THE ZODIAC - COSMIC SOUNDS

To cite Wikipedia, "The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds is a 1967 collaborative concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac. It was issued by Elektra Records in 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. Instrumentation was provided by members of the Wrecking Crew studio collective".

Since Mort Garson's name didn't exist on the album's front cover, many have misinterpreted it to be an album by a group called The Zodiac. I added this album here in January when I reviewed Pisces from Garson's 12-part album cycle Signs of the Zodiac, which was entirely released in 1969. This 1967 album, Garson's debut as a composer, has a notable historic value as an early concept album and as one of the earliest albums to feature Moog synthesizer in a big role. Like in the mentioned album cycle that practically just expanded the same concept into twelve rather similar-sounding, Moog backed albums, instead of any sung vocals you hear narration on all twelve tracks (named after the Zodiac signs, naturally). Only this time there's just one man, and obviously the narration is a central part of this work too, like it or not.

But luckily compared to the relatively wordier album cycle, the music here is more eclectic, rockier and more upfront. In other words it would certainly work well on its own, purely instrumental without the narration that frankly gets annoying. In fact I bet most of us might prefer it that way. Whereas on the Signs albums the Moog is sovereignly reigning the instrumentation, this album is musically more diverse. The rhythm section, flute, keyboards and exotic percussion are equally essential in music. Due to the innovative use of Moog, the music is admittedly pretty cosmic and SciFi-like, but it is also an interesting product of the Psychedelic Rock era. With proper singers and vocal melodies it would probably be a big classic of the genre. Sadly the narration diminishes the musical appeal of this album.

The 2017 CD edition released in association with Cherry Red Records features a retrospective article. A citation: "The Moody Blues claimed that Cosmic Sounds inspired them to create their iconic Days of Future Passed, while countercultural pirate radio DJ John Peel stated that the album was instrumental in ushering in the Age of Aquarius; using it extensively on his influential Perfumed Garden programme." If I'm not mistaken, the excellent session musicians of the Wrecking Crew collective -- who played on several classic albums by e.g. Simon & Garfunkel and Beach Boys -- weren't even named on the original LP release. Bassist Carol Kaye, drummer Hal Blaine and others are also dealt with in the article. Garson died of renal failure in San Francisco in 2008.

(Originally posted in April 20, 2023, to a duplicate album page: I had no idea this album already existed in the Various Artists section, from where it was now edited to the Mort Garson page.)