On Track – Oasis. The Carpenters. The Zombies

Author:Andrew Rooney, Paul Tornbohm, Emma Stott

I’m not the world’s biggest Oasis fan – in fact I haven’t heard any of the music they’ve released this century give or take the odd single. However, you can’t deny the quality of their output in the mid nineties – the first two albums still stand up today, not to mention the numerous top quality songs they put out as non-album tracks. This book takes a comprehensive look at all their music, including the singles, and isn’t afraid to cast a critical eye over the below par efforts when called for, In hindsight, perhaps they carried on for too long, managing another full decade, with seemingly ever diminishing returns, after the Knebworth show in 1996 which was arguably their zenith. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book _ it’s well written and in a very readable format, and if you’re after a potted history of the band’s music you could do a lot worse than start here.

I think everyone knows at least some of The Carpenters songs. Between 1969 and 1981 the brother and sister duo were seemingly a daily presence on the radio, and sold over 100 million albums. A lot of the music was quite pleasant but disposable easy listening – Jambalaya, Mr Postman, Top of the World and the like, but there were gems to be found now and then, Yesterday Once More, Close to You, Superstar all highlight Karen’s mellifluous vocals, and I’ve always harboured a sneaking affection for Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft. No one needs the individual albums really but this book goes through them meticulously song by song anyway, but every collection should have on the numerous ‘best ofs’ for that feet up relaxing moment in your life – it’s worth it just for the guitar part on Goodbye to Love, which must rank as one of the best easy listening solos ever, alongside The Commodore’s Easy and Guitar Man by Bread.

I don’t know too much about The Zombies, other than an occasional hearing of the Odyssey and Oracle album and the Time of the Season and She’s Not There singles. This book recounts the complex history of a band that has had many afterlives after its original incarnation, and is still sporadically recording and touring in the 21st century. There are new interviews with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent along with contemporary quotes from the archives in this forensic look at the band’s chequered career, including the various line ups over the past fifty years, the break ups and reunions, even encompassing the story behind the ‘counterfeit’ Zombies. If you’re interested in this iconic band then this book is certainly worth a couple of hours of your time.

Length of Read:Short

Might appeal to people who enjoyed…

Fans of these artists or newcomers looking for an introduction to their work.

One thing you’ve learned

As always, I take my hat off to the authors, who are prepared to put in the time and effort to create a book covering the music their favourite artists.

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