29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy the Man is one of the best bands ever formed., September 8, 1999
This review is from: Live (Audio CD)
Happy the Man's best album, "Crafty Hands," is nearly impossible to find. The band was one of the most rhythmically innovative groups of the late progressive period of the 70's. They appeared about the same time as the Dixie Dregs, and the two bands had several things in common, though their sounds were totally distinct. Like the Dreg's, Happy the Man's music is interesting, intelligent, rhythmically diverse, very bright, and full of beautiful melodies. It's really a delightful blend of sounds.
Kit Watkins, the band's keyboard player (one of the finest in the world), went on to join the English group "Camel" after Happy the Man disbanded. He then wrote and produced a number of excellent solo albums.
I highly recommend this album, and it's a joy to see such fantastic pieces as "Service with a Smile" and "Steaming Pipes" on CD. Musicians and lovers of intelligent music should own this album. It is wonderful music--emotionally rich and very gratifying. It's hard to define Happy the Man's Music. I think they are perhaps in the company of Gentle Giant, Igor Stravinsky, Steve Morse, and Aaron Copland in the richness of emotional quality in their music. This album is a delight!
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