Zoot Money – The Book of Life … I’ve Read It (2016)

George Bruno “Zoot” Money (born 17 July 1942 in Bournemouth, Dorset) is an English vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader. He is best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band. Inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles, he was drawn to rock and roll music and became a leading light in the vibrant music scene of Bournemouth and Soho during the 1960s. He took his stage name ‘Zoot’ from Zoot Sims after seeing him in concert.

Money has been associated with The Animals, Eric Burdon, Steve Marriott, Kevin Coyne, Kevin Ayers, Humble Pie, Alexis Korner, Snowy White, Mick Taylor, Spencer Davis, Vivian Stanshall, Geno Washington, Brian Friel, the Hard Travelers, Widowmaker and Alan Price. He is also known as a bit part and character actor. (wikipedia)

And here´s  his album from 2016:

The legend lives!
Overproduced but still wonderful. Female backing vocals and a bit too much guitar. But the Hammond organ is still in there. The legendary British club-scene band leader who played with Andy Summers in the Flamingo Club in 1968 … and Klook’s Kleek … and all those other wonderful gigs. I can’t be rational about this album. I just love it. Makes me want to jump on a plane and hear him at the Bull’s Head in Barnes. It would be 5000 miles but, why not. (Charles Platt)

The Bournemouth born veteran and long-time Fulham fellow used to have the best Sixties R&B troup of the Sixties with his Big Roll Band, according to one Georgie Fame – while Zoot insists Georgie’s Blue Flames were first in line. Still touring at age 74, one would have expected a moderately paced album, a swinging, feelgood collection. Instead, the man with a CV from Dantalian’s Chariot to The Animals proceeds to grab the young power trio Danze Macabre and lays down a cooking blues rock melange with a wailing Hammond and funky piano – in front of a Nouveaux Cream backing – never better than in “Liberty” and the “Jack Tat Blues”.

Energy orgies without senior citizen insurance: The lovely Nell Montague-Rendall complements Money’s raspy lead vocals congenially with her heartfelt Gospel touch, and the burning Owers brothers Mark & Steve, both accomplished guitarists, supply the axe work and overdub bass & drums so proficiently that you’d swear you got a sextet here. Some respite from the lively attacks comes via the ballad written by Zoot’s Manfreds-tour buddy Mike d’Abo (from his album PASSION DRIVEN) and Money’s own blues “Wouldn’t You Just Know It”. The encore: The team offers Zoot’s chart zoomer “Mr Operator” as a 21st century remake. Big Roll, relentless & reliable. (Ulrich Twelker)

Listen to the hard rocking Zoot Money … and … he´s still alive ad well !!!

Personnel:
Zoot Money (keyboards, vocals)
Mark Owers (guitar, keyboards, background vocals)
Steve Owers (bass, drums, background vocals)
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Nell Montague-Rendall (background vocals)

Tracklist:
01. Mr Money (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 3.51
02. Still Alive (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 3.39
03. Sunny Skies (d´Abo) 3.59
04. Liberty (M.Owers) 3.02
05. Jack Tar Blues (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 5.05
06. It Could Be That Way (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 3.39
07. Wouldn’t You Just Know It (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 5.39
08. If Age Brings Wisdom (S.Owers/M.Owers/Money) 2.30
09. Big Time Operator (Re Visited) (Colton/Smith) 3.00

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Zoot Money – Mr. Money (1980)

It´s about time to celebrate the one and only Mr. Zoot Money !

And this is the stroy behind this rare album (never re-release as a CD  – as far as I know !) from 1980:

As is well known, Zoot Money and the Big Roll Band went on to become a major part of the British rhythm and blues scene, reaching the Top Thirty singles charts in 1966 with “Big Time Operator”. For some years Zoot also combined music with acting. Though too modest to say so, he is thought to be the only person ever to have taken a phone call from Paul McCartney while in prison. (He was filming the movie of “Porridge” with Ronnie Barker on location in Chelmsford Prison in 1979 when one of the warders asked him “is your name Money? There’s some bloke named McCartney on the phone for you”. The result was the 1980 album “Mr. Money”, issued on Paul McCartney’s MPL label.) (by alkirtley.co.uk)

The UK lables

And so you can hear now another crazy album by the unique Zoot Money (produced by Jim Diamond) … another rare  collector´s on ths blog.

Enjoy the sentimental journey !

A rare pic from the 80´s: Bournemouth Town Hall (ca 1985):
Rog Collis, Dick Ashby, Zoot Money (on guitar !), Al Kirtley

Personnel:
Les Davidson (guitar)
Martin Drover (trumpet)
Zoot Money (keyboards, vocals)
Francis Monkman (synthesizer)
Dick Morrissey (saxophone)
Jim Mullen (guitar)
Paul Robinson (drums)
Nick South (bass)
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background vocals:
Derek James – Kasim Sultan – Vicki Brown

Tracklist:
01. Your Feets Too Big (Benson/Fisher) + Two Of Us (Allen/Money) 7.37
02. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive (Arlen/Mercer) 3,32
03. Hello (Allen/Money) 2.47
04. Riders In The Sky (Jones) 3.51
05. Can I Get Closer To You (Allen/Money) 3.34
06. It’s Too Soon To Know (Chessler) 3.11
07. Careless Hands (Hilliard/Sigman) 3.44
08. Ain’t Nothin’ Shakin’ But The Balcon (Money) 3.01
09. Sentimental Journey (Homer/Green/Brown) 4.50

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Still alive and well:
Zoot Money live in 2016
at the Bull´s Head, London