"The Zombies - Odessey and Oracle" Unisex T-Shirt

They Recorded It at Abbey Road Right After the Beatles Finished Sgt. Pepper's. Then They Broke Up. Then It Became a Masterpiece.

The spelling is intentional. The original album artwork misspelled "Odyssey" as "Odessey" — a mistake the band caught too late and kept. If you're wondering whether the tee is wrong, it isn't. That's the title.

The Zombies recorded Odessey and Oracle at Abbey Road in 1967, immediately after the Beatles had vacated the studio following the Sgt. Pepper's sessions. They used the same rooms, the same Mellotron. CBS Records funded the sessions — around £1,000 — and then did almost nothing to promote the finished album. It came out in April 1968 to general indifference. By then, the band had already broken up, convinced their career was over. Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone went their separate ways. The album sat.

Nearly two years later, a Chicago DJ started playing "Time of the Season." It caught, then spread, then hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1969. Suddenly there was enormous demand for the Zombies. The real Zombies were at home in England, pursuing other careers. There were reportedly fake Zombies touring America to cash in on the hit while the actual band members were unaware they'd become famous. CBS eventually reissued the album. It sold. Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 greatest albums ever made.

Rod Argent had written "She's Not There" — their first hit, in 1964 — in one sitting after being stood up by a girl. Colin Blunstone's vocal on that record had a distinctive processed quality, slightly reverbed, that stood apart from everything else on the radio that year. The band had been finding its way toward Odessey and Oracle since the beginning. They just weren't there to see it arrive.

The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

Also in the collection: See our full Classic Rock collection.

Premium Quality

• Bella + Canvas 3001 — Premium unisex tee, true to size
• Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton — Exceptionally soft from the first wear
• Classic unisex fit — Relaxed, versatile, works for everyone
• Tear-away label — Clean comfort, all day

Made to Order

For environmental and quality reasons, this tee is made specifically for you after you order. Please allow approximately one week for production. Tracking information will be sent as soon as it ships.