Cotton, as lead singer, and Beeb Birtles were among the Adelaide original members of Zoot that ended in 1971. Cotton and Birtles formed Darryl and Beeb as a soft rock duo that soon became Frieze, sponsored by a clothing company. Their first recording, with Sparmac, was a cover of the Mann-Weill’s “Feelings”. In 1972, Cotton wrote “Try yourself” under Darryl and Beeb Frieze, followed by the 1972 B. C album. By June, Frieze had disbanded and Cotton issued "Why do little kids have to die" from 1972 B. C. as his debut solo single.
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| Beeb Birtles and Darryl Cotton - Frieze |
In 1975, the trio issued a self-titled album and the single, "I go to pieces", that reached the Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, Number Two (1976) was followed by the "Crying in the rain" single (1977). Cotton based himself in Los Angeles as a singer and songwriter and performed with Olivia Newton John, The Osmonds, Shaun Cassidy and Cliff Richard. His songwriting credits include work for Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Englebert Humperdinck and The New Seekers.
In 1978, Cotton returned to Australia, signed with Oz Records and released a single, "Don't let it get to you", also on his solo album 'Best Seat in the House (1980) on EMI Records and produced by Christian.
In 1979, Cotton hosted a TV music series, Summer Rock, on Adelaide's Channel 9, and released solo singles followed, "I don't want to lose you" and "Glamour girl". Cotton also acted on the Australian soap The young doctors for a season and hosted another series of Summer Rock in 1980. Also in 1980, his most successful single, "Same old girl" (written with Christian) reached the top 10 and he won the award for best solo male performance.
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| TV Weeks Darryl Cotton Album Competition |
Cotton formed a backing band, The Charts (later The Divers) that toured pubs and clubs. In 1980-81, Cotton had three more singles but none charted. Cotton appeared in the lead of the 1983 Australian stage production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and released his second solo album, 'It's Rock 'n' Good Fun' in 1984 (see right).
In 1996, he formed Burns Cotton & Morris with Ronnie Burns and Russell Morris for a self-titled album. When Burns retired in 2000, it became Cotton Keays and Morris (with Jim Keays, ex-The Masters Apprentices), who also released an album.
From 1987, Cotton performed with the Australian Youth Choir and was the patron of the National Institute of Youth Performing Arts Australia. His solo performances were backed by the Darryl Cotton Band that performed at corporate functions. In 2011, Zoot reunited for a short performance cruise out from Miami with Cotton joining Birtles, Rick Brewer and Rick Springfield.
Cotton was still performing with Cotton Keays & Morris in 2012 when he died after being diagnosed with liver cancer. [Bio by Bronwyn Carnegie]
The Album
The following notes were taken from an interview held with Darryl Cotton by 'Purple Haze's' radio host Mark Naumann, during which Darryl's classic album ‘Best Seat In The House’ was discussed at length. The album is played in its entirety during the interview and includes the hits ‘Same Old Girl’, ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’ and ‘Here Comes Another Heartache. Originally broad cast back in December 2011 – it is available to listen to on Southern FM 88.3 Radio's website
Album Cover: Darryl's initial idea for the album cover was a picture of a nun (in suspenders) sitting prevocativily on a lounge couch in front of a T.V. After deliberation with his record company the idea was considered too riskee at the time, so he changed it an audience (wearing 3D glasses) in an old movie theatre, located in Sydney.
The following notes were taken from an interview held with Darryl Cotton by 'Purple Haze's' radio host Mark Naumann, during which Darryl's classic album ‘Best Seat In The House’ was discussed at length. The album is played in its entirety during the interview and includes the hits ‘Same Old Girl’, ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’ and ‘Here Comes Another Heartache. Originally broad cast back in December 2011 – it is available to listen to on Southern FM 88.3 Radio's website
Album Cover: Darryl's initial idea for the album cover was a picture of a nun (in suspenders) sitting prevocativily on a lounge couch in front of a T.V. After deliberation with his record company the idea was considered too riskee at the time, so he changed it an audience (wearing 3D glasses) in an old movie theatre, located in Sydney.
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| The infamous 3D Glasses |
Charting position: The album debuted at #98 on the Kent Music Report National Top 100 Albums chart (KMR#306, week commencing (w/c) Mon May 5, 1980) peaking at #56 w/c May 26, 1980 (KMR#309) and dropping out w/c July 14, 1980 (KMR#316) after 10 weeks on the charts.
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| Album Promo Shot |
Track By Track:
1. Darlin' - A dancey, boppy 70's Synth track with a distict Pablo Cruise / Hall & Oated feel. Chris Christian produced and co-wrote the track with Cotton. In the interview, Darryl admits that he was very much a pop singer at the time.
2. No More Lonely Nights - One of the many 'broken heart' songs on the album. Co-written with David Briggs and featuring other LRB members playing instruments, the song has a distinct Eagles feel about it.
3. What You Gonna Do - Written by Cotton, the song is about essentially about being "Humped and then Dumped". Darryl talks openly about the nightlife whilst in L.A, partying to the early hours of the morning with the ladies, only to have it end in disappointment. The music was influenced by Dave Edmonds and The Beatles.
4. Dance - Written by Cotton, the song was first started in L.A and then finished in Australia. Lyrically, the song was put into the 3rd person, and is about dancing until your heart is broken. Yet another Pablo Cruise - Hall & Oates influenced track with a soul, moody feeling. It was also the B-Side to Cotton's 3rd single "Here Comes Another Heartache".
5. Same Old Girl - Released as a single, this song reached the top 10 Australian Charts and had What You Gonna Do as the B-Side. The single debuted on the Kent Music Report National Top 100 Singles chart at #85 w/c March 31, 1980 (KMR#301) peaking at #6 w/c Jun 2, 1980 (KMR#310) and dropping out w/c Aug 11, 1980 (KMR#320) after 20 weeks on the chart. Written by Cotton & Christian, Darryl states that he always thought the song sounded a bit whimpy at the time, and during his Cotton, Keays, Morris period he sung it with a much tougher sound.
1. Darlin' - A dancey, boppy 70's Synth track with a distict Pablo Cruise / Hall & Oated feel. Chris Christian produced and co-wrote the track with Cotton. In the interview, Darryl admits that he was very much a pop singer at the time.
2. No More Lonely Nights - One of the many 'broken heart' songs on the album. Co-written with David Briggs and featuring other LRB members playing instruments, the song has a distinct Eagles feel about it.
3. What You Gonna Do - Written by Cotton, the song is about essentially about being "Humped and then Dumped". Darryl talks openly about the nightlife whilst in L.A, partying to the early hours of the morning with the ladies, only to have it end in disappointment. The music was influenced by Dave Edmonds and The Beatles.
4. Dance - Written by Cotton, the song was first started in L.A and then finished in Australia. Lyrically, the song was put into the 3rd person, and is about dancing until your heart is broken. Yet another Pablo Cruise - Hall & Oates influenced track with a soul, moody feeling. It was also the B-Side to Cotton's 3rd single "Here Comes Another Heartache".
The single won Cotton 'Best Male Single' at the 1980 Australian Record Awards, which coincidently was on the 10th Anniversary of his Best Band Single award with Zoot's "Eleanor Rigby"( see above). The film clip was taken at the State Theatre in Sydney, along with the front cover image.
6. I Can't Let Go - Covered by Linda Ronstat, this song was always a favourite of Darryls and always wanted to do his own cover of this Hollies hit.
Russell Hitchcock (from Air Supply) features on backup vocals.
In the interview, Darryl explains that Air Supply were just taking off in America at the time and actually asked him if he wanted to join them. But Darryl respectfully declined and in hind sight felt that he made the right decision, as he would never had time to marry and have a family if he had accepted the offer.
8. Somebody Must Have Known - this track was written by Cotton and Goble. Essentially it is about a girlfriend cheating on him and he was the last to find out. But as Darryl says: 'Somebody Must Have Known'. He originally had the idea for the song and a basic melody in mind but just couldn't finish it, so he went and saw his mate, Graeham Goble who helped write the middle eight for him and assisted with its' arrangement.
9. Love Too Strong - Another cover track on the album. Darryl comments that Americans thought he sounded a bit like Cliff Richard and Donny Osmond on this track. An EMI associate of Cotton, John Kerr, suggested to Darryl that he should record this song, because he thought the track had a Roger Voudouris sound about it, and would therefore suit him. Roger Voudouris was big on the charts at the time with his hit "Get Used To It".
This track was the 3rd single taken from the album, released in June 1980. The single debuted on the Kent Music Report National Top 100 Singles chart at #98 w/c July 28, 1980 (KMR#318) peaking at #89 w/c Aug 4, 1980 (KMR#319) and dropping out w/c Sep 1, 1980 (KMR#323) after 5 weeks on the chart.
11. Hollywood - the final track on the album, and the shortest; it was written by Cotton and Christian. The song is about Daryl when he came home from the U.S, '"with his tail between his legs" (his own words). But he laughs it off these days saying that coming back to Australia was the best thing that could have happened to him.
11. Hollywood - the final track on the album, and the shortest; it was written by Cotton and Christian. The song is about Daryl when he came home from the U.S, '"with his tail between his legs" (his own words). But he laughs it off these days saying that coming back to Australia was the best thing that could have happened to him.
This post consists of FLACs ripped from vinyl and includes full album artwork along with label scans (taken from my copy). The bonus single was provided by Sunshine (thanks mate) and was released in 1979 on OZ Records. Interesting to note that the A-Side "I Don't Wanna Lose You" is a Hall/Oates track.
Thanks to Shorrock Birtles Goble Website for the newspaper articles and many of the photos included in this post.
Finally, a big shout out to Mark Naumann for his wonderful interview and podcast with Darryl Cotton, recorded back in 2011, only 12 months before Darryl's passing. So, so sad.
This post is therefore a tribute to one of Australia's best musicians and all round talent. RIP Darryl Cotton
Tracklist:
01 Darlin'
02 (No More) Lonely Nights
03 Whatcha' Gonna Do
04 Dance
05 Same Old Girl
06 I Can't Let Go
07 Don't Let It Get To You
08 Somebody Must Have Known
09 Love Too Strong
10 Here Comes Another Heartache
11 Hollywood
12 I Don't Wanna Lose You (Bonus A-Side Single, 1979)
13 Let The Music Take You Away [Bonus B-Side Single, 1979]
Vocals - Darryl Cotton
Bass - Phil Scorgi, Georgle McArdle, John Young
Guitars - Harvey-James, David Briggs, Beeb Birtles, Rick Formosa, Tommy Emmanuel, Chris Christian
Drums & Percusion - Derek Pellici, Terry Fogg
Piano - Warren Morgan, Dave Alladice, Peter Sullivan, Chris Christian
Synthesiser - Andrew Wilson
Clarinet - Chris Christian
Saxophone - Bill Harrower, Tony Buchanan
Congas - Sunil de Silva
Backing Vocals - Russell Hitchcock, Chris Christian, Adian Campbell, Beeb Birtles, Graeham Goble
Darryl Cotton Link (294Mb)
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