Yaz – "Situation" (1982)

Don’t make a sound

Just move out!

Why did the English synth-pop duo Yazoo go by the name Yaz in the United States?

Yazoo changed their name to Yaz to avoid legal problems with Yazoo Records, a record label that had been founded in 1967 by a collector of old country blues 78s.

Yazoo/Yaz

Ironically, Yazoo Records was originally named Belzona Records.  But the owner of Belzona changed its name after he was sued by Beltona Records – a Scottish label – for trademark infringement. 

(When a woman’s not to blame for something, a lawyer usually is.  Cherchez les avocats!)

Click here to listen to Yaz’s 1982 single, “Situation,” which went all the way to #1 on the Billboard “Hot Dance Club Play” chart. 

Click here to buy that recording from Amazon.