Hai Hai
Encyclopedia
Hai Hai is the 2nd solo album by ex-Supertramp
singer/guitarist/keyboardist Roger Hodgson
, released in 1987. Co-produced by future No Doubt
and Black Crowes producer Jack Joseph Puig
, and recorded at Hodgson's 48-track home studio in Nevada City, California
, the album is a merger of Supertramp
-styled progressive pop-rock and extensive use of Los Angeles session musicians and late-1980s synthesizer technology.
Hai Hai featured ten songs, all of which were written by Hodgson, with the exception of "Land Ho", an old Supertramp song (at the time never released on an album but only as a single), which Hodgson co-wrote with his long-time partner Richard Davies in 1974.
, but would not release another studio album until 2000's Open the Door.
Hai Hai was re-released in Canada on November 14, 2006.
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
singer/guitarist/keyboardist Roger Hodgson
Roger Hodgson
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
, released in 1987. Co-produced by future No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
and Black Crowes producer Jack Joseph Puig
Jack Joseph Puig
Jack Joseph Puig is a Grammy Award-winning music engineer and producer with a long track record of successful productions, including the mid-1990s production of Tonic. Puig also worked with Hole, Jellyfish, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Weezer, Fiona Apple, Green Day, The Counting Crows, No Doubt,...
, and recorded at Hodgson's 48-track home studio in Nevada City, California
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
, the album is a merger of Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
-styled progressive pop-rock and extensive use of Los Angeles session musicians and late-1980s synthesizer technology.
Hai Hai featured ten songs, all of which were written by Hodgson, with the exception of "Land Ho", an old Supertramp song (at the time never released on an album but only as a single), which Hodgson co-wrote with his long-time partner Richard Davies in 1974.
Background
Hodgson was unable to fully promote or tour behind Hai Hai, having sustained injuries to both of his wrists in a fall a week after its release. After that accident, Hodgson stopped his musical career for a while, and returned to the public in 1997 with live shows and a live album, Rites of PassageRites of Passage (Hodgson album)
Rites of Passage is a live album by Roger Hodgson, recorded in 1996 near Hodgson's home in Nevada City, California. It was the last gig of several Californian dates in the summer of 1996....
, but would not release another studio album until 2000's Open the Door.
Hai Hai was re-released in Canada on November 14, 2006.
Reception
Allmusic panned the album in their retrospective review. They declared Hodgson's decision to abandon progressive rock and experiment with other genres a disaster, since he failed to fully commit to any of these genres, resulted in songs that are musically very basic and uninteresting. They also commented that the lyrics "are at times juvenile and embarrassing... he may have been trying to say something, but the poetry reads like a bored high school student wrote them." They added that the album's over-reliance on electronics and technology made the already uninspired songs sound cold and soulless.Track listing
- "Right Place" 4:15
- "My Magazine" 4:30
- "London" 4:11
- "You Make Me Love You" 5:09
- "Hai Hai" 5:28
- "Who's Afraid?" 4:57
- "Desert Love" 5:26
- "Land Ho" (Rick DaviesRick DaviesRick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
, Roger Hodgson) 4:06 - "House on the Corner" 5:30
- "Puppet Dance" 5:16
Personnel
- Roger HodgsonRoger HodgsonCharles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
- Vocals, Synth Bass (1), Synclavier Drums (5), Keyboards (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10), Piano (6), Synths (6, 10), Guitars (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), 12-String Guitars (7), Bass (7), Backing Vocals (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10) - Omar HakimOmar HakimOmar Hakim is an American jazz, jazz fusion and pop music drummer.Hakim credits jazz vibraphonist Mike Mainieri with giving him his first break in 1980; Hakim appeared in a video with Mainieri called The Jazz Life and began working with singer Carly Simon through Mainieri...
- Drums (1) - Joseph PomfretRoger HodgsonCharles Roger Pomfret Hodgson is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp....
- Drums (1, 4, 6, 7, 8) [this is a pseudonym for Hodgson himself; Joseph is his second name and Pomfret his mother's surname] - Robbie BuchananRobbie BuchananRobbie Buchanan is a Canadian keyboardist, songwriter, arranger, and producer.Buchanan began playing the piano at the age of 6. He acquired his first paying gig as a pianist at the age of 12 playing 6 nights a week in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. While still a teenager, Buchanan joined a band...
- Synths (1), Synth Programming (4, 6, 10), Synth Bass (5), Rhodes (6), Keyboards (3, 4, 5, 9) - Dan Huff - Guitars (1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- Lenny CastroLenny CastroLenny Castro is an American freelancing percussionist in the studio recording industry in the Los Angeles area.-Early life:Castro is a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent and was born and raised in New York City. His father, Hector Castro, played the keyboard in a Latin style and gave his son...
- Percussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) - Ken Allardyce - Harmonica (1, 5), Rhythm Guitar (3), Backing Vocals (3, 8)
- Anni McCann - Backing Vocals (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10)
- Jeff PorcaroJeff PorcaroJeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
- Drums (2, 3, 4, 6, 9) - David PaichDavid PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
- Synth Bass (2), Hammond Organ (2), Synth Brass (2) - Willie Hines - Backing Vocals (2)
- Brad Lang - Backing Vocals (2)
- Steve PorcaroSteve PorcaroSteven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
- Synth Programming (2) - Nathan EastNathan EastNathan Harrell East is a jazz, R&B and rock bass player and vocalist. East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego...
- Bass (3, 6) - Larry WilliamsLarry WilliamsLarry Williams was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, producer, and pianist from New Orleans, Louisiana...
- Saxophone (3), Synth Programming (7) - Mikail Graham - DX7 Seetar Solo (3)
- Clair Diament - Backing Vocals (3)
- Albhy GalutenAlbhy GalutenAlbhy Galuten is a Grammy Award-winning American record producer, composer, musician, orchestrator and technology executive.He produced 18 number 1 singles with songs and albums selling over 100,000,000 copies...
- Synclavier Drums (5) - Bruce Albertine - Synclavier Drums (5)
- Rhett LawrenceRhett LawrenceRhett Lawrence is a record producer and songwriter. He is originally famous for producing the Grammy Award–winning, Billboard #1 Hot 100 and #1 R&B single "Vision of Love" for Mariah Carey. He produced and co-wrote the Kelly Clarkson pop rock hit "Miss Independent” which was #1 for 6 weeks at Top...
- Fairlight Programming (5, 8, 10), Synths (10) - Eric PersingEric PersingEric Persing is a professional synthesist and producer in Los Angeles, California. He is best known as the Founder and Creative Director of the leading music software and virtual instrument company Spectrasonics...
- Synth Programming (5, 6) - Carlos Vega - Drums (7, 8)
- Leland SklarLeland SklarLeland "Lee" Bruce Sklar is an American musician, singer-songwriter and film score composer. A prominent bass guitarist, Sklar has contributed to thousands of albums as a session musician...
- Bass (8) - Marc Russo - Saxophone (8)
Charts
Album – Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | The Billboard 200 | 163 |