More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Ian & The Zodiacs "No Money, No Honey"

 

IAN & THE ZODIACS-No Money, No Honey/Where Were You U.S. Phillips 40369 1966

Liverpool bred and German based beat quartet Ian and The Zodiacs released 4 singles (we profiled two earlier ones here and here).

Today's subject was their final single American single. It was issued in the U.K. as Fontana TF 708 in May 1966 and the previous month both here and in Germany (as Star Club 148 548 STF).

"No Money No Honey" is without a doubt one of the band's strongest releases. Built around tandem fuzz and 12 string guitars playing a hypnotic riff it's incredibly punchy and raw. Curiously it was co-authored and produced by Klaus Doldinger (misspelled as "Claus" here). 

The flip side, "Where Were You" sounds almost like a completely different band. It's a mellow/moody almost baroque pop number with flute and harpsichords. The melody reminds me a bit of "The Crying Game" (a track the band recorded earlier, which we will profile at a later date!). 

Both sides were collected on the Repertoire CD compilation "Wade in The Water: The Best Of..." and sadly neither are available through streaming as of yet. 

Hear "No Money, No Honey":

https://youtu.be/VT2duai8jes?si=1wbJTEdj3Zxh3-GT

Hear "Where Were You":

https://youtu.be/FNgwmtKYt-Y?si=pgaW9YRJYmbiSnAN

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Ian & The Zodiacs Do Jagger/Richards

 

IAN & THE ZODIACS-So Much In Love/This Empty Place U.S. Phillips 40291 1965

Liverpool's Ian & The Zodiacs like fellow Scousers The Remo Four found fame and fortune outside the motherland over in Der Fatherland (Germany). With five singles issued in the U.K. (and one dodgy LP entirely composed of other group's hits) they amassed another five singles and three LP's in Germany and spent most of 1964-1967 working there where their popularity, like that of The Remo Four, guaranteed them steady work and minor stardom until the beat boom was over. 

Today's subject was their third of five American singles all for the Phillips label between 1964 and 1966. "So Much In Love" is an early Jagger/Richards composition recorded by several other artists but never The Stones themselves. It was first cut by The Mighty Avengers in August of 1964. Ian and The Zodiacs never released it in the U.K. but it was simultaneously issued here and in Germany in September of '65 by them with lead singer Ian Edwards curiously appearing as the song's composer on the label credits (in Germany the label states "unbekannt" or "unknown") . Canadian pressings follow the American template and the Dutch pressing bears no credits. 

The band's version of "So Much In Love" is pretty much in keeping with your bog standard beat ballads. It's melodic, mildly rocking and decently executed but sadly it's nothing remarkable (I much prefer The Herd's more rocking version from 1966).

The flip, "This Empty Place" written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was previously covered by fellow Liverpudliuans The Searchers back in '64 on their U.K. E.P. "Play the System", strangely enough the Zodiacs version is far more upbeat and moody in a cool sort of way with much neater backing vocals and this atmospheric volume pedal on the guitar and the striking of an anvil providing an odd percussive texture.

Both sides were collected on the Repertoire CD compilation "Wade in The Water: The Best Of..." and sadly neither are available through streaming as of yet. 

Hear "So Much In Love With You":

https://youtu.be/LpyZlSZXIDg?si=SXaj8ODYMKzUwaKq

Hear "This Empty Place":

https://youtu.be/SrCE-qHIjn0?si=5sWk7EeaCsUPj1pR

More U.K. Obscurities On U.S. Labels: Ian & The Zodiacs

IAN & THE ZODIACS-Why Can't It Be Me/ Leave It To Me U.S. Phillips 40343 1966

Like our hero's The Remo Four, Ian and The Zodiacs were one of those Liverpool bands who were virtually unnoticed "back home" and packed off to Germany where they worked for nearly three years achieving a modicum of stardom and success over there.

This 45 was criminally unissued in the U.K. and came out in Germany on Star Club and Phillips in the U.S.  It's easily one of my most favorite records by a 60's Liverpool band.  It's got a cool underlying riff beneath it all and some powerful vocals from lead singer Ian Edwards. The track reminds me, musically, of a mid 60's Roy Orbison number with some a "mod" feel to it.  

"Leave It To Me" is more of a ballad thing with an acoustic guitar and harmonies, reminds me of Peter and Gordon or Chad & Jeremy, not bad but pales with that rocking A-side!  Musically it reminds me of The Poets, but it's not something that bears repeated replays. 

Ian & The Zodiacs perform "Why Can't It Be Me" live on German TV's "Beat Club" 1966

"Why Can't It Be Me" was on the Dig The Fuzz compilation LP "Clap Hands Daddy Come Home" and both sides of the 45 were featured as  bonus tracks on the CD reissue on one of their Star Club LP "Just Listen To.." on Repertoire. The band's lead singer Ian Edwards sadly passed away in October 2007.

Hear "Leave it To Me":

https://youtu.be/XhOfOcqm4C4?si=tgTH7-RILL5bbQcN