NOW LOCATED AT https://theslaughterhouse.freeforums.net/
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

2 posters

Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by JohnFester May 15th 2016, 9:17 pm

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds (also known, less correctly, as either The Zodiac by Cosmic Sounds, or Cosmic Sounds by The Zodiac - the sleeve notes were unclear) was a collaborative concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac. It was issued by Elektra Records in May 1967 and featured early use of the Moog synthesizer by Paul Beaver, with music written by Mort Garson, words by Jacques Wilson, and narration by Cyrus Faryar. It has been variously described as "a wonderful period piece" and "apt to inspire more giggle fits than stoned, pull-the-shades-down reveries."

The idea began in 1967 with Jac Holzman, the head of Elektra Records, which had just gained major success with The Doors' debut album. Holzman had the initial concept for the album, and hired Alex Hassilev, a member of The Limeliters, to produce it. Hassilev in turn brought in Mort Garson, with whom he had just formed a production company, to write the music. 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.

Garson brought together a mixture of musicians, most of whom were not credited on the album sleeve. Musician and electronic instrument collector Paul Beaver, who had done music effects for films, was chosen to perform the MOOG on the album since he was one of the few people on the West Coast who knew how to set up and use the synthesizer at the time. Beaver and Moog went to the California Audio Engineering Society convention in 1967 to showcase the Moog Synthesizer for the first time on the West Coast. Emil Richards, who had worked with such musicians as Frank Zappa, Marvin Gaye and Henry Mancini, was chosen to provide an assortment of percussive instrumental surprises throughout the album. Bassist Carol Kaye and drummer Hal Blaine, both top on-demand session musicians, were The Zodiac's rhythm section. Bud Shank, a top flute performer, and keyboardist Mike Melvoin were also used. Jacques Wilson wrote the album's narration, and folk singer Cyrus Faryar was chosen (suggested by Hassilev) to narrate over the album's exotic instrumentation.

The album was released in May 1967. The sleeve, by artist Abe Gurvin and art director William S. Harvey (who had worked together at Nonesuch Records), featured a florid psychedelic design. On the back, in large purple letters, were written the instructions: "Must be played in the dark".

According to music critic Richie Unterberger:
"Divided into 12 separate tracks, one for each astrological sign, it appeared just as both psychedelic rock and astrology itself were coming into vogue in the youthful counterculture. In some respects it was similar to other instrumental psychsploitation albums of the time, with a spacy yet tight groove that could have fit into the soundtrack of 1966 Sunset Strip documentaries, played in large measure by seasoned Los Angeles session musicians. In other respects, it was futuristic, embellished by some of the first Moog synthesizer ever heard on a commercial recording, an assortment of exotic percussive instruments, and sitar. The arrangements were further decorated by haunting harpsichord and organ, along with standard mid-1960s Los Angeles rock guitar licks. For those who took the astrology as seriously as the music, there was the dramatic reading of narrator Cyrus Faryar, musing upon aspects of each astrological sign in a rich, deep voice without a hint of irony."

Garson collaborated with Wilson in 1968 on another concept album, The Wozard of Iz, on that occasion with producer Bernie Krause. Paul Beaver later collaborated with Krause on several albums. Garson later recorded several further LPs on individual zodiac signs, and became best known for composing music for National Geographic programming, though he did not, as sometimes repeated, compose its theme song.

In the liner notes for the 1997 Moody Blues compilation The Best of the Moody Blues, Justin Hayward named this album as an influence on the band's development going into Days of Future Passed.


Track Listing:
All lyrics written by Jacques Wilson
1."Aries - The Fire-Fighter" – 3:17
2."Taurus - The Voluptuary" – 3:38
3."Gemini - The Cool Eye" – 2:50
4."Cancer - The Moon Child" – 3:27
5."Leo - The Lord of Lights" – 2:30
6."Virgo - The Perpetual Perfectionist" – 3:05
7."Libra - The Flower Child" – 3:28
8."Scorpio - The Passionate Hero" – 2:51
9."Sagittarius - The Versatile Daredevil" – 2:06
10."Capricorn - The Uncapricious Climber" – 3:30
11."Aquarius - The Lover of Life" – 3:45
12."Pisces - The Peace Piper" – 3:19


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

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 The+Zodiac+Cosmic+Sounds+533439
JohnFester
JohnFester

Posts : 824
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 66
Location : Hollyweird, Calif.

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by JohnFester May 15th 2016, 9:25 pm

I heard this album many years ago and just completely forgot about it but just came across it in my record collection so I put it on. It's been probably since the late 80s or early 90s since I listened to this. Great album, very psychedelic and revolves aroud the zodiac signs. Could there be a clue to the Zodiac case in here somewhere?

Scorpio - The Passionate Hero is my favorite song from the record.

I always described this as if The Doors took some acid and recorded an album underwater after they just finished watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
JohnFester
JohnFester

Posts : 824
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 66
Location : Hollyweird, Calif.

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by ophion1031 May 15th 2016, 9:52 pm

Wow, very cool. I'm gonna give it a listen now.
ophion1031
ophion1031

Posts : 3929
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 46
Location : The Wastelands

http://www.ophion1031.com

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by ophion1031 May 15th 2016, 10:16 pm

I am diggin' this! And your description... "I always described this as if The Doors took some acid and recorded an album underwater after they just finished watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is pretty accurate haha.
ophion1031
ophion1031

Posts : 3929
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 46
Location : The Wastelands

http://www.ophion1031.com

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by JohnFester May 15th 2016, 10:20 pm

I'm a huge fan of this type of music. Gandalf was another old favorite of mine. And The Sacred Mushroom, but that band was a little more on the blues side.
JohnFester
JohnFester

Posts : 824
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 66
Location : Hollyweird, Calif.

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by JohnFester May 15th 2016, 10:24 pm

If you like this type of music, also check out Liquid Sound Co. They are really amazing. Sorry for getting off topic lmao.
JohnFester
JohnFester

Posts : 824
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 66
Location : Hollyweird, Calif.

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by ophion1031 May 15th 2016, 10:33 pm

JohnFester wrote:If you like this type of music, also check out Liquid Sound Co. They are really amazing. Sorry for getting off topic lmao.

Cool, I will check them out. I really like the old psych rock bands, and I love the later bands who they influenced. The earlier stoner and doom metal/rock bands.
ophion1031
ophion1031

Posts : 3929
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 46
Location : The Wastelands

http://www.ophion1031.com

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by JohnFester May 15th 2016, 10:51 pm

I don't like the heavier bands as much but I do like Kyuss and Sleep a lot.

So I have been looking up info on this Cosmic Sounds album and have found 0 connections to the Zodiac case. I'm not saying there is no connection but if there is I have no idea what it would be. I looked at everyone in the band and everyone involved in the recording and found nothing suspicious.
JohnFester
JohnFester

Posts : 824
Join date : 2015-06-01
Age : 66
Location : Hollyweird, Calif.

Back to top Go down

The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967 Empty Re: The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds album 1967

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum