Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

The Zombies - what a great song and a great bassline from 1965 !


musicbassman
 Share

Recommended Posts

So, this afternoon I've been running through the setlist of a band I'm depping with tonight, and came across this gem, which I can't remember ever playing before.

A reminder of what a great song this is, and what a brilliant bassline !  🙂

Wikipedia tells me the bass player was Paul Arnold at this time.  Enjoy.

 

 

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve had tickets to see the Zombies for two years as the dates have been pushed back…

 

They have always had decent bass players, more recently the late Jim Rodford. Colin Blunstone solo too.

 

Though unremarkable bass-wise, this song makes me well up every time.

 

Edited by Mickeyboro
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We discussed this one a few months ago when I mentioned on these hallowed pages that I had learned the bassline for a gig. 

 

It's a truly fantastic song, superbly executed. Great bass, superb keyboard, those breathy vocals from Colin Bluntstone.  One of the greatest pop songs of all time IMHO.

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, @Bassfinger, for my two first guesses in Wordle tomorrow: BLUNT and STONE. 😉

It has to be mentioned that some years ago, Rod Argent or Colin Blunstone laughed heartily when fans after Zombies gigs asked them why in the world they chose to play a Santana song. 😃

 

For me, maybe wrongly, the Zombies heritage was taken care of not by Rod Argent or Chris White but with Colin Blunstone's solo albums, especially "One Year" and "Ennismore", though IMHO also "Journey" had many great songs. Both Argent and White wrote songs for Blunstone.

One of the most special Blunstone songs was a cover of Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses", with a stunning string quartet (or quintet?) arrangement by Christopher Gunning, which took the hit right out of it and put in music instead. 😃
I lack the discipline to abstain from posting it:
 

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

40 minutes ago, Bassfinger said:

IIRC Bluntstone did a solo version of She's Not There in the eatly 70's, released under a daft pseudonym?


Yup. He did it as Neil MacArthur in 1969, and later covered it several times, a.o. on his album "Sings His Greatest Hits" when he was much older.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw the Zombies locally a few years ago (5?  6?).  Rod Argent went on a full 5 minute rant about having written 'God Gave Rock n Roll To You', not Kiss.  You'd have thought that Kiss having placed the song into the international play list, and all the subsequent associated royalties, might have tempered his bitterness but clearly not.  

Then Jim Rodford, who was peering out from behind a Status headless, played 'Hold Your Head Up' wrong.  Instead of dum dum dum staccato dah-dah legato he reversed it to dum-dum-dum legato dah dah staccato.    Seemed odd to fiddle with an iconic bass line like that.  Blunstone was in good voice, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Leonard Smalls said:

My favourite cover of it! I did actually buy hte Zombies version at the same time as the Subs coloured vinyl version...

 

 

 

 

I was holding off posting that as it didn't seem in keeping with the thread. 

But you have, so thanks 🙂

 

I first heard it on an album of covers I bought as a teenager called 'We Do 'Em Our Way'. I always loved that album as it had a cover of 'Friday On My Mind' by a local band called The Golant Pistons. They were kind of the Sawmill Studios house band, if you could call them that, fronted by the glorious Al Hodge. 

A tale I remember, which I hope is true, it that a band were recording at Sawmill Studios, which is only accessible by boat, and needed a really good guitar solo. The engineer suddenly decided to get Al Hodge to do it, and as luck would have it he was in the pub in the nearest village, Golant. 

After staggering down the railway track to the studio, the quickest way of getting there on foot, he arrived well inebriated with his guitar in a black bin bag. He pulled the guitar out and layed down a blistering solo. He then put his guitar back in the bin bag and staggered out without saying a word. 

 

Big enough thread derail? 

As you were. 

😁

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Paul S said:

I saw the Zombies locally a few years ago (5?  6?).  Rod Argent went on a full 5 minute rant about having written 'God Gave Rock n Roll To You', not Kiss.  You'd have thought that Kiss having placed the song into the international play list, and all the subsequent associated royalties, might have tempered his bitterness but clearly not.  

Then Jim Rodford, who was peering out from behind a Status headless, played 'Hold Your Head Up' wrong.  Instead of dum dum dum staccato dah-dah legato he reversed it to dum-dum-dum legato dah dah staccato.    Seemed odd to fiddle with an iconic bass line like that.  Blunstone was in good voice, though.

All the more bizarre since Russ Ballard wrote it (and as he mentions) pocketed the royalties!

 

https://www.loudersound.com/features/argent-god-gave-rock-and-roll-to-you-the-story-behind-the-song

Edited by Mickeyboro
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...