The Zombies - Odessey And Oracle

Welcome to psychedelia everyone. But the most beautiful, serene psychedelia you can imagine. The Zombies, originally famous for their 1964 hit She’s Not There, were perhaps behind only The Beach Boys when it came to mellifluousness in this era of pop music. But on Odessey And Oracle, one of the best albums of the 60s, the harmonies were bittersweet and the songs the same. Care of Cell 44, a tale of a lover’s impending release from prison, is a perfect example of the off-kilter songwriting pared with beautiful production that distinguishes this album. The other distinctive element that the Zombies introduced was the masterful keyboard skills of Rod Argent, who was also their main songwriter and added layers of character to the band’s sound. Originally recorded in 1967, Odessey And Oracle (the spelling in the title was due to a lack of funds to re-do the mistaken cover art) only saw the light of day in 1969 when Time Of The Season made its way to the top of the charts but the band themselves had long since split, the pressures of making this album taking their toll. In a sense, this album closed the door not only on the band themselves but also the end of the 60s and the end of an era. The turning of the season that makes it the perfect accompaniment to an beautiful autumn - warm and chromatic.