Happy Daze (Madchester album)
Encyclopedia
Happy Daze is a compilation album
of songs linked to the Madchester
music genre distributed by Island Records in 1990.
sound had been developing during the later 1980s, from its nascent jangy sounds originally showcased on the NME's classic C86
cassette. By 1990, Madchester and related music was becoming more mainstream, but Happy Daze's release helped to crystallise awareness of the new overall Madchester sound by featuring tracks from several different yet converging forces. Although all have the 'Madchester spirit', by no means all the bands were from Manchester, The Shamen
and The Soup Dragons
being Scottish, The Charlatans from Northwich
and the Pixies not being British at all (though they were very much 'adopted' by Brits of the time).
This has been seen as a criticism of the album, along with the glaring omission of songs by New Order
or The Stone Roses
and for not anticipating the imminent arrival of Grunge
music.
However the album's mythical aura continues to inspire nostalgia in fans of Madchester era music with some bloggers still remembering the 'happy daze of 1989/1990' in a semi-conscious reference to this album.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of songs linked to the Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
music genre distributed by Island Records in 1990.
Influence
The MadchesterMadchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
sound had been developing during the later 1980s, from its nascent jangy sounds originally showcased on the NME's classic C86
C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
cassette. By 1990, Madchester and related music was becoming more mainstream, but Happy Daze's release helped to crystallise awareness of the new overall Madchester sound by featuring tracks from several different yet converging forces. Although all have the 'Madchester spirit', by no means all the bands were from Manchester, The Shamen
The Shamen
The Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
and The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons
The Soup Dragons were a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television show Clangers, the group is best known for its cover of the Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free."-History:...
being Scottish, The Charlatans from Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
and the Pixies not being British at all (though they were very much 'adopted' by Brits of the time).
This has been seen as a criticism of the album, along with the glaring omission of songs by New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
or The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and for not anticipating the imminent arrival of Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
music.
However the album's mythical aura continues to inspire nostalgia in fans of Madchester era music with some bloggers still remembering the 'happy daze of 1989/1990' in a semi-conscious reference to this album.
Track listing
- "LoadedLoaded (song)"Loaded" is a song recorded by the rock band Primal Scream. It was the first single released from the group's 1991 breakthrough album, Screamadelica.-Inspiration and composition:...
" - Primal ScreamPrimal ScreamPrimal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney... - "Real, Real, RealReal Real Real"Real Real Real" is the second single taken from UK band Jesus Jones' 1991 album Doubt. It followed the Billboard Top 10 hit "Right Here, Right Now" . "Real Real Real" did better, reaching a peak of #19 on the UK Singles Chart and was also their second Top 10 US hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard...
" - Jesus JonesJesus JonesJesus Jones are a British rock band. The Wiltshire-based group, formed in late 1988, recorded and performed in the late 1980s, throughout the 1990s, and into the 2000s. They are best remembered for their track, "Right Here, Right Now", an international hit and subsequently globally appropriated for... - "Come Home" - JamesJames (band)James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
- "Big" - New FADsNew Fast Automatic DaffodilsNew Fast Automatic Daffodils were an alternative rock group from Manchester, England, active between 1988 and 1995.-History:The band was formed in 1988 by former members of the punk rock group Pariah...
- "Hippy Chick" - SohoSoho (band)Soho were an English pop trio, consisting of the sisters Jacqueline Cuff and Pauline Cuff, with Timothy London. Other members of the group over the years have been Dukie D , Liam Gillick , Eds Chesters , Leigh Gorman and...
, the song featuring the distinctive sampled riff from The SmithsThe SmithsThe Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
' recording "How Soon Is Now?How Soon Is Now?"How Soon Is Now?" is a song by the British alternative rock band The Smiths. Written by Smiths singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, it was originally a B-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing"...
" - "VelouriaVelouria"Velouria" is a song by the American alternative rock band Pixies, written and sung by the band's frontman Black Francis. "Velouria" is featured on their album Bossanova, was the first single to be released from it and was the band's first UK Top 40 hit. The song features extensive use of theremin...
" - The Pixies - "Taste" - RideRide (band)Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
- "She Comes in the Fall" - Inspiral CarpetsInspiral CarpetsInspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
- "Groovy TrainGroovy Train"Groovy Train" was the second single released by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm. It was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus , having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness and Terry Farley. The single reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart and...
" - The FarmThe Farm (band)The Farm were a British band from Liverpool, popular through the early 1990s. Their album Spartacus reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart when it was released in March, 1991.-History:They formed in early 1983.... - "The Only One I KnowThe Only One I Know"The Only One I Know" was a single from The Charlatans. It was their first top-ten hit, reaching #9 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the highest-charting single from the Some Friendly album. Its best showing in the US was on the Modern Rock chart, where it reached #5 in September 1990. The song was...
" - The Charlatans - "Circle Square" - The Wonder StuffThe Wonder StuffThe Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
- "Sheriff FatmanSheriff Fatman"Sheriff Fatman" is a single by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, released in 1989, and featuring on the album 101 Damnations. The title track is probably their best-known original composition. The lyrics rail against slum landlords and their intimidatory tactics used against tenants, and...
" - Carter USM - "ProGen" - The ShamenThe ShamenThe Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
- "Wrote For Luck" - Happy MondaysHappy MondaysHappy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
- "I'm FreeI'm Free (The Rolling Stones song)"I'm Free" is a song by The Rolling Stones written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, first released as the final track on the UK Out of Our Heads album on 24 September 1965...
" - Soup DragonsThe Soup DragonsThe Soup Dragons were a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television show Clangers, the group is best known for its cover of the Rolling Stones' song "I'm Free."-History:...