Happy The Man- Crafty Hands (1978)

[Scrotum Scissor]

Yezda Urfa sure comes to mind.

And, back then: Mirthrandir, Pentwater, (some of) Hands, Terraced Garden in the 80s etc. Those Quebec'ian GG-disciples were a bit obvious, seeing how GG were somewhat succesful there; Maneige, Opus-5 and the very GG'ish Etcetera.

Advent are doing a pretty damn nice job at "the GG" nowadays, although they certainly and luckily move beyond that.

[Rand Kelly]

And, back then: Mirthrandir, Pentwater, (some of) Hands, Terraced Garden in the 80s etc. Those Quebec'ian GG-disciples were a bit obvious, seeing how GG were somewhat succesful there; Maneige, Opus-5 and the very GG'ish Etcetera.

Advent are doing a pretty damn nice job at "the GG" nowadays, although they certainly and luckily move beyond that.

I always wanted to hear Etcetera,but somehow I never have.

[Firth]

In terms of showcasing a most original approach to their medium ("symphonic" style progressive rock) - yes. But there have been several other US and/or Canadian (Quebecois) bands who wore their GG-sleeves far more blatantly than HtM. And kudos to the latter for developing their own sound.

Within HTM, I hear multiple influences. The Kit Watkins influenced or written songs are very Camel like. HTM had an atmospheric side (more on the first release engineered by Ken Scott). However Craft Hands has more of a VDGG and GG sound, but all of these releases are original results. Very prog gumbo of jazz, earlier prog and classical music (from classical music educations).

[Rand Kelly]

Within HTM, I hear multiple influences. The Kit Watkins influenced or written songs are very Camel like. HTM had an atmospheric side (more on the first release engineered by Ken Scott). However Craft Hands has more of a VDGG and GG sound, but all of these releases are original results. Very prog gumbo of jazz, earlier prog and classical music (from classical music educations).

I totally agree with some of that. I also think that songs like Morning Sun,The Moon,I Sing and Open Book sound nothing like VDGG or GG. The odd thing to me is how many fans keep referring to them as SYMPHONIC. In my listening since 1977 they never get that symphonic. That would be The Enid,Craft,The Flower Kings,Yes,Genesis and King Crimson here and there mainly due to usage of the strings settings on their Mellotrons. HTM of the 70's used an ARP String Ensemble,Fender Rhodes Piano,Clavinet and and a Minimoog D. Hardly enough to garner the term symphonic I would think. I may be wrong though with the ARP there are string sounds so I guess it's up to the individual to decide.

[Enid]

In 79'..I was traveling everywhere..(it seemed), and a empty-headed DJ handed me the album sealed and said.."Here kid, you can have this because no one is listening to this kind of music anymore". I took the album back to our band house in Media, P.A. and we sat in front of the fireplace listening to it for hours. My singer then walked in and informed us..."You boneheads!" "They have played around the corner from us several times" "You morons!" "Don't you know who they are?" Then we all took notice of their name on billboard/sign posted in front of venues that we had played and we just started flipping out like a bunch of little kids! We often played huge cities and feverishly searched for their debut. We learned their pieces and played them at soundchecks. Then as time progressed we noticed H.T.M.'s impact on professional musicians traveling the road. Everyone I knew performing early Genesis and Yes material were overwhelmed by Happy The Man. They were a legend on the circuit! They were extremely important to musicians because they had figured out a way to be totally original while being influenced by Prog of the 70's...where many other Prog acts on the circuit that played original music were just too much about emulation if anything and that is precisely what was so important about H.T.M. I will remember those times when I'm on my deathbed.

[Scrotum Scissor]

The odd thing to me is how many fans keep referring to them as SYMPHONIC. In my listening since 1977 they never get that symphonic. That would be The Enid,Craft,The Flower Kings,Yes,Genesis and King Crimson here and there mainly due to usage of the strings settings on their Mellotrons. HTM of the 70's used an ARP String Ensemble,Fender Rhodes Piano,Clavinet and and a Minimoog D. Hardly enough to garner the term symphonic I would think. I may be wrong though with the ARP there are string sounds so I guess it's up to the individual to decide.

The term "symphonic" applied to rock music is a sham in the first place and never had much to do with the size or contents of a band's keysstack. It was solely about certain aspects of arrangement and harmonics. Hell, even Vanilla Fudge were called "symphonic rock" in Rolling Stone at the release of the Renaissance album, as were Procol Harum in the UK.

Happy the Man are namechecked as "symphonic (progressive) rock" due to the heavy role of layered and sometimes orchestral synth textures as well as the compositional dimension itself. Their influences veered from Genesis and Yes to mid-70s Zappa and Romantic-era RTF. I personally don't hear much of either VdGG or GG (both of whom I love) in HtM (although an early track like "Partly the State" could almost suggest a vague VdGG-influence nonetheless), but they were just as idiosyncratic IMO.

[chalkpie]

HTM always reminded me of what (would/could) consist of great interludes in prog tunes, minus the tunes, if that makes sense? I understand there is form, development, etc happening in the music, but I can't help but to feel this way. But what they do they are very good at. The first tune posted "Moon" was always my favorite from this album.

[Rand Kelly]

HTM always reminded me of what (would/could) consist of great interludes in prog tunes, minus the tunes, if that makes sense? I understand there is form, development, etc happening in the music, but I can't help but to feel this way. But what they do they are very good at. The first tune posted "Moon" was always my favorite from this album.

Steaming Pipes is mine. Mainly because it's the only one I can play mostly through. I do know one thing about their writing and that is someone is obsessed with Lydian Mode i/e. C,D,E,F#,G,A,B,C. They use it on almost every song they ever did which is wonderful.

[Rand Kelly]

Yezda Urfa sure comes to mind.

Funny,I just placed Boris on the table for playing on Saturday's commute.

[Firth]

I totally agree with some of that. I also think that songs like Morning Sun,The Moon,I Sing and Open Book sound nothing like VDGG or GG. The odd thing to me is how many fans keep referring to them as SYMPHONIC. In my listening since 1977 they never get that symphonic. That would be The Enid,Craft,The Flower Kings,Yes,Genesis and King Crimson here and there mainly due to usage of the strings settings on their Mellotrons. HTM of the 70's used an ARP String Ensemble,Fender Rhodes Piano,Clavinet and and a Minimoog D. Hardly enough to garner the term symphonic I would think. I may be wrong though with the ARP there are string sounds so I guess it's up to the individual to decide.

I mentioned VDGG, however that was listed by Stan Whitaker as an influence. I have not been much of a listener or fan of VDGG over the years. What I have heard did not do much for me.

[warrplayer]

This album is a desert island disc for me with Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, and CTTE rounding out my top three.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I always wanted to hear Etcetera,but somehow I never have.

It's a very good record (not excellent or great, IMO - except for two standout tracks of which none are to be found on YT):

[JKL2000]

Since I lived near where HTM was in the late 70's, I'm kind of wondering why you think the environment wasn't conducive to development of their music.

I was referring to the general environment (that is, the United States). I didn't live in the DC/Baltimore area, I lived in NYC. I can tell you HTM wasn't widely known in NYC in the late 70's.

[Firth]

I was referring to the general environment (that is, the United States). I didn't live in the DC/Baltimore area, I lived in NYC. I can tell you HTM wasn't widely known in NYC in the late 70's.

HTM recorded with Arista and Clive Davis. Nick Lowe wrote a song about Arista, They Called It Rock:
They went and cut the record, the record hit the charts
Someone in the newspaper said that it was art
The disco Casanova had it heavy on the breath
The local teeny-bopper band was playing it to death

They called it rock

The telephones are ringing, the boys are getting hot
They're jettin' out to Rio and some other sunny spots
Some senorita says the singer sounds terrific
The personal appearances are stopping the traffic

They called it rock

Hey long distance, it's a rock and roll romance
CBS is gonna pay a great big advance
Hey Atlantic, come on take a chance
Arista say they love it but the kids can't dance to it

They cut another record, it never was a hit
Someone in the newspaper said it was shit
The drummer is a bookie, the singer is a whore
The bass player's selling clothes he never would have wore

They called it rock

[Brian Griffin]

I lived in NYC. I can tell you HTM wasn't widely known in NYC in the late 70's.

I lived there as well, and while I was aware of them by name, I doubt I ever heard them

I don't recall ever hearing them on WLIR or WNEW, the two more prog friendly radio stations

BG

[ThomasKDye]

Just got this. I really love it. The sweet nature of "Morning Sun," the hyper syncopation of "Ibby It Is"… Makes me want to look into Kit Watkins' stuff more.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

for Kit's solo stuff, if you want more upbeat and ominous it's Wet, Dark and Low
if you want serene and beautiful it's his first, Azure

I have all of em... there are like 10 albums by him

[Firth]

for Kit's solo stuff, if you want more upbeat and ominous it's Wet, Dark and Low
if you want serene and beautiful it's his first, Azure

I have all of em... there are like 10 albums by him

How about Kit and Koko?

[interbellum]

How about Kit and Koko?

I remember I once played Kit & Coco's "In Time" at the wrong speed. It sounded quite a lot like upbeat HTM

[interbellum]

Kit's "Sunstruck" contains the track "Phoebus' Dream" which has such a great drive. Played it many, many times. The rest of the album is fine too, although the last three tracks are more in the ambient vein.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Kit's Sunstruck has one of my favorite Prog epics, Third Planet Suite. The rest of the album is quite Ambient except for Phoebus Dream

[Firth]

I remember I once played Kit & Coco's "In Time" at the wrong speed. It sounded quite a lot like upbeat HTM

[Rand Kelly]

for Kit's solo stuff, if you want more upbeat and ominous it's Wet, Dark and Low
if you want serene and beautiful it's his first, Azure

I have all of em... there are like 10 albums by him

Labyrinth was his first solo album after Happy The Man. Then Frames Of Mind,then Azure. Kit and Coco In Time isn't a solo album and I forgot the year it was released even though I have the lp. Never heard Wet,Dark and Low but thanks for the info on that. I def. enjoy his more upbeat music.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

I was gonna change that after I wrote it, then I wondered if anyone would catch it.

BTW, Kit plays on the solo album by Coco Roussel if one is a completest like me

[interbellum]

BTW, Kit plays on the solo album by Coco Roussel if one is a completest like me

I suppose you also have However's "Calling" then (and Andy West's "Rama 1")?

And indeed, Roussel's "Reaching Beyond" is a fine Kit Watkins-album ;-)