Happiness and All the Other Things [Vinyl]

Cross Canadian Ragweed | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (August 31, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal South
• ASIN: B002IDH4M4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,453 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 51 Pieces

2. Bluebonnets

3. Burn Like the Sun

4. To Find My Love

5. Drag

6. Kick in the Head

7. Overtable

8. Overtable Interlude

9. Pretty Lady

10. Tomorrow

11. Confident

12. My Chances

13. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground [Live][*]

14. Soul Agent [Live][*]

15. Train to Birmingham [Live][*]

Editorial Reviews

USA Today proclaims that "(Cross Canadian Ragweed) is one of the better-kept secrets around."

But not a secret for much longer, as their seventh studio album, Happiness and All The Other Things, amply proves. The 12-track opus opens with a one/two punch/kiss combo that sets the band's wide parameters: The fiercely rocking road tale "51 Pieces" followed by a sweet taste of the Texas Hill Country springtime on "Bluebonnets," whose sparse and lovely arrangement features harmonium by Joe Hardy (the star recording engineer who mixed the album) and dobro by noted musician and producer Lloyd Maines (also the father of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines). And then it only gets better.

Marking the band's 15th year together, Happiness and All The Other Things follows on the heels of Mission California, which hit #6 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and #30 on the Top 100 week of release. The band has sold over one million albums and plays over 250 shows annually, rocking an estimated half a million fans this year alone.

CD BONUS MATERIAL includes: Commemorative retrospective poster, three live bonus tracks (Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground, Train To Birmingham, Soul Agent), two hidden tracks (Carmelita, Poopeye), live video download (Confident). --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Music Release of '09, September 2, 2009

By 

Jon Intravia (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happiness and All The Other Things [15th Anniversary Deluxe Limited Edition] (Audio CD)

I don't think a better CD will be released this year. This is like a perfect album. Stephanie Briggs really adds something here. The four songs she co-writes, plays keys on, & does harmony are different & seem as a muse to Cody, who actually outdoes himself as a singer-songwriter. The rest of the band plays with a deep musical feel with her but she is low-profile, almost quietly adding soft keys & vocals to these loud country rockers.

There is not one weak song & I just heard it once through on the way to the release party here in Colorado last night & was blown away. Then to see them come out & play the "just out of the box" new release, everything front to back including the hidden track, "Carmelita".....was one of the freshest, best musical experiences one could have. They did a fiery second set too and seemed so appreciative of the crowd allowing them to do what they wanted to do the first part of the night - but that was the best part. This album will be one of my favorites & I'm sure I'll never see every song on it performed in one night or even several nights again. Stephanie was also with them, which was great. I think she will be playing w/ CCR for about 10 shows showcasing this new CD. If you can catch this act.....do it!

Of all the excellent new songs, my current fave is "Burn Like the Sun", written by Cody, Mike & Stephanie. It may be too soft for some of you hardcore fans, but this is just a damn beautiful song. This is the third song on the CD and marks when Steph makes her appearance, just like she did last night. It is wonderfully surprising to see someone like Stephanie Briggs, to effectively bring so much to such an established signature band that had no weaknesses or holes, soaring in their prime. "Tomorrow" & "Confident", both co-written by Cody & Steph are also superbly crafted songs which feature a new, so-interesting musical change when the band plays them. The rockers don't disappoint on H&ATOT either.

fyi....I think all H&ATOT CDs are the special deluxe limited edition. the hidden tracks are between the end of the traditional album & the bonus tracks. just let track 12 play thru.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A return to form., September 1, 2009

By 

DanD - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Happiness and All The Other Things [15th Anniversary Deluxe Limited Edition] (Audio CD)

Ragweed's previous album, MISSION CALIFORNIA, was pretty much hit-and-miss; more hit than miss, granted, but it did misfire in a couple places. HAPPINESS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS stumbles only once, and even that can be forgiven: "Drag" is pretty much the "get out of my face or else" rock anthem that appears on every single Ragweed album. It's appearance here is acceptable because...well, tradition is tradition.

The rest of the album is Ragweed's best in a while. The boys are in fine form, and are accompanied the album over by singer/pianist/songwriter Stephanie Briggs, a welcome addition to the regular crew of Cody Canada (vocals, lead axe), Jeremy Plato (bass), Randy Ragsdale (drums), Grady Cross (rhythm axe), and producer Mike McClure. Canada's son Dierks (guess who he's named after) even makes an appearance at the beginning of "Blue Bonnets," one of the strongest songs in a collection of strong songs. It's a sparse, acoustically-arranged tune that's more folk than country, which is just fine. The album also ends with another sparse arrangement, the piano-fueled "My Chances." (This isn't counting the obligatory hidden track; this time around, it's an absolutely stunning full-band version of Warren Zevon's seminal "Carmalita".)

Elsewhere on the album, the boys (and gal) show why they are among the best musicians in the biz today. "51 Pieces" absolutely simmers, as does the interlude for "Overtable," and the album highlight "Pretty Lady." "Tomorrow" shifts time-signatures, something the guys haven't done in the past I don't believe; naturally, they pull it off without a hitch. "Kick in the Head" is a nice country shuffle with some rather dark lyrics, and the stellar "To Find My Love" was penned by Kris Kristofferson's longtime sideman Stephen Bruton, and is superbly sung by bassist Plato.

Fifteen years in, and Cross Canadian Ragweed is still as vital a presence as they were on day one. Their albums defy categorization; you find them in the country section of the record store, but they are just as much rock as they are anything else. HAPPINESS AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS is easily one of their strongest records, and is proof that these guys don't give a s**t about awards or chart positions. They care about two things: the music and the fans, and they will do everything possible to bring out the best in both. If that doesn't make you happy, then nothing will.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Album, November 21, 2009

By 

William Olmstead (Banning, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happiness and All The Other Things [15th Anniversary Deluxe Limited Edition] (Audio CD)

This is the latest album by one of the frontrunners of the new Southern Rock, Country Rock, Texas-Oklahoma sound and it's great. Cody Canada mixes hard rock with gentle ballads and even a couple of good cover tunes. Great album..