Happy The Man - An Open Discussion
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Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19445
Printed Date: July 19 2025 at 14:14
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Topic: Happy The Man - An Open Discussion
Posted By: marktheshark
Subject: Happy The Man - An Open Discussion
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 20:01
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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? |
Replies:
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 20:10
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Happy The man? really like them a lot. great band. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 20:18
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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. -------------  |
Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 21:42
| my favorite american band the best sycopation ia all of prog rock the only american band near to them might be echolyn |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 22:10
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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.
------------- Pure Brilliance: 
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Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 22:52
I grew up in Falls Church, Va, during the late 60s and 70s. Kit Watkins and HTM resided in Reston, Va. What you want to get is their "Beginnings" CD. Early previously unreleased recordings during their more experimental phase. It's a bit rough but well worth it. They were pretty much at a peak there. Mike Beck's percussion gave Bruford a run for his money. Unfortunately keyboardist Kit Watkins left in late '79 and sessioned for the likes of Alan Holdsworth and God knows who else. |
TheProgtologist wrote:Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 22:56
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! |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:29
I grew up in the seedy underbelly of Springfield, VA.  Goldenspiral's another VA alumnus, down there in Hokie Town (Blacksburg). And I can't sing worth a crap either, so I certainly should not be hurling projectiles at domiciles made of liquid sand. ------------- Pure Brilliance:
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Posted By: kenmeyerjr
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:32
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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? ------------- If you like art of musicians, check my site (the music section) and tell me what you think! http://www.kenmeyerjr.com |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:38
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! 
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Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:44
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. |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:46
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. ------------- Pure Brilliance:
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Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 24 2006 at 23:59
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! |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: February 25 2006 at 00:32
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Well, it now has towering exit ramps, and cloverleafs... ... and 4-6 lanes of traffic merging at full speed, right at the Springfiled exit. |
Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 25 2006 at 00:40
| 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. |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: February 25 2006 at 01:18
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. ------------- 
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Posted By: marktheshark
Date Posted: February 25 2006 at 02:49
Crafty Hands is fine, but take my word for it and get Beginnings. You really hear the REAL HTM on that one! |
Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 19:22
Oddly enough, I was just on the Camel website the other day, and discovered that Kit Watkins did a stint with them as well (1979-1981), which I hadn't known! ------------- Pure Brilliance:
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 04:52
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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". ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: March 01 2006 at 18:34
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Happy the Man is one of great bands from USA, along with Yezda Urfa, Mirthrandir, Pentwater etc etc etc..., and maybe the best. I like all their albums I have, which are: "Beginnings", "Death's Crown", "Crafty Hands" and "Muse Awakens". All are brilliant. I think I only miss one album called "Better late..." in my collection. Absolutely wonderful band!!! ------------- carefulwiththataxe |