Oracle

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Michael Hedges's last album before his untimely death is one of his best. The 1996 album opens with "The 2nd Law," a quietly intense and introspective piece, and moves on through the percussive "Ignition," the sprightly "Gospel," and two variations on the same piece, "Jitterboogie" and the playful "Jitterboogie (Family Version)." The sole vocal piece on the album is a nice turn on the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows," with Hedges backing himself on guitar and fretless bass. There are two other interesting cover choices, Henry Mancini's "Theme from Hatari!" and Frank Zappa's "Sofa No. 1." Oracle won the 1998 Grammy for Best New Age Album, and the award was richly deserved. --Daniel Durchholz

Oracle,Michael Hedges,Windham Hill Records,Contemporary Instrumental,Jazz Music,New Acoustic,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Solo Instrumental

Oracle

Tracks:

Care Of Cell 44
A Rose For Emily
Maybe After He's Gone
Beechwood Park
Brief Candles
Hung Up On Dream
Changes
I Want Her She Wants Me
This Will Be Our Year
Butcher's Tale
Friends Of Mine
Time Of The Season
Care Of Cell 44
A Rose For Emily
Maybe After He's Gone
Beechwood Park
Brief Candles
Hung Up On A Dream
Changes
I Want Her She Wants Me
This Will Be Our Year
Butcher's Tale
Friends Of Mine
Time Of The Season
A Rose For Emily (Alternate Mix 2)
Time Of The Season (Alternate Mix)
Prison Song (Care Of Cell 44 Backing Track)

Product Description

1. Care Of Cell 44
2. A Rose For Emily
3. Maybe After He's Gone
4. Beechwood Park
5. Brief Candles
6. Hung Up On A Dream
7. Changes
8. I Want Her She Wants Me
9. This Will Be Our Year
10. Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
11. Friends Of Mine
12. Time Of The Season
13. Care Of Cell 44
14. A Rose For Emily
15. Maybe After He's Gone
16. Beechwood Park
17. Brief Candles
18. Hung Up On A Dream
19. Changes
20. I Want Her, She Wants Me
21. This Will Be Our Year - Stereo Version
22. Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
23. Friends Of Mine
24. Time Of The Season
25. A Rose For Emily - Alternate Mix 2
26. Time Of The Season- Alternate Mix
27. Prison Song (Care Of Cell 44 Backing Track)

Format: CD

Amazon.com

The Zombies were perhaps the most British-sounding of all British Invasion groups, and yet they never scored a hit record in their native U.K. The band released three great singles over here, including the wonderful "Time of the Season," which concludes this 1968 masterpiece, frequently called Britain's version of Pet Sounds. This 30th anniversary edition presents both the stereo and mono versions (and there are substantial differences) of the melancholic, keyboard-dominated pop that flowed from Rod Argent and bassist Chris White. The Zombies' main songwriters explored "psychedelic" themes from odd angles. Here songs address a letter to a girlfriend in jail ("Care of Cell 44") and war ("Butcher's Tale"). There's even a "flowers-in-their-hair" hippie anthem (the gorgeous "Hung Up on a Dream"). Totally of its time, and, nevertheless, a timeless classic. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

Underrated Treasure! .......2007-07-27

Mint copies of the original record have sold for hundreds of dollars in specialty vinyl shops around the world for years. When this album was finally re-issued on CD I purchased it the first time I saw it on the store shelf.

As the story goes, The Zombies called it quits just after releasing "Odessey and Oracle" citing lack of funding to promote the record. Released in March (UK) and June (USA) of 1968, the album never gained any steam and was destined to fall hopelessly into obscurity. Only when "Time of The Season" became a surprise hit single in 1969, did the record label apply any interest to the record, "releasing" it once again with an alternate cover. CBS Records head of A&R, Al Cooper even persuaded Zombie's Rod Argent and Chris White to pony up their own advanced royalties from the album to go back into the studio to mix a stereo version specifically for the US market. It's quite a bittersweet story for a great band and a remarkable record that is a truly great example in mastery of the genre, to share in the spotlight with the likes of Sgt. Pepper, and Pet Sounds.

Pure magic.......2007-07-26

Odessey and Oracle is one of the many unfairly overlooked classics of the 60s. Released at the tail of the tail end of the decade to dissapointing sales, the Zombies' last album is a lush, evocative masterpiece. It's a record of dreamy psychedelic pop classics, a set of songs that combine multilayered instrumentation, delicate vocal harmonies, and soaring hooks to create some of the most atmospheric sounscapes you've ever heard. "Care Of Cell 44" is a rousing, piano driven ode to an incarcarated girlfriend that positively drips with yearning and hope, while "Maybe After He's Gone" is a beautifully melancholy anthem of loneliness. "Beechwood Park" is an almost groovy, undeniably catchy bit of nostalgia, and "Changes" features some crystal-coated vocals and rumbling percussion. "Butcher's Tale" is a truly unsettling anti-war song with some nightmarish lyrical imagery and a tense, desperate vocal performance. "This Will Be Our Year" and "I Want Her She Wants Me" are enticing, irresistable pop songs. Perhaps the album's most well-known song, "Time Of The Season" is a relentlessly groovy, unquestionably cool tune with some fantastically obtuse lyrics. My personal favorite track is "Hung Up On A Drum," an absolutely gorgeous swirl of dreamy (as the title implies) music and wistful, yearning lyrics. But really, the whole album is gorgeous. Anyone who gives a damn about rock, pop, or psychedlia should have it.

Do you distrust critics like me? .......2007-07-09

Generally I find that the critics "lost classics" were lost for a good reason. This album is one case where they got it right. This album should have been a huge hit - it's a crime that it got such little play back in the day. I can't guarantee that you'll like it as much as I do, but I can guarantee that it's top quality vocal pop/rock from the time when the music scene was exploding. Stir up the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Kinks and get a totally original treat.

An indispensible Sixties masterpiece.......2007-07-05

The Zombies really never got their due in their time, however, that has changed. They were a great singles band, and in this, their magnum opus, a great album band. Very Sixties, very pop, very good songwriters and performers, and ODESSEY AND ORACLE (purposely misspelled) stands alongside PET SOUNDS and SGT. PEPPER as one of the best albums of the era. The track everyone knows is "Time Of The Season", but every song on ODESSEY AND ORACLE is as outstanding. Ten perfect pop classics, flowing together like melted butter, with "Season" as the dessert. If you have not heard this album, you are in for a treat! Dense, beautifully harmonized vocals with the breathy Colin Blunstone in the lead, gorgeous keyboard work from Rod Argent, intricate and inventive bass guitar from Chris White, equally inventive drumming and percussion from Hugh Grundy, swirling, shimmering guitar from Paul Atkinson, and tremendous songwriting from Argent and White make ODESSEY AND ORACLE a must for any library.

And this CD, from Big Beat UK, presents the Thirtieth Anniversary Edition, with an enlightening booklet, beautiful remastering, and, both the MONO and STEREO versions of the album, with three bonus tracks appended!

A must-have for any Sixties Pop aficionado.

Fresh even now!.......2007-05-12

I had never heard this album before. I bought it on recommendation from a friend who read a review which praised it. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the musical depth of this remarkable band! The musicianship has all the hooks but those vocals will really grab you especially on the tracks: "BRIEF CANDLES" (my personal fave), "HUNG UP ON A DREAM, "CHANGES" and "FRIENDS OF MINE". There are some very mature themes explored here such as "CARE OF CELL 44" a letter to a girlfriend in jail and "A ROSE FOR EMILY" a heartbreaking account of loneliness. I've always liked the British rock sound much better than the American counterparts of the time even though it was American rock and roll that inspired most of these British artists in the first place. This album version has both the stereo and mono versions as well as extra tracks. The purists will like the mono tracks and they do sound good. When I collected 45's and had a stereo record player, I always thought the newer stereo recording sounded better. No exception here. If you've heard only the mono version and liked it, you should hear this one. If you are a fan of the 60's sound and never heard this album, your collection is missing a real gem! Buy this album!

Average customer rating:

Beyond mere music
Michael Hedges - Oracle....BRILIANT
A beautiful album with hippie twist
No wonder this won a grammy!
Hedges Returns to finger-style.

Oracle
Michael Hedges
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Aerial Boundaries
Taproot
Breakfast in the Field
Torched
Live on the Double Planet

ASIN: B000000NLT
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

The 2nd Law
Ignition
Baal T'shuvah
Dirge
Jitterboogie
Oracle
Gospel
Tomorrow Never Knows
Theme From HATARI!
Aura Muunta
Jitterboogie (Family Version)
Sofa No.1
When I Was 4
Bonus Track

Amazon.com essential recording

Michael Hedges's last album before his untimely death is one of his best. The 1996 album opens with "The 2nd Law," a quietly intense and introspective piece, and moves on through the percussive "Ignition," the sprightly "Gospel," and two variations on the same piece, "Jitterboogie" and the playful "Jitterboogie (Family Version)." The sole vocal piece on the album is a nice turn on the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows," with Hedges backing himself on guitar and fretless bass. There are two other interesting cover choices, Henry Mancini's "Theme from Hatari!" and Frank Zappa's "Sofa No. 1." Oracle won the 1998 Grammy for Best New Age Album, and the award was richly deserved. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews:

Beyond mere music.......2005-12-17

Who was Michael Hedges? One of the greatest acoustic guitar players ever, for sure, and a brilliant composer, but much more than that. His total mastery of technique enabled him to transcend the boundaries of his instrument and to speak with a direct connection to his soul. Not a striving to reach such a state, but the outpouring of a true master, of one who has attained it. I hear his music and no longer wonder about the reason for existence. Not to say that all of his music attains this lofty level, but a great deal does. Oracle might not be his best work, (although it is my personal favorite) but it's definitely in the top three.

Michael Hedges - Oracle....BRILIANT.......2005-11-14

Always wondered how you would answer the question "if I were stranded on a deserted island, what music would you take?" This one is without a DOUBT at the top of my list. Michael's untimely death STILL wracks me to this day. The man was just beginning to blossom. I can say without hesitation that this CD is the single most important piece of modern acoustic guitar ever made. The emotion laid forth on each and every song is unmatched. Strong enough review for you? Buy it, and if you do not like it, I WILL BUY THE COPY FROM YOU!!! If I had 100 copies of this album, I would be fine with that!
(...)

A beautiful album with hippie twist.......2004-02-18

I live in Santa Cruz, CA, and it's hard for me to listen to this album without thinking of the extremely artsy young hippie types that one used to frequently see wandering around the ocean front or downtown on Pacific Ave. I'm picturing the kind of young white person who wears his hair in dread knots and usually has a long thin face and colorful loose fitting clothes.

I realize that such an introduction is likely to put a lot of people off, but that simply is the persona that Hedges projects on this wonderful acoustic guitar album. I never really know whether those young men and their long skirted women really are as creative as they so desperately want to appear, but there is no question that Hedges had an abundance of inspiration flowing freely when he made this album.

The songs are generally melodic, and can be used if not for background music, then for a quiet accompanyment when puttering around the house. However, the album is so moody and introspective that it is best appreciated in a darkened room where the focus is on the music.

Hedges strikes me as a very good, but not quite superb, guitarist who is especially conscious of the resonance of his instrument. As a result, hearing this album on a very good stereo system straight from disk, or in a very high quality MP3, is probably best. You need to be able to hear the way his wooden acoustic guitar echoes to fully appreciate these songs.

As I've already implied, there is something very quirky about Hedges music on this album. The "Theme from Hitari," for instance, is not exactly a likely choice in music for most musicians. But Hedges makes this Henry Mancini song his own by giving it a lonesome, introspective air that is full of lush melancholy.

Ignition is another type of song. It is an obvious riff on the sound of a car starting up that has a sharp edged percusive energy to it that is at once humorous and somehow emotionally evocative.

Hedges doesn't have George Winston's great melodic gift, or Alex di Grassi's extraordinary technical felicity. Nevertheless, this is a good album straight from the heart of the best of the Windham Hill tradition. This is not likely to be considered the best disc in your collection, but it is one that people who have a little bit of the new age hippie in them are likely to enjoy.

No wonder this won a grammy!.......2002-02-07

This was the first Hedges cd I heard and I went on to get most of the others afterwards. The first three tracks are simply gorgeous as is "Gospel" and "Sofa No. 1" a nice addition for the Zappa fans...

But by far the stand out track is "Baal T'shuvah", an absolutely warm, well-rounded, fingerstyle song that is beyond description. Essential.

Hedges Returns to finger-style........2000-05-30

This album marks a return for Hedges in finger-style technique. Known for his earlier efforts, "Ariel Boundaries"/"Breakfast in the Field", that demonstrated finger-style playing....Hedges followed up with some collaborative efforts and non-finger-style albums.

Tracks:

Care Of Cell
A Rose For Emily
Maybe After He's Gone
Beechwood Park
Brief Candles
Hung Up On A Dream
Changes
I Want Her She Wants Me
This Will Be Our Year (Mono Mix)
Butcher's Tale (Western Front)
Friends Of Mine
Time Of The Season
I'll Call You Mine (Stereo Mix #1)
Imagine The Swan (Stereo Mix #1)
Conversation Off Floral Street
If It Don't Work Out (Overdubbed)
Don't Cry For Me (Overdubbed)
Smokey Day
She Loves The Way They Love Her
Time Of The Season (UK Mono Mix)
I'll Call You Mine (Overdubbed)
Imagine The Swan (Stereo Mix #2)

Customer Reviews:

Great Zombies.......2005-12-13

The Zombies were almost ignored by the record buyers through most of their relatively short career from 1963-68. They only managed to release two albums and about a dozen singles, of which only three hit the charts. Almost everything they did record was of very high standards.
This album, their second, from 1967 is usually considered their best recording moment; and it really is a great album. Both songwriters Rod Argent and Chris White contribute strong material.
Except for "Butcher`s Tale" for which I never really cared, there are no fillers here.
Then to the extensive inclusion of great bonus tracks.
Chris White`s "I`ll Call You Mine" was the B-side of the "Time of the Season" single and as such a very logical choice. A great recording
The White/Argent collaboration single "Imagine the Swan" was the follow up to their world-wide hit; unfortunately it failed undeservedly. It was recorded after Colin Blunstone had left the band; in fact they did record an album`s worth of material which recently has been released in Japan titled "Rest in Peace" which was the origal working title for their never released follow-up album. Most of these recordings are featured here as bonus tracks. Most of these recordings are up to the same standards as "Odessey and Oracle".

Besides "I`ll Call You Mine" and "Imagine The Swan" songs like "Smokey Day" and "I Could Spend the Day" are all-time Zombies favourites of mine.

Take an "Odessey".......2005-01-01

Many bands (the Beatles, the Beach Boys) at least dabbled in psychedelica, but the Zombies are often overlooked. For the 30th anniversary of "Odessey and Oracles," the Zombies' best album was rereleased in a new form, proving that their enchanting psychedelic pop has aged exceeedingly well.

The Zombies were unusually good at taking perky, sweet, lush music and wrapping it around a more serious song, such as the upbeat "Care of Cell 44" (guy writing to his jailed girlfriend), or the lovely "A Rose For Emily," a poignant little song that tells of a lonely woman doomed to stay lonely. "And as the years go by/she will grow old and die/The roses in her garden fade away/Not one left for her grave..."

But the Zombies aren't all sadness wrapped in happy music. There are perky songs about being happy in love, losing a love and hoping she'll return, and reminiscing about "golden days and golden summer nights." The album ends on a reassuring note with the laid-back "Time of the Season," which sounds like the ultimate hippie anthem.

I have no memories of the 60s, since I was only born in the eighties. But "Odessey and Oracle" gives a rosy glow to that era,. Psychedelic flair minus the hazy, and every song is a gem. Though "Time of the Season" was the sleeper hit from the album, it's not the best or catchiest song on here -- it's just one of many excellent ones.

Rod Argent was definitely an outstanding songwriter. He was able to create atmospheric and beautiful songs with very simple writing ("Brief candles in her mind/bright and tiny gems of memory"). Perhaps his finest moment here is "I knew he when summer was her crown/and autumn sad/how brown her eyes," as a kick-off to a colorful look at a woman compared to all the seasons.

Colin Blunstone's vocals were well-suited to the music: a bit husky, quite pleasant and mellow. The music itself was generally based on guitar, gentle drums, pretty piano, and wavering Mellotron, with a bit of accordian coming in in one song. There's a rich interweaving of many instruments, in all sorts of pop music. Some is almost classical in tone, some is uptempo stuff that is perfect for the radio.

The Zombies were in peak form in "Odessey and Oracle," churning out some of the purest pop music ever. As sweet and exquisite as it was in the 1960s.

Sheer, unmitigated brilliance........2004-12-29

Found this album at a garage sale when I was 10, fell in love with it, & now years later am thrilled to find that it exceeds even my youthful enthusiasm. I've never before been moved to write a review on this site before, but this album is the exception (I'm listening to it as I type). Think about a "Something Else" -era Kinks infused with "Carrie Anne"ish Hollies vocal harmonies and "Ummagumma"-era Pink Floyd production values and you'd be starting on the right track - but there's so much more to "Odyssey" than that. "Time of the Season" is the radio track, of course, but a moody masterpiece like "Beechwood Park" and the immense, spacious, otherworldly "Hung Up On A Dream" actually put it to shame. Apart from the dreadful "Butcher's Tale," there isn't a bad cut in the bunch - and you can hear threads of the remainder of the disc woven throughout rock history from '67 onward. "Influential" doesn't begin to describe the impact of this disc; basically, the entire history of '60s britpop is rewritten in the course of 40 minutes by this sadly underrated band. "Odyssey" also benefits from seeming somehow timeless - despite some incredibly naive lyrics (to 21st-century ears) this is incredibly forward-looking music. And still, it oozes late-'60s England with every chord. And just _try_ to play along with it...never has sophistication so moved you to snap your fingers...

As Good As It Gets.......2004-11-28

The Zombies 'Odessey & Oracle' (with bonus tracks) may well be the best CD I've ever heard. I can't honestly say I've ever enjoyed a CD more. My son (age 17) picked it up on a whim, (he liked Time of the Season), last August, and I've been playing it ever since. I'm addicted to 'Odessey & Oracle'. I've listened to it countless times since then, like once or twice a day, nearly every day. It's the singing, the vocals. Euphoric! They are just so happy, just so glad to be there! This is a CD in which the band just loves to sing - joyous, baroque, harmonious Beach Boys Beatles Barclay James Harvest Steeleye Span-like, they just love to sing! The lead vocals, the harmony vocals, the second harmony vocals, the background sounds, the oohs and ahhs and Beatlely little accents and touches permeate the disc - this band just loves to sing. Euphoric, that's it. Every cut is a musical journey, every cut has something special to offer, including the bonus tracks, (on which they also love to sing). I have no idea how I missed this when it was new, but I did. It's magnificent. I'm forever indebted to my son for finding it for me. (good thing I had him!) If you don't have it, GET IT!!! NOW!

See, there is a God.......2004-09-18

There's no way this minor group - nearly broke, on the way to breaking up in 1967 and seemingly stuck in an artistic rut - could have been expected to produce such a masterpiece. The songwriting, the harmonies, the performances are exquisite. This album caught more of that evocative summer than anything outside of Sgt. Pepper. Not one clinker in the bunch. There's a reason why this album was ranked #82 in the Rolling Stone Top 500 albums of all time and why some music giants today consider this album one of the most influential ever. This reissue is as low-fi as the original recording. You can almost hear the scratches from a cheap turntable. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

An Ode to wizboy....
i want to slap the person that told me to buy this cd
My First Exposure To Metal
Junk

Oracle
Kittie
Manufacturer: Artemis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spit
Until the End
Safe
Funeral for Yesterday
Paperdoll

ASIN: B00005QEYH
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

Oracle
Mouthful of Poison
In Winter
Severed
Run Like Hell
Pain
Wolves
What I Always Wanted
Safe
No Name
Pink Lemonade

Amazon.com

On Spit, Kittie's 1999 debut, the just-out-of-high-school all-female quartet were an anomaly, giving the male-dominated metal scene a run for its money thanks to the Canadian lineup's near death-metal heaviness. On sophomore outing Oracle, minus original guitarist Fallon Bowman, Kittie rock harder than ever, yet lack the memorable songs required from a band of any gender or genre. In songs like "Mouthful of Poison," Morgan Lander's often ethereal, decidedly feminine vocals contrast with bassist Talena Atfield's death-metal growls. That, along with ferocious double-bass drums and extreme aggression, are the band's hallmarks, broken up by a Kittie-ized cover of Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell" and "Safe," a spare, spooky and excellent departure in a sea of heavy sameness. Ultimately, Oracle's most redeeming quality is that of a role model for frustrated teenage girls, proving that, indeed, women are allowed to vent their rage and compete with men on the same playing field. --Katherine Turman

Album Description

Kittie's 2001 album on Artemis Records was produced by GGGarth (R.A.T.M, Red Hot Chili Peppers & Testament).

Customer Reviews:

An Ode to wizboy...........2007-06-15

"Funeral for Yesterday" may be a bad Kittie album, but it is GOD compared to "Oracle." This CD is just the epitome of bad. I have no idea whether to just review it or stop typing right now and smash my [burnt] copy of this album with a hammer. Like.... with "Funeral for Yesterday," you expect it to be an improved, mature CD because it's the fourth album the band has released (but it's not). But... this is Kittie's second album, and it is no better than the first CD (which is possibly the most annoying album I've ever listened to). The music didn't get better, it actually got worse (WOW!). The lyrics were just the same ol' "I HATE YOU!!!!" cr@p that was on the first album, and the vocals were still unbearable! I mean, I'm wasting my time just reviewing this, and that's something I don't say often. You know, this just isn't worth the typing. I'm just going to stop here. The album and band sucks, simple as that!

Oh, and for those that don't know who wizboy is, just check the comment box for my "Funeral for Yesterday" review.

i want to slap the person that told me to buy this cd.......2007-03-03

i bought this album(i think i was about 17) hoping beyond hope that it would be atleast half as good as most people were telling me,but it wasn't at the time.so,i've taken another listen,yet i still can't see why so many people loved this cd. all the 'non-bitching and moaning' that was supposedly absent was there, it was just covered under the lead vocalists inaudible growls and grunts.

you know,i think i have a new respect for the bands people call emo, because while they might be whiney and sometimes trite atleast they are whiney and trite clearly. i'd personally recommend listening to cannibal corpse or arch enemy if you just have to listen to guttural lyrics with a dark edge.

.......2006-10-20

This is my favorite Kittie album. The song "Mouthful of Poison" is arguably their best song. This is the type of album that grows on you with time. I don't like "Pink Lemonade" much because it builds too slowly after the onslaught of "No Name." I tend listen to this CD alone in my car rather than as background music.

My First Exposure To Metal.......2006-07-18

Back in 2002 I was very new to Metal and Kittie shocked me with their 2nd release "Oracle". Much more mature then Spit, with better lyrics,vocals and instrumentation. To this day "Oracle" has not woren off as many other bands have.

This is probably THE Kittie album to get. Even though Kittie is in the studio right now recording their 4th release which will be gold, no doubt. But none the less "Oracle" was a huge mile-stone for Kittie and they take no prisoners. You can here Oracle's presense on their 3rd release, "Until The End" but "Until The End" had much more melody, while "Oracle" is straight up Metal. A definite buy!

Junk.......2006-07-18

Kittie is a horrid metal band. I am not biased for the fact that they are women, but for the fact that they just arent talented. The singer is awful, and her vocals dont fit the type of music that they are playing. And if you want to talk about the music, ughhhh, horrid power cords that sound like a bunch of 4th graders could play. If you want to hear a great Female vocalist for a metal band then I highly recommend Arch Enemy. Once you hear them, you will ditch all you Kittie albums, and hear a talented female vocalist, with some great musicans.

Average customer rating:

Another (barely) classic psychedelic pop album from the 60's!
"Oracle" tells all
The most under-rated band ever
A Classic + a Great Lost Album!
The ONLY thing wrong here is the spelling..."Odessey"!

Odessey and Oracle
The Zombies
Manufacturer: Repertoire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Begin Here
The United States of America
Groovin'
The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society
The Notorious Byrd Brothers

ASIN: B00005B0PU
Release Date: 2001-04-09

Tracks:

Care of Cell
Rose for Emily
Maybe After He's Gone
Beechwood Park
Brief Candles
Hung Up on a Dream
Changes
I Want Her, She Wants Me
This Will Be Our Year
Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
Friends of Mine
Time of the Season

Album Description

German digipak reissue of the British Invasion act's 1968 album with 16 bonus tracks, 'I'll Call You Mine', 'She Loves the Way They Love Her', 'Imagine the Swan', 'Smokey Day', 'I'f it Don't Work Out', 'I Know She Will', 'Don't Cry For Me', 'Walking in the Sun', 'Conversation Off Floral Street', 'I Want You Back Again', 'Gotta Get a Hold of Myself', 'Goin Out of My Head', 'She Does Everything For Me', 'Nothing's Changed', 'I Could Spend the Day' and 'Girl Help Me'. Digipack. 2001 release.

Album Details

Digipak reissue with 17 bonus tracks. Completely different than the US version on Big Beat.

Customer Reviews:

Another (barely) classic psychedelic pop album from the 60's!.......2006-01-04

The 60's were indeed a great decade - SO many classics came out it's pretty staggering. The Zombies' "Odessey and Oracle" is but one of many timeless albums released in that decade, and it doesn't disappoint (though it's barely a classic). It's extremely accessible for most people and definitely fun and interesting to listen to (it also features the timeless hit "Time Of The Season"!). The singer is usually dead-on as a psychedelic pop singer - he has pretty good charm, although in some songs he's a little iffy (like on "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)"). The harmonies on this album are notably great. The lyrics are unfortunately not all that great. Musically the album is also fantastic. This is primarily a psychedelic album, but it DOES cover a little R&B and pop rock. The audio quality is also very very good considering it was recorded in 1968. I'm pretty sure everybody can enjoy this album along with other classics like, say, The Lovin' Spoonful's "Greatest Hits". I think I would've given this a "4.5", but its historical influence, the classic "Time Of The Season" and all the bonus tracks pushes it to a "5". Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album (except for probably "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914")

"Oracle" tells all.......2005-02-05

The most under-rated band ever.......2004-12-27

I don't understand why The Zombies aren't up there with The Beatles and The Beach Boys. I love listening to them for the same reasons I love listening to The Zombies: First of all, the music is just fantastic with no explanation needed at all - it's just fantastic. And Second of all, for the fun, clever, beautiful melodies and masterful harmonies. The Zombies are still uniquely original with there smooth cool vocals, jazz influenced style, there own version of production perfection, they've got Rod Argent on the keyboards, I don't know, the album speaks for itself. I've put the CD on for different people and because it's so timeless they thought it was some new band that was bringing a new sound or something. I think that timelessness is possibly the best trait a piece of music can have. And this totally has it.

This version of the album is the best I've found. Or the Zombie Heaven box set. But if you're not into the whole demo version thing, this CD and Begin Here with the German bonus tracks is a great combo and gets all the released tracks pretty much covered. That's a fantastic CD too. Both are musts, but Odessey & Oracle is a must more. No. Wait. Get both. But get Odessey & Oracle first. A greatest hits won't do. You would really miss out if you just got one greatest hits CD. Each song is truly great. That's something that's really rare. The album itself is a masterpiece and the bonus tracks are a must have. You'll understand when you get the CD. The more you listen to The Zombies, the more you fall in love with their music. Eventually you'll run out of Zombies songs to individually obsess over and you will be sad. But then you'll remember that you have both Begin Here and Odessey & Oracle with all these bonus tracks and you will be happy once again. The end.

A Classic + a Great Lost Album!.......2004-04-04

The British 1960's band the Zombies seemed to have all what it took to be a success. Two unsually gifted songwiters in Rod Argent and Chris White and two outstanding singers, Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent (again). What they may have lacked was a little more "edge" to balance their melodic music and "nice school-boys" image.

They actually did have early success with their 1964 single "She's Not There". But in spite of several strong singles were recorded and released during 1965-66, they somehow were not able to follow-up their early success.

So in early 1967 the band had not had a hit-record for more than two years, and it seemed that their time was over. They decided to record a final "real" album before they'd split up. The result was the highly acclaimed "Odessey and Oracle" which they recorded during the second half of 1967.

Of course they had hoped that one of the two first singles taken from these recordings "Friends of Mine" and "Care of Cell 44" would bring them back into the charts. And since this did not happen they assumed their time was over, so they disbanded before the album was actually released in April 1968.

Another single was chosen to promote the album, and the succeeding big success of "Time of the Season" in America came as a complete surprise. The album itself also reached the lower parts of the charts in the States.

Their music has proving its viability over the years, and this album contains some of their finest moments, with great tunes from both Argent and White.

After their unexpected 1968 "comeback" effort were made to secure a Zombies re-union. But Rod Argent and Chris White were already deeply involved in gathering a new band, which eventually would become "Argent".

In this transition period Argent and White were persuaded to do a final "Zombies" album which was given the title "R.I.P."

The album was supposed to consist of earlier out-takes and demos, ( with new overdubbings ) combined with new recordings.

This 12-songs "new" album was for release some time in 1969 but the album which had been given the title "R.I.P." was never released.

This was a big shame, as it would have been a great album.

In recent years this album has actually been released in Japan and all songs have been released released on various compilations. Here among the bonus-tracks you'll 11 of these songs of which most equals on the actual album. The box-set "Zombie Heaven" contains all 12 songs.

6 of these "R.I.P." songs are original Zombies recordings from 1964-66, featuring Colin Blustone on vocals. He was called in to record new vocals to "Walking in the Sun" which is the earliest track, from late 1964, but he is not involved in any of the "new" 1968 recordings. Rod Argent, who is also an incredibly fine singer, takes over the vocals on these tracks. All these 1968 songs / recordings are great. "Imagine the Swan", "Smokey Day", "Girl Help Me", "I Could Spend the Day" are outstanding songs. "Imagine the Swan" was released as a single and was a minor hit in America.

The earlier recordings featuring Colin Blunstone are equally strong. "If It Don't Work Out" was written for Dusty Springfield in 1965. The song was also released as the Zombies' final single in July 1969.

So apart from the one missing song ( "I'll Keep Trying" ) this highly recommed CD contains two great Zombies albums.

The ONLY thing wrong here is the spelling..."Odessey"!.......2003-11-08

O.K., nothing terribly witty or mindbendingly profound here. The others have said what had to be said. Virtually every track will have you marveling at the Zombies ability to play WITH music. Listening to this CD refreshed memories of thought and feeling that I thought were forever lost. "Brief Candles," "Smokey Day", and "Walking in the Sun" will renew your innocence... and, YES, that feeling just might provoke a tear or two. One of the top 5 albums of all time? It just might be. Just close your eyes and listen.

Average customer rating:

On an odessey

Odessey and Oracle
The Zombies
Manufacturer: Big Beat UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Doors
Icky Thump
Just Roll Tape: April 26th, 1968
Quadrophenia

ASIN: B000PATZQK
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Care of Cell
Rose for Emily
Maybe After He's Gone
Beechwood Park
Brief Candles
Hung Up on a Dream
Changes
I Want Her, She Wants Me
This Will Be Our Year
Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
Friends of Mine
Time of the Season

Album Description

Alongside Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds, there is Odessey & Oracle. A timeless classic that belatedly attained the recognition it so thoroughly deserved. And now, in 2007, it garners a fresh and massive batch of publicity as the track 'Time Of The Season' features in the prolific current TV ad' for Magners Irish Cider.

Customer Reviews:

On an odessey.......2007-06-26

Average customer rating:

Some of the most essential hot jazz from New Orleans...

Recorded in New Orleans 1925-1928
Oscar Celestin
Manufacturer: Jazz Oracle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set
Breaking Out of New Orleans 1922-1929
Marie Laveau
Slippin' Around, Vol. 1
The Complete Set: 1923-1926

ASIN: B000000O5W
Release Date: 2000-06-28

Tracks:

Original Tuxedo Rag
Careless Love
Black Rag
I'm Satisfied You Love Me
My Josephine
Station Calls-1
Station Calls-2
Give Me Some More
Dear Almanzoer
Papa's Got The Jim-Jams
As You Like It
Just For You Dear I'm Crying-1
Just For You Dear I'm Crying-3
When I'm With You
It's Jam Up
The Sweetheart Of T.K.O.
Ta Ta Daddy
Steppin' On The Gas
Everybody's Talking About Sammy
Mobile Stomp
Sing On
Short Dress Gal
Bogalousa Strut
Down By The Riverside
Over In The Glory Land

Customer Reviews:

Some of the most essential hot jazz from New Orleans..........2000-10-13

Here on this exellent CD are all of Oscar "Papa" Celestin's Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra recordings from the 20's. Celistin's legendary big band was the hottest group(only second to Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives & Sevens) to record in New Orleans in the 30's. Celistin's Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra was probably the 1st jazz band to record in New Orleans, and his band was HOT. Also included are all of the recordings done by the absolutly hot Sam Morgan's Jazz Band, which is just as hot and essential as Celestin's. This is essential, historical, and joyful New Orleans/Dixieland Jazz, and some of the earlist and greatest music recorede in New Orleans. These bands are legendary. This is essential for all, especially Dixieland and New Orleans collectors. A MUST BUY!!!

Average customer rating:

Oracle's Destiny
Michel Petrucciani
Manufacturer: Sunny Side Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000ROAM52
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

Oracle's Destiny
Big Sur / Big On
Amalgame
It's What I Am Doing When I Miss You
Mike Pee

Product Description

He said of himself, laughing: I m a guy who goes fast. Or again, mocking himself with seriousness, I m a very quick guy, it s not a choice, nor a desire, it s my life that goes fast. On this album, Michel Petrucciani went fast, and got to the point fast, but with a slowness that s delicious. Be it in ballads with a majestic rhythm, harmonic meditations without constraint, or on medium tempos (the tempos of the gods), the music is deployed with fullness, and no artifice to put us off the track. The only title to excite the music is Aldo Romano s composition Amalgame (the others are by the pianist); the remainder are set free far from any nervousness, and are offered, quite naturally, as a gift to Bill Evans, to whom Oracle s Destiny is predictably dedicated.

Average customer rating:

Gee but it's HEAVEN when your under the Spell Of The Blues..

Volume 2
The Dorsey Brothers
Manufacturer: Jazz Oracle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Swing Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Volume 3
Volume 1
Volume 4

ASIN: B000000O5Z
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

The Spell Of The Blues
Let's Do It
My Kinda Love
Mean To Me
Button Up Your Overcoat
I'll Never Ask For More
Lover, Come Back To Me (Part 1)
Lover, Come Back To Me (Part 2)
Daddy, Change Your Mind
You Can't Cheat A Cheater
Beebe
Praying The Blues
Am I Blue
Baby, Oh! Where Can You Be?
Breakaway
Singin' In The Rain - A
Singin' In The Rain - B
Your Mother And Mine
Maybe - Who Knows?
Have A Little Faith In Me - 2
Have A Little Faith In Me - 3
Congratulations
Beside An Open Fireplace
Was It A Dream? - D

Customer Reviews:

Gee but it's HEAVEN when your under the Spell Of The Blues.........2004-01-04

This is great late 20's early 30's hot jazz, and early danceband stuff, and even early swing by the Dorsey Brothers!!! Exellent. A Version of Spell Of the Blues, almost as good as Sam Coslow's version! An exellently done CD, for collectors of hot dance music, and Dorsey historians(Both Tommy & Jimmy)!!!