dermahrk - The Zombies "lost" album? HiHo HiHo, it's off to work we go

How many Zombies does it take to make a reunion? The latest incarnation includes only two - Rod Argent (keyboards) and Colin Blunstone (vocals). But in this case these two are the CRUCIAL members that make up the unique sound of the Zombies.

Ace Records, a UK company, issued the long-needed box set "Zombie Heaven" several years ago, which contained the complete works of the original group. A few "bonus" tracks, usually unreleased partial versions, meaning instrumental tracks behind the song, or alternate versions, have found their way into re-releases of their extant albums since the box set was issued.

But, missing from the set are tracks from a CD issued in 1991, under the name of the Zombies, which included three of the five original members: Hugh Wright, Chris White and Colin. The "new" member, Sebastian Santa Maria (in the hat) tried to serve as a replacement for Rod Argent. Both Rod and Chris Atkinson, the Zombies original guitarist, guested on a track, so in a way you could consider it a partial full reunion. Chris retired from performing to become an A&R man for a big U.S. record company, eschewed performing live for the rest of his life (exception: a 3-song live reunion done to promote the Ace box set). That life ended a few years ago, when he succumbed to illness in a death that went almost unmentioned in music media.

The CD is a good one, sounds a bit more like a Colin solo release than the Zombies, but I still have 11 of the 13 songs on my iPod. Here's one, written by the new member Santa Maria called, appropriately enough "Monday Morning Dance"

The album was originally released in 1991, but a couple of versions exist, with different track listings.