Happy the Man, the rare and original "Catch A Rising Star" from 1977
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- OK, time for the real deal - yes, the original "HAPPY THE MAN" segment from the original rock series "Catch a Rising Star". Yes, it was tucked away in a video archive collection, improperly titled, and apparently dubbed over to VHS format sometime previous to the other video which has overdubbed sound from"Death's Crown". Special thanks to mastering engineer, Michael Fossenkemper of Turtle Tone Studios - for doing what he could to bring the audio and video back to life.
They were genuinely as talented as musicians could possibly be; true giants among their peers. Unfortunately, by the late 70's, the musical tastes of America were already leaning towards more simple, feeble-minded offerings that were being shoved down their throats by the corporations. I still have my HTM vinyl, cassettes, and CD's, and still listen regularly. As far as the garbage America has been listening to the last forty years, I wouldn't know it if I fell into a burning pile of it.........
I agree. I listen all the time as well.
R.I. P. Frank Wyatt. Incredibly talented and genuinely warm & kind.
RIP Frank Wyatt, thank you for these awesome tunes
They were my favorite band around 1978, it's so funny to see them all together driving down the road in a late 70's station wagon. They created these incredible otherworldly soundscapes, and here they are in a Country Squire. They deserved way better, they were right there with the greats musically, and Kit Watkins in the top 2 of all time great mini moog soloists (with Jan Hammer)
I just discovered this group
I'm glad I did.
Prog Royalty-a fucking amazing group of musical talents that have rarely been equaled-they are the best live band I have ever heard-HTM forever!!
12 yrs ago I had the incredible coincidence of working at the same company with WGTB radio jockey "Strider". He told me an amazing story of how Happy the Man played live in their studio which they broadcasted. After they finished their last set at the Bayou, they dragged all their gear up the street to Georgetown U to the GTB studios. They crammed most of the band in the studio and then put the drums in the bathroom which was feet from the studio. It took hours to do the setup so they finished right around 5am just in time for the morning rush. Happy the Man played live on air for an hour or two to the delight of WGTB fans who were either still up partying or who were going to work. I'm sure there's a cassette recording of it somewhere.
No matter the generation, this is pure awesomeness!!!
I went to Madison College (now James Madison University) in the late 70’s. I was lucky enough to see them play many times. Amazing!
I was living in the Santa Cruz mountains, playing band with a progressive band when I heard HTM’s first album. Was totally blown away to learn they were American. They were Every bit as good as good as anything that came out of Europe.
I worship the music found within their divine shadows.Thanks guys!!
I like their music. It makes me fly
HTM was the best progressive band ever. Saw them numerous times while going to Georgetown on the Cellar Door concert venue which had the best acts during those days. Got a chance to meet the whole band in their dressing room above the Cellar Door Venue, unforgettable times. At that time around 1978, Georgetown was full of amazing music being HTM the best act around.
Kit Watkins is a great musician
Wow, so great to find this. Even though I've heard of the band for years (decades), I only just now started listening to their music. And it's special and great start!
Damn it's such a shame bands of this caliber are so hard to come by these days. These guys were virtuosos!! Oh, and Ron Riddle's timing is enormous!! Reminds me of Brand X or Gentle Giant.
not riddle here, beck
Please listen to "Frost" ( Milliontown ) or Sanguine Hum , both from England , just as good , or better ?!
So underrated band
I first heard HTM on a Reno jazz station in 1978, and were completely blown away!!! My wife and I still think this lineup was the best, especially Stanley and Kit together.
Thank you so much for posting this. This is exactly how I was introduced to Happy the Man. I just happened to be passing by the TV when this came on and demanded my attention. I sat mesmerized throughout this piece. I had heard nothing like it before (or since for that matter). It was truly love at first sound !!! I have been a huge fan of H.t.M. ever since that day. I was fortunate enough to see them live once. Such groups of talent only come together once or twice in a lifetime it seems.
Thank you. I first saw HTM at the Carter Barron and have been a fan ever since. It is great to see Mike Beck in action after so many years.
these guys were absolutely amazing! Great "Progressive Rock!"
I remember Mike and Rick when they played together growing up in my home town
Used to hear Mike and Rick when they were in local bands in Fort Wayne, IN way before HTM was formed
good times...wow..whole different world back then
Its sad that much of that world is gone now, but some of it still lives through this music! :)
Clearly, HTM were an American singularity in the progressive rock scene. As far as I'm concerned, they had no peers on this side of the Atlantic.
I would agree with that.
Layton Payne Yes, even Fireballet, though close, were not up to HTM standards. I would compare HTM to Gentle Giant, PFM, or Yes.
Crack the sky was another nice US band, though it was earlier.
I think Kansas and The Dregs were kinda good bands too.
J'aurais tellement aimé assister à un de leurs concerts
I’ve listened to HTM since their first album. This is the first time I’ve seen this. Never had a chance to see them live. Still in my playlist…
Still... Happy The Man! Best prog band I ever heard... All time fan!!!
Thanks pals
That drummer's kit is jaw dropping 😮
Wow, amazing. I just found out about this group today! Great video, and I particularly loved that awful closing music.
The Rice University radio stations (KTRU Houston) played the first HTM lp, which is how I learned of this superior group. Seeing & hearing this feature reminds me how fantastic & underappreciated this Prog band was & how much joy I experience in their music. Bravo!
Many thanks for this historic footage
WoW! A live version of Stumpy from 1977! They are just geniuses. Remarkable! Thanks for this incredible video!
Ja, dit raakt me na 30 jaar nog steeds!
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Takes me right back to the Cellar Door and Georgetown U shows. WGTB was progressive music heaven.
thanks for this.
Me as well. I saw them at the Cellar Door (was in undergrad at Univ of Maryland at the time). A very small, intimate setting that could barely contain the drummers rig (heh), with the other musicians almost playing around the perimeter of the drummer. And the audience was smack up on top of 'em, too. A great night, one I've always remembered. .
Saw them in '78 at JMU although it was JMC at the time. Good show, Kit Watkins was a hometown hero.
Thanks brother, for posting this.
Awesome!! Glad to finally see this proper!
I saw them play in 2000 at the NEARFEST in Bethlehem. PA. If I remember right, the keyboardist went on to Camel.
Same DNA as Gentle Giant, fantastic musicianship, invention and creativity for its own sake. Coincided with punk/new wave movements backlash against prog certainty in the Uk
Rock in Peace Frank
Invaluable !
Amazing
Awesome!
crafty hands✋🤚
They are actually from Harrisonburg, VA not Washington DC.
ive met Stanley b4 at Freddie Loudens House he was a Good Person Lead Singer from Happy the Man
Named after a genesis song and they are clearly inspired
Not named after the Genesis Song, its a reference to Goethe's "Faust" and the Bible. Musically they are a bit Genesis inspired, alongside with Van Der Graaf Generator and Gentle Giant.
Looks like US Rt. 11 near Harrisonburg
Very unfortunately, You Tube won’t let me subscribe to this channel; this problem is a You Tube malfunction that can only be corrected from your end. I love the space that your music sends me to...
The dream team formation.
"it's dyno"
best prog band in history?quite possibly or Y.Urfa.??
easily the most talented.
greatest belongs to gentle giant
Yep, this sure isn't the Starland Vocal Band
2:10 what's the song name? please
Unfortunately, You Tube won’t let me subscribe to your channel; I believe that this is a long standing problem.
i went to jmu in harrisonburg. i saw most htm shows there in dc and surrounding area. mike beck was the focal point because they had no singer. he was the most entertaining to watch on stage with the huge drum kit, and gave a great performance. obviously the production crew for "catch a rising star" saw the same thing. a bunch of guys standing static playing instrumental prog is not real compelling. arista wanted them to get a vocalist. they should have. instrumental prog bands dont work. htm's heroes, genesis, king krimson, gentile giant, yes, pink floyd all had vocalist who told a story. music, telling a story is what is most successful. they really should have pursued that route. they were doomed for a short career as a instrumental only act. yeah i know stanley sang a few songs, but honestly there was not much to those songs.
eeh... to be honest though, i realy like "upon the rainbow"... i mean sure their best songs are the instrumental ones but saying the voiced ones didn't have much to give it's kind of putting them in a bad light(though i can see how shadow shaping and the falcon may or may have not given that feeling to some, for how good they still are)
...then again, i don'treally follow lyrics and thus story in a music unless it has a very specific theme(e.g. close to the edge or various songs in selling england by the pound)
These guys were killed off due to management trying to write their songs. Money counters want popular not good.
Hey everyone. There is a re-union project starting up right now that will include all of the players from all incarnations of Happy the Man, including Oblivion Sun and Pedal Giant Animals. Please click in and donate! www.kickstarter.com/projects/2142841735/zeitgeist-a-pedal-giant-animals-progressive-music/posts/1217438
In addition to their obvious talents, they brought something rare and valuable to Prog. . . . . .humor!