A Note From The Reissue Producer
07/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the first official release in the U.S. of The Zombies second album from 1966. This extremely rare Zombies album known as the I Love You album was issued at the time only in Holland and Japan. The release features six bonus tracks not include the original album."
The Undead
hodelay | Allamuchy, USA | 07/11/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I love almost everything the Zombies recorded and like the rest, so the musical rating here is obviously a five, but this collection is far from necessary, hence the three stars. This may have an identical track listing to an album issued in Holland and Japan in 1966, but it really is a pointless addition to most Zombies enthusiasts' collections. It's basically an amalgamation of their UK debut, `Begin Here,' and their eponymous US debut with a few middle period singles tossed in. Anyone who already owns Begin Here or The Zombies would be better served to get the Decca Single double disc or, of course the end all in Zombies collections: `Zombie Heaven:' every track the band recorded in its all too short career is represented. If you're new to the Zombies this may be alright for you, though it neglects quite a few of the better early songs that appear on the US and UK releases. Then again, why not start out with the absolute masterpiece: `Odessey and Oracle?'"
Exquisite collection of odds, sods and hits
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 08/31/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's a testament to The Zombies greatness that a haphazard collection of this sort - originally pieced together in 1966 by their Dutch and Japanese label branches, and augmented in 2004 by Varese - could be so thoroughly brilliant. Colin Blunstone's voice is the sort that would be engaging on the prototypical read through the phonebook, but given the range of stellar rockers, chamber-pop, and folk-flavorings penned by Blunstone, Rod Argent and Chris White, The Zombies were perhaps second only in the British Invasion to the Beatles in their combination of vocal hooks and pop songcraft.
Varese's update of this rare LP swaps a few versions/mixes with those that originally appeared on the album, attempting to provide those who purchased the reissue of the band's debut album a bit of variety. Given the rarity of the original LP, few listeners are going to notice the changes, and those who buy both CDs get less duplication. The favor given to mono in several cases gives listeners the chance to hear the hot AM-ready mixes in their original form. It's a wonder that some of these tracks, such as the driving "Is This the Dream," didn't push the mix deeply into the red.
As others have noted, it's difficult to gauge the market for this disc. It's neither as complete as the "Zombie Heaven" box set, nor as singular an achievement as "Odyssey and Oracle." By substituting different mixes (in a generous attempt to avoid duplication with Varese's other Zombies reissue) the original artifact has been sufficiently modified that it doesn't quite serve as a true CD issue of the rare Holland/Japan original. Still, it's a very appealing amalgam of Zombies material, and would certainly please fans of the British Invasion who've yet to stock up on Zombies material."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1