I Love You
The fact that the Zombies are best known for but three British Invasion singles neatly encapsulates their career dilemma. Driven by Colin Blunstone's detached, spooky vocals and an expansive, sophisticated musical sense that saw Rod Argent's keyboards freely incorporate blues, jazz, and classical touches, the Zombies pioneered an album-oriented sensibility when all their label required was another catchy pop single. This rare 1966 album was a byproduct of that creative friction, an initially Japan/Europe-only compilation of Decca singles and B-sides that sought to flesh out the band's modest successes just as it was departing for CBS and the frustratingly short-lived triumph ofOdessey and Oracle. Anchored by some of the band's most woefully unheralded sides (the unusual, melodically sophisticated prelude "The Way I Feel Inside"; "Whenever You're Ready," one of the greatest, if most rarely heard British Invasion singles; and the prog-pioneering "Indication"), it's a remarkably cohesive album considering its original cut-and-paste intent. This new edition features stereo mixes of some tracks (including the hit "She's Not There") and six bonus cuts that include their soundtrack contributions toBunny Lake Is Missingand the band's last Decca single, half of which was the B-side blowout "She Does Everything for Me."--Jerry McCulley