A 50th anniversary compilation of songs by Zoot, released in 2018, included a new recording of the 1985 Dream Academy song Life in a Northern Town. Cleverly, it included the voice of the late Darryl Cotton.
Below: Life in a Northern Town by Zoot and by Dream Academy
Zoot formed in Adelaide in 1964 as Down the Line. They came to national prominence after changing their name to Zoot in 1967 and relocating to Melbourne in ’68. Their hit-making line-up was Darryl Cotton, who passed away in 2012, Rick Springfield, Beeb Birtles and Rick Brewer. The band continued until 1971 with hits like Eleanor Rigby and Monty and Me.
The 2018 compilation called Archaeology featured the classic Zoot songs of the ’60s and early ’70s, as well as Life In A Northern Town.
Rick Springfield told Noise11.com: “Darryl had done a version, and I did a version on an album I did of covers.”
“I always loved the song and learned later that Darryl did a version as well. After he passed away we thought of doing this record. I contacted his engineer and he sent me the solo vocals and it fit exactly into my track. It is same key, same tempo, it was a perfect fit,” Rick said.
Rick got to work on the new recording in his Los Angeles studio.
“Hearing his vocals come out the speaker, just solo, was hair-raising,” he said.
“We put in his track, then I sang the second verse and Beeb sang the third verse and Darryl sang the choruses. It was great. It moves me every time I hear it. It is lovely to hear. He was a beautiful guy. That’s why I got involved”.
Sadly, Zoot drummer Rick Brewer wasn’t available for the new 2018 mix.
In November 2011, Springfield, Birtles, Cotton and Brewer performed together again when Zoot reformed for a Rick Springfield and Friends cruise out of Miami. Darryl Cotton died the following July from liver cancer.
Life in a Northern Town songwriters: Gilbert Gabriel, Nick Laird-Clowes
Lyrics:
A Salvation Army band played
And the children drank lemonade
And the morning lasted all day
All day
And through an open window came
Like Sinatra in a younger day
Pushing the town away
Click for full lyrics
Also by Zoot on Bang a Gong:
Eleanor Rigby
The Freak
Monty and Me
One Times, Two Times, Three Times, Four
Half Heaven, Half Heartache by Johnny Farnham and Zoot
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
Version by The Dream Academy:
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