The story of the Odessey & Oracle album by The Zombies is an interesting one and as far as America is concerned it was a sleeper. Recorded over 1967 at Abbey Road and with some work at Olympic Studios, the pop-rock five-piece had already hit the pop charts with memorable melodies , great singing AND a shot of pure jazz in the instrumental solo’s – influencing The Byrds and Chicago Transit Authority among others. Rod Argent’s jazz knowledge is formidable, as I discovered when we met to talk music. The album was released here in 1968 and Time Of The Season was a big hit single in Europe.

 
Meantime in the US, the head of Columbia Clive Davis didn’t want to release the album. Badgering by label staffers including Al Kooper – the guitar player who boldly stepped in to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited sessions and started playing the organ on the likes of Like A Rolling Stone! – led to the label putting the collection out in the US and Canada and sales grew and grew..by which time the Zombies had split up…

 
The album title was a mistake by one of the graphic designers and for a while the group contended it was deliberate. For what it’s worth, Rolling Stone rates the record as one of the best 500 ever released. It is powerful, elegaic at times, melodic. instrumentally ambitious and haunting. – Pete Sargeant Just Listen To This

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of ‘Odessey and Oracle’, uniting all four surviving members of the group with Colin Blunstone on lead vocals, Rod Argent on keyboards/ vocals, Chris White on Bass/ Vocals and Hugh Gundry on drums, the band will perform their iconic album that produced two of the bands biggest hits (‘Time of the Season’/ ‘She’s Not There’) live on stage, in its entirety for one final time at The London Palladium this September”.

March 2017 will also see the release of ‘Odessy & Oracle’ The book, published by BMG and Reel Art Press, a glossy coffee table book, which includes handwritten lyrics for all the songs on the album, lavishly illustrated with rarely seen photos from throughout the band’s career. The volume also includes original artwork to accompany the lyrics – from both Terry Quirk who created the iconic cover for ‘Odessey and Oracle’, and Vivienne Boucherat, who created individual works for each O&O song.

The book’s text will include anecdotes from the songs and their recording sessions, by the original members, as well as reflections from Brian Wilson, Nate Ruess, Clive Davis, Carlos Santana, Susanna Hoffs, and many others. The Foreword was written by Tom Petty. A re-mastered, special edition of the album is scheduled for release later this year with further UK, European and festival O&O dates to be announced.

Pete Sargeant

(Thanks Sacha)