The Zombies | NPR MUSIC FRONT ROW

Imagine creating the best work of your life, some of the best music of its day, and no one cares. Now imagine playing those songs 47 years later to a screaming and loving bunch of fans and getting what seems like a hero's welcome. That's part of the story of The Zombies, who played the classic 1968 album Odessey and Oracle, along with a set of other hits and brand new songs, live in Washington, D.C. last month. Now we have their nearly note-for-note live reproduction of Odessey and Oracle for you here.

Odessey and Oracle is now thought of as a masterpiece of pop, in the same vein as The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. But shortly after the album's release, The Zombies broke up. Rod Argent went on to form the popular band Argent, Colin Blunstone received some love as a solo artist and over time Odessey and Oracle found an audience and critical acclaim.

You can listen to the full audio of The Zombies' two-set D.C. concert here, including a set of new songs and favorites and then Odessey and Oracle in full. We also have video of two songs, one the classic tune "Time of the Season" and the tune "Chasing the Past" from the group's brand new album Still Got That Hunger. We also have an interview with Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone about how it differs to write songs at twenty as opposed to being seventy years and a bit about the making of Odessey and Oracle. -- BOB BOILEN

Link to interviews and full audio from concert:
http://www.npr.org/event/music/453961...

SET LIST
Time of the Season - 0:38
Chasing the Past - 5:38

Featuring: Rod Argent, Colin Bluntstone, Viv Boucherat, Hugh Grundy, Tom Toomey, Jim Rodford, Darian Sahanaja and Chris White

Director: Mito Habe-Evans; Producer: Saidah Blount, Mito Habe-Evans, Bob Boilen; Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Morgan McCloy, Julia Reihs, Cameron Robert; Editor: Cameron Robert; Audio Engineers: Dale Hanson, Josh Rogosin; Special Thanks: Lincoln Theatre; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann