Review:

on 2011-07-30 CharlesMartel Said:

The Zombies were one of those bands which arose out of the explosion of British rhythm and blues inspired music in the early sixties. In spite of the talent that the band comprised, they never really achieved the success they deserved. "She's not There" was undoubtedly their most well-known, and probably their best track, and has been covered by many. It is, however, perhaps a measure of their lack of fame that a large number of people think this song was written by Carlos Santana.

Part of the problem with the Zombies' original version is that, no matter how good, it suffers somewhat from the way the band put it together. The keyboards stand out instantly, and Rod Argent's ability as a keyboard player is evident for all to see. However, the problem comes when the band tries to deliver vocal harmonies in the style of those so prevalent in 1964. Not only can the voices be told apart - the minor problem - but one voice, Rod Argent's, is off-key. Not a good way to deliver harmonies.

But forget the faults and enjoy this as a fine example of early sixties British rhythm and blues. How it builds into an almost manic chorus and then slips back imperceptibly into calmness and ease. This is quiet-loud-quiet before the Pixies made it fashionable in the late eighties. This is the way 1964 should have been.
Rating: 8/10