Sunday Morning Playlist: British Invasion - Page 8

9. The Zombies: She's Not There

Of all the second-tier British Invasion bands, none deserved a better career than The Zombies, whose complex harmonics and gorgeous melodies set them apart from their peers, and resulted in a couple of the more haunting singles of the mid-60's. The key axis was vocalist Colin Blunstone, organist Rod Argent, and guitarist Chris White; Blunstone's breathy, urgent vocals and Argent's jazz and classical informed playing coupled with strong original material usually written by Argent or White has dated very well, and were something special in their day. "She's Not There" got them their contract with Decca in 1964, and became their debut single. A jazzy bass opens the song, as Blunstone delivers a delicate and intense vocal that reaches an eerie crescendo; Argent's organ playing is a milestone on a rock record. The band released a series of follow-up singles, but only "Tell her No" clicked in 1965; after switching labels in 1967, the band recorded their masterpiece, the album Odessey and Oracle (sic). The album hit after the group had disbanded; the unsettling but sublime "Time Of the Season", which peaked at #3 two years after it was recorded, remains a radio staple to this day. Blunstone went on to moderate solo success in the U.K.; Rod Argent formed the progressive rock/heavy metal band Argent in 1969, who had a major hit with "Hold Your Head Up" in 1972.

10. The Pretty Things: Midnight To Six Man

The Pretty Things are another group that deserved more recognition in the States than they've received, although they managed a fairly successful career into the 1980's in England. Formed by guitarist Dick Taylor (who had been in an early version of the Rolling Stones) and vocalist Phil May, the Pretty Things specialized in a Stonesey r&b/hard rock sound that was generally grittier, tougher, and punkier than the Stones themselves. Most fans rally around the band's sophomore album Get The Picture?, released in December 1965, which contains the rollicking garage-band sounding "Midnight To Six Man", on which May's Jagger-esque vocals could be mistaken for the original, and Taylor's guitar gets a great stinging lead. Also of note on the album is "L.S.D." cut as a demo and released as-is; it was later covered with a new title ("E.S.P.") by garage rockers Beaver Patrol. The band's S.F. Sorrow album, from 1968, was a rock opera from which Pete Townshend may have taken some inspiration for Tommy. The band later recorded for Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, Silk Torpedo from 1975, on Swan Song, was their best selling album in America, peaking at #104.

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