I'd seen Kit Watkins perform on several tours with Camel and i always enjoyed his playing. I immediately went out and bought his solo albums Labrynth and Kit & Coco. I knew he had been in Happy The Man, but i'd never heard of them. A few years later I think i was reading an article about Kit and it prompted me to find the albums. I thought it would be difficult to get them in the UK as they were long deleted, but actually it didn't take long at all, and it was well worth it. That would have been around 1987 & i got Better Late a year later.

Well for me too, it was about 1998. I had been listening to Gentle Giant and King Crimson for a while. I had pretty much downloaded all the songs that I liked (in the days of napster). So I decided to check out some prog message boards. Some guy wrote that Happy was the American equivilant of GG. So I took a chance, downloaded a few tunes and the rest is history. As soon as I heard Mr. Mirror's, I was sold. Granted I've only been able to buy the 2 big releases. I'd like to get the others, but they're so underground, it's hard. With the exception of a few mp3s. Now if they could only play some Canadian shows after the new album is finished.

For me it began in 1978. I've copied the review from the first album from the review-page, which tells my story:

HAPPY THE MAN
Happy The Man
(MUSEA FGBG 4323.AR)
Fragments from an imaginary musical diary from a reviewer:
October 5th 1977: First introduction with Happy The Man. In a period were “Muziekkrant OOR” (the leading pop/rock-magazine in The Netherlands) still reviewed import-LP’s (which they don’t do anymore), Jan Libbenga reviewed the eponymous debut from HTM. Quote: “ The band brings cerebral, almost technocratic, smooth produced music, which in certain respects has similarities with that of our own Solution, with the difference that with Happy The Man not the saxophone but the synthesizer fulfils the main role. Kit Watkins uses cleverly the so-called pitch-bend modulation and his play remembers therefore strongly that of Jan Hammer and Manfred Mann.”
April 4th 1979: Finally decided to listen to HTM (conclusion: compelling, almost elusive music), but on the recommendation of record-seller Johan “Popeye” bought the successor “Crafty Hands”. That album turned out to be much more dynamic, particularly because on the debut drummer Mike Beck was much less present than his successor Ron Riddle. (Remark: as far as I’m concerned, the latter got therefore, despite that he was only present during the recordings of that second album, rightly the preference when HTM experiences a reunion in the year 2000.)
April 26th 1980: Bought “Happy The Man” at last, because the record continued to intrigue. The album is more symphonic, stately and less jazz-rock-like than “Crafty Hands”, but has enough ground in common with that LP (especially the virtuoso play of Kit Watkins and Frank Wyatt in combination with the more subtle work of guitarist Stanley Whitaker and the sublime production of Ken Scott) to sound familiar.
March 20th 1993: When the Japanese CD-versions of the HTM-records are finally quite good available only purchased “Crafty Hands”.
June 8th 1997: Because the LP was a cut-out, bought the Japanese CD-version of “Happy The Man” at last, and it’s still beautiful.
March 18th 2000: Hurray!, the definitive re-mastered CD’s from HTM are available in a normal way, first via One Way and later via Musea. Just give me another “Crafty Hands”.
October 24th 2000: The re-master of the debut also comes into my possession. Although the difference with this CD and the Japanese version are less big as with “Crafty Hands”, it’s now also a pleasure to be able to listen to this music in all it’s aspects perfectly. The timeless compositions are still growing and for those who have discovered this band just recently it’s a blessing that they don’t have to keep a Happy-The-Man-diary to come to this conclusion.

wow - I'm really reaching here. I used to listen to Mike and Rick play the local scene while I was in High School here in Ft. Wayne. Cliff Fortney, too. Dan Owen (Atlantis', then Ethos bassist-vocalist) all came from here. Obviously, it didn't take too long to hear of HTM once they got really going due to the home-town connection.

I only saw them live once here in town (after the 1st LP had been released) but it was a great show. Played incredibly well. My dad at the time managed one of the local theatres and I talked to Mike after the show to see if we could set something up. Alas, it never happened.

No other band, except possibly Echolyn, can twist time around like HTM, to me. Just stunning.

I ran into Mike Beck online a number of years ago. I think he lives in Indy and is still gigging. Before that, the last thing I knew he was doing a band called Rumble. Just don't know if it has ever had anything released to CD.

Looking forward to the new one.

I think Mike has a band called Dog Talk. There might be a link on the HTM site.

My take on this subject was posted on July 14, 04 under "Old stories".

And BTW, got the band to autograph the ol' album cover at NEARfest2000.

The Hat Guy

i`d heard that HTM was going to backup peter gabriel, but it never happened. One day i was in my local record shop, and i found the first album very cheap, i bought it ofcourse, and LOVED it....what more cAN i say....great band!
I love crafty hands too...

Any kit solo albums you`d reccomend?

Yeah, that would have been something, HTM with Peter Gabriel.

By the way, if you want to read about a couple of Kit-recommendations, click on this link from a previous post: htfo.proboards10.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1073301711

I don't have any specific dates, but it was in the mid 1970s. A friend who had similar progressive (i.e., Yes, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Gong, Dregs, etc) interests floored me with a bootleg of a startup band he'd heard recently.

My first viewing of them live was at a Penguin Feather (local record store) gig. I proceeded to seem them several other times (Cellar Door, Fairfax Theatre, NOVA, others), concreting my strong affinity for their composition, execution, and overall attitude about life.

Hello happy fans,

It was back in the nineteen-eighties, while listening a Dutch radio programme called "De Elpee Show" of Mr. Wim van Putten.

In those days I learned to appreciate Happy the Man, Kit Watkins, Camel, Saga, Steve Hacket, Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Machiavel, Renaissance, SFF, Gandalf, Al di Meola, Jean Luc Ponty, and so on. I still do have all these vinyl treasures, with the exact date of purchase written on them. Time flies, when you're having fun!!

But, after all these years and without ANY doubt Happy the Man is still my absolute favorite...

Greetings from Holland.

Hello and Welcome!

Yeah, "those were the days my friend" (I can almost sing that one ). I loved the Elpee Show too, but was even more under impression with Ad Visser's Super Clean Dream Machine - every monday-evening from 20.00-21.00 hour. He was a bit more adventurous than Van Putten, who mostly played the (progressive) stuff that was in the charts.

Hi Pombal12 and welcome to this HTM forum, I would like to thank you and all who has told there HTM discovery story this far. Interesting indeed!!!!!

Im a fan from the mid 90s...well, better late as we use to say.

Hi, I'm an HTM fan from the late 70s. I seem to recall hearing Service with a Smile on the radio during that time, though I believe it was probably a family member that introduced me to them.

Hi Odyssian,

Just noticed you've become a member of this exclusive club! Welcome and spread the word of HTM
I wonder when we can welcome the first Happy The Fan who became a member after hearing The Muse Awakens as his/her first HTM-experience.

Thanks! Yes, I've been looking over the past threads to see where I can contribute. I really hope that The Muse Awakens will draw a few more visitors/members to the board. I kind of got lost during the transition from the old board to this one. Glad to finally be here though!

I lived in Northern Virginia in the mid-late '70's and had friends that turned me on to music I had never heard before - thank you!! I was so very disappointed when they disbanded. I read the liner notes from Retrospective and contacted George Varga of the San Diego Union-Tribune who has been keeping me informed and updated from time to time. I am looking forward to purchasing the most recent CD (can't call them albums anymore), the clips I just listened to were stunning. The band members have only gotten better over the years. Thank you HTM for finding your muse again and sharing it with people that you touch deeply with your creativity and talent.

Hi Group -

Just wanted to share my experience about this. I was at Berklee College of Music in Boston during the summer of 1977 for one of their High School "Band Camps". One of the guys I met from Washington D.C. brought a cassette tape of the 1st HTM record before it was actually released. He had recorded it from a radio show and was constantly raving about it and playing it for us at every opportunity. At first, it was just one of a myriad of new music experiences I was being exposed to. Then one day, I actually *listened* to it and began to realize that this was something far beyond what most rock groups were attempting. Sure, I had been exposed to "progressive" rock with well known groups like Yes and ELP, but HTM brought a refinement and grandeur to their sound that I had never heard before and I was hooked. I think that it was through them that I really began to understand the potential of music. Thanks HTM!

Hi Ken, nice to see you here! I think your own music has some pronounced HTM influences, at least I can hear them in ‘Assembly’ (I immediately put it on when I saw your post here!). I also like your ’Twinkle Factor’ very much though it’s quite different comparing to ‘Assembly’. Cheers!

Wow... Internet turns the world into one really small place!

I think I saw the name ‘Happy The Man’ for the first time when I read a description of Ken Watson’s CD, Assembly (see two posts above) on Kinesis site several years ago... Although I wasn’t familiar with HTM’s music back then, the description compared Assembly to Bruford as well and so I bought it. (And I am very glad I did this! Assembly still plays right now... )
Anyway, a couple of years later a friend of mine gave me a compilation tape he ‘assembled’ for listening in a car. One of its tunes was ‘While Crome Yellow Shine’ and after the first listen I was hooked instantly. As they say - the rest is history. ;D

Here are some reviews of Assembly: www.kinesiscd.com/storeframe.htm?ken-watson.htm
Great recording! Happy The Man & Bruford meet again! When I bought the LP Crafty Hands in 1979 I bought One Of A Kind from Bruford at the same day....

Thanks for the kind words

It is truly a small world as I don't run into too many people who know of Assembly, so thats very nice...glad you guys enjoyed it.

I wrote a piece that is intended to be a "true" tribute to HTM (trying to sound as much like them as possible without stealing actual themes) and I'll post that when times permits - even though it is pretty bad sonically. Look forward to hearing the other member's music as well

Needless to say I'm thrilled that HTM are around and kicking and I'm loving the Muse, I just wish they would do a show down here in Atlanta!!!!

Peace

Well, that's something to look forward to. Yesterday I listened to Assembly again and the track "Prelude To Beating Swords Into Plowshares" (sounds like a anti-war-song to me ) already has very much that HTM-feel, but indeed without "stealing" from them.

I went to JMU in Harrisonburg from 1974-78. Needless to say I have seen HTM quite a bit. My 1st encounter was at a holloween party at Rockingham County Fairgrounds. They started playing covers while wearing masks........very good reditions of 21st century schizoid man & other favs. Took a break & came back playing their music. Totally blew everyone away! What a night. After that their popularity grew like wildfire around campus.

Seems like HTM forgot to tell all their history ! Great story about the masks and welcome to the forum Tomy2n.

Happy who?? Which one's he?

It was late 70 ´s I heard Service with a smile and later Morning Sun couple of times from Finnish radio. I was instantly hooked. Later I bought their first album as vinyl... many many years after that the compilation - Retrospective as CD and now the marvelleus The Muse Awakens. I really should update my library with all their CD:s especially now that I don't even have turntable anymore.

I am a relative latecomer, finding out about HtM in the 90s, either because of my learning more avant-garde/proggy stuff and Cuneiform Records, or simply because an owner of a now-defunct independent music shop in Fairfax clued me into the band. I can't really remember. But I've made up for lost time, seeing the band several times in 2000, 2002, and 2004 (three times last fall). I even helped with their merch. counter at their first official reunion gig in 2000 at the State Theater. I've also caught Stan & LeeAnne's solo act quite a few times in the DC area. When they first came out on stage in 2000 at the State, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I think I got teary-eyed, I was so excited to be able to see this great band live, since I missed out in the 70s.

~Mark C.

It was 1975 and I was working on the high school newspaper. A few friends and I went to see them play at the Old Fairfax Theatre. It was awsome! Interviewed them and took a bunch of photos for the school paper. In 1976 we booked them to play at our high school (George Mason in Falls Church, VA) The gig date was May 22. I still have the ticket. Been great friends with them ever since and even went to NY with Stan and Rick late in 1979 to work for Vision, the spin off from HTM after Kit left for Camel. Seeing them play the State Theatre in Falls Church was real cool cause I used to go see movies there when I was only 6 years old.