When it came time to select the first single to promote his new record “The Many Moods of Martin Zellar and the Hardways,” former Gear Daddy Martin Zellar turned to one of his many music industry philosophies.

“It is my belief that, ultimately, no one knows how to market you better than you do,” Zellar explained from his Owen Lee Recordings office in Minneapolis, Minn. “Or you can take that one step further and say no one knows how to market you better than your fans.”

Zellar carried out this belief by posting a contest on his Web site that allowed fans to vote for one of three songs for radio release and registered them to win an autographed Gibson guitar.

“We mailed out notices to everyone on our mailing list and published what we were doing in a lot of newspapers,” Zellar said. “We had a huge response. The number of hits our Web site received was amazing.”

Zellar’s fans were split closely between “Goodnight Meridel” and “Time and Time Again,” with the latter taking the crown.

Both tunes are reminiscent of the Americana-pop sound Zellar cooked up in the early ’90s with the Gear Daddies. In fact, “Many Moods,” in its entirety, has garnered several comparisons to the Daddies’ acclaimed 1990 Polydor release, “Billy’s Live Bait.”

“[‘Many Moods’] is the best-received record I’ve done,” Zellar said.

Much of the credit can be given to the recording process Zellar and his crew (bassist Dominic Cola, drummer Marc Retish, guitarist Dan Neale and guitarist Patrik Tanner) took.

“We recorded it the way I have always wanted to record,” Zellar said. “I’m not a big fan of the studio.”

All 10 tracks on “Many Moods” were recorded in one or two takes, with no punching in, splicing or studio trickery.

“This allowed for the energy level to come out very high,” Zellar said. “It was a lot more fun. We were all there together so it really felt like we were a band.”

Hardways’ own Tanner produced the record, giving it a “for musicians, by musicians” feel.

“Patrik has a great pop sensibility,” Zellar said. “He arranged the songs the way he wanted them long before we went into the studio.”

“Many Moods” is Zellar’s third solo record since the Gear Daddies broke up in 1992 and the first on his own label.

Similar to folk songstress Ani DiFranco, Zellar bought his own company to have complete control over his final product.

“We’re still feeling our way through it, but it’s working out really well,” Zellar said. “One reason I wanted to do it this way is so I have the ultimate say. I get to decide the direction we take.”

Since the Gear Daddies’ debut “Let’s Go Scare Al” in 1988, Zellar has worked with three record labels, including indie-rock moguls Polydor and Rykodisc.

“I am modeling [Owen/Lee] after the labels I have been on but am eliminating the total bullshit,” Zellar said.

One downside to owning a label, Zellar pointed out, is that it can overshadow the artist’s music, such as in the case of DiFranco.

“Everytime you read a story about her, it’s about her business,” he said. “But I guess I wouldn’t mind having that problem.”

Over the years, Zellar’s songwriting style has changed along with his outlook on the business. The Minneapolis native also quit smoking two years ago, which has strengthened his voice.

“Going back to the ‘Al’ days, those songs were immediately confessional,” Zellar said. “I didn’t write them, they just poured out. It would be dishonest to try to write those songs now.

“But whether you are a writer or a plumber, I would like to think you get better the longer you do it,” he added. “I would say my style is very much the same, but different, if that makes any sense.”

One thing that has not changed is Zellar’s ability to write beautiful love songs. “Many Moods,” as the title hints, is sprinkled with classic Zellar lullabies.

“The ballads mean the most to me,” he said. “In a perfect world, they would be the ones I would release.”

But the world is far from perfect and for now, Zellar’s going to have to trust in his fans.

“The Many Moods of Martin Zellar and the Hardways” can be purchased directly by calling (800) 731-2113 or on the band’s Web site, www.martinzellar.com.

Zellar and the Hardways will be celebrating the release of “Many Moods” tonight at People’s Bar and Grill at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance.

“Ames shows are always different,” Zellar laughed. “The crowds are very much into participating. It is definitely one of the drinkingest markets we play … if that is even a word.”