Hammell on Trial - Happiest Man in the World - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Selected as one of Rolling Stone magazine's 50 greatest progressive rock albums of all time, Happy the Man's self-titled debut, released in 1977 on Arista Records, is one of the most fully realized progressive rock albums ever recorded on American soil. It was neither a direct response to it's British forebears nor an attempt to fit within the evolving commercial American landscape. Instead, it was something rarer a singular work of progressive music that existed entirely on it's own terms. Though they wouldn't know it at the time, 'Happy the Man' also became the bar against which nearly all American prog rock would be measured in the decades that followed. Their sound wasn't just symphonic-it was cinematic, sophisticated, and distinctly American, weaving jazz fusion and impressionistic harmony into prog rock's DNA. Eschewing mythic storytelling and grandiose concepts, their primarily instrumental music instead unfolded like a rich tapestry of harmonies and interwoven melodies, shifting with the same organic unpredictability as a jazz improvisation yet executed with the precision of a chamber ensemble. The music was both cerebral and joyous, technically demanding yet full of human warmth. With a line-up of Stanley Whitaker (Guitars, Vocals), Kit Watkins (Keyboards), Frank Wyatt (Sax, Flute, Keyboards), Rick Kennell (Bass) and Mike Beck (Drums), the band recorded their first album under the production supervision of Ken Scott (who had worked with Supertramp and David Bowie). Happy the Man celebrates the reclamation of their rights to their classic Arista albums with a new band-approved remasters by Ray Staff. Features a 28-page booklet with a new 6000-word liner notes essay by Syd Schwartz. Album Tracks 1. Starborne 2. Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest 3. Upon the Rainbow (Befrost) 4. Mr. Mirror's Reflection on Dreams 5. Carousel 6. Knee B

Digitally re-mastered edition of the classic 1977 self- titled debut album by American Progressive Rock group Happy the Man. Formed in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1973, the band was influenced by British progressive groups such as Genesis and King Crimson. The band came to the attention of Arista Records, securing a deal the same year. Happy the Man recorded their first album under the production supervision of Ken Scott (who had worked with Supertramp and David Bowie). Featuring excellent pieces such as 'Mr. Mirror's Reflection on Dreams' and 'New York Dreams Suite', the album ranks as one of the great American Progressive rock albums. This Esoteric Recordings reissue has been newly re-mastered and features a booklet that fully restores all original album artwork with a new essay. Album Tracks 1. Starborne 2. Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest 3. Upon the Rainbow (Befrost) 4. Mr. Mirror's Reflection on Dreams 5. Carousel 6. Knee Bitten Nymphs in Limbo 7. On Time As a Helix of Precious Laughs 8. Hidden Moods 9. New York Dreams Suite

Hamell on Trial is set to reissue Choochtown (20th Anniversary Edition) Digitally and on CD with 11 bonus tracks from the original recording sessions with Billy Nicgorski. Choochtown will also see it's first proper vinyl worldwide. The vinyl version is a remastered version of the original album released in 1999. Ed Hamell on ChoochtownI was living in Brooklyn, constantly on the road, and been dropped from my major tag deal on Mercury/Universal. I really had nothing to lose and I was very inspired, if I remember, by the movie Pulp Fiction and the Biggie Smalls record Ready To Die. I recorded anywhere I could. My friend Billy Nicgorski had an analog one inch studio in his basement, his younger brother had a band and I would use them. I also did a bunch of it in my basement in Brooklyn which had a dirt floor and I set the recording gear up on plastic paint pails. Used them as drums sometimes too. I released it on my own tag Such-A-Punch and it got licensed to Evangeline in the UK where it got rave reviews and established my career over there. After all the press I got for my first two albums on a major I couldn't get S**t over here in the States, only that CMJ magazine which took their silliness pretty seriously who basically said, InchWe don't know what it is but it's art.Inch Duh. I'm pretty proud of all my records, I've been very lucky in that I've always been able to maintain complete creative control but this one I was particularly proud of because every inch of it, from the recording which one track as you'll see was recorded on my boom box, to the artwork, was all mine. Inch.. amazing and entertaining and poignant.. Inch - The Stereo Times Online Magazine, October 2000 Inch.. high-spirited.. manic energy.artfulInch - CMJ, April 2000 *(5 stars-highest ) InchAbsolutely brilliant!Inch - UNCUT Magazine, April 2001 Album Tracks 1. Go Yourself 2. When Bobby