Zoot Money and 'Please Stay'

[pljms]

We have singer, organist and band leader Zoot Money to thank for the more relaxed arrangement of 'Please Stay' which dispensed with the baion beat of the Drifters' original recording and slowed down the tempo to set the template for all subsequent versions. Yes, it was his recording in 1964 that really brought out the pathos in the song which not only inspired the UK hit version by The Crying Shames two years later but went on to influence high profile covers by the likes of Lulu, Elvis Costello, Duffy and Westlife. So as a small tribute to Zoot Money who died in London earlier this month at the age of 82 here is that version of the great Bacharach and Bob Hilliard song that has proved so inspirational and influential.

[Sara D]

I saw Zoot Money play just the once when he guested as part of former Animals organist Alan Price's band at the Bull's Head in Barnes in around 2010 or 2011. That evening Zoot conceded organ playing duties to Price and so played the piano while occasionally lending harmony vocals and just when I was starting to wonder whether he would get to sing lead and maybe perform Please Stay Alan Price promptly sang it and played virtually the same organ solo as on Zoot's record from the 60s. It was a surprising twist to say the least and what was Zoot doing during Price's performance of the song with which he had such a strong association? He was off-stage drinking at the bar. Well naturally.