Happy Sad

Some pretty parts, but it does drag on in places

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.

When the album started, I thought that it had a smooth, cool vibe that I would enjoy…and I did…but not a lot…especially not the slower songs in the middle. I would not be opposed to someone else playing this while I was in earshot, but I don’t see me digging out this album to play again.

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.

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.

Only 6 songs but the songs are long. Easy listening and I wouldn't have guessed it was from 1969. Nothing crazy though it's like almost like a folk/country, and easy listening though a bit boring. 5/10.

I am very sorry. But this was an album I simply could not listen to. I am not sure if you all know the Jimmy Fallon Tonight show "Do not play list". That would be in the top 10 of that list. What is that? And who the heck is Tim Buckley? And who put that on the 1001 albums list? So many questions.

Interesting music. I was not familiar with hime before

Decent

A celebration of the vibraphone :) I can imagine JJ Cale listening to this album a lot as he locked in his signature guitar style. The brightness of some chord progressions are very Troubadour. Is this one really in the 1001 list though?

Random generator...from son to father? Very different from Jeff - jazzy, soulful, folky tunes that demand multiple lessons. A bit too slow and dreamy for me.

This is a really great album, I'm annoyed it took me this long to listen to it.

boooooring

Sad

Mooi plaatje, nooit eerder de moeite genomen om iets van 'm te draaien.

Ik moet zeggen dat ik wel fan begin te worden van Tim. Ook dit album spreekt me erg aan, rustiger dan het vorige maar zijn stem bevalt me goed. Had zoonlief het niet van een vreemde.

Beetje een twijfelgeval. Teveel eindeloos gepiel om echt te blijven boeien.

Mooie stem, rustgevende muziek. Wel veel xylofoon-klanken.

Un'esperienza un po' strana, perché, fondamentalmente, mi ha coinvolto positivamente, ma non mi ha catturato a tal punto da farmi sbilanciare. Trovo gli arrangiamenti al limite dell'introspettivo e davvero molto interessanti. Di solito non amo particolarmente quando una canzone dura più di 4 minuti, ma in questo caso il fatto che abbia fatto canzoni lunghe l'ho trovato più un punto di forza che un difetto (ho comunque accusato verso la fine) e quella che mi ha colpito di più dura tipo 10 min (Love From Room 109 At The Islander). Non lo so 3 pare poco e 4 troppo. 3.75

Questo album di Tim Buckley non lo avevo mai ascoltato. Devo dire che non sono un suo fan (del figlio probabilmente non posso ancora dire nulla) ma comunque lo rispetto molto come artista. Questo album è abbastanza nella parte Folk/Rock ancora della sua produzione e non è comunque la parte che preferisco ma è innegabile che ci sia un'atmosfera molto ben definita e un'identità personale comunque interessante. Difficile pensare che in questo album aveva 22 anni (anche per la voce profonda). Purtroppo sarà pure che non riesco a non confrontarlo con un altro artista che non posso nominare con cui ho un legame molto forte. Il contro di questo album per me è la solita vena di improvvisazione che strascina i pezzi passando dall'onirico/psichedelico a uno che strilla un po' frignante "Gipsy Womaaannnn". Comunque è un 3 pieno, magari con qualche ascolto in più sarebbe sceso a 2 o salito a 4 ma non so se glie li dedicherò... Bonus recensione di Giulia che ha sentito pure lei: "Sì bello però abbiamo capito, dici le stesse cose trecento volte"

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.

3/5 - meh

Better than the earlier one. Even downright pretty at times. And especially in Gypsy Woman, you can really hear his son's voice too. But I guess not "essential."

September 7, 2021 OK but mostly too progressive and slow. "Gypsy Woman" is the best track on here. A lot of vibraphone use, which is.. a choice.

I can see why some would like this - his voice is very 'marmite' - I don't like it at all. The songs are aimless meanderings and I prefer a discernable melody.

I do love Tim Buckley's voice and style. It was a lovely album to listen to on a hot and sunny day.

The lyrics and vocals on this album are incredibly gorgeous ;-;

A good sound that gets a little long-winded and sleepy by the end of it. The first track is literally just All Blues but folk lmao. I can definitely hear a little influence on his son.

Wow, what a lullaby. Very sleepy, lazy even. Not much really drawing me back though.

First listen. 2/5

Second time being disappointed by Tim Buckley. Absolutely no edge to it. Also lay off the vibraphone.

Good stuff. Unique. Great song writing.

I liked this better than the last Tim Buckley album. Made for good slow jams on a morning bike commute.

this one didn't hit me.

It's alright. 5/10

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.[3] Buckley would also go on to author all his own material on the following two albums. The first track, "Strange Feelin", was directly inspired by Miles Davis' "All Blues" from Kind of Blue, and the melody of the song is directly taken from the song. The third track, "Love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)", is a song composed of various movements and this represents the second time Buckley wrote in this manner, his previous effort being the title track of Goodbye and Hello. The segments of the song were written separately as "Danang" and "Asbury Park", as demonstrated on the later released demo sessions, The Dream Belongs to Me: Rare and Unreleased 1968 - 1973. The final version of the song is backed by an 'ocean' sound effect, however this was not originally intended to feature on the song. Buckley and the band were happy with the take of song but because of a recording problem the track had a slight electric buzzing in the background. The producer solved this by muffling the buzzing with the ocean overdub.[4] "Dream Letter" is as an ode and apology to his ex-wife, Mary Guibert, and his son Jeff Buckley.[3] This is the second song Buckley wrote about the pair, the first being "I Never Asked to Be Your Mountain" on his previous LP, Goodbye and Hello. In comparison to that song "Dream Letter" has a more apologetic tone, the lyrics reveal this with Buckley lamenting "Does he ever ask about me?" . It would be over five years later that Buckley would meet with his son again.[5] The name of the song would later be used for a live album: posthumous release Dream Letter: Live in London 1968. The concert features much of the same personnel from the Happy Sad.

Nicer than I had initially expected it to be- reminded me a lot of the singer-songwriter stuff my parents loved growing up and would be a nice album to listen to on the road or on a lazy afternoon.

Uhm, it was kinda unnoticeable to me...

Gypsy Woman 😍😍😍😍

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.

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

Songs go on a bit too long, I didn't mind gypsy woman but everything else was a little... Boring?

I knew and loved "Buzzin' Fly" before listening to the album (it was maybe the only tune by Tim Buckley I was even aware of). "Buzzin' Fly" is a 5. The rest of the album doesn't have that sort of, pardon the pun, Buzz. It's just a snooze. I have a feeling this would be a much more enjoyable listen while stoned or on other mind altering treats. As of now, I think I prefer his son Jeff's work. I almost feel bad panning the album after falling down a Tim Buckley rabbit hole and learning about how he died at 28 with nothing but a guitar and amp, let alone the fate that awaited his son. I guess what I'm saying is this album should have just been called "Sad".

Loved Gypsy Woman, the rest of the songs were nice, but overlookable

Cuando ser buen músico no es incompatible con ser un soberano muermo...

Es un poco música que escucharía en los menús del Sims 1. Diez minutos para una canción pues demasiao' en mi opinión

estuvo bien pero no está en spotify he tenido que escucharlo en youtube asI que muy mal eso

meh

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.

Gypsy woman had some ok parts the rest of the album is not worth listening to again.

While I like Jeff Buckley a lot, the music of his father does not strike me as interesting. I find his mediocre folk/pop songwriting and performance rather boring.

It was cool for what it was, but really run of the mill early 70's psych rock. It wasn't genre defining and he stayed in his box the entire album. Couple of points where he really let loose and it came across well, but few and far apart.

Boring and depressing Gypsy woman only upeat song - Goes on too long

Beautiful, listened to this in my teens and didn't wow me that much but glad I revisited - an outstanding album

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.

Good voice

Great sound. Very surprising

It was alright

Didn’t know Tim Buckley and it’s very good.

some decent songs. can be alright in a certain mood. 2 or 3 stars.

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.

Xylophon Musik wie bei Helge Schneider. Kann man hören, muss man aber nicht. Tod mit 28. Sohn ebenfalls Musiker und tot. Macht sie das zu Legenden?

Eigentlich mag ich Folk, hab hier aber nur oberflächlich reingehört. War vielleicht nicht in der passenden Laune. Hab aber viel gelesen über ihn und seinen Sohn, seine musikalischen Einflüsse usw, sowas finde ich immer spannend.

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.

It's not bad nor good, just long and dull. Perfect if you have insomnia (and his voice is nice).

Very interesting album… I found some of the songs really long… I could listen to them while I was working but when the phone would ring I wouldn’t really pay attention and some made me feel really sad so not an album I would’ve gone out and bought

Cool and chill

Amazing

I suppose it was ok. It probably helped lots of people get laid in the early 70s.

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

The title should have been Sad Sad. Buckley has a beautiful voice and definite high and low range. I didn’t care for the album. It was too slow down beat and depressing in nature.

Lived up to its title

Buena voz, pero demasiado pausado y sosegado. No me ha llamado la atención en absoluto

For a while, I thought this was Jeff Buckley but these are two different fellas. This guy loves really long songs and moaning which isn't a bad thing. I especially enjoyed Gypsy Woman but I found myself skipping the other songs when he started talking. The music itself was really good but I just wasn't a fan of his vocals.

No me enloqueció pero está lindo.

I didn't get this album. It's like too much experimental, but not....3 stars because it's a cool thing to discover another artist that I didn't before this site.

Hmmmm interessante mas não muito

Great vocalist from the 60s

Folk-rock americano muy ñoño

Not a good first impression. I don't like his voice and the style is all over the place (and not in a good way). Production is very low key and watered down.

A beautiful talent.

Just slightly better than his son from the little I listened

1969, Folk jazz, psychedelic folk, nur 6 Lieder aber 44min

Decent jazzy folk rock. It's certainly technically competent and I'm sure somebody thinks this album is amazing, but I'm just not into folk music.

I 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

Nope

eh

Ok but not my thing

I liked the jazziness of this record, I still just don't like his voice unfortunately.

Sounds like it influenced Led Zeppelin, couple fun songs

Happy, sad, indifferent.

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.

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.

What a bummer.

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

Not bad but not great... aimless?

Well-made but I don't enjoy this particular style of music very much, so it didn't leave any significant impact on me.

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.

Very mellow and jangly but also very good. First time hearing it!

Meh

A really peaceful listen. Enjoyed the vibes.

It was good

Mellow, long, calming music.

druga pjesma naj

Interesting sounds. Never listed to before

More like sad sad.

a little too slow for my taste, its jazzy and experimental

Why did I need to listen to this?

Low 3

This one is amazing!

Probably caught me at the wrong time… found the whole thing kind winded and bloated. Also too many xylophones!

Quran Quran male male power oral lane warning met meaning packaging jamming clansman marksman Ram Karl lanai palatial gameplay Malakai palatial partial inch airflow