Mr Goodtime: ZOOT

The original Zoot line-up at ‘Kommotion Klub’ in Adelaide, October 1967: Beeb Birtles, Darryl Cotton, Ted Higgins and John D’Arcy. Photo posted on Zoot Facebook group by Beeb Birtles.

Before their name-change to Zoot, Adelaide band Down The Line recorded some demo tracks at Derek Jolly’s Gamba Studios. Their cover of the Gene Pitney US hit Half Heaven, Half Heartache with a young Johnny Farnham on vocals came from these sessions in 1967.

It is also thought that another unreleased song, Mr Goodtime, came from those Gamba sessions in North Adelaide, although it may also have been recorded at the nearby Milton Ingerson studio.

At the time, Down the Line was Beeb Birtles (vocals, bass), Darryl Cotton (lead vocals, guitar), John D’Arcy (guitar, vocals) and Ted Higgins (drums). The name change to Zoot came shortly after this demo session.

Mr Goodtime was one of four songs released on a blue vinyl EP in 2019 called The Gamba Sessions.