When
Money broke up The Big Roll Band, he formed this suitably named psychedelic outfit who performed frequently at London's Middle Earth and UFO clubs. They were certainly a talented outfit. Andy Summers, of course, later played with The Police, and Colin Allen went on to play with
John Mayall and
Stone The Crows. They recorded just one single for Columbia, The Madman Running Through The Fields. Penned by
Money and Andy Summers it was perhaps one of the finest pieces of psychedelia recorded in the UK, this single is now very sought-after. The song was later covered by
Eric Burdon and The Animals (with a line-up including
Zoot Money and Andy Summers) on their Love Is album and is also on Transition (Direction 863231) 1968 by
Zoot Money. The 45's flip side was a
Tony Colton/Ray Smith ballad with appealing vocals.
Dantalion's Chariot's live appearances were amazing. They took to the stage in white robes and had what was generally regarded as the best light show in town. The only problem was this ensured they made heavy financial loses with every appearance. They also appeared in 'Pop Down', a Fred Marshall film about the excesses of Swingin' London seen through the eyes of two visitors from outer space named Sagittarius and Aries. The film, by all accounts, was appalling but it did feature music from
Blossom Toes and an embryonic
Idle Race as well.
Rumours of an unreleased Dantalion's Chariot album were untrue, but in 1995 David Wells' Tenth Planet label pieced together an album of previously unreleased material by the band, plus both sides of their 45. Soma, which appeared in two parts, one on each side of the album, with Andy Summers (who co-wrote it with his tutor Narzir Jarazbhoy) on sitar, was a fine Eastern-sounding remnant from 1967. Fourpenny Bus Ride and, to a lesser degree, Four Firemen were reasonable examples of whimsical psychedelic pop, but of the previously unissued material the jarring World War Three and jazz-tinged High Flying Bird (not the popular US West Coast standard, although it is an ode to the beautiful people of San Francisco), both
Money/Summers collaborations, are the high points. By contrast Coffee Song and Recapture The Thrill were inconsequential mainstream recordings. However, overall this album is recommended.
01. Madman Running Through The Fields 4:09
02. World War Three 4:07
03. This Island 3:54
04. Fourpenny Bus Ride 3:40
05. Four Firemen 3:28
06. Sun Came Bursting Through My Cloud 3:03
07. Recapture the Thrill 3:52
08. Soma 6:11
09. Coffee Song 2:47
10. High Flying Bird 3:42
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