Happy Hour

Tommy Emmanuel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Original Works
• ASIN: B000I5YD3C
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,095 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Happy Hour

2. Nine Pound Hammer

3. Avalon

4. Who's Sorry Now

5. Trambone

6. Mom's Rag

7. Lover Come Back to Me

8. Birth of the Blues

9. I'll See You in My Dreams

10. Stomping at the Savoy

11. Sanitarium Shuffle

Editorial Reviews

2006 repackaging of the album Chet Lag, a tribute to Chet Atkins recorded by Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and California Jazz picker Jim Nichols. In 2006, Emmanuel wrote and recorded three songs in a similar style and added them as bonus tracks, renaming the album Happy Hour.

Happy Hour is a handpicked selection of recordings for serious 'boom chick' fans. Features a first release of Tommy's song Happy Hour and a previously unreleased version of Sanitarium Shuffle - featuring Tommy on every instrument. Jim Nichols joins Tommy for the remaining tracks in their tribute to the legendary Chet Atkins. Happy Hour is spontaneity, versatility, and musicianship at the highest level, by two of the greatest fingerpickers in the world today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid, masterful, delightful, December 28, 2006

By 

Pdok - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happy Hour (Audio CD)

Based on the song list, I wasn't prepared for how much I truly enjoyed this CD. I've thoroughly appreciated it, especially the guitar method displayed in such excellent improvisational style by both Tommy Emmanuel and Jim Nichols. Both artists are individually superb, and for this collaboration they blend their strengths for maximum effect.

Tommy combines a flawless rhythmic sense with his matchless ability to draw something original from old standards like Avalon, while at the same time supporting Jim's solos with understated grooves and harmonics that makes you wonder why the original song never sounded that good.

Jim also gives his best to this album. His solos have a great technical depth, yet he never leaves the essence of the basic groove behind, making his mark on each song with some licks that will leave you speechless or just saying, "Yeah...," in agreement.

I have nearly all Tommy Emmanuel's acoustic music now, and this is every bit as good as the other albums (though not especially similar). In fact, thanks to Jim's presence, it's much better musically than his album with Chet Atkins, I think.

Enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best CD Ever!, June 8, 2009

By 

Anthony Devito (Enfield, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Happy Hour (Audio CD)

If you like acoustic music than this cd is one for your collections. It swings with touches of gypsy jazz, "travis style" finger picking, "Dawg" music, rock and blues.

If you are a Tommy Emmanuel fan than purchase this cd. If you are not a Tommy Emmanuel fan purchase this cd. Most importantly if you have now idea who he is definitely purchase this album.

Jim Nichols and Tommy Emmanuel play off each other like only the best musicians can. Totally in sync, they play with the force and sound of a full band. Yet the style of music and the playful way they interact with each other, the album is as intimate as if they where close friends playing to you in your own home.

This CD makes me smile every time I listen to it. That is the best way I can describe it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tommy let's Thomas Thumb show off!, January 9, 2007

By 

Lars C. Enger "Grand Larseny" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happy Hour (Audio CD)

A pleasant surprise indeed when I found this on Amazon! Haven't seen this one at home, so obviously a US release. Excellent showpiece of Tommy's ability to play with a "disconnected thumb", still working on that one myself. Mostly showing off Tommy's ability to play, which we all know he can!