Zoot Money

Money's records never seemed to support his reputation (among U.K. musicians, anyway) as a major figure in British R&B. This isn't a brilliant album, but it's probably the best representation of his talents that made it onto vinyl. Money plays forceful R&B with organ-dominated arrangements and the occasional jazzy jamming, somewhat in the mold of Georgie Fame or Graham Bond (both of whom were considerably better than Zoot). Most of the set is devoted to American covers (including several of James Brown), and while one can believe that they were a good club act, it's way down the roll call of important British R&B statements. Money isn't much of a singer, for one thing, and the band are not very original interpreters and arrangers. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide