Care of Cell 44

"Care of Cell 44" is a single by The Zombies, from their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. It was featured on Pitchfork Media's 200 Best Songs of the 1960s list,[1] and has since been covered by modern artists including Elliott Smith and Of Montreal.

"Care of Cell 44"
Single by The Zombies
from the album Odessey and Oracle
B-side"Beechwood Park"
Released24 November 1967
RecordedAbbey Road Studios, 16–17 August 1967
Genre
Length3:53
LabelDate Records
Songwriter(s)Rod Argent
Producer(s)The Zombies
The Zombies singles chronology
"Friends of Mine"
(1967)		 "Care of Cell 44"
(1967)		 "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)"
(1968)

Content

"Care of Cell 44" tells the story of a person writing to their partner in prison, as they await their release from prison.[2] Rod Argent, the Zombies main songwriter said "It just appealed to me. That twist on a common scenario, I just can't wait for you to come home to me again".[3] Given the subject matter, the music accompanying this is very upbeat and jaunty, and has been described as "the sunniest song ever written about the impending release of a prison inmate."[1] Arts journalist Matt Kivel described the music as a "sprightly piano jingle."[2] The melody incorporates multiple key changes.[2]

Recording history

"Care of Cell 44" was recorded under the working title of "Prison Song" in 4 takes on 16 August 1967. The master recording was completed on 17 August 1967 with a take 5 reduction of take 4. Take 1 was a false start and take 2 was a complete take of the backing track. Both of these outtakes were issued as a bonus track on the 30th Anniversary CD edition of Odessey and Oracle in 1998 by Big Beat Records. The song actually had a second working title of "Care Of Cell 69" but The Zombies' American publisher, Al Gallico told them they couldn't call it that.[4]

Reception

At its time of release as the lead single for Odessey and Oracle in 1967, the track was not a success, causing some of the tension that led to the eventual breakup of the band in December of that year. Colin Blunstone, the group's vocalist said, "I thought that 'Care of Cell 44' was incredibly commercial. I was really disappointed when it wasn't a hit."[3]

However, subsequent critical reappraisal of the album, following both the success of "Time of the Season" the following year and the album's later cult following[5][6] has led to the track becoming much more popular, resulting in several cover versions from modern artists.

AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald calls it a "breezy, infectious pop melody" with "choral harmony breaks," and particularly praises Chris White's "melodic" bass playing.[7] He also remarks that the song shows its Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney influences but remains original.[7] Matt Kivel claims that "in three minutes and fifty three seconds The Zombies have slyly redefined the lyrical conventions of a modern pop song."[2] Music critic Antonio Mendez called it one of the sublime songs on Odessey and Oracle.[8]

Personnel

Production notes

Cover versions

It is used as the theme song for the TV broadcast version of Stone Quackers; however on streaming websites such as Hulu, the song is replaced by the song St. Jacques by Lightning Bolt.

It plays in the background during one of Carol’s sleep-deprived dream sequences in Episode 3 / Season 10 of The Walking Dead.

It is alluded to in the Okkervil River song “Plus Ones.”

Was used as the opening song in Season 2, Episode 1 of the Showtime show United States of Tara

It was used in a US television advertisement for Belvita breakfast biscuits in 2020.

References
  1. "Pitchfork: The 200 Greatest Songs of the 60's". Pitchfork Media.
  2. Kivel, M. (26 September 2006). "Odessey and Oracle (1968)". The Michigan Daily. p. 9. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  3. "Care of Cell 44 at Songfacts.com". Mojo Magazine. March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  4. Zombie Heaven CD box booklet, page 49.
  5. 80) Odessey and Oracle : Rolling Stone
  6. Top 101-200 Favourite Albums Ever : The Stylus Magazine List - Article - Stylus Magazine Archived 14 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Greenwald, M. "Care of Cell 44". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  8. Mendez, A. (2007). Guía del pop y el rock 80 y 90: Aloha poprock (2nd ed.). Editorial Visión Libros. p. 413. ISBN 9788498215694.
  9. Elliott Smith performances: Black Cat (Washington DC) 17 April 1998, Showbox Theatre (Seattle, WA) backed by The Minders 31 May 2000
  10. Mason. S. "Chrysanthemums: Odessey and Oracle". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
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