What do you think about "Happy The Man"? 15
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15 points - outstanding! (2) 13%
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14 points - very good (2) 13%
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13 points - very good - (0) 0%
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12 points - good + (2) 13%
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11 points - good (1) 7%
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10 points - good - (2) 13%
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09 points - satisfactory + (2) 13%
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08 points - satisfactory (1) 7%
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07 points - satisfactory - (0) 0%
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06 points - sufficient + (1) 7%
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05 points - sufficient (1) 7%
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04 points - sufficient - (0) 0%
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03 points - poor + (1) 7%
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02 points - poor (0) 0%
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01 points - poor - (0) 0%
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00 points - abysmal (0) 0%
GENESIS - Happy the man Year: 1972 Album: non-album track; re-released e.g. on Genesis Archive 1967-1975 Working title: unknown Credits: Genesis Lyrics: Yes Length: 2:54 (7" UK 1972), 2:48 (7" Italian 1972), 3:10 (Nick Davis Remix 2008) Musicians: Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins Played Live: 1970 (?) - 1972 Cover versions: none Notes: The Genesis discography has a number of non-album tracks, but there are just two songs that only appeared as the A-side of a 7" single: The second Decca single A Winter's Tale (1968) and the rather hard to find Happy The Man. The former has been published again and again as a bonus track of a repackaged debut album, but the latter became a rarity. The single was released only in the UK and Italy and in different mixed to boot. The Italian mix does not have the "aaaah" vocals in the introduction. Nick Davis's 2008 mix (in the bonus CD of the 1970-1975 box set) sounds different again: There is no fade-in, but there is a flute that was found on the multi-track tapes but ignored on the original mix. The UK mix first appeared on CD in the Famous Charisma Box and was included in the Archive 1967-1975 set five years later, the Italian single mix has been re-published only once, on an Italian LP compilation to celebrate five years of Charisma label 1974). Happy The Man was recorded in 1971 during the Nursery Cryme sessions, as evidenced by the label note "Producer: John Anthony" - for Foxtrot, which came out four months later, was already produced by David Hitchcock. The single was backed with a Nursery Cryme song, Seven Stones. It has never been explained why Happy The Man did not end up on the album. It may have been held back especially for the later single release, for it appears frequently on the live set lists from the time. In 1971/2 it is said to have been the opening song, so it may have been a favourite of the band's . We invite you to share interesting facts and tidbits about this track. Let's look at the track in the context of the band's / the artist's history, at the music, the songwriting and all other aspects that are relevant for this track. Please do stick to the discussion of the track above. Comparisons to other tracks are okay, but remember that the other track you may be keen to talk about has or will have its own Track Of The Week thread. If you spot a mistake or if you can close a gap in the fact sheet above please feel free to contact martinus or Christian about it; we will gladly add and improve! |