In this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I’m delighted to be joined by musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer – Rod Argent.
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Rod is the keyboardist, founder and leader of the English rock band The Zombies. Their second album Odessey and Oracle is often mentioned by Paul Weller as his all time favourite. The band have supported Paul in concert in recent years and Rod played on Paul’s album True Meanings in 2018.
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EP93 – Rod Argent – The Zombies + Argent + True Meanings… ”J’suis the Grand Zombie…” – Paul Weller Fan Podcast : Desperately Seeking Paul
Three of the classic songs that Rod wrote and helped to make hits as a member of the Zombies in the 1960s now have total airplay in America alone of over 14 million. The US performing rights body BMI says that Time Of The Season stands at nearly seven million, She’s Not There at 4.5m and Tell Her No is on 3m.
If you spun them 14 million times back to back, that would represent about 80 years’ worth of continuous music!
Paul Weller has often called out Odessey and Oracle from The Zombies as one of his favourite ever albums. Here’s an article of him speaking to the BBC about it in 2010…
“The Zombies made one of the all-time greatest records in Odessey and Oracle. It came out in 1968 and by the time it had come out I think they had split. No-one bought it at the time.
It was a fantastic record, and of all the albums that get some kind of recognition from that period, they always seem to get overlooked.”
In the run-up to the release to Saturn’s Pattern, Paul sat down with the people at The Quietus to discuss his top 13 albums. Once again he called out The Zombies. Check out what he had to say here.
In 2018, Paul Weller released his 14th solo album True Meanings, with Rod Argent contributing to two stand out tracks (on an album full of stand out tracks!) – he plays Hammond organ on The Soul Searchers and Mellotron & Piano on White Horses.
Rod has had an incredible career – continuing to perform live and release new music with The Zombies – he was also once part of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band and has recorded with The Who, Chris Rea, Roger Daltrey, Paul Carrack and Andrew Lloyd Webber. He’s also been producer for the likes of Gilbert O’Sullivan, Tanita Tikaram and Nanci Griffith.
In 2019, The Zombies was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
2023 – New Album – Different Game
As discussed on my podcast, The Zombies began work on their new album, titled Different Game, after their 2019 induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a USA tour with Beach Boys auteur Brian Wilson.
Due for release on 31st March 2023 – You can order it and check out tour dates here.
2010 – Paul covers Time of the Season on Radio 2
2013 – The Mastertapes – Radio 4 – The Zombies
Paul was in the audience, and asked a question on the show back in May 2013.
You can hear the episode here – bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01sv8yf
2018 – The Soul Searchers – Paul Weller
Taken from the PW album True Meanings, Rod played Hammond Organ on this track written by Paul and Conor O’Brien from Villagers.
Conor adds vocals and plays Bass, Drums, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synth [Mini Moog] with Paul on Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Organ [Wurlitzer].
Strings arrangements By Hannah Peel, with Demon Strings playing on the song.
Percussion comes from “Stan” Kybert with Backing Vocals from Maxine Boxall and Tom Heel.
2018 – White Horses – Paul Weller
Rod Argent plays Mellotron and Piano on this one with Noel Gallagher on Organ [Space Hammond]…