I worked with Stan Whitaker in 1998, in l.a. before he moved back to Maryland and reformed HAPPY THE MAN to do European tour. Great guy great musician.
I loved this group so much growing up in NoVa. That they got together and did this in 05 makes me happy. If I’d known I would have booked a flight immediately
This is the best american rockprog band of all times. I grew up with their music. This live recording is superb best than an official live cd. What a magic in their music I love them. Cristian medina from Chile.
They took prog rock to a whole new level of complexity. Rivaling and outdoing many of the British and Italian bands of that time. I wish they would’ve stayed together longer. They had the opportunity to be Peter Gabriel’s backup band. That didn’t happen, and later they thought about moving to England but they didn’t know how to. They had so much potential to make more amazing albums. They reformed years later but without Watkins. They’re not the same without Watkins. And now Frank Wyatt is no longer with us. RIP Frank Wyatt.
While still at UNC-Charlotte in 1980 I read in the school paper the promo for HTM, described as "space rock". Huh? They switched auditoriums in the last hour because somebody wasn't happy with acoustics, and by the time the opening act was over it was 2am before HTM came out. There were maybe 50 of us virgin ears crowding to the front rows. Stanley Whitaker came out, chuckled and said, "I see we have a circular audience tonight." Then began a performance that was so beyond anything I'd ever heard before, and I'd heard a lot. The sound quality was so top drawer, the musicianship classically informed and prog inspired, but where they take their compositional ideas, and Kit Watkins' thumbprint there is large, I felt like I'd won the lottery to witness this shooting star of talent.
Great experience. I had the PRIVILEGE of witnessing HTM from its beginning dating back to October 1973 when they made their maiden appearance at the Madison College (Today JMU) student union center and it was jaw-dropping. Saw them countless times over the next two years as they performed at and around college. They took a back seat to no one. Their musicianship and ensemble performance was superior.
I saw them twice in Washington DC, the first time was a free show at an amphitheater for the premiere of their first album. The second time was, I think, one of their last shows in DC ... or maybe it was the last show at the old Cellar Door club. Anyway, both times they were absolutely impeccable performances that sounded so close to their study work that it was BETTER than their study work. Truly magical nights, both of them. I feel honored to have witnessed them.
@7ohnnyramone I got on the bandwaga around 70 right after Hendrix died I needed something that would take to another level and found Prog with K.C. and YES. Neverlooked back. It took me to places that even highly sophisticated Jazz couldn't prbably due to the classical influence, multiple changes and chords and definately the melodic intensity. Intensely uplifting music.
I've been a progger since '70 (if you're on this page, I needn't list the top prog bands of the time), but completely missed out on HtM! That is, until 3 months ago, and all I listen to are Crafty Hands, and what I believe is their first album. While I wish I'd known about them all along, it's like being in a desert after days of running out of water, but then suddenly finding a huge canteen in your backpack filled with cold, fresh water! To be honest, I strongly suspect someone HAD recommended HtM back in the day, but I was put off by the band name as trite, and if I saw the album covers, thought they were lackluster. How could you compete with Fragile, for example? That's sad, because their musicianship/compositional chops are top shelf!
Tell the World !! Stanley Whitaker got a good and killer Soul ! eye met him one time in 1992, his bass player was myeye Roomate Freddie Louden, well HTM played at Club 66 in Edgewood Maryland Stanley has beat Cancer (:--}
Don't think so, in my opinion no one can compare HTM, like Steve Hillage they have their own style inside of progressive. Oblivion Sun have a bit of prog-metal and more Canterbury style on their compositions while HTM sounds a lot more jazzistic. HTM can create ambients with very minimal equipment but sounding like god (WGTB Live proof that with the drummer recording on a bathroom) and that's the most important essence of them. By the same way you cannot compare anyone to Steve Hillage and it's sound because it's very unique.
You should listen to what wigginsdesign says he is a true proghead and is a fierce HTM fan with a lot of good comments and insight on progressive music-I have come across a lot of his comments and they are great
What a wonderfull sound
I worked with Stan Whitaker in 1998, in l.a. before he moved back to Maryland and reformed HAPPY THE MAN to do European tour. Great guy great musician.
I loved this group so much growing up in NoVa. That they got together and did this in 05 makes me happy. If I’d known I would have booked a flight immediately
This is the best american rockprog band of all times. I grew up with their music. This live recording is superb best than an official live cd. What a magic in their music I love them. Cristian medina from Chile.
best prog band in history, hands down, no exceptions.
sorry love happy the man but gentle giant is the greatest ever
@@1359401 Nah to the idea of greatest.
They took prog rock to a whole new level of complexity. Rivaling and outdoing many of the British and Italian bands of that time. I wish they would’ve stayed together longer. They had the opportunity to be Peter Gabriel’s backup band. That didn’t happen, and later they thought about moving to England but they didn’t know how to. They had so much potential to make more amazing albums. They reformed years later but without Watkins. They’re not the same without Watkins. And now Frank Wyatt is no longer with us. RIP Frank Wyatt.
@@1359401lmaoo gentle giant..
fenomenal composition!!!
While still at UNC-Charlotte in 1980 I read in the school paper the promo for HTM, described as "space rock". Huh? They switched auditoriums in the last hour because somebody wasn't happy with acoustics, and by the time the opening act was over it was 2am before HTM came out. There were maybe 50 of us virgin ears crowding to the front rows. Stanley Whitaker came out, chuckled and said, "I see we have a circular audience tonight." Then began a performance that was so beyond anything I'd ever heard before, and I'd heard a lot. The sound quality was so top drawer, the musicianship classically informed and prog inspired, but where they take their compositional ideas, and Kit Watkins' thumbprint there is large, I felt like I'd won the lottery to witness this shooting star of talent.
Great experience. I had the PRIVILEGE of witnessing HTM from its beginning dating back to October 1973 when they made their maiden appearance at the Madison College (Today JMU) student union center and it was jaw-dropping. Saw them countless times over the next two years as they performed at and around college. They took a back seat to no one. Their musicianship and ensemble performance was superior.
David Rosenthal is amazing. He has all of Kit's parts down to a tee
Wow thank you for the brilliant music.
This is Live? Stunning. Sounds almost identical to the album version. Can't wait to hear more. Thanks for posting!
I saw them twice in Washington DC, the first time was a free show at an amphitheater for the premiere of their first album. The second time was, I think, one of their last shows in DC ... or maybe it was the last show at the old Cellar Door club. Anyway, both times they were absolutely impeccable performances that sounded so close to their study work that it was BETTER than their study work. Truly magical nights, both of them. I feel honored to have witnessed them.
@7ohnnyramone
I got on the bandwaga around 70 right after Hendrix died I needed something that would take to another level and found Prog with K.C. and YES. Neverlooked back. It took me to places that even highly sophisticated Jazz couldn't prbably due to the classical influence, multiple changes and chords and definately the melodic intensity. Intensely uplifting music.
An important fact
Kit watkins was the keyboard player of the great british band Camel for a couple of years. Great.
Progressivo de qualidade e ao vivo !!
I've been a progger since '70 (if you're on this page, I needn't list the top prog bands of the time), but completely missed out on HtM! That is, until 3 months ago, and all I listen to are Crafty Hands, and what I believe is their first album. While I wish I'd known about them all along, it's like being in a desert after days of running out of water, but then suddenly finding a huge canteen in your backpack filled with cold, fresh water! To be honest, I strongly suspect someone HAD recommended HtM back in the day, but I was put off by the band name as trite, and if I saw the album covers, thought they were lackluster. How could you compete with Fragile, for example? That's sad, because their musicianship/compositional chops are top shelf!
Gee Man TRUER WORDS NEVER SOPKEN! I GREW UP IN THEIR HOME BASE SO SAW THEM LIVE IN THE 70s and was completely AWESTRUCK AND TRANSFORMED
Gee Man THE NAME,WAS FROM A EARLY GENESIS SONG BUT IT FIT THEIR OPTIMISTIC CHORD STRUCTURES
Incredible!
Tell the World !! Stanley Whitaker got a good and killer Soul ! eye met him one time in 1992, his bass player was myeye Roomate Freddie Louden, well HTM played at Club 66 in Edgewood Maryland Stanley has beat Cancer (:--}
GREAT thanks!!!!!
@GMS9310 Thanks. Some how I missed them back in the day. Great band for certain.
don't miss Oblivion Sun, the newer incarnation of HTM
Don't think so, in my opinion no one can compare HTM, like Steve Hillage they have their own style inside of progressive. Oblivion Sun have a bit of prog-metal and more Canterbury style on their compositions while HTM sounds a lot more jazzistic. HTM can create ambients with very minimal equipment but sounding like god (WGTB Live proof that with the drummer recording on a bathroom) and that's the most important essence of them.
By the same way you cannot compare anyone to Steve Hillage and it's sound because it's very unique.
You should listen to what wigginsdesign says he is a true proghead and is a fierce HTM fan with a lot of good comments and insight on progressive music-I have come across a lot of his comments and they are great
Did Kansas borrow from these guys ? or vice-versa ?! Amazing skill and talent !!
Of course Ibby It Is is a Kit Watkins composition ;)
Nice piece, they seem to have tapped into early 70s fusion.
If Zappa and Yes collided...
yes they were good... stil love the track ...at the edge of this thought...