I've been waiting what seems forever to see Colin Blunstone live. We've just kept missing each other.
With a career in music spanning over 50 years he's been around with what seems like forever.
He started his career with the 60s beat combo - The Zombies. With Rod Argent at the helm, they made some severe dents in the chats all over the world including America.
Then in 1969, Colin began a solo career that continues to this day. Not exactly prolific, Colin has released 10 solo albums in that time but has kept touring, singing songs from throughout his career.
In fact, the week previous to this gig, Colin and the rest of the Zombies were playing to thousands as he and the rest of The Zombies were inducted into The Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame in Brooklyn, USA.
And today, he was playing a small venue in the outskirts of Cardiff. And he still has that glorious voice.
Here he is with the rest of The Zombies playing at the Induction Ceremony for the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame.
In a game of two halves, Colin and his band went right back to The Zombies and from his first solo album, One Year (1971) to the present day to weave together a show that ebbed and flowed to highlight that fabulously distinctive and delicate voice we've learned to love.
Opening with She Loves The Way They Love her from One Year, it was a a beautiful experience for two hours swimming in the waters of these songs that have been with me for so many years,
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
Throughout the evening he was telling stories about his career in music and the stories behind the songs. He was informative and self effacing and sometimes I just wanted to jump up on stage and give him a big Welsh man hug.
I could have done that just for the 4th track of the evening, the stunning I Don't Believe In Miracles from one of my favourite all time albums, Ennismore, released in 1972.
I Don't Believe In Miracles
The first half contained some gorgeous songs including Wild Places, Any Other Way, So Much More, Caroline and the Motown classic, Tracks of My Tears.
Though You Are Far Away
Colin and the band closed Part 1 with another of his UK hits, Say You Don't Mind
Say You Don't Mind
The band returned to the stage for Part Two and kicked off with a song by fellow Zombie, Rod Argent, called Wonderful from the 1974 album Journey.
Wonderful
Part Two was very much a continuation of Part One with yet more reminiscing by Colin as he plucked jewels galore from his solo output including Beginning, Dancing In The Starlight, Now I Know, Misty Roses and Planes
Let's Keep The Curtains Closed Today
Now I Know
Clearly in an evening of nostalgia and playing to an audience consisting of the majority of over 55's, it was no surprise that the older songs garnered the most plaudits. In a killer 3 song finale Colin started with The Zombies classic Time Of The Season which got the crowd up and dancing near the stage.
Time Of The Season
They all sat down again for the gorgeous Old & Wise, one of Colin's best collaborative songs - this one being from the Alan Parson's fabulous album, Eye In The Sky.
Old & Wise
But, you can't keep a good crowd down, or end on a ballad for that matter, so it was a return to The Zombies to close the set with their biggest song, She's Not There as the crowd danced away again.
As a non dancer these days I was more impressed by the way Colin's voice was as strong at the end of the show as it was in the beginning. He clearly looks after his instrument and it was a joy to hear him on such fine form.
She's Not There
The band still had one more song in them - and they returned to The Zombies for a raucous Just Out Of Reach. Another fabulous 1960s classic.
All in all a fabulous evening with Colin picking some fabulous songs and giving the sold out audience exactly what they wanted. Really you can't ask for more than that. And i finally got to hear him sing I Don't Believe In Miracles live. Mission completed
Twitter - @ColinBlustone1
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