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.
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.