Jan 16, 2011

COLIN BLUNSTONE - ONE YEAR (EPIC 1971) Jap mastering cardboard sleeve + 2 bonus




As the lead singer of the Zombies, Blunstone was one of the greatest '60s rock vocalists, pacing the group's minor-key masterpieces with his inimitable choked and breathy vocals. After retiring from the business briefly in the late '60s (to work in the insurance industry, of all things), he went solo in the early '70s with a string of interesting pop/rock albums that were more of an extension of the late Zombies sound than the more well-known work of Argent, the other Zombies spin-off act. The Zombies connection is hardly incidental; chief Zombie songwriters Rod Argent and Chris White gave Blunstone some songs, as did Argent member Russ Ballard, though Blunstone penned much of his material himself. With their moody melodies and Baroque touches of muted keyboards, classical guitars, and inventive string arrangements, his early-'70s albums sometimes sounded like a mellower take on the direction the Zombies pursued with their pop-psychedelic masterwork Odessey and Oracle. Blunstone managed some small British hits with "How Could We Dare Be Wrong," "I Don't Believe in Miracles," and the Top 20 single "Say You Don't Mind," a cover of a tune written and recorded by Denny Laine after he left the Moody Blues and before he joined Wings. Blunstone's first album, One Year (1971), was his best, though the follow-ups Ennismore and Journey also had their moments.[allmusic]
Here

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks - it's always a delight to find new postings on your blog. All three of these new ones look interesting. Saw Colin Blunstone last month doing Say You Don't Mind as part of The Zombies set at the Bowlie 2 weekender. Great stuff

Anonymous said...

Hi ... would you have "Hard Knocks and Bad Times" by Rudy Ramos? Thanks.

Tarkus said...

Wow! Simply beautiful!
Thanks a lot.
Something about Mike D'Abo?

ARGS said...

Georgie thanks a lot man!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh i love this album till the end i am alive...WAL

TheTommy said...

I guess you could say that the Zombies were very influential to the Doors too, that keyboard based sound, that image of "upper culture" men, well written lyrics and the intimate vocals.
THANKS Georgie and welcome to 2011!
have a lovely year, your blog is the best on the netty!

Anonymous said...

such a nice album
i linked to it on my own blog
cheeres m8 !
http://whatamidownloading.blogspot.com/

Loppetti said...

Fantastic. Blunstone are a great singer. Thank you.

Doug said...

A 5 star album.Yes .... Wow!

J Thyme...kind said...

What a sleeper! Aged like fine wine. A good vintage!

hooch said...

Many Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Please, re-up???