HAPPY ENDING (OST)

Masterful!

1972, what a year for Prog! But not all the "masterpieces", got the same attention. Quiet undeservingly, considering Terry Riley's music, influenced most of those guys. Riley's unpretentioness, didn't help much neither. Too much of an Artist, to run the "rat-race", he simply refused to use the marketing strategies, you needed to become "notable" (one of the many reasons, for the rise of the Rock in Opposition movement).

The best and easiest way, to explain this "Happy Ending", instrumental project, to newer Prog and Rock audiophiles, will be in terms of association.

So, ...imagine there is no religion. Just kidding!.. Imagine the synth-sequenced introduction to The Who's, "Baba O' Riley" (which holds on to the story, that it actually was a "tribute" or "cover" of Terry's musical language, although, I have read different versions, by Townshend, himself, so who knows?), anyway, imagine that "intro", as a whole musical composition, played with a hammond organ, alongside analog synths. That will turn out to be "Journey From the Death Of a Friend", the side "A", of this masterpiece album. This composition, will be a delight specially, for those who appreciate the Prog-Electronic sub genre. The side "B" composition, "Happy Ending", will please the experimental, Avant/Garde, RiO followers, who appreciate the Jazz influence, without the Jazz. Played with the hammond, a synth alongside a tenor sax, it provides a refreshing and beautiful counterpart, to the more "minimalistic" and faster, previous side.

Anyone who appreciates, or wants to learn a bit more, of the real, anonymous and powerful influence, Terry Riley's music has been , not only to Prog, but contemporary music, should just let the "Master" do the talking.

What else, *****5, rounded "BIG", PA stars!.........If you miss it, you were forewarned!

In C and the 1969 version of A Rainbow in Curved Air / Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band are constantly discussed for good reason and highly regarded too. Happy Ending isn't discussed or talked about much which is too bad, this is every much as good and essential. This is a soundtrack to a French film called Les Yeux Fermés and was recorded at the world famous Strawberry Studios at the Château D'Hérouville in France where everyone from Elton John to Magma had recorded there. This recording is all by Terry Riley himself, no ensemble like on In C, honestly it doesn't stray too far from the Rainbow in Curved Air template. "Journey From the Death of a Friend" has similar overlapping organ patterns although at a calmer and slower pace. Moog, Farfisa electric piano (sounds like it to me) and even some standard piano is used here. The title track starts off similar to "Poppy Nogood" with similar use of wind instruments, but then instead of a constant organ drone it's nice spacy organ that doesn't stay in one place. At the end is some rather jazzy piano. I find this album better than the other 1972 album he put out, Persian Surgery Dervishes as it's less repetitive and more going on.

I am really bewildered why this never got released in the States? I can understand that Columbia Masterworks wasn't exactly known for film soundtracks, but this was on Warner and could have been easily released in the States. For me this is one of his most "proggy" albums and a truly wonderful album to have.