HAPPY

So it all started, long ago, with a desire to make a mix, based on the Stones' Exile on Main Street, 

a most influential work, in my opinion. It was indeed, a major influence on the more laid back swagger of future ensembles, as collected here. Bands were now told they were allowed to be messy. Hip, very talented, but messy.

The Stones most favorite cousins were The Faces, one of The Best rhythm sections to be born in Britain. They ran with the banner, flew it from great heights, Rod, the Ronnies, Wood & Lane and co, with their fully stocked bar on stage, blokey matey banter and the odd soccer ball forthwith. Their tune You're So Rude features Ronnie 'plonk' Lane on vocals, an extremely rough and tumble character whose presence in the Small Faces, the Faces and later with Slim Chance beget some of the finest character filled tunes of the '60's and '70's. 

My long time faves Mott the Hoople, and their sublime vocalist Ian Hunter, whose vocal strut rang strongly and defiantly in my teenage times are represented with a track each. The Hoople track is a rare concession on my part, as I usually can't stand songs with the words Rock and Roll in the title, but this one, along with the Velvet's Rock & Roll and Lou Reed's Rock and Roll Heart are rare exceptions. The track is pure magic, as is Ian's Once Bitten Twice Shy, from his 1st solo album, one that was thrashed in my teens.

We venture into, what the Americans were calling New Wave as early as '74, then given the British tag Punk (a nasty put down in the US), then, after Punk had (officially) died everybody was either Post Punk or New Wave (ironically). Anyhoot, folks like The Only Ones and their vocalist Peter Perrett, dear friend of Keef, were swept amongst the tide of New Wave, though their guitar solos and the epic grandeur of their songs rang the sounding bell of that same cool Stonsey swagger.  

This comp is jam packed with incredible artists from the States and the UK who looseness matched their irreverence and idiosyncratic tendencies. From Memphis you have Alex Chilton, recorded in 1970, stranded between the Box Tops and Big Star, Alex tears open the Stones Jumpin' Jack Flash in such a terrifying fashion that it leaves latter messes like Johnny Thunders seeming tame. Alex's Memphis buddy and studio cohort Terry Manning defies order with his offering of Choo Choo Train, what a glorious sloppy racket! Original member and co-songwriter of Big Star Chris Bell kicks off the proceedings, with help from Tav Falco, for a full Memphis welcome.

Television and their guitarist Richard Lloyd get an airing to strut their NYC style, Television with Ain't That Nothin' from their magnificent second album Adventure. Richard Lloyd recites the Stone's Get Off My Cloud as though playing with razor blades instead of guitar picks, the original 7" single, on Ork Records, has emblazoned on the cover "For Keith". A very popular sentiment back in NYC, check Patty Smith's hair. For example.

The rest of the cast here are not to be sniffed at (Grateful Dead pun). Wild, passionate souls who all had great songs and chops, but weren't afraid to get real loose.

This compilation is dedicated to one of the best friends I could ever have had.

With whom I had innumerable sessions spinning tunes like these, whose love for that loose effortless swagger was permanently imprinted into me.

To Christian Houllemare with love.

Get HAPPY

1. Chris Bell - I Got Kinda Lost - I am the Cosmos

2. Rolling Stones - Happy - Exile on Main Street

3. Todd Rundgren - Parole - Runt-The Ballad of Todd Rundgren

4. Alex Chilton - Jumpin' Jack Flash - Free again, the 1970 Sessions

5. Ian Hunter - Once Bitten Twice Shy - S/T

6. Dwight Twilley - Alone in my Room - Twilley

7. Television - Ain't that Nothin' - Adventure

8. The Flamin' Groovies - Jailbait - Flamingo

9.The Faces - You're So Rude - A Nod is as Good as a Wink...

10. The Grateful Dead - Casey Jones - Workingman's Dead

11. Little feat - Crack in yor Door - S/T

12. Neil Young - Walk On - On the Beach

13. The Only Ones - City of Fun - S/T

14. Eddie and the Hot Rods - Do Anything You Want To Do - Life on the Line

15. Richard Lloyd - Get Off My Cloud- Ork Box

16. Bram Tchaikovsky - Girl of my Dreams - 7"

17. Mink Deville - Savoire Faire - Le Chat Bleu

18. Tom Petty - What are you doing in my life - Damn the Torpedoes

19. Mott the Hoople - The Golden Age of Rock and Roll  - Mott

20. The Move - Down on the Bay - Split Ends

21. Terry Manning - Choo Choo Train - Home Sweet Home

22. Chris Stamey and the DB's - (I thought) You Wanted to Know - Ork Box