19 February 1971 - 6 December 1974
Russ Ballard - Ring of Hands
By the end of the 1960s, the Zombies had gone through a major shakeup with its band members. Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent had both stayed on as vocalists, with the latter also taking up keyboards, but they were joined by Bob Henrit (drums), Russ Ballard (guitar) and Jim Rodford (bass; Argent's cousin) following the departure of Paul Atkinson and Hugh Grundy. Even though Chris White stopped performing with them, he still stayed on as a non-performing songwriter and even became joint producer for the Zombies alongside Argent.
As well as doing guitar parts for the Zombies, Russ Ballard had taken up songwriting and singing. To avoid having to fight over album space, Ballard was granted the opportunity to put his own material out on solo albums with the Zombies playing as his sidemen and White and Argent in the producer's chair. The resulting album was Ring of Hands, which received mixed to positive reviews from critics but did not chart in either the United States or the United Kingdom. Nor did the sole single, "Liar", backed with "Schoolgirl".
The Zombies - Ennismore
The Zombies' follow-up to Back from the Dead, however, fared much better, charting at #23 in the United States and #13 in the United Kingdom. The lead single off of Ennismore was "Hold Your Head Up"/"I've Always Had You", which hit #5 in both countries, being regarded as one of the band's greatest ever singles alongside "Time of the Season". The follow-up single, "I Don't Believe in Miracles"/"Celebration", hit #31 in the United Kingdom.
Russ Ballard - All Together Now
The majority of Ballard's sophomore album was recorded alongside Ennismore, and it even featured songwriting contributions from Argent and White, notably "Keep on Rollin'", "Be My Lover, Be My Friend", and the "Pure Love" suite. But like Ring of Hands, All Together Now didn't leave much of an impression on the charts on either side of the Atlantic.
Russ Ballard - In Deep
Unlike Ballard's previous efforts, In Deep managed to hit the charts in the United States, but at a measly #149. However, he did manage to gain a hit single in the United Kingdom, "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", at #18. (It also hit #114 in America.) In fact, it was notable enough to have cover versions recorded by Petra (1977 and 1984) and Kiss (1991), both times with altered lyrics.
The Zombies - Christmas for the Free
Although it wasn't known at the time, Christmas for the Free turned out to be the last Zombies album for at least seventeen years, citing exhaustion within the band, although this has never been fully explained. The album hit #90 in the United States and #49 in the United Kingdom, but no singles were released off of it. Shortly afterward, the Zombies performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 24 February and then St. Albans City Hall on 9 March. These recordings would be put out on the live album, Encore: Live in Concert, on 6 December.
Shortly after the live performances, Russ Ballard had left the Zombies to pursue a solo and songwriting career, writings hits such as Hot Chocolate's "So You Win Again" and Rainbow's "Since You Been Gone". By the end of 1974, the Zombies had split up for good, with Argent, Henrit and Rodford carrying on with two new guitarists, John Verity and John Grimaldi, to form the band Argent. They recorded one album to fulfill their contract with Capitol Records, Circus, and then one more album under RCA Records, Counterpoints, before breaking up for good in 1976.
But what about Colin Blunstone? Like the members of Argent, he recorded one more album under Capitol Records, Planes, for 1977, before transferring to Highway 61 Records at the start of 1978.
Released: 19 February 1971
Recorded: 1969-1970
Producer: Rod Argent and Chris White
Track listing[1]
Side A
Chained
Liar
Be Free
Schoolgirl
Lothlorien
Liar
Be Free
Schoolgirl
Lothlorien
Side B
Lonely Hard Road
Cast Your Spell Uranus
Sleep Won't Help Me
Stepping Stone
Bring You Joy
Cast Your Spell Uranus
Sleep Won't Help Me
Stepping Stone
Bring You Joy
By the end of the 1960s, the Zombies had gone through a major shakeup with its band members. Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent had both stayed on as vocalists, with the latter also taking up keyboards, but they were joined by Bob Henrit (drums), Russ Ballard (guitar) and Jim Rodford (bass; Argent's cousin) following the departure of Paul Atkinson and Hugh Grundy. Even though Chris White stopped performing with them, he still stayed on as a non-performing songwriter and even became joint producer for the Zombies alongside Argent.
As well as doing guitar parts for the Zombies, Russ Ballard had taken up songwriting and singing. To avoid having to fight over album space, Ballard was granted the opportunity to put his own material out on solo albums with the Zombies playing as his sidemen and White and Argent in the producer's chair. The resulting album was Ring of Hands, which received mixed to positive reviews from critics but did not chart in either the United States or the United Kingdom. Nor did the sole single, "Liar", backed with "Schoolgirl".
Released: 21 April 1972
Recorded: 1971
Producer: Rod Argent and Chris White
Track listing[2]
Side A
Celebration
I Don't Believe in Miracles
Sweet Mary
Andorra
I Want Some More
Hold Your Head Up
I Don't Believe in Miracles
Sweet Mary
Andorra
I Want Some More
Hold Your Head Up
Side B
Quartet (Exclusively for Me/A Sign/Every Sound/How Wrong)
Pleasure
I've Always Had You
Time's Running Out
I Am the Dance of Ages
Pleasure
I've Always Had You
Time's Running Out
I Am the Dance of Ages
The Zombies' follow-up to Back from the Dead, however, fared much better, charting at #23 in the United States and #13 in the United Kingdom. The lead single off of Ennismore was "Hold Your Head Up"/"I've Always Had You", which hit #5 in both countries, being regarded as one of the band's greatest ever singles alongside "Time of the Season". The follow-up single, "I Don't Believe in Miracles"/"Celebration", hit #31 in the United Kingdom.
Released: 28 July 1972
Recorded: 1971
Producer: Rod Argent and Chris White
Track listing[3]
Side A
Keep on Rollin'
He's a Dynamo
Tragedy
Where Are We Going Wrong
He's a Dynamo
Tragedy
Where Are We Going Wrong
Side B
Be My Lover, Be My Friend
Pure Love (Fantasia/Prelude/Pure Love/Finale)
Pure Love (Fantasia/Prelude/Pure Love/Finale)
The majority of Ballard's sophomore album was recorded alongside Ennismore, and it even featured songwriting contributions from Argent and White, notably "Keep on Rollin'", "Be My Lover, Be My Friend", and the "Pure Love" suite. But like Ring of Hands, All Together Now didn't leave much of an impression on the charts on either side of the Atlantic.
Released: 21 September 1973
Recorded: 1972-1973
Producer: Rod Argent and Chris White
Track listing[4]
Side A
God Gave Rock and Roll to You
It's Only Money, Part 1
It's Only Money, Part 2
Love
It's Only Money, Part 1
It's Only Money, Part 2
Love
Side B
Thunder and Lightning
Rosie
Man for All Reasons
Gonna Meet My Maker
Rosie
Man for All Reasons
Gonna Meet My Maker
Unlike Ballard's previous efforts, In Deep managed to hit the charts in the United States, but at a measly #149. However, he did manage to gain a hit single in the United Kingdom, "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", at #18. (It also hit #114 in America.) In fact, it was notable enough to have cover versions recorded by Petra (1977 and 1984) and Kiss (1991), both times with altered lyrics.
Released: 1 February 1974
Recorded: 1973
Producer: Rod Argent and Chris White
Track listing[5]
Side A
Wonderful
The Coming of Kohutek
Beware
Once Around the Sun
Infinite Wanderer
The Coming of Kohutek
Beware
Once Around the Sun
Infinite Wanderer
Side B
Christmas for the Free
Beginning
Keep the Curtains Closed Today
Music from the Spheres
Beginning
Keep the Curtains Closed Today
Music from the Spheres
Although it wasn't known at the time, Christmas for the Free turned out to be the last Zombies album for at least seventeen years, citing exhaustion within the band, although this has never been fully explained. The album hit #90 in the United States and #49 in the United Kingdom, but no singles were released off of it. Shortly afterward, the Zombies performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 24 February and then St. Albans City Hall on 9 March. These recordings would be put out on the live album, Encore: Live in Concert, on 6 December.
Shortly after the live performances, Russ Ballard had left the Zombies to pursue a solo and songwriting career, writings hits such as Hot Chocolate's "So You Win Again" and Rainbow's "Since You Been Gone". By the end of 1974, the Zombies had split up for good, with Argent, Henrit and Rodford carrying on with two new guitarists, John Verity and John Grimaldi, to form the band Argent. They recorded one album to fulfill their contract with Capitol Records, Circus, and then one more album under RCA Records, Counterpoints, before breaking up for good in 1976.
But what about Colin Blunstone? Like the members of Argent, he recorded one more album under Capitol Records, Planes, for 1977, before transferring to Highway 61 Records at the start of 1978.
Footnotes
- Tracks are sourced from Argent's eponymous album from 1970 and Ring of Hands.
- Tracks are sourced from Argent's Ring of Hands and All Together Now, as well as Colin Blunstone's Ennismore.
- All tracks are sourced from Argent's All Together Now, excluding "Where Are We Going Wrong", taken from Ring of Hands.
- Tracks are sourced from Argent's In Deep and Nexus.
- Tracks are sourced from Colin Blunstone's Journey and Argent's Nexus; "Christmas for the Free" is sourced from In Deep.
Author's Comments
Wow, it has been over a year since I last featured the Zombies, hasn't it? It's really ironic that after I'd given them more recognition than they got in this timeline, I completely forgot about them for Phase Two! Hopefully this Extra Scene will rectify that issue, but even then, the Zombies couldn't last forever. Their story continues just about as it did in OTL, with the only difference being that they get more recognition by the time they reunite in the early 1990s. They deserved far better than what they got, but thankfully, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year gave them attention, even if it was over half a century too late...
Wow, it has been over a year since I last featured the Zombies, hasn't it? It's really ironic that after I'd given them more recognition than they got in this timeline, I completely forgot about them for Phase Two! Hopefully this Extra Scene will rectify that issue, but even then, the Zombies couldn't last forever. Their story continues just about as it did in OTL, with the only difference being that they get more recognition by the time they reunite in the early 1990s. They deserved far better than what they got, but thankfully, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year gave them attention, even if it was over half a century too late...
Beautiful restoration of the Zombies' legacy! During 69-74, would Chris White still be credited as a member of the band, even though he didn't perform with them (same as Peter Sinfield was in King Crimson)?
ReplyDeleteMost likely still credited as a member of the band.
Delete