FM
History
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.
