The group was formed while the members were at school and gained their initial reputation playing at various clubws in that city. After winning a beat-group competition sponsored by the London Evening News, The Zombies signed to Decca and recorded their first hit, "She's Not There" , which was released in mid-1964 and peaked at number 12 in the UK, where it was their only UK Top 40 hit.
Like many other British Invasion groups, The Zombies were sent to the United States to tour behind their new hit single.
In 1967, The Zombies signed to CBS Records, for whom they recorded the album Odessey and Oracle. (The word odyssey was misspelled by cover designers.) By the time Odessey and Oracle was released in April 1968, the group had disbanded.
The album comprising twelve songs by the group's principal songwriters, Argent and Chris White, is ranked 80 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
The album sold poorly. However, "Time of the Season", written by Argent, was released in August 1967 as a single and eventually (1969) became a nationwide hit (Billboard #3).It did not chart on the band's native Britain.
The song's characteristics include the unique voice of lead singer Colin Blunstone, the memorable bass riff (which is similar to Ben E. King's hit "Stand By Me"), and Rod Argent's fast-paced psychedelic improvisation.
The lyrics are an archetypical depiction of the emotions surrounding the Summer of Love. It is famous for its call-and-response verses "What's your name? (What's your name?) [Janette] / Who's your daddy? (Who's your daddy?) / (He rich?) Is he rich like me?".
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