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100 Songs That Have Moved Me | Song #020: "She's Not There" (1964)
Title: "She's Not There"
Artist: The Zombies
Composers: Rod Argent
Producer: Ken Jones
Release Date: July 24, 1964
Peak Chart Position: #2 (Hot 100)
Album: Begin Here (1965)
Rolling Stone metadata:
Words from the artist:
How this song moves me:
An infectious yet maudlin injection of jazz into the British Invasion, this song epitomizes heartbreak to me. From the almost sarcastic bent of the verses, to the deadened bridge ("It's too late to say you're sorry / How would I know, why should I care?"), to the burst of emotion that accompanies the chorus, this song is that whole tumult of emotions encapsulated in under 3 minutes. It's the perfect piece to evoke in those post-explosion moments, when my characters are taking stock of themselves, and of their situations.
Artist: The Zombies
Composers: Rod Argent
Producer: Ken Jones
Release Date: July 24, 1964
Peak Chart Position: #2 (Hot 100)
Album: Begin Here (1965)
Rolling Stone metadata:
Rank: #297
Blurb: With Colin Blunstone’s gauzy vocals and Argent’s scampering piano, "She’s Not There" was one of the British Invasion’s jazziest singles. Argent was a fan of Elvis and the Beatles, but also Miles Davis, who became a subconscious influence. "When I wrote and played 'She’s Not There,' the last thing on my mind was jazz or Miles," says Argent, "but those things filtered through." (Source)
Words from the artist:
Rod Argent built the lyrics of "She's Not There" from the title of a John Lee Hooker song whose title "No One Told Me" became the opening phrase of "She's Not There". Following an April 29 1964 performance by the Zombies at St Albans Market Hall, Argent played the one verse he had written of the song for Ken Jones who was set to produce the band's first recording session, with Jones encouraging Argent to write a second verse for the song with the intent of the band recording it. Argent recalls: "I wrote the song for Colin's range" referring to Zombies' vocalist Colin Blunstone - "I could hear him singing it in my mind."
"She's Not There" was one of four songs recorded by the Zombies at a June 12 1964 recording session at Decca's West Hampstead Studio #2: recorded second, the song's backing track necessitated seven takes. One of the song's most distinctive features is Argent's electric piano sound; the instrument used was a Hohner Pianet. The backing vocals are in a folk-influenced close-harmony style.
The narrator has unsatisfactory dealings with an untrustworthy female. He reproaches unspecified associates for failing to warn him of her unsavory character. The real inspiration behind the song, however, was his first love, Patricia, who called off their wedding weeks before and broke his heart. (Source)
How this song moves me:
An infectious yet maudlin injection of jazz into the British Invasion, this song epitomizes heartbreak to me. From the almost sarcastic bent of the verses, to the deadened bridge ("It's too late to say you're sorry / How would I know, why should I care?"), to the burst of emotion that accompanies the chorus, this song is that whole tumult of emotions encapsulated in under 3 minutes. It's the perfect piece to evoke in those post-explosion moments, when my characters are taking stock of themselves, and of their situations.
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