Beat Happening

Happenings, Beat Happening | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 7, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: K. Records
• ASIN: B000003RLY
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,573 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Twee Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A truly seminal record, 1985's Beat is largely responsible for the wave of primitive, low-fi creations that appeared over the next decade. Calvin Johnson, who went on to build a small indie label empire with K Records in Olympia, Washington, heads up this postmodern three-piece, which features flat vocals, loads of snare drum, wacky lyrics, and an abundance of charm." Foggy Eyes," sung by Calvin and bandmate Heather, is one of the sweetest songs you'll ever hear. "I Spy" sounds like the Cramps trying to be minimalist and awkward, and "I Love You" is one of the most hip-thrusting, heavy-breathing, love songs ever recorded. --Lorry Fleming

Product Description

A hundred summer days bottled up inside one guitar! Beat Happening’s classic debut album has been reissued on compact disc, with lots of extra material from 1983-85, the time during which the first album was originally recorded and released. Bret, Heather and Calvin made music that was hot & bothered, and the world listened with trepidation. As the first album ever to be released on K, Beat Happening set a mood of irresistibility that has endured for twenty years.

The refurbished Beat Happening includes the original Greg Sage (The Wipers)- produced sessions that comprised most of the original album as well as the first single ("Our Secret"/"What’s Important"). Five of the songs were recorded while Beat Happening was living in Japan, and then released on the Three Tea Breakfast cassette. There are also several songs that were originally included on various cassette compilations long out of print. Originally a 1985 K release, Beat Happening was released in England by Rough Trade in 1986 and reissued in 2002 as a part of the Crashing Through box set, which includes all five of the Beat Happening albums (Beat Happening, Jamboree, Black Candy, Dreamy, You Turn Me On) plus the compilation Music To Climb The Apple Tree By.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars charming, unpretentious, seminal... essential!, March 28, 2000

By 

Martin J Flanagan (Wantagh, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beat Happening (Audio CD)

Essentially a rerelease of the '83-85' Beat Happening compilation CD which includes all the tracks from their first single, first album, first 2 EP's, plus a few compilation cuts & rarities...

Be warned, Beat Happening is an acquired taste: the musicianship is rudimentary at best, the singers (to quote a Rolling Stone review) "can't carry a tune in a bucket" and the sound quality is, well it's called lo-fi for a reason!

That said, you really need to hear this stuff; you may not instantly fall in love with the performances but the songs themselves (simple as they are) are relentlessly catchy (Hole, Yo La Tengo, Velocity Girl, Teenage Fanclub, Spectrum, Seaweed and many others others have covered BH tunes), and there's a good chance Beat Happening WILL win you over & you'll kick yourself for not investigating this band sooner.

All of their albums are worthy purchases but this one's probably the best place to start. There are a few clunkers here & there but most of these songs have become underground classics. The influence of this band cannot be overstated; a fair amount of 80's (and early 90's) alt-rock bands either directly or indirectly owe Calvin, Bret & Heather a tip-of-the-hat. Here's where you find out why.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can I go to 6 stars?, November 27, 2000

By 

Sam (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beat Happening (Audio CD)

The best thing about Beat Happening is the way they can accomplish so much with so little. Give them a mic and something to bang on, and they'll give you an incredibly catchy, sweet, and wacky tune about whatever (probably a cutesy love song).

Be Warned: This is classic lo-fi (but I'm sure you already knew that). The songs on this record are not glossed over with expensive production, in fact a few of them might even be considered no-fi.

If you're a fan of honest, raw, sweet, hella catchy rockn'roll, buy this record. Indie-rock law mandates it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beat is happening, January 16, 2005

By 

Hippie Smell "hippie_smell" (Brooklyn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beat Happening (Audio CD)

I own the box set, and would encourage everyone that is interested to make the investment. The reason why I'm writing this review is to stick up for an album that I believe to be worthy of five stars. This album will show you how diverse and ahead of their time Beat Happening really was. With out a doubt my favorite album by Beat Happening and you'll see that even though it has a rough sound there really is a lot going on here.