Happy The Man - An Open Discussion

I never really touched on this subject before mainly for redundancy, seems everybody here knows about them.

But this group touches very close to home. I grew-up in the Washington DC area where these guys come from. They have over the years since the 70's been reputed as one of the best American Prog bands.

In 1976 they performed at my high-school and I was hooked since then. I was playing drums in scattered jazz-fusion bands after high-school and even opened for them in '78 at a club called The Keg in Georgetown 'til they tore it down. We were called Phase I, nothing all that great. Just a jam band doing loose instrumentals. We were mostly kids getting into "The Scene", not bad, but still amatuerish.

What do you all know or think about them?

I really like Happy the Man,and have only recently known of them.Their album Crafty Hands is amazing.What's another good HtM album to get?

It's weird,I grew up in Maryland and still reside there and I have never heard of them.

I'm originally from the DC/Northern VA area as well, and I had never heard of this band until just a few years ago. I only own their debut, but it's quite impressive. I do find them to be a tad cheesy at times (primarily the vocals), but I usually can look past that due to the outstanding musicianship.

Empathy wrote: I'm originally from the DC/Northern VA area as well, and I had never heard of this band until just a few years ago. I only own their debut, but it's quite impressive. I do find them to be a tad cheesy at times (primarily the vocals), but I usually can look past that due to the outstanding musicianship.

Where abouts are you from? As I stated before I'm from Falls Church. And you're right about the vocals. Stanley Whitaker can't sing worth a crap! And what's funny is he knows it!

I was wondering about this band as well. I have XM, and they play them on the Music Lab station, the prog/jam/fusion station. I have liked what I have heard so far, but don't remember any vocals..are they enough to really put you off the music? I have been thinking of getting something by them...large catalog at all?

kenmeyerjr wrote: I was wondering about this band as well. I have XM, and they play them on the Music Lab station, the prog/jam/fusion station. I have liked what I have heard so far, but don't remember any vocals..are they enough to really put you off the music? I have been thinking of getting something by them...large catalog at all?

Fortunately there is very little vocals in their catalog. About 90% instrumental. So whatever you buy, it's worth it. Go for it, you won't be disappointed.

Stanley was very humble about his singing. He never took it seriously. He just used it occasionally to express some poety he'd write. He took his singing about as seriously Steve Howe took his.

Edited by marktheshark

Empathy wrote: marktheshark wrote: Ah yes, you're right there at the worst interstate intersection in the country. 495 meets 95. Absolute hell! I can't even remember how many near accidents I've had there! That is a really, really stupidly designed intersection. Sadly, there are even more infuratingly stupidly designed roads here in Boston. I will be _first_ in line when they start selling flying cars.

I haven't lived there in 13 years. From what I've heard, they re-designed the whole interchange. Is it any better? I take it it's not!

Congradulations NoVa, you're now at LA levels! Great, I now know to avoid that area altogether now. Like it was hard enough to get to Springfield Mall in the 70s.

Cygnus X-2 wrote: Crafty Hands is a great album, I remember when I first got it I listened to it for about a week straight, really strong instrumental stuff on that album.

Crafty Hands is fine, but take my word for it and get Beginnings. You really hear the REAL HTM on that one!

Edited by marktheshark

I would like to elaborate on y previous post, and bring this topic back at the same time.

I first heard HTM on an internet Prog station. I was interested enough to download the MP3s from PA(This was before I was a member). At first I thought nothing of the tracks, but the second time I played them something clicked.

Since then the more I played them , the more I liked them and I'm currently enjoying the album "Crafty Hands".