Originally active from 1961 to 1967, English rock band The Zombies had a legacy that far outstripped record sales. With the exception of a handful of singles, the band’s releases failed to set the charts alight, meaning they could easily have become a footnote (albeit an important one) in the annuls of rock history. However, whilst much music from that era is very much of its time, The Zombies discography has an otherworldly, timeless quality that has matured like oak-aged whiskey, ensuring there was never a danger of being forgotten. Testament to their longevity, the band’s debut album, the aptly-titled Begin Here, gets a loving reissue to perfectly illustrate why The Zombies were the original…and the best.

As was often the case with British bands in the 1960’s, there were two versions of The Zombies’ debut album in existence; an edition tailored for the American market with slightly altered tracklisting, alongside the UK version. This reissue of Begin Here, released on the band’s own Beechwood Park Records, collates all seventeen tracks that comprised the UK pressings (on Decca) and that on the USA imprint (Parrot), making this the most comprehensive edition of Begin Here and the perfect place for those new to the band to start their journey. One of the retrospective criticisms of Decca pressing was the preponderance of cover versions, and that’s understandable as half the tracks featured outside composers. In an age when record labels demanded fresh product at an alarming rate, covers were often included out of necessity, rather than by design. However, as the opening couplet of ‘Road Runner’ and ‘Summertime’ prove, The Zombies covers were far from pedestrian. The latter puts a jazzy spin on proceedings, the keyboard gravy from Rod Argent being particularly potent as the band put a quintessentially English spin on this most American of tunes. Having been performed by everyone from Them to The Small Faces, there’s no denying a familiarity to R&B standards such as ‘Road Runner’ and unfortunately some of that prior knowledge seeped into the listening experience, making the album less impactful, creating a feeling of deja vu.

The three songs (‘Tell Her No’, ‘Sometimes’, and ‘It’s Alright With Me’) that appeared on the American issue were self-penned and their inclusion here evens the ballast somewhat. Yet, what the covers highlight is just how strong The Zombies’ songwriting was; ‘Woman’ and, of course, ‘She’s Not There’ more than hold their own against the covers, in fact the likes of ‘Woman’ shine that bit brighter by dint of their originality, along with the emotion the band invested in their composition. In tracks such as ‘I Can’t Make Up My Mind’ and ‘I Remember When I Loved Her’ you can here the seeds of what the band would achieve with Odessey and Oracle, that whimsical, autumnal sound that became The Zombies’ signature. With only two of these seventeen songs breaking the three-minute mark, the band prove themselves the ultimate editors, shaving off every superfluous note until all that’s left is pure song. However, the songs are overflowing with neat ideas, unusual chord progressions and unorthodox rhythms, so much so that they feel much longer, and their fullness means you’ll often forget you’re listening to a mono record.

Nowadays a band like The Zombies would be carefully nurtured, with a release schedule mapped out well in advance, and Decca’s casual approach to the band’s career undoubtedly stalled their progress (don’t forget, Decca were the label that let the Beatles get away). That this album was recorded over three separate days, and on rudimentary four-track equipment, makes it all the more impressive and we can only imagine what they could have achieved with more time and a bigger budget. Nevertheless, this is a great album and if you are new to The Zombies charm or you want to revisit its charms, you should definitely Begin Here.

• Begin Here is released via Beechwood Park Records on 17th April 2026.
• Official Website

Track List:

CD Version:

1. Road Runner
2. Summertime
3. I Can’t Make Up My Mind
4. The Way I Feel Inside
5. Work ‘N’ Play
6. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me / Bring It On Home To Me
7. She’s Not There
8. Sticks And Stones
9. Can’t Nobody Love You
10. Woman
11. I Don’t Want To Know
12. I Remember When I Loved Her
13. What More Can I Do
14. I Got My Mojo Working
15. It’s Alright With Me
16. Sometimes
17. Tell Her No

Vinyl Version:

Side A:

As above, tracks 1 through 9

Side B:

As above, tracks 10 through 17