Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
1969
Album Summary
Happy Sad is the third album by American singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, released in April 1969. It was recorded at Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles, California and was produced by former Lovin' Spoonful members Zal Yanovsky and, coincidentally, his subsequent replacement Jerry Yester. It marked the beginning of Buckley's experimental period, as it incorporated elements of jazz that he had never used before. Many of the songs here represent a departure from the binary form that dominated much of his previous work. The sound of the album is characterized by David Friedman's vibraphone, an instrument which gives the album a more relaxed tone than Buckley's earlier work. The songs are much longer than on previous releases and this style continued through to later works. The vocals on the album are more drawn out than earlier performances and this represents the beginning of Buckley using his voice like an instrument. The lyrics on Happy Sad represent a change as Buckley stopped working with Larry Beckett, his lyricist on the two previous albums Tim Buckley and Goodbye and Hello, and began writing the lyrics himself. Buckley's self-penned efforts stand in contrast to Beckett's occasionally political and literary-style work. Buckley would also go on to author all his own material on the following two albums.
WikipediaI was gonna make a joke, but holy cr*p, it's actually Jeff Buckley's dad. I've never heard of this guy, but I was immediately excited by how few tracks were on here. These are long songs, with time for Tim and his audience to settle into the tunes together. I really like this, "happy sad" is spot on. The instrumentals sound bright due to what I think is the vibraphone - I'm getting that from wikipedia. The production is meandering and jazzy, while his lyrics and vocals are much more melancholy. "Gypsy Woman" is a nice shot of adrenaline too. I really don't have any complaints with this one, I think it's really cohesive and ruminative in all the right ways. Sign me up for more from Buckley, Sr. Favorite tracks: Buzzin' Fly, Gypsy Woman, Love from Room 109, Dream Letter. Album art: Just a simple headshot (or HS for those of us in showbiz, gracias amigas) but It's a good shot. More sad than happy but I like the angle and everything. Very cool. 4.5/5
I couldn’t quite place it but this album sounded so familiar at times. It was just different enough to have its own personality and overall enjoyed it throughout. Saved gypsy woman as a favorite for future listens
This album was interesting. It reminded me a bit of Gary Burton (with Chick Corea) but that was most likely just because of the vibraphone. I liked the album more as it went on and thought the opening track was the weakest. It's quite laid back and it certainly doesn't demand attention in the way some other albums do. That being said there is a lot of variety between slow ballads like Dream Letter and much more upbeat folk-rock songs like Gypsy Woman. I didn't get the chance to listen to the album all the way through twice but I would like to come back to it. Favorite Songs: Buzzin' Fly, Love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway), Dream Letter, Gypsy Woman, Sing a Song for You Least Favorite Song: Strange Feelin' Strong 8/10
Psychedelic-Folk crossed with Jazz Fusion is a combination of genres that I did not expect to see together. And I gotta say it's pretty enjoyable. I normally have a tendency to complain about albums having an excess of long songs. But I think it is something that both Tim and Jeff Buckley manage to do very well. "Love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)" Has as many words to the title as it does minutes in the song, but it was a great song to just sit there and vibe out to. "Dream Letter" is similarly wonderful to vibe to. "Gypsy Woman" is where it gets more experimental and feels like too long of a song. It isn't a bad song, but it's just not for me. Happy Sad is basically how I describe my personal musical style of both what I make and what I listen to. So this album resonates with me very well.
In high school, I had a crush on a girl. She had long since decided we should only be friends. I had my head buried deep in the self-absorbed teenage sands and I was unfoundedly convinced that the time for our true relationship was imminent. You would've thought I'd have known better, given she already had a boyfriend. One day, she asked me to drive her to boyfriend's house, to which I agreed because ... of course I wanted to hang out with her! We got there and the plan somehow turned into the three of us hanging out in my car, in the dude's driveway. They chatted and cuddled while I strummed my guitar. In hindsight, I'm sure there were numerous clear signals that I should have gone for a walk or something, but as I said I was oblivious. In fact, as the plan went on, I became progressively convinced that I had been invited along because somewhere deep down inside she wanted to leave this guy and be with me. The masterstroke of my subterfuge, most certainly, would be my musical prowess. In reality, I was shit at playing the guitar and the main reason I was there is primarily because I had a car. I feel like Tim Buckley and young me, were on a similar wavelength.
I suppose it was ok. It probably helped lots of people get laid in the early 70s.
Jeff Buckley is an artist whose voice I appreciate quite a lot, but I only recently found out he was not the first in his family with a significant reputation in the music world. On this record, the first track does not inspire the same confidence in me. I find the instrumentals on it (Strange Feelin') to be very confusing, not fitting with the lyrics or tone of the song at all. This same feeling continues in the rest of this record, I find it mostly too slow, with mismatched sounds and weird choices in song length, and uninspiring. I can appreciate the vocal quality and theme, but it is not something I would find myself listening to with enthusiasm in the near future. Overall score, 2/5.
God I hate giving this album a one but it's just so... all over the place. It meanders constantly. The jazziness is definitely noticeable, but it doesn't save the record from getting super boring. The songs are long, and it all just feels like a marimba-heavy jam session that got recorded and Tim Buckley said, "Yeah, good enough, send it." Just... not for me, I guess.
Beautiful, listened to this in my teens and didn't wow me that much but glad I revisited - an outstanding album
It got better with each song !! I wasn't super into it during the first two songs but when I listened to Dream Letter I was transported to a different place while I was washing dishes. I was at a farm at night and the more I listened the different I felt and the more I imagined !! The song just kept painting different pictures in my mind and it was very interesting to see what my mind would come up with at different points during the song. Dream Letter and Love from Room 109 were my favorites and I really liked Gypsy Woman and Buzzin' Fly. Cool experience genuinely because it's been a bit since a song has made me imagine 20 different things in the span of five minutes.
Endlessly relaxed jazz infused singersongwriting. Songs ebb and flow creating his own magical world
Where has this been all my life? Astral Weeks via Kind of Blue, Stevie Wonder's Visions and Eddie Vedder. Not what I was expecting at all. Love it.
This album is like a warm bath to my soul; I just feel good when I listen to it. I feel my mind being transported to another time and place I’ve never been and it’s intoxicating. Tragic story Tim Buckley has… fantastic album.
What a gorgeous album, what a beautiful man. This is folk pop but the instrumentals are syncopated and idiosyncratic, jazzy really. Together with Tim's extraordinary expressive powers, both lyrical and vocal, the effect is poignant, magical. "Happy Sad" is exactly right -- like the album cover, the tones are warm and the songs express earnest wistfulness in the best folk tradition. Buzzin' Fly made my heart feel tighter and lighter at the same time. The mood and sound remind me of Nick Drake (with the exception of Gypsy Woman which is interesting and well executed but seems misplaced here). Clearly something special was happening in pop music in the years 1968-69.
This is really a great album and, at the same time, such an unassuming one. Except for the last song, which is concise and more straightforward (but nevertheless a gem), this album doesn't try to win you over with catchy melody, unique chord progressions or instrumental pyrotechnics. Rather, it is mood music of the best kind, creating its own sense of atmosphere, almost existing in its own world and letting you stay in it from the beginning to the end. It's also one of the best albums to listen to while taking a bath or shower.
No longer feeling beholden to whatever barricade that stood in his way, Tim Buckley created Happy Sad to allow listeners become witnesses to his immersion into jazzier terrain and folkier ruminations. Using his sprawling yet engaging musical explorations to full effect, this album is a journey from which one would not emerge the same; it could perhaps be said of Tim in regards to the most watershed work of his career.
Very good. Too short. I didn't think I would ever say that about an album. Favorite song: Strange Feeling.
This is the Tim Buckley I can get down with. Love the jazz fusion with the vibraphone. Got a vibe that I can only compare to Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" (but I like this even better). Soul searching jams to get lost in.
Lässt mich irgendwie an die Kugelbahn denken. Würde irgendwie zueinander passen. Ansonsten mag ich die Unterschiedlichkeit in den Songs - mit den Geräuschen und Instrumenten aber dass sie dann doch wieder ähnlich sind und zusammenpassen - das jazzige halt.
First off, the album cover is hilariously ridiculous. Make it black&white and it could be the profile picture of that one edgy emo kid in high school. That aside, the music is pretty good. Nice voice, relaxing instrumentation. It sounds more like background-lounge music, however, without any exciting songs/parts. Really pleasant for working though.
Šta reći o ovom krasnom albumu? Nijedna pjesma nije loša, a instrumentali su milina. Glas mu je odličan, i varira iz pjesme u pjesmu, hoćeš od tihog do gubljenja glasa što se dere iz petnih žila. Poslušah par puta ovo i jednostavno je divan. Žao mi je što se ne mogu bolje izraziti, ali šta je tu je.
Es un poco música que escucharía en los menús del Sims 1. Diez minutos para una canción pues demasiao' en mi opinión
a little too mellow for my taste, but wow most of that album was fantastic. i love the vocals tim brings and the feel of songs like dream letter and gypsy woman. only reason it isnt a 5 is because of the third song which was good but maybe too soft and dragged on. good album though!! very very good
I do love Tim Buckley's voice and style. It was a lovely album to listen to on a hot and sunny day.
Ho ascoltato questo disco due volte e mi ha lasciato entrambe le volte un'ottima impressione. Ho apprezzato l'uso del linguaggio jazz e del vibrafono che rendono questo disco quasi sospeso e psichedelico.
This is a really great album, I'm annoyed it took me this long to listen to it.
When I went to look up this album, I was startled at how many albums there were from Tim Buckley. Then as I listened to “happy sad” I started to realize what an insignificant speck I was in the world of music for never even having heard of him. As “Strange Feelin’” got going I thought ‘train song.’ As it chugged along Tim Buckley added his mournful, voice like a lonely train whistle. I loved the kind of noodly-jazz feel. “Buzzin’ Fly” is also fantastic. More vibraphones and marimbas?! Oh yes, I think this can work for me. The lyrics are beautiful. Tim Buckley’ vocals are incredible. Really great song! “Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)” certainly sounds like it was written in a specific moment. This is the kind of song that one wishes someone would write about an event in their life. As I sat with my wine listening to the guitar solo I was suddenly in a dark hotel lounge in 1969… this song is long and meanders quite a lot. By the end I felt I had moved from the lounge into a concert hall. “Dream Letter” features a lot of cello/vibraphone/marimba and more melancholic lyrics. Really would like to be watching this performed live. Preferably with a cocktail in hand… “Gypsy Woman” introduces some interesting percussion and plays a lot with the tempo. I loved the slow build of the guitars from quit to frenetic. As the song comes together it becomes a mesmerizing chant. My favorite song on the album! “Sing A Song For You” and it’s poetic, (bitter?)sweet lyrics is arguably the most “conventional” song on the album. Lovely. “happy sad” pulls you back in time into its shmoozy, warm, dimly lit world. There are some very strong jazz currents that toy with other genres. The cellos, guitars and Tim Buckley’s vocals add heavy doses of pop, rock and the symphony that makes this album something else. It isn’t ‘music for all occasions,’ but the occasions it is for are ones I’d enjoy attending once in a while. Yet another new listening experience that I am glad to have.
Sweet and mellow, folksy and jazzy, double bass and marimbas, lovely melodies and a mournful voice. Side A was perfect for my state of mind on a lazy gray autumn Sunday afternoon. Side B's Gypsy Woman (title=ugh) went on way too long for me. Was grateful when that one was over. But overall, I really enjoyed this. Will look for more of him.
It's a good thing I love the vibraphone so much. I truly loved this album, although I could easily imagine listening to it on the wrong day and not appreciating it. It walks an edge, as does anything an artist tries out of the ordinary. I was trying to figure out what genre this album would be classified under, and saw that Apple Music labels it "Pop." Hmmm. I really liked Tim Buckley's voice and I truly loved the instrumentation. Not many pop albums combine vibraphone, acoustic and electric guitar, congas, string bass, and marimba. I loved the effect. Long tracks can be a killer for me. Luckily these created moods I wanted to be in. "Gypsy Woman" may have tested that a bit, but I really got into it the second time through.
To be honest, when I saw this on my timeline, I was frustrated there was another late 60s album. But when I payed attention to the Wikipedia page, I was intrigued to find out how Jim Buckley's dad sounds like. Happy Sad was a suprise pleasure to listen to. It's very tender acoustic jazz. Definitely a repeat listen and despite some songs being a tad too long, a worthy album for this list and reminds me why I signed up for this generator in the first place.
Immediately likes it and wondered why I hadn't listened to it before. Will listen again for sure and cherry pick
Àlbum interessant de Tim buckley, on començava a deixar de banda el folk més canònic per investigar l'experimentació a través del jazz i la psicodèlia, noves estructures més complexes i instruments tan encisadors com el vibràfon. Un àlbum inspirat i inspirador.
Folk mixed with psychodelic, liked it and wanted to applaud the thinking outside the box mentality here
I really enjoyed the vibe of this music and the tone of his voice. Buzzin' Fly was a stand out for me and one that I'll have to add to my own mix of music!
I really liked this album. Tim Buckley is one of those artists who is a little hard to classify, but really fascinating musically. His music is always engaging and somewhat off the wall, which I appreciate. It’s like folk-rock with strong jazz vibes and a splash of the psychedelic/experimental. The songs are warm, rambling, laid back and sensual. Buckley has a rich, soulful voice, augmented by some unusual but elegant arrangements. Lee Underwood's resonant, free-ranging guitar works beautifully in concert with the jazzy feel of the marimba and vibraphone. The resulting sound is very much of that time, but it also stands out as something quite unique. Fave Songs: Buzzin' Fly, Love from Room 109, Strange Feelin', Gypsy Woman
It grew on me, it closes amazingly, wasn’t expecting Sing A song For You, but I’ve loved that song ever since I was a bootleg downloading teenager.
Happy sad indeed. Melancholy, wistful jams, sounding beautiful alongside Buckley’s charming voice.
Buckley’s jazz-folk fusion is always fascinating, and it shines on this album. Some tracks drag a bit, but songs like Dream Letter and Buzzin’ Fly show why Buckley was such a brilliant songwriter.
Father of Jeff Buckley, Tim shows exactly how good songwriting runs in the family. Happy Sad bathes in this warm atmosphere, built out of vibraphone and acoustic guitar, along with a few others to round out the sound. It gets a little weird at times but that gives it more flavor than anything. Anyway this is great. More Buckley, please
A bit less caterwauling on this jazz/folk album than normal. The songs are like hippy jams and meanderings. Great if you like that sort of thing. Best Tracks: Strange Feelin'; Buzzin' Fly; Dream Letter
No i kolejny raz lista okazuje sie serwowac cos o czym slyszalem wczesniej w tym tygodniu i mialem sprawdzic, przypadek, nie sadze, wiec drugie podejscie do pana Buckleya, dodatkowo chronologia dyskografii zostala zachowana, bo happy sad jest kolejnym krazkiem po goodbye and hello z roku 68, a jednak troche sie zmienilo, przede wszystkim od strony stylistycznej, bo slychac odejscie od folkowej psychodelii na rzecz jazzowego rokowania, co dziwne nie powiekszyl sie dramatycznie cast muzykow sesyjnych przy tym posunieciu, o co bylbym gotow posadzic producentow plyty, ktorzy sie nie zmienii, zmienil sie natomiast udzial w kompozycjach pana Tima, ktory tym razem tworzy calkowicie solowo bez pomocy pana Becketta, co przelozylo sie na mniej popowe kompozycje, bo na 44 minutach zamkniete jest 6 kawalkow o roznej dlugosci od 12 do 2 minut, wiec kawalki staja sie prawdziwymi balladami jesli maja tyle czasu na prezentacje, co do samej prezentacji kolejny raz nie zawiodlem sie na wokalnych zdolnosciach Bucklejowych, ktore byly czyms co najbardziej przyciagalo uwage podczas odsluchu pierwszego albumu, tutaj jest podobnie, ale inaczej, bo te dluzsze traki jak 12 minutyowy gypsy woman pokazuja inna strone jego wokalu, gdy zmienia sie wielokrotnie w ciagu jednego utworu zarowno przez zmiane ekspresji jak i odleglosci od majka lub innych zabiegow producenckich, bo calosc jest niesamowiscie gladka, wiec pan Holzman przypilnowal kogo trzeba przy masteringu, z muzykow tworzacych instrumental najbardziej wyroznia sie pan David Friedman, ktory byl odpowiedzialny za perkusje, ale jako jest to krazek praktycznie jazzowy, to nie moglo zabraknac afrykanskich marimbow czy wibrafonow, zazwyczaj to on buduje glowna melodie, a gitarki i basy czy bongosy sa jedynie dodatkami, jestem ciekawy efektu wykorzystanego na love from room 109 at the islander, ktory sampluje dzwieki fal czy morza uderzajacego o plaze lub skaly, troche charcza sluchawy przy niektorych uderzeniach, ale jak dla mnie ten traczek jest najbardziej klimatyczna kompozycja calej plyty, wiec bedzie plejkowym pickiem, razem z buzzin fly, dwa kawalki rozne, ale jednak interesujace na swoj wlasny sposob, happy sad zaliczony i wreszcie mozna zastapic czyms w pamieci ten zwrot, bo wczesniej kojarzyl mi sie jedynie z polska scena punkowa
Bonito e muito triste, não conhecia e gostei. Melhor música: Buzzin' Fly
I can definitely hear Buckley's use of his voice as an instrument, like Robert Plant without the wailing. Lovely use of vibraphone and guitars. Great energy, vibraphone and yelling in Gypsy Woman. Like Jim Morrison. Must listen again.
The beginning of this album really wowed me but I felt like it started to drag towards the middle. It feels like a worse version of Astral Weeks which still makes for a pretty good album. I hear David Crosby and his son in is voice and it was interesting to get this one so close to that one. I do like the ambition of the jamming and longer songs so I have to give this one a 4.
His voice makes me think of Jim Morrison; just a little less gruff. I really like the acoustic guitar (I assume it's acoustic) work throughout this entire record, but especially on Buzzin' Fly and Gypsy Woman.
Happy Sad. That's one way to put it. Another devastating shooting at an elementary school yesterday, and today I send my kids to school for their last day of the year. Happy Sad.
Great vocal range and musicianship. Very unobtrusive and easy to listen to.
I'm more familiar with his son, Jeff, but this was excellent. Talent and tragedy seems to run in the family!
Good rock album with some psychedelia and jazz elements. Never heard of Tim Buckley before and I was surprised that he's the father to Jeff Buckley.
Heel verfrissend. Deed mij denken aan nick drake, Jackson C. Clark, misschien The Doors zelf een beetje.
Never heard of him before and immediately googled if he was related to Jeff Buckley (it's his deadbeat dad). Although some songs are really long, i enjoyed most of them. Really like Tim's drawn out vocals and incorporation of jazz. 8/10
Algjör haustplata. Svipaður fílingur og í flestu hjá Nick Drake og John Martyn. Elskidda!
Soulful and sad. Perfect for my mood today. Happy blues? Especially love the vibraphone.
I'm surprised this one is rated so low. Absolutely gorgeous instrumentation throughout with the heavy use of vibraphone, and Buckley's vocals are just so impressive
"Happy Sad" is the third album from American singer-songwriter Tim Buckley. The album was produced by former Lovin' Spoonful members Zal Yanovsky and Jerry Yester and began Buckley's more experimental phase of his career incorporating more jazz elements and changing his song structure. He also wrote all the lyrics himself which was a change. The music is classified as pyschedelic jazz and jazz fusion. For this album, I also toss in jam band. Quite a variety and quite an interesting listen. The album-prominent vibraphone starts "Strange Feelin'." The song was inspired by Miles Davis' "All Blues." We have a bluesy-pyschedelic electric guitar. A vibraphone jam. Buckley has a great voice and here he starts to croon and use almost as an instrument. "Buzzin Fly" was written earlier and with the electric guitar fits perfectly in the pyschedelic folk category. A more pop-song structure. He comes and goes as a bee but he misses her. And then we come to the nearly 11-minute long "Love From Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)" with the underlying ocean noise overdubs. Much slower. Very, very jazzy. A song about loneliness and missing someone. The second side also has just three songs. "Dream Letter" continues in the jazz vein and the pace almost comes to a standstill. An apologetic ode to his ex-wife and son Jeff. Things get really interesting in "Gypsy Woman" which essentially is a jam-band song. More funky. Loud and somewhat annoying percussion. Groovy double bass. Buckley sounds like he's singing in a bathroom. Hey, I need my bead door curtains back. The last song "Sing a Song for You" showcases the very gifted and strong voice of Tim Buckley. More a ballad. He's got his demons which she can't handle so just sing her a song. This was my first listen Tim Buckley, believe it or not. I like his son Jeff's music a lot. I liked this too and know there's a few more of his albums coming. Good. Recommended for anyone interested in a combination of folk, jazz, jam band and pyschedelic music. That's most of you? Right? Right!
I’m always partial to 60s folk music, so this was a nice listen for me. I really like Tim’s voice, and was especially impressed with his performance on Gypsy Woman. I can see myself coming back to this in the future for some wistful yet fun folk music. Favorite Tracks: 1) Strange Feeling 2) Buzzin’ Fly
I enjoyed this one almost as much as "Hello, Goodbye", but found the songs on this one to be a bit less memorable. Maybe a bit too lengthy in places as well. I did really enjoy the jazz instrumentation though, along with Tim Buckley's perfect voice!
I like Tim Buckley. It's true this album is all over the show which is a reflection of the man and his talent. Still, this is worth listening to.
Wow what a voice! This is way better than I was expecting from the cover. I love the vibraphone throughout the album, especially on the opening track, and the general mood through the album is nice. There's lots of really interesting instrumentation throughout the whole album. Gypsy Woman is over-indulgent and a bit annoying, but it's still got some interesting instrumentation and rhythms going on in it. I'm going to go 3.5 / 5, rounded up.
Not great, but interesting. If Van Morrison and Dan Hicks got blasted together and made a record, I imagine it would sound something like this.
I knew of "Sing a Song for You" which is really nice, the rest is not bad but not exactly what I would be looking for. I think you could make an argument for 4* or above, but for my enjoyment just a 3.
I liked the jazziness of this record, I still just don't like his voice unfortunately.