British Invasion legends The Zombies have announced plans to reissue their 1965 debut U.K. album, Begin Here, on April 17. The new edition of the album will feature a newly remastered version of its original mono mix.
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The reissue features 17 tracks, including the 14 songs featured on the original version of Begin Here, which was released in April 1965. It also includes three additional tunes that appeared on the U.S. version of the album, which was titled, simply, The Zombies, and released in February 1965.
Begin Here featured The Zombies’ breakout hit and first single, “She’s Not There,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 12 in the U.K. The reissue also includes the band’s second hit, “Tell Her No,” which wasn’t included on the original Begin Here. It reached No. 6 on the Hot 100, but only No. 42 in the U.K.
Begin Here failed to chart in the U.K., while The Zombies reached No. 39 on the Billboard 200.
The album featured original songs written by keyboardist Rod Argent and bassist Chris White, as well as some interesting cover songs. Among the latter were a version of George and Ira Gershwin’s “Summertime,” the Muddy Waters classic “I Got My Mojo Working,” and a medley combining Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me.”
More Release Details About the ‘Begin Here’ Reissue
The Begin Here reissue can be pre-ordered now. The album is available on CD, as a standard black-vinyl and limited-edition gold-marble-vinyl LP, and via digital formats. Special bundles also can be purchased boasting the LPs and a bonus seven-inch single featuring “She’s Not There” and the B-side “The Way I Feel Inside.”
The Zombies have made the newly remastered mono version of “It’s Alright With Me” an advance track from the reissue. The groovy rock-and-roll tune was the song written by The Zombies’ virtuosic keyboardist Argent. You also can check out a colorful animated lyric video for the song at the group’s YouTube channel.
In honor of the release announcement, here are four must-hear songs from the Begin Here reissue:
“She’s Not There”
“She’s Not There” is undoubtedly The Zombies’ best-known song besides their classic 1968 hit “Time Of The Season.” One of the earliest tunes written by Argent, “She’s Not There” combines elements of jazz, R&B, and baroque pop.
The song is sung from the perspective of a guy whose heart has been broken by an unfaithful and deceitful girlfriend who has left him.
In the 2001 Zombies biography Hung Up On A Dream, Argent explained that he wrote “She’s Not There” with frontman Colin Blunstone’s strong, smooth voice in mind.
“She’s Not There” was released as a single in July 1964 and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in December of that year.
In 2016, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“Tell Her No”
Written by Argent, “Tell Her No” was a jazzy pop tune with interesting stop-start dynamics. The song was highlighted by Blunstone’s soaring, emotive vocals, featuring a chorus punctuated by interesting backing harmonies.
“Tell Her No” is sung from the point of view of a young man who’s still in love with an ex-girlfriend and is imploring another guy to resist her advances if she flirts with him.
The song was released as a single in the U.S. in December 1964. Reaching No. 6 on the Hot 100, it stands as The Zombies’ third biggest hit after “She’s Not There” and “Time Of The Season.”
“I Can’t Make Up My Mind”
“I Can’t Make Up My Mind” is a catchy, melodic song with a slightly off-kilter beat and interesting minor-chord changes. The tune, which was written by White, is sung by a guy who’s asking someone to help him decide whether or not he should return home to a girlfriend who loves him.
“The Way I Feel Inside”
“The Way I Feel Inside” is a quiet ballad written by Argent. The track begins with just Blunstone’s voice, unaccompanied by any instruments. A mournful organ joins Colin’s vocals later in the track.
The song is sung from the perspective of a young man who wants to tell a woman he has feelings for her, but is afraid to do so because he doesn’t want to be rejected.
‘Begin Here’ (Mono Remastered) CD Track List:
- “Road Runner”
- “Summertime”
- “I Can’t Make Up My Mind”
- “The Way I Feel Inside”
- “Work ‘N’ Play”
- “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me/Bring It On Home To Me”
- “She’s Not There”
- “Sticks And Stones”
- “Can’t Nobody Love You”
- “Woman”
- “I Don’t Want To Know”
- “I Remember When I Loved Her”
- “What More Can I Do”
- “I Got My Mojo Working”
- “It’s Alright With Me”
- “Sometimes”
- “Tell Her No”
(Photo by Keith Waldegrave)
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