The Zombies "Is This The Dream"

 

THE ZOMBIES-Is This The Dream/Don't Go Away US Parrot 45 PAR 9821 1966

The Zombie's seventh U.S. single arrived in February 1966 (it was previously issued in the U.K. as Decca F 12296 in November of '65). It would be their next to last single for Parrot and was issued long after the band's brief run of U.S. hits had long since passed. Despite the lack of a recent U.S. hit (their last Top 40 chart placing here was "Tell Her No" in late 1964 which reached #6) Parrot continued to match most of their U.K. seven inch offerings with a U.S. release.

Keyboardist Rod Argent's "Is This The Dream" is almost "tough" sounding at times. Blunstone's vocals nearly strain on top of a driving Motown beat punctuated by some "hey hey hey"'s by the band. It launches into a mashed up electric piano solo by Rod Argent all led by an infectious James Jamerson style bass line by Chris White (which doubles up as the number is winding up and Blunstone once again sings on the verge of breaking his voice). The harmonies really carry this one and though they are at odds with the roughness of it I love it!

The flip side "Don't Go Away" is a somber affair. It's sparse musical backing (acoustic guitar, faint organ, bass, drums) sounds almost like an unfinished track and it's lyrically geeky, like an almost forced "Let's Spend The Night Together" with Blunstone sounding almost unconvincing in his efforts to get his partner to stay with him. Try as I may this track just doesn't cut it for me, sorry fellas.

Both sides are available in a host of places because it literally seems like Ace/Big Beat issues a new Zombies collection literally every year!

Hear "Is This The Dream":

https://youtu.be/8zCiLEtJHGA

Hear "Don't Go Away":

https://youtu.be/1OVRx3GcByE

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Neil MacArthur aka Colin Blunstone

NEIL MaCARTHUR-She's Not There/World Of Glass US Deram 45-7524 1969

For those not in the know Neil MacArthur was none other than Colin Blunstone, formerly lead singer with The Zombies who had spent the last year out of the music business working in an insurance office following the 1968 break up of The Zombies.

Conceived by producer Mike Hurst the "Neil MacArthur" venture lasted just shy of a year and resulted in three singles for Deram, all of which were released in the U.S. as well as the U.K. "She's Not There" was the first, issued in January 1969 on both sides of the Atlantic.  It was a curious choice given that it was the debut track by The Zombies. It reached #34 in the U.K. charts, but did not chart in the U.S.

Banish any thoughts of the jazzy electric piano led British beat group sound of the Zombies original 1964 single and clear your mind. Starting with an ominous symphonic beginning reminiscent of David Axelrod. Blunstone's vocals sound similar to the way he sings in the original version.  But over the top of quirky little guitar licks and sweeping, easy listening (as in the freaky soundtrack sort) orchestration,vibes and the jazzy flute solo make it sound "way out". Ditto for the way the number abruptly stops with the strings spiraling down like the tape was stopped.  It's really the phlanging strings that make it sound over the top (in a good way!).

"World Of Glass" is a different bag entirely.  With it's tabla, harmonium and steel guitar it's like a trippy version of Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance (musically) or Donovan or Nick Drake on a good day. Sadly it's vocally not my thing as it sort of reeks of the early 70's "singer song writer" feel and Blunstone's muezzin style chanting does nothing to endear it to me.

"She's Not There" was on a the 1987 LP compilation "Deram Days" and our faithful reader Joe Hedio reports both sides were compiled in a 2007 Big Beat compilation titled "Afterlife".

Hear "She's Not There":

https://youtu.be/6abJ9muSoVw

Hear "World Of Glass" :

https://youtu.be/EMNq3DprCw0