The Zodiac

Pictures

garson

Listen to, buy or share

Buy

Buy
  • Digital download
  • 7digital 7digital
  • iTunes iTunes
  • Physical media
  • Amazon Amazon Search
  • eBay eBay Search
  • 35,074
    scrobbles
  • 3,165
    listeners

Tags

Everyone’s tags

More tags

Biography

The Zodiac was a one-shot musical group in the late sixties. The group was formed by Elektra Records for the recording of the album Cosmic Sounds, a concept album about the different horoscope signs.

The idea began in 1967 with Jac Holzman, the head of Elektra Records. Elektra was primarily a label for obscure folk-rock artists like The Incredible String Band. It had just gained major success with The Doors’ debut album in January of 1967. Holzman hired Alex Hassilev, a member of The Limeliters, to produce the album. Hassilev brought in Mort Garson, whom he had just formed a production company with, to write the music for the album. Hassilev and Garson had planned to do a series of concepts following Cosmic Sounds. Garson wrote music for one of the other intended albums, The Sea, but Rod McKuen, who was supposed to have been on the project, left and did his own version with Anita Kerr. Hassilev temporarily left the project to produce The Dusk ‘Till Dawn Orchestra’s Sea Drift album, which incorporated part of The Sea’s intended theme.

After Sea Drift, work on Cosmic Sounds at last began. Garson brought in a group of musicians for the group. Exactly who they all were is unknown. (Garson, who may be the only one who knows, has never been interviewed about the album). Little known Jazz artist Paul Beaver, who had done music effects for films, was chosen to perform the electronic instruments.
Read more… Edit bio

Top Albums

Listening Trend

3,165listeners all time
35,074scrobbles all time
Recent listeners trend:

Start scrobbling and track your listening history

Last.fm users scrobble the music they play in iTunes, Spotify, Rdio and over 200 other music players.

Create a Last.fm profile

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up.

  • iconan

    The Zodiac - Cosmic Sounds - a Concept Album 1967 - The idea began in 1967 with Jac Holzman,and hired Alex Hassilev, a member of The Limeliters, to produce it. Hassilev in turn brought in Mort Garson, to write the music. With its traditional rock instruments alongside early synths and electronics, exotic percussion, sitars, harpsichords, bells and other effects. The Zodiac is not really a band, per se, but a gathering of some of the hottest session musicians of the time. The music is all instrumental, but backs periodic,poetic recitations by Cyrus Faryar, as he goes through each of the twelve signs of the zodiac,giving each one a character to represent it. Personnel: Cyrus Faryar – narration - Paul Beaver – Moog and other electronic instruments - Emil Richards – exotic percussion - Bud Shank – bass flute - Hal Blaine – drums - Carol Kaye – bass guitar - Mike Melvoin – keyboards - Produced by Alex Hassilev - Music written by Mort Garson - - -.-.-.-. om hari om ..... ॐ

    15 Jun 2012 Reply

  • SceneA6A

    nice ;)

    8 Oct 2011 Reply

  • eSpinoza88

    Trippy cosmic sounds. Enjoyed the musical stream of thisplanetarium.

    26 Jul 2011 Reply

  • Banana_Crunch

    I still don't know if the correct tag should be Mort Garson.

    25 May 2011 Reply

  • Ben-Bel

    Jarvis Cocker is apparently a fan

    2 May 2011 Reply

  • ardneks

    Holy shit! Thank god I found this album. Cyrus’s voice sounds just like Morrison!

    1 Mar 2011 Reply

  • chaoszac

    holy shit. this is amazing

    10 Jan 2011 Reply

  • electricchurch

    cool

    14 Nov 2010 Reply

  • ashleyrobb

    AQUARIUS WINS

    9 May 2010 Reply

  • zedshtein

    so beautiful music....

    26 Aug 2009 Reply

  • THXmille138

    yep

    22 Apr 2009 Reply

  • Aserikoth

    Great

    17 Apr 2009 Reply

  • funkybrother

    Must be played in the dark

    27 Jan 2008 Reply

Top Listeners