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THE ID FEATURING JEFF ST JOHN
Big Time Operator (Tony Colton - Ray Smith) Australia 1967 #6 Sydney #11 Melbourne #8 Brisbane #33 Adelaide #2 Perth Known by some as "Jeff St John & The Id", the correct artist name is as above.
Soul-styled rock singer Jeff St John (born Jeffrey Newton in Sydney, 1946) fronted a number of first class bands during the 60s and 70s, including The Id and Copperwine. His performances were memorable not only for his strong, soulful vocals but for the wheelstands and spins he would execute with his wheelchair. More at Milesago's Jeff St John page, including band personnel and discography. See also Jeff St John & Copperwine and In The Midnight Hour. Further reading: Jeff St John's current website. On CD: Sixties Downunder
TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
Big Time Operator (Tony Colton - Ray Smith) USA 1966 From the 1966 album It's Only Love on Roulette label.  
CHARLIE RICH
Big Time Operator (Tony Colton - Ray Smith) USA c.1966 Recording on the Hi label. Possibly unreleased at the time, later on CD. Charlie Rich (1932-1995) started out playing jazz and blues, played rock'n'roll with Sun Records in the 50s, and by the 70s was a major country star.  Further reading: Charlie Rich biography at All Music Guide.
ZOOT MONEY'S BIG ROLL BAND
Big Time Operator (Tony Colton - Ray Smith) UK 1966 Original version #25 UK Single on Columbia label, producer John Harris, by R&B club band with loads of showmanship led by George 'Zoot' Money (b.1942). Zoot Money was a singer and keyboardist who had first formed the Big Roll Band in Bournemouth in 1961, before spending some time with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated in London. After that, the Big Roll Band regrouped in London and became a popular live band. Money, with guitarist Andy Somers and drummer Colin Allen, both from the Big Roll Band, later formed Dantalian's Chariot (they were on Nuggets II with Madman Running Through The Fields). Zoot Money went on to the New Animals, later joined by Andy Somers who would find fame with Police, changing the spelling of his name to Summers along the way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colton and Smith wrote Big Time Operator after they were asked to provide material for Zoot Money. They shared management with Money through the Gunnell Agency, and they all performed at Rik Gunnell's Flamingo Club. The Flamingo was a key venue in London's jazz and R&B scene, where midnight-dawn allnighters featured many leading lights of British soul-R&B, including Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe, Geno Washington and Cliff Bennett. Zoot Money recorded or performed some other Colton-Smith songs: Let's Run For Cover, The Star of the Show, Nick Nack (produced by Colton & Smith), Train Train. Tony Colton recorded under his own name and with Tony Colton & The Big Boss Band, the band that recorded the original of I Stand Accused (1965) (YouTube), a Colton-Smith composition covered by The Merseybeats (1965), and later recorded by Elvis Costello on Get Happy!! (1980). Colton's songwriting partner Ray Smith started out as a jazz guitarist and played in skiffle groups before moving on to rock and pop, playing in the bands of several notable British artists before establishing himself as a songwriter and composer. His name is often seen in writer credits with Tony Colton, also with Albert Lee: the three of them wrote Country Boy, the 1985 #1 country hit for Ricky Skaggs. In the late 60s-early 70s Colton and Smith were in Poet And The One Man Band and then Heads Hands & Feet, with Albert Lee and Chas Hodges (later of Chas & Dave). Thanks to Tony Colton. For more on Tony Colton's career as a musician, songwriter and producer, see his website and MySpace page. See Ray Smith's MySpace page for his biography and career updates. References/Further reading: 1. Zoot Money (and the Big Roll Band) at 45-rpm.org.uk. 2. Zoot Money's Big Roll Band at British Beat Boom. 3. ZootMoney.org. 4. Dantalion's Chariot post at Dr. Schluss' Garage Of Psychedelic Obscurities 5. TonyColton.net 6. Mod R&B Super Group? (Shotgun Express), post at Anorak Thing. 7. Discographies for Zoot Money, Tony Colton and Tony Colton & The Big Boss Band at 45Cat (some label shots included). 8. Rik Gunnell obituary, The Independent, 28 June 2007 (more here).
KEITH HAMPSHIRE
Big Time Operator (Tony Colton - Ray Smith) Canada 1973 #11 Canada Single by British-born singer and disc jockey whose family migrated to Calgary, Alberta when he was a child. Keith Hampshire worked in bands, TV and radio in Canada before joining British pirate station Caroline (as 'Keefers') 1966-67. He returned to Canada after the pirate era ended, and continued his career as a disc jockey, TV presenter, actor and singer. His biggest hit was with the Cat Stevens song The First Cut Is The Deepest (1973, #1 Canada). Further reading: 1. Keith Hampshire at Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. 2. KeithHampshire.com 3. Wikipedia entry on Keith Hampshire. 4. Keith Hampshire filmography at IMDb. Thanks to Darryl Tannock for version alert.
LEROI BROTHERS
Big Time Operator (Houser - Miller) USA 1994 Red herring Same title but not the same song as "Big Time Operator" by Jeff St John & the Id. On 1994 album Check This Action. Also recorded by Dead Milkmen. Corrections or comments? Contact the writer. |
