| Happy Hour | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 15, 1992 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 59:56 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| King Missile chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Happy Hour | ||||
| ||||
Happy Hour is the fifth studio album by experimental music band King Missile, and released on December 15, 1992, by Atlantic Records. [1] [2] The album is exactly one hour long, hence its title.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A [4] |
| Rolling Stone | [5] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 8/10 [6] |
| The Village Voice |  [7] |
Ned Raggett of AllMusic wrote that "due in part to the return of Kramer to production – or in this case co-production – duties, along with a slew of more immediately memorable songs, Happy Hour trumps The Way to Salvation as the peak of the band's high-profile days, an inspired collection of tunes ranging from deranged pop to full-on epic metal stomp." The critic also said "thanks to a catchy arrangement via Rick's clipped, stuttered guitar riff and the sweetly sung title phrase in the background, the result is giddy left-field nonsense." and "it's the blessed liveliness of the whole album – at a premium in the days of full-on grunge when it came out, still rare enough years later – that makes it stand up so well." [3] Trouser Press said "Hall's surreal accounts have the vivid sense of purpose previously absent; he’s not aiming at eliciting wan smiles, he’s trying to provoke intelligent thought" and "meanwhile, the band (drummer Roger Murdock is that new face in the booklet photo) locks into diverse rock grooves that would be worth hearing even without the vocals." [8] Robert Christgau chose the band's hit single "Detachable Penis" as the album's "choice cut". [7]
All lyrics are written by John S. Hall
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 0:11 | |
| 2. | "Sink" |
| 3:00 |
| 3. | "Martin Scorsese" |
| 1:57 |
| 4. | "(Why Are We) Trapped?" | Murdock | 4:30 |
| 5. | "It's Saturday" |
| 2:33 |
| 6. | "VvV (VulvaVoid)" |
| 3:24 |
| 7. | "Metanoia" |
| 3:20 |
| 8. | "Detachable Penis" |
| 3:22 |
| 9. | "Take Me Home" |
| 6:16 |
| 10. | "Ed" |
| 6:01 |
| 11. | "Anywhere" | Rick | 3:33 |
| 12. | "The Evil Children" |
| 5:47 |
| 13. | "Glass" | Hall | 0:23 |
| 14. | "And" |
| 2:49 |
| 15. | "King Murdock" |
| 0:54 |
| 16. | "I'm Sorry" |
| 3:03 |
| 17. | "Heaven" | Murdock | 3:14 |
| 18. | "Happy Hour" |
| 5:39 |
Adapted from the Happy Hour liner notes. [9]
King Missile
Additional performers
Production and design
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [10] | 93 |
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1992 | Atlantic | CD, CS | 7567-82459 |
| Canada | CD | |||
| Germany | ||||
| Japan | 1993 | AMCY-549 |
King Missile is an American avant-garde art rock band best known for its 1992 single "Detachable Penis". Vocalist John S. Hall has fronted several disparate incarnations of the group since founding it in 1986.
Fear is the fourth solo studio album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, released on 1 October 1974 by Island Records.
Perverted by Language is the sixth studio album by English post-punk group The Fall, released in December 1983 on Rough Trade Records.
Mystical Shit is the third studio album by experimental music band King Missile, released in 1990 by Shimmy Disc. It is the first of their albums to be recorded after guitarist Dave Rick and bassist Chris Xefos had joined and composer Stephen Tunney had departed the group to form Dogbowl. The album was first issued on vinyl record in 1990 and was later included on the compilation album Mystical Shit & Fluting on the Hump.
Failure is the seventh studio album by avant-garde band King Missile, released on September 15, 1998, by Shimmy Disc.
They is the second studio album by King Missile, released in 1988 by Shimmy Disc.
Slow Dazzle is the fifth solo studio album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, released on 25 March 1975, his second album for record label Island.
The Good Earth is the second album by American alternative rock band the Feelies. It was released in 1986 on Coyote Records, six years following their debut album Crazy Rhythms. The original LP was contained in a sleeve designed by Glenn Mercer, featuring a front cover photo of the band by bassist Brenda Sauter and a back cover photo by John Baumgartner with coloring by Sauter.
Helen of Troy is the sixth solo studio album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, released in November 1975. It was the last of his three studio albums for Island Records.
King Missile is the sixth studio album by the experimental music band King Missile, released on April 19, 1994, by Atlantic Records.
Brainbloodvolume is the third and final album from English rock band Ned's Atomic Dustbin with their original line-up. It was released in the United States on 21 March 1995 but did not appear in the United Kingdom until July of that year.
The Way to Salvation is the fourth studio album by experimental music band King Missile, released on April 16, 1991, by Atlantic Records. The band's previous drummer Steve Dansiger parted from the band before recording began and his position was filled by Hypnolovewheel drummer David Ramirez.
Rhythm of Life is the debut studio album by Scottish musician Paul Haig, released in November 1983 by Island Records. It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in New York City and RAK Studios in London with renowned record producer Alex Sadkin, known for his work on multiple albums by Grace Jones, and Thompson Twins. The album features guest musicians such as Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic, Anton Fier of the Feelies and the Golden Palominos, and Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins. Four singles were released from Rhythm of Life: "Heaven Sent", "Never Give Up ", "Justice" and "Blue for You". The track "Adoration" was originally performed while Haig was still a member of post-punk band Josef K. The album spent 2 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 82.
Happy 14½ is an EP by avant-garde band King Missile. It was released in 1992, shortly before the band's album Happy Hour. The EP was intended for promotional use only, and not supposed to be sold; nonetheless, copies are sometimes available in "used" sections of record stores because some people who received the EP sold it anyway.
Too Much Sleep is the second album by the experimental college rock/art rock band Bongwater. It was released in 1989. In 1998, the album was remastered by Alan Douches and Kramer for its inclusion in Box of Bongwater set.
Forever is the second studio album by English rock band Cranes. It was released on 26 April 1993 by Dedicated Records.
Force is the fifth studio album by the English post-punk band A Certain Ratio, released in November 1986 by Factory Records; their final release on the label. Stuart James co-produced the album with the band. It was recorded and mixed between July and August 1986 at Yello 2 Studios in Stockport.
The Hard Stuff is the solo debut album by American musician Wayne Kramer, best known as a guitarist with the 1960s group MC5. It was released on January 10, 1995 by Epitaph Records. The band Claw Hammer backs up Kramer on most songs, with featured guest appearances by members of Bad Religion, the Melvins, and Suicidal Tendencies.
Blowhard is the debut studio album of DUH, released in 1991 by Boner Records.
The Unholy Handjob is the second studio album by DUH, released in 1995 by Alternative Tentacles.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)