Zoot engineer a cover of Life In A Northern Town for Archaeology compilation

Zoot’s 50th anniversary compilation ‘Archaeology’ features a newly engineered recording of The Dream Academy hit ‘Life In A Northern Town’ and it features Darryl Cotton.

Zoot was Darryl Cotton, who passed away in 2012, Rick Springfield, Beeb Birtles and Rick Brewer. The band formed in Adelaide in 1965 and broke up in 1971.

‘Archaeology’ not only features the classic Zoot songs of the 60s and early 70s but a brand new recording that does include Darryl. The song, ‘Life In A Northern Town’ is a cover of The Dream Academy hit from the 80s.

“Darryl had done a version and I did a version on an album I did of covers,” Rick Springfield tells Noise11.com. “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 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”.

While Darryl Cotton does feature on the song, Zoot drummer Rick Brewer doesn’t. “I asked him,” Rick Springfield said. “I said Rick play some friggen Tympannies and we’ll put them in but it said ‘just sample it’. It is very involved with the record and proud to have it out. He is a great drummer, even the live thing. We hadn’t played in 40 years but he did Ginger Baker stuff and it was “wow”.”

Darryl passed away for cancer in 2012, less than a year after Zoot reunited for the first time since 1971.

Zoot Archaeology is out now.

Zoot Archaeology tracklisting

1. One Times, Two Times, Three Times, Four
2. Monty And Me
3. Flying
4. Hey, Mr. Songwriter
5. You’d Better Get Goin’
6. Sailing
7. Yes, I’m Glad
8. About Time
9. Sha La La
10. She’s Alright
11. Feelings
12. Little Roland Lost
13. Shake Your Feathers
14. Hey Pinky
15. Strange Things
16. Eleanor Rigby
17. Turn Your Head
18. The Freak
19. Evil Child
20. I’m Only Sleeping Recorded Live 1970
21. Shilo Recorded Live 1970
22. Life In A Northern Town
23. I Can Hear The Grass Grow
24. Eleanor Rigby Live