80) Odessey and Oracle

Buy the album at Rhino.com

The Zombies broke up two weeks after they completed Odessey and Oracle, in December 1967, and the album wasn't released in the U.S. until 1969, after Al Kooper had heard a British pressing and lobbied his label, CBS, to release it here. But its baroque psychedelic arrangements continue to exert a powerful influence -- Beck and Fountains of Wayne each cover its songs live. Recorded in London at both Abbey Road and a Stones haunt, Olympic Studios, Odessey combined the adventure of Sgt. Pepper with the concision of British Invasion pop. "Time of the Season" went on to become a Number Three hit.

Total album sales: Under 500,000

Peak chart position: 95

Next: Paul Simon

Back to RS 500 Albums!
Back to RS 500 Songs!