Genre: pop
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: One Year
Company: Epic
Catalog: E-3094
Year: 1971
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: original textured cover
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: SOLD
Price: SOLD
Say what you will about Colin Blunstone, but you'll have to admit that he has one of rock's most distinctive voices.
Lots of folks are under the mistaken impression that 1971's "One Year" is Blunstone's post-Zombies solo debut. It isn't. With The Zombies calling it quits in 1968, Blunstone actually dropped out of music, taking a job with a London-based insurance company. He reluctantly returned to music, cutting a series of three singles for Deram Records under the pseudonym 'Neil Macarthur'. He even scored a UK hit with a remake of The Zombies' 'She's Not There'. Those successes convinced Blunstone to embark on a true solo career.
By coincidence, Blunstone crossed paths with former Argent band mates Rod Argent and Chris White who had recently signed a recording and production deal with Epic. The three quickly agreed on a collaboration, with the end result bring 1971's "One Year". Co-produced by Argent and White the title was supposedly an autobiographical reference - the liner notes said "This album is the story of a year of mine from the July of 'She Loves the Way They Love Her' to the July of 'Say You Don't Mind', a time of searching and of beginning all over again." It also apparently a reference to the long and painful recording sessions. Musically the set's a wonderful showcase for Blunstone's instantly recognizable lighter than air voice. It also serves as a showcase for Blunstone as a writer. As a member of The Zombies few of his tunes were ever recorded, but here he's responsible for half of the material. So what's it sound like? Well anyone into The Zombies will love this album. Propelled by Chris Gunning's pretty string arrangements tracks such as 'Smokey Days', 'Though You Are Far Away' and 'Her Song' are best described as baroque rock. Imagine something by The Left Banke and you'll be in the right ballpark. Perhaps a bit fey for some listeners, those numbers are balanced out by a couple of nice rockers, including 'She Loves the Way They Love Her' and the blue-eyed soul-ish 'Mary WOn't Warm My Bed' (the former actually originally recorded by The Zombies and featuring the band Argent). The result is probably Blunstone's most consistent and enjoyable album. Epic also tapped the album for an American single: 'Say You Don't Mind' b/w 'You Are Far Away' (Epic catalog number 5-10868). They should have picked 'Caroline Goodbye'.
"One Year" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) She Loves the Way They Love Her (Rod Argent - Chris White) -
2.) Misty Rose (Tim Hardin) -
3.) Smokey Days (Rod Argent - Chris White) -
4.) Caroline Goodbye (Colin Blunstone) -
5.) Though You Are Far Away (Colin Blunstone) -
(side
2)
1.) Mary Won't Warm My Bed (Michael D'Abo) -
2.) Her Song (Rod Argent - Chris White) -
3.) I Can't Live Without Her (Colin Blunstone) -
4.) Let Me Come Closer To You (Colin Blunstone) -
5.) Say You Don't Mind (Denny Laine) -
Blunstone has a small but
interesting website at:
www.colinblunstone.com
