The Odyssey of The Zombies' Odessey and Oracle｜Vinyl Monday REDUX 

what’s your favorite 60s pop album? comment below!

This girl was born 50 to 60 years after her time. Her understanding of 1960s music and her ability to find the important stuff among the windblown litter is uncanny. Great job, Abby. I'm looking forward to the next one.

The Mellotron. You can never have enough.

The Zombies’ Odessey and Oracle tour 20 years ago (along with Love performing Forever Changes) was the last great show I saw from the classic era of 60’s rock. Surprisingly great.

How you’re not at 100K, I don’t know. Your channel is informative and entertaining, with a great community. Which is more than I can say about, oh…literally EVERY OTHER similar channel.

O.K., fellow parishioners- I have O&O testimony. College, 80s, small Georgia town, broiling hot summer in my frat brother's grandmother's old house two or three blocks up the street from the intersection where Duane Allman was killed on 10-29-71. I was avidly collecting the good stuff, band by band, and I had a double set called "Time of the Zombies". Since I had an original single of "Time of the Season"/"Friends of Mine", the important stuff was disc one. Right? Unknown to me, disc two was O&O, and one day, home alone, I finally put it on. (This was also my one and only dope-smoking summer). You don't know what I look like (if you're lucky that way), but imagine the face on me, from "Care of Cell 44" through to "TOTS". I was waiting for my frat brother when he got home. (Literally the only other "Pet Sounds" freak I had ever even met, up to that time). "Shut up and get in here. No, shut up. Sit. Listen. Shut up." Holy Mother of Crap on a Crutch. Now imagine the face on him. I've owned it in so many forms since then (and seen them live)...but you can get awfully giddy about this album without getting too giddy, Miz Devoe. Nice job covering this beast. The other album that I think belongs on this very high cloud, besides "Pet Sounds", is "Village Green Preservation Society", the album that charted in no known country, I believe.

The Rolling Stones’ Between the Buttons is so underrated, perhaps because of the arrests that immediately followed. But that album is a pop/baroque/psychedelic/vaudeville masterpiece.

By the time the public discovered this masterpiece the band had dissolved but Rod Argent held his head up !

A genuinely great album and Colin Bluestone is one of greatest vocalists. The songs "Hung Up on a Dream", "Butcher's Tale", "Beechwood Park", "A Rose for Emily" & "Time of the Season" are especially classic gems.

Wow! I love this album! I actually met these guys in 2003 when they came to my town. In answer to the question, this album is tied with Pet Sounds as my favorite sixties pop album.

The Zombies are one of my favorite 60s bands, and 'Odessey and Oracle' is their crowning achievement. Thanks, Abby for another outstanding album review, full of musical insight, interesting historical anecdotes, and off-the-wall humor!

Sadly Jim Rodford passed away a few years back, I had the pleasure of meeting him once, very nice man.

The album is a great time capsule of the 60’s . There is a dreamy dissolution to it. Beautiful and haunting

Fun fact, I went to a Halloween taping of the Colbert Show back in like 2016 or something and the Zombies were the special house band that day...pretty cool!

When I was in college, I used to stop by the music building most evenings after classes, and play one of the pianos there to unwind. One of my go-to songs to play was almost always "Care of Cell 44"; that ending chorus so much fun to hammer out on a big grand piano!

Born too late, (1961) to really get this music at it’s release, I came to this via the neo-psychedelic UK bands and paisley underground LA bands in the 1980’s. All these years later, I hear the song Changes for the very first time. This song had changed my life for the better. Thanks Abbie for everything !

Rod Argent is one of classic rock's finest.and he has.surrounded himself with two of the finest vocalists of the era with the zombies the fantastic Colin blunstone and later with his band Argent the wonderfully talented Russ Ballard with odyssey and Oracle it's a time capsule of a magical time in music winning new fans every year

One of my top 5 albums of all time. I got married to This will be our year. Happy I got to see them live, front row 3 years ago

Colin Blunstone's One Year is an absolute treasure as well.

Love this album, especially the Reissues with 10 more Bonus Tracks from the studio session. The Zombies with this album were ahead of their time, with the Mellotron, fuzzy guitars, and arpeggiated melodies with dreamy sounding textures, like Strawberry Alarm Clock with Incense and Peppermints (1967), The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band with Part One (1967), The Yellow Balloon 1967 self-titled album, The Pretty Things with S.F. Sorrow (1968), Chamaeleon Church with their 1968 self-titled album featuring actor Chevy Chase on lead vocals, The Neon Philharmonic with The Moth Confesses (1969), etc.

The research you put into our Vinyl Monday videos is crazy! I love it, thank you! I always learn something about the band, the album, the circumstance... Thank you so much!

Cousin Jim was a lovely fellow, I helped him carry his bass amp once. Sadly, he is no longer with us. What a great video, I really enjoyed it!

This is a beautiful record. No one sounds like The Zombies, not even ZZ TOP! The Zombies took that well and even joked fairly recently that maybe they should tour as ZZ TOP to return the complement. Another excellent job, Abby; no one will ever call you unprepared or your work half-assed. You teach me something every time. I wouldn’t have seen the ‘Getz/ Gilberto’ connection but you’re absolutely right. I was raised on that record too, but it was my dad’s. Thank you.

I remember hearing this album with my friends in high school after getting rejected by a girl right before the pandemic. I was immediately blown away and it has been in my top ten albums all time ever since. Great work as always and congratulations on being featured in the documentary!

Thoroughly well deserved re: subscription numbers. An awesome channel.

Absolutely beautiful album, a lovely autumnal feel to it and Paul Weller of The Jam etc's favourite album.

A fun and informative video, Abigail. I lived in London for most of my life so I was able to see The Zombies about eight times at various venues. They were always superb live. I know that Paul Weller of the Jam is a huge fan of this album and has attended a number of the Zombies' gigs. After the Zombies broke up Rod Argent and Jim Rodford joined forces with Russ Ballard to form rock group Argent. They had a number of hits like "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" and some of Russ Ballard's songs were covered by Kiss, Rainbow, Santana and Three Dog Night. Unfortunately, Jim Rodford (a lovely man who I chatted with after one of the Zombies' gigs) has passed away after a fall. A terrible loss for his fans and a personal tragedy for Rod who was his cousin.

You nailed it Abby. Hung up on a Dream is so hauntingly beautiful! Brings tears to my eyes! As an aside, I have a vinyl copy of the US Date release.

Rod Argent? In the Zombies? Who knew! One of Rod's songs is high in my repertoire - Hold Your Head Up (Argent). The last time I performed it on the Boulevard on a Sunday morning I was having my doubts about doing that particular song - I was not confident - NEVER let them know that on the Boulevard. I finished the song and while I was ruminating on the next song choice an un-housed dude walked by, singing "hold your head up" and I felt good about the song. She's Not There and Tell Her No and Time of the Season were huge on L.A. radio and just happened to be fantastic songs.

Congrats on the 33 1/3 subs 🎉 '67 was a good year for Psychedelic Pop or just Pop and Thank you for covering this 🙂 I bet all these albums that came from EMI studio 3 all have that pepper undertones and parallels 🌈📯☮🌷 So when are we getting Their Satanic Majesties Request redux 🤔

One of my favorite albums of all time. Thanks for covering this. An excellent job.

I grew up with The Zombies' hits via AM radio of the 70s and 80s ("Golden Oldies already), but I had not heard Odessey until 30 years later after a streaming algorithm played "Care of Cell 44" in a psychedelic mix. I immediately bought the whole album and listened to it like mad for a year. Cut to a few years later when the person I started dating a year after my divorce put "This Will Be Our Year" on a playlist she made in honor of our new relationship. She had not known I loved the band or the album, so it was total happenstance. Or kismet? Anyway, she said the song made her think of me. And lo 8 years later we're still together. Music is such a personal trip.

I also have the Newbury Comics color splatter pressing! This is one of my all-time favorite LPs. I thought you did a great job on the first video. When I saw that you were doing it again, I was all about it, because you can't ever have too much Odyseey and Oracle! Great job, as usual, Abby.

The Odyssey is also my favorite book. The Author: Homer; was blind. He narrated his stories called; The Iliad, and the Odyssey. They are both easy reads. They both contain stories of heroic men, and women. Like when Athena jumps into a chariot; next to a frightened soldier. She grabs the reigns; then charges at the enemy. Like: "move it soldier!". William Shatner; in Star Trek; played Captain Kirk. He was a futuristic version of Odyssus. Art; that builds on what came before. That's art is everyman; and is for everyman. You look marvelous. Your shows get better all the time. I also love that record. Your shows have a very professional flow in thier direction. Always alot of fun.

I listened to this album twice before watching this video only knowing Time of the Season and this album has that escapist summertime magic that I used to have with other pop records that have since faded. I think this will keep me immersed in their transient world for awhile

Dude no way! I was going to request this album but I didn’t think you’d do it and clearly I didn’t know that you had already done it 🥹😆

The first time I heard this album was on a nearly 2 hour drive from my hometown to Sacramento, CA. I had seen the gorgeous iconic album cover before and loved time of the season, so I thought I’d give it a listen on my drive. I put it on my car stereo as soon as I took off, and listened to the whole thing, and then listened to the whole thing another time, and then another time, and I was blown away. This IS my favorite 60s pop album and in general one of my all time favorite years after I first heard it. I was so stoked that you were covering it again, and started this video as soon as I woke up today. Thank you for all you do!

You're rigth Chris sounds like a scared litte boy in butcher's tale, that's why i love this song so much 💔😞

Basically, this is the LP with the hit TIME of the SEASON! Outstanding song! Beautiful psych Cover too! But the Bee Gees First lp has many songs to be remembered and a nice cover too! Personal opinion, of course! Anyway, excelent pop choice, Abby!

My favourite British album right here, even over any Beatles record and my favourite band ever, the Kinks, and their masterpiece 'Village Green'. Only 'Forever Changes' by US band Love prevents this from being my all-time #1 album. Your review of this was so brilliant with so many insights and facts, wow! As you said, song-wise, production-wise and lyrically, it's virtual perfection. And with no record label or production support it's a miracle that it even got made, let alone matching it artistically with the likes of 'Sgt. Pepper's' and 'Pet Sounds'. One of your best videos Abby.

The first 45 ( Single ) I purchased was from the oldies section & it was Time Of The Season by The Zombies ! ..I also picked up Spill The Wine 🍷 by War !

That band and specially that album is a favorite of mine! A lot of Mellotron on it mixed with Beach Boys harmony vocals! I have the t-shirt of the cover! 😎

You’re wrong about “This Will Be Our Year” respectfully. One of the best pop songs of the 60s for my money. Great review though, I just saw Rod and Colin in VA a few weeks ago and closing in on 80, it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen!

You did such a beautiful job discussing this wonderful album. I'm so honored to receive a shout out. ❤️ What a surprise! You rock!

I used to think the title misspelling was deliberate. A play on "Ode" and Odyssey. Having designed a few psychedelic poster pistaches in my day, l can affirm it's crazy easy to lose a whole letter in the crazy quilt melange of multicolor goop.

Great album, of course! My wife is their lawyer and I've gotten to hang out with the band a couple times. Buncha sweet guys!

Sometimes, it really feels like this channel is producing shows just for me! It's frustrating how underrated this album is: maybe it only has one "hit" as such, but every track on this thing is truly outstanding and brilliant! It's easily in the all-time top 5 psychedelic/mod-pop albums ever made. You could take the plastic off this thing and play it all day long and I guarantee you things are going to go well!

33 1/3rd, here's to hitting the 45!

Well done 👍 it deserves a third look at for such a classic album. Congratulations Abby you deserve the number of followers that you have. And I love that dress you are wearing 😊 You should try out for a part in the upcoming Beatles movies. Pattie or Jenny Boyd perhaps?

This album is 100% KILLER and 0% filler. I didn’t discover till about 10 years ago. It should have been a massive hit album. Now I never tire of hearing it.

Again, thanks to my english teacher for introduce me into the zombies 💚 OMG THE LEFT BANKE

got to photograph them a few years back! Love O&O!

Congrats on being in Zombies documentary unauthorized?! 🌈 Definitely getting this one and the 1st Fleetwood Green Mac lp based on your vinylmondays. TY.

Congrats on getting your OG Odessey video onto the Zombies documentary! So proud of you! Also, Nick Drake next week??? Hell yeah! What a wonderful musician sadly taken from us way too soon.

I saw them performing this at Shepherd's Bush back in 2011, great night. I really like that splatter vinyl, might have a look around and see if I can score a copy.

YES!!! Finally my favorite album!!

an album I always listen to when spring comes, watched them live kickin' and rockin' a few years ago in Spain and now touring to Poland this summer

Great video! I love your personality ❤ you’re going to go far, Abbie!

Another noteworthy example of Baroque Pop is MacArthur Park. Specifically the original version sung by Richard Harris.

34:03 is way too relatable right now

Love 60s oldies, they used to be a great oldies station out here that not only did The Beatles but also The Zombies, Dave Clark Five, The Turtles, one hit wonders, fun stuff to listen to. I wasn’t born yet, but I feel like it takes me back there and I can feel what it was like.

Finally back to REAL music after the last one(that I will not name)🤘🎸🤘Great video

One of those albums that i appreciate for it's influence. There's loads of bands and songs that link back to this seminal album. It's had a timeless impact on The Teardrop Explodes, Tremeloes (especially on 'Long Road'), Mike Batt, and so many more. I like 'Care of Cell 44' a lot, and it made me delve into the wonderful world of baroque pop/early bubblegum and to hear the influence of this pop album in stuff like the Tremeloes, some of Teardrop Explodes, and so many, many more. EDIT: Oh yeah i forgot Cream had a very Odessey-esque tune with "Doin' That Scrapyard Thing" as well

Strange days by the Doors is my favourite 60's album oddly it doesn't sound like a 60's record!

I never listened to this album before (besides time of season) but your review made me buy a vinyl copy - great job turning your audience on!

You want a treat...listen to this album on a good set of earphones...and a doobie....it will take you to a nice place.😋

It's the time of the season When love runs high In this time, give it to me easy And let me try with pleasured hands....🏵🌹🌺🌼🏵🌞

Made it through the review, dutifully impressed. You nailed it by seeing this as a concept album, not an explicit treatise as such, but musings on the central theme of loneliness. (Go check out The Girl With No Name No Face and No Number by Traffic from their Mr Fantasy LP. A baroque pop Mellotron musing that could have appeared on this album, or Quite Rightly So, baroque organ and poetic lyrics by Procol Harum on their Shine on Brightly LP

A great video of one of the best albums of the 1960’s. Love all the songs. I have a 30th anniversary edition CD with both mono and stereo tracks and the Zombie Heaven box set on Big Beat Records. 😊

Love your channel. Really love the Zombies. Sadly Jim Rodford passed away a couple of years ago.

Well done, as always! 😎🎶 Vinyl Monday is the perfect way to start my Tuesday before work ensues. Kudos!

I love this album. My favorite song on this album and one of my all time favorite songs period is in fact Friends of Mine.

Heavenly music...

It's a masterpiece! You have done well, Fine Lady. Very well indeed!

Hung Up On A Dream, Beechwood Park and Time of The Season are fantasticcc. The og vm of this encouraged me to get it on orange wax vinyl and i gotta say its a brilliant album

Shout out to Melinda Murphy, yay! 🙂

An incredible look at an awesome album - you're killing it on this one!

amazing channel. doing the lords work !

Doing cart 🛞 s over next week's album. Nick Drake is a wonder of acoustic guitar (and it's quite remarkable he even got through three albums). 'Pink Moon' is such a sad record😢. I think I've read so much about Nick that there's not much else to know but I'm hoping Abby uncovers some gems.

Now i know where i have seen you before Lisa hayes from Robotech .... ☺ thanks for all your hard work and keep it up .

The Zombies as a band, need more recognition. Especially Christopher White. They have lots some side B stuff and demos that are absolutely amazing. Stuff like unhappy girl, to julia, and mr.galileo

Great Album and another Great Review! Thanx

Sadly Jim Rodford passed away in 2018. his son Steve is still the drummer of the Zombies ..Søren Koch is their new bass player and he kicks ass!

Time of the Season and Tell Her No Songs that will always be played Thanks Abby another video well done

DAAAAMN (insert the album you showed at the end) THANK YOU

One of my favourite Baroque-Pop albums from the late 60s is 'A Tramp Shining', written, arranged and produced by the then 21 year-old Jimmy Webb for the actor Richard Harris. Probably too gushingly romantic for your taste, its most famous track is the 7 minute orchestral tour-de-force 'MacArthur Park'.

I love Time of the season !

A lot of aspects I wasn't aware of. Great episode!

I’m curious about Lisa Frankenstein, it got terrible reviews but a lot of fans on RU-vid, largely female, love it. Will see for myself eventually

A roommate of mine in college had the firt solo album from Colin Bluntstone and it's definitely worth checking out.

Nice to hear the happiness associated with the 33 1/3 achievement . that particular speed is based on the rhythms of the human heart. The first phonographs used this speed because the easiest speed to hand crank the cylinders evenly, turned out to be that pace . later on, science established that the beating heart cycles , the blood flow , influenced the optimum speed. when clockwork power was applied to record players , that same speed was adopted so the older cylinders could still be played, and when the cylinders became flat disks, they already knew how to record at that speed, so it carried over. this theory is further validated by the fact that early hand cranked movie cameras also used the same arm speed for a consistent recording. I have always recognized the quality of this band and was glad to learn some very interesting facts. I have a lot of records from that era, yet despite the quality of their work, I never bought this album. because all the musical statements,( I don't care about those lyrics), were quietly grounded in a kind of touchstone of melancholia and surrender . Kind of a chicken and egg sadness question I just couldn't get behind, although I do consider surrender a choice. This discussion prompted a thought about why I had passed this album up the many times I went to a particular record store , where its bin was right on the corner. I never thought much about it, I always just figured I repelled by what I considered garish cover art, the color selection bugged me. But cover art never stopped me, now I know it was an unconscious reaction to a baroque style of music , a truly dismal age.

A fantastic sounding album . I saw it written and i saw it say, pink moon is on its way....yay to that♈️🙋‍♂️

Somebody gift this woman a copy of the album on "date" records!!

One of my all time favorite albums. The story of the album is so crazy, we are lucky to have it. I have a few versions of the album but have never heard a mono. The original mono's are impossible to find and afford and the only mono reissue from 2015 are from poor source copies. They were on CBS in the UK and Europe, Date was only for the US/Canada. I play this album a least once every few months and it never gets old.

If it helps, I didn't remember having seen the original review until the explanation of the spelling of the title.

The Zombies deserved better!!!!!! That's all I got. Sometimes you swing for the fences and write "Born To Run" and people will write odes to your genius forever. Other times you do it and you get an all time classic single, and the lonely boys and girls of the world discover the album it comes from years later. The Zombie Comeback is mostly thanks to "Mad Men" which included "TWBOY" in an episode.

This video made me fall in love with the album all over again. Not a single bad song!

Every song on this album has my eyes watering. Such Beauty!🌼🌺🌸🌻🎵

i'm in 'waiting for a friend', at 43 seconds that's me driving by in a 72 corolla, the guy told me to wait and i just waved him off and drove thru the shoot

Great redux. It took me many listens to really appreciate this masterpiece. First had to get over the fact it's not really "rock" music! But once I got into the Elephant 6 family of musicans I started to learn and appreciate good songwriting and harmonies. This is a timeless LP! Blasted this in my car back in 1997 along with Belle and Sébastien, Pet Sounds, On Avery Island/In the Aeroplane, The Apples in Stereo and Olivia Tremor Control. People that rode with me thought I was crazy! Lol! Oh and mix in a healthy dose of Pavement, GBV and Sonic Youth! Thanks for giving this record the credit it deserves.