‘One Year’ is a gorgeous record and a perfect example why Colin Blunstone is considered one of the best and most original vocalists in rock.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Colin Blunstone
ALBUM: One Year
LABEL: Epic
SERIAL: 64557
YEAR: 1971
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Colin Blunstone – vocals * Rod Argent – keyboards * Russ Ballard – guitars * Bob Henrit – drums, percussion * Jim Rodford – bass
TRACK LISTING: 01 She Loves The Way They Love Her * 02 Misty Roses * 03 Smokey Day * 04 Caroline Goodbye * 05 Though You Are Far Away * 06 Mary Won’t You Warm My Bed * 07 Her Song * 08 I Can’t Live Without You * 09 Let Me Closer To You * 10 Say You Don’t Mind
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Colin Blunstone has had a stellar career as a solo artist, Keats and fronting The Zombies who’s only album ‘Odyssey and Oracle’ is often considered to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time right up there with ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’.
Unfortunately that record became a hit only after the band had split up and Blunstone had left the music business for a ‘real job’ in the insurance industry, only to be encouraged by close friends to come back and record his first solo album ‘One Year’.It took a year to record the album, hence the title and the first sessions were done with former Zombies band mate Rod Argent and his new band – Argent. The second sessions were done with string arrangements and are what were chosen for the album.
The Songs
‘One Year’ is a gorgeous record and a perfect example why Blunstone is considered one of the best and most original vocalists in rock. The albums orchestration is never over bearing and the effect is more Beatles than Moody Blues.
Blunstone’s vocal range is out of this world from a near whisper on ‘Though You Are Far Away’ to typical pop fare on ‘Mary Won’t You Warm My Bed’. This is a very autumnal sounding album and it’s difficult to pick out a favourite track since ‘One Year’ works much better played straight through, taking in the beauty of the work like falling leaves and a new frost.
In Summary
Following this album, Blunstone released ‘Ennismore’ and ‘Journey’ which are also very good albums and worth checking out along with the aforementioned Keats album which is already well known among Glory Daze readers. Currently Blunstone has teamed up once again with Rod Argent as The Zombies and released a couple of so-so discs, nothing close to the brilliance of ‘Odyssey and Oracle’ or the early Blunstone solos.
