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,