Transition

Born in 1942, organist and vocalist George Bruno “Zoot” Money spent the early 60s leading his Big Roll Band, famous for its residency at the Flamingo Club in Soho. The core band, comprised of Money, bassist Paul Williams, drummer Colin Allen and guitarist Andy Summers, as well as a few sax and flute players, had minor success with a single in 1965, “Big Time Operator” b/w “Zoot’s Sermon.” By the time the psychedelic wave of 1967 hit, the band had left their mod-leaning R&B sound behind. Pat Donaldson replaced Williams as bassist, and the band changed its name to Dantalian’s Chariot. They sported all-white outfits and stage gear, and put on one of London’s best light shows; sadly though, they only managed to release one single in September 1967, “Madman Running Through the Fields” b/w “Sun Came Bursting Through My Cloud,” before being dropped by Decca. In one of the most musically heinous crimes of the 60s, their recordings were shelved in favor of what was released on Transition, Money’s 1968 album for the CBS R&B imprint Direction. Most of the record has one foot in the past, with just a handful of songs from the Chariot’s repertoire: “Recapture the Thrill Of Yesterday,” “Coffee Song” and “Just A Passing Phase,” all written by Tony Colton and Raymond Smith. Only the Summers-penned instrumental “Soma” contains psychedelic magic, shifting from sitar to acoustic guitar to flute through its three sections. Donaldson was then off to Fotheringay, while Allen joined Stone The Crows. Following Summers ever-so-brief stint with Soft Machine, he and Money would move to the US to join Eric Burdon’s short-lived New Animals, appearing on the album Love Is. Money’s second solo album, Welcome To My Head, appeared in 1969, albeit in the US only. Former Animal Victor Briggs produced and arranged the string and horn-heavy mix of R&B songs, all punctuated by Money’s distinct voice. Along with a self-titled UK-only album in October 1970, both remain completely lost to time. Money would spend the 70s as a journeyman musician working with many artists in the timeline, in addition to a successful acting career. The original Dantalian’s Chariot recordings were eventually released in 1996 on the Wooden Hill label.