Spare Creativity #6: April 1965 - October 1969: I Just Wish I Could Have Helped

Pictured above: The Zombies, 1966

After the release of their debut album Begin Here, The Zombies continued recording original songs between 1965 and 1966, attempting to achieve chart success. In 1967, frustrated by their lack of success, The Zombies signed a deal with CBS Records, but not before Decca released a compilation of leftover non-album singles, B-sides, and outtakes.

Is This The Dream?

Side A:

01. She’s Coming Home (2:38) [1]

02. I Want You Back Again (2:15) [1]

03. Whenever You’re Ready (2:43) [1]

04. Is This The Dream? (2:45) [1]

05. Just Out of Reach (2:10) [1]

06. Indication (3:01) [1]

07. Gotta Get a Hold of Myself (2:29) [1]

Side B:

08. I Must Love (1:57) [1]

09. I Love You (3:23) [1]

10. Don’t Go Away (2:34) [1]

11. Remember You (2:00) [1]

12. How We Were Before (2:06) [1]

13. Goin’ Out of My Head (3:03) [1]

14. She Does Everything For Me (2:16) [1]

Released: February 23rd, 1967

Track sources:

[1] - Zombie Heaven, 1997

Pictured above: The Zombies, 1968

Odessey and Oracle was released after The Zombies had already split up. Despite this, while working on material for a possible new band, Rod Argent and Chris White were approached by CBS to do another Zombies album. Several tracks were cut with a lineup on Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Steve Rodford and Rick Birkett, that were combined with some old Decca outtakes and demos that were then overdubbed. The album was released in 1969 and The Zombies split up for good for another 20 years.

“It’s actually not a bad album, I think I’m in some of the songs too, I just wish I could have helped with the vocals a bit more is all.”

- Colin Blunstone, 1985

R.I.P.

Side A:

01. She Loves The Way They Love Her (2:57) [1]

02. Imagine The Swan (3:11) [1]

03. If It Don’t Work Out (2:30) [1]

04. Smokey Day (2:22) [1]

05. I’ll Keep Trying (2:27) [1]

06. Conversation Off Floral Street (2:41) [1]

Side B:

07. I’ll Call You Mine (2:38) [1]

08. Telescope (Mr. Galileo) (2:44) [1]

09. I Know She Will (2:36) [1]

10. To Julia (For When She Smile) (3:12)

11. Don’t Cry For Me (2:15) [1]

12. Walking in the Sun (2:42) [1]

Released: October 31st, 1969

Track sources:

[1] - R.I.P. - soniclovenoize’s Albums That Never Were