mike Yost for his Dymo sticker on the label. 😊

List price: This pressing seems to be quite rare, and the estimated market value would start from $35. Less with a Dymo sticker.