HAPPY THE MAN - Crafty Hands [full album]

Artist: Happy The Man
Album: "Crafty Hands" 1978
Genre: Eclectic Progressive Rock
Label: Arista
Country: US
1. Service With A Smile (0:00)
2. Morning Sun (2:38)
3. Ibby It Is (6:40)
4. Steaming Pipes (14:27)
5. Wind Up Doll Day Wind (19:44)
6. Open Book (27:00)
7. I Forgot To Push It (31:51)
8. The Moon, I Sing (Nossuri) (34:55)
Stanley Whitaker - 6 and 12 string guitars, vocals
Frank Wyatt - piano, harpsichord, saxophone, flute, voice
Kit Watkins - piano, harpsichord, Moog, fake strings, clavinet
Rick Kennell - bass
Ron Riddle - drums, percussion
Album available directly from:
www.musearecords.com/boutique/...
or
www.amazon.com/Crafty-Hands-Ha...
www.happytheman.com/
www.myspace.com/happythemanmys...
/ 235802999767422

[@ganazby]

This is a sensational piece of art, expertly composed and brilliantly played by master musicians. It has a haunting quality that’s hard to shake.

[@kisawisa1769]

Haunting is one of the best ways to describe their music, it is weirdly chilling in a way.

[@bonneman66]

Pleasantly unfamiliar chord progressions...lyrical melodic phrasing

[@alancarriaga3739]

The Keyboardist of "The Cars" wrote "Service with a Smile" . .too cool

[@paulborkman2520]

Long live Happy The Man. What an amazing band. Saw them in 79 at the Cellar Door in Georgetown. Best show I've ever seen. I was 15 years old. That show opened the world of music to me. Amazing.

[@kentchopper]

I might add that Ken Scott, engineer for the Beatles' White Album, Supertramp's Crime of the Century album, did this as well. Thanks for the upload. Very appreciated.

[@mhiraldo]

And Dixie Dreg's What If (my favorite from them, and their most 'progressive')

[@TMANSTRANGE171986]

Yeh this is beautiful 🙏

[@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms]

The Beatles if they were good.

[@urniurl]

Pawn Hearts by vdgg also.

[@dhalgrentv7157]

He also worked on the first Jan Hammer/JH Group releases AND produced some classic glam-era Bowie albums. Ken Scott is in a league by himself!

[@aarontussing608]

One of my favorites! Ibby it is is a masterpiece!

[@Four4For4]

Kit Watkins an underappreciated musical genius

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Good keyboardist, but hardly a musical genius. His compositions are somewhat scarce in the recorded music world. When he was with Camel, he didn't even write a single song.

[@ze1054]

@@lashedbutnotleashed1984 Plus forgot to mention Docks from Camel Nude which is basically Mount St Helens by Kit. Andy Lats and Kit Co wrote Docks..

[@davidadams2478]

Kit is an amazing musician and composer..I only met him once or twice but I just knew he had it..but what I could really tell about him..that he was a fine person..pure..

[@lmp9726]

I think you meant not a compositional genius. I would counter that he is a keyboard genius despite perhaps not having compositional chops.@@lashedbutnotleashed1984

[@kenren110]

...and...? All were very talented (and getting better) but here's one thing that Kit Watkins nailed (along with others): Synth tones that still sound good and timeless. There were some truly annoying synth flavors by fine prog players in the day (not naming anyone....)

[@nicklauria]

This album has haunted me for 30 years.

[@Idyllvice]

well said: EXACTLY

[@paulborkman9617]

Me to. My first concert. I was 15 years old when my older brother got me into the Cellar Door in Georgetown to turn me on to awesome music. Best night ever. Still listening to this day. Long live Happy The Man. Amazing.

[@Percopius]

So happy people are discovering this band, one I have been listening to since they released their first album. They are sublime, iconic, unforgettable.

[@ConfiteorUnumBaptisma]

I discovered it this year, thank to The Prog Corner.

[@ckmiller81]

"Service With A Smile," cut one, was the opener for every soccer game I announced at our local high school for about 4 years! Short, powerful and only about 2 and half minutes!

[@lmp9726]

It has an explosive quality when the sky rocket burst start after the first four measures.

[@mensamoo]

Just discovered them... it only took 38 years. Excellent album

[@geeman1293]

Me too! Ah, the lost art of composition...

[@gaugehoughton2403]

It took me 14 years

[@Ramblin-Man]

Great stuff for a followup, but the eponymously titled 1977 album is even better: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqa7d6NrYtaDmas And there's more where that came from: murodoclassicrock4.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-man-discografia.html

[@rtm6986]

Yep, me too, only took 42 years... so glad I found this, what an amazing album!

[@joanibacetarivas1638]

Te entiendo .. Y gracias por subir este tan material

[@eliottsantos2654]

What an absolutely brilliant piece of art.

[@donaldmoore4412]

My first time listening to this band. This is a gem.

[@ronniewall1481]

LOOK ON MY PLAYLIST I HAVE TONS OF LESSOR KNOWN GROUPS. TRY DICE THE FOUR HORSEMEN.

[@donaldmoore4412]

Will do!!! Thank you

[@BucketHeadianHagg]

My first time right now.. Happy 2023 from Las Vegas

[@BucketHeadianHagg]

@@ronniewall1481 I will do that! Thank you

[@BucketHeadianHagg]

@@ronniewall1481 I subbed your channel. Thank you so much!

[@cattybound2011]

I was playing "Service With A Smile" for my girlfriend back in 1992 and within 2 minutes she said that it made her think of the DNA double helix. Intelligent music WIN. On a side note, I have never heard a jam in 11/8 time have such a perfect swing to it!

[@xedasxedas]

That first song is iconic....one could build an entire movie around this album.

[@thomasknudsen6943]

Saw them live 40 years ago. Kit Watkins - phenomenal

[@kuujjuaq58]

Saw 'em at Towson University. Mid eighties i believe. With Coco Roussel.

[@Ken-gk9mm]

Saw them at the Cellar Door in Washington DC in 1978. They were absolutely wonderful.

[@Darrylizer1]

Saw them at Goucher College in I think '77, with original drummer Mike Beck, phenomenal, and much later at the State Theater in Falls Church without Kit Watkins. David Rosenthal was the keyboardist then.

[@jamiepastman5594]

yes. legendary mini moog solos from Kit, they are stunning

[@w.a.lively3117]

Saw them 3 times around DC including with Renaissance at Warner Theater. Their live sound matched the studio versions which is my test of a great band. My 3 kids grew up listening to HTM, and they love it too.

[@brentbuckley798]

Love this band. I was in a band called Surge that opened for them at Louies Rock City in northern Virginia back in the day.

[@fredywnavas]

As representative of Microsoft Support, I spoke with one of the members of this band, it was awesome, he told me about it, and I just found it.

[@MrAlebarjr]

I discovered this band back in the late 70s when I met original drummer Mike Beck who was playing some incredibly nuanced drums for a lounge act in Hilton Head Island (the act included a tall and gorgeous blonde named Iris playing fretless bass; it was she who first caught my eye, before my ears had processed the band's sound). I befriended the band in my week there, and ended up driving back north with them, with different members taking turns riding in my car with me. Mike told me all about HtM and when I got home, I picked up their vinyl, and that was it. Big fan ever since!

[@machiavellianos]

+Alex Barry Probably you were tripping. There has been no female band member.

[@MrAlebarjr]

Actually, J King, you're the one tripping. Read my comment again. I referred to the lounge band Mike played with, not HtM.

[@catkeys6911]

+Alex Barry Great story, man. I would have loved to have met them personally to tell them how much their music was appreciated. It was, sadly, ahead of its time. It also had the unfortunate situation of being its own genre. Not Rock, not jazz, not disco (now fortunately a dead genre), not classical. It was Happy The Man music. Before the internet, if you couldn't fit neatly into one of the those categories, you wouldn't sell. Very sad, but the material that they did provide can live on forever.

[@rosskstar]

You need to get your money back from that speed reading course.

[@jimwalker4673]

It was simply progressive rock or PROG as they say nowadays. There were many bands that made money from PROG back then. Am I being a badger? Well, like many proggy bands in the US, managers here didn't know how to book them. HTM did some horrible openers and eventually got sacked for some other wild reasons.

[@bogdanolariu5535]

Killer album, elegant arrangements and inventive playing, one of the best prog albums ever

[@hatchetinhead]

R.I.P. Frank Wyatt

[@tomhoyle3660]

After Years if search for this album , in the beginning of the 90:s I found it in a second hand record shop in Stockholm. It cost 50 Swedish crowns ( 5 USD) Mint condition. It made my whole Year. I still keep it in a safe place.❤️ It also became avaliable on CD which is my normal listening source nowadays. So glad You posted it here 🙂🥰 Thanks!!

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

RIP Frank Wyatt :(..never forget 22+ years ago at Nearfest 2000.

[@markobarrows]

This record has something magical. Not just another "fusion" trope...this is a classic record with some of Watkins best playing.

[@clouddog2393]

Been into Prog since 1970 and did,nt discover the band till much later probably because most of Prog l knew came from the U.K. and the Continent . Only bands from Canada and the States l knew of that were playing this music were Styx , Kansas , Starcastle , Saga and Crack The Sky so it was nice to discover H.T.M . Got their albums and was most impressed .A fine band .

[@tangentfish]

I absolutely adore this album, but I wanted to mention what a fantastic job you did on the video - Track titles all displayed with modifications of the original album art. Really great job, well done.

[@xsamitt]

I second that .....thank you!

[@cattybound2011]

YES!! And after that, yes again.

[@designerhell]

Big Prog head the time this was issued. Worked in retail records and tapes and didnt hear this. So much Prog was swept under the rug during this time. This album, i like.

[@uckbee]

Can remember Greg Stone playing "Steaming Pipes" on his Sunday evenings *Stone Trek* show on KOME FM in San Jose, CA, in the late '70s through the '80s. Those were the days: the finest of prog served up on a silver platter every Sunday eve by the coolest American DJ.

[@carlsalazar4490]

I remember that show. That was the highlight of my Sunday’s. I wish shows like that still existed.

[@bagbyhallam8094]

Most incredible album I've ever heard. As a ROCK MUSICIAN I LIKE ALL KIND OF MUSIC. BUT THEY DAY MY GIRLFRIEND WALKED IN WITH THIS ALBUM I quit for a long long long while listening to KISS AND ACDC TYPE.MUSIC. AT NIGHT ID PUT A BLACK LIGHT ON AND JUST DANCE ALONE BY MYSELF TO THIS ALBUM AND SECOND ALBUM. 50 YEARS LATER AFTER HAVING ALBUM ON CD SO GLAD TO FIND ON KZbin. GIRLFRIEND LONG GONE LIKE MY BANDS AND THINGS BUT my GOODNESS, IT TAKES ME BACK TO WEEK THIS ALBUM NEVER CAME OFF MY TURNTABLE

[@siroswaldfortitude5346]

You have a cool Girlfriend...a girlfriend of mine introduced me to a group called 'Caravan'. So glad she did

[@Claytone-Records]

Wow, without ads. Novel idea. Beautiful music. Thanks.

[@JoelBryant1960]

Good God, these guys are way beyond anything that has ever been done before.

[@JeffReams]

Just found out about these guys. What an amazing group.

[@barbararichman5887]

Great Band! Remember them from growing up in Northern Virginia.

[@davidryan7386]

same. got to meet coco when he came to some mates band to hear a student who drummed for 'em. what a thing they were and are. i recall hearing kit's sad spring 1980 as I heard they had broken up. that song still puts northern virgina fall/winter into a musical bottle for me.

[@kostkaguitar]

Listened to this for the first time today. This album instantly became one of the Best prog albums from this period of time for me, what a hidden gem ❤ love it!!!

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

Their first album is even better.

[@lakito90214]

Their first album is even better. Gotta get it.

[@beammeupscotty1955]

I thought I had heard every prog band from this Era but clearly I was wrong. Really stunning work.

[@RonaldWall-yw3hx]

I probably could show you a lot of lessor known groups

[@itkojecockot]

the production is so ahead of its time......

[@seanschmidt8408]

I have a ton of great prog albums in my collection, but this one is Top 5 of all time. Will always remember the Kit and Coco show at the Cellar Door back in 1980 where Kit played pretty much of his first album and the rest HTM..

[@StanRichard]

bought this when it came out in '78 and loved it ever since, one of my top 10 of all time.

[@61guitbox]

Stan Richard same here ! discovered Crafty Hands then discovered the first album self titled Happy the Man ... back in 78' I had started hanging out with a drummer from my home town ...he introduced me to this whole new genre of music I had no idea existed ...at the time I was into classic rock which I loved and still do but I started listening to groups like HTM and it changed me literally ! from that point I totally immersed myself into Jazz fusion , prog and modern jazz ...I probably would've discovered these genres eventually but I'm so glad that my bud got me into this music when it was just coming and still very fresh !!

[@edwardgivenscomposer]

me too. on vinyl on the cut-out bin. I miss album covers.

[@geeman1293]

Wish I could "thumbs-up" a million times! Sublime album! Created in a relatively brief era when compositional deftness ruled.

[@mo000on]

You can - just make a million youtube/google accounts. This post is 8 years old and the video only has 5k likes. Your commitment is underwhelming.

[@alldorf]

Music for the soul. Cathartic.

[@braulioandrade8370]

De mi albumes progresivos favoritos 💕💕💕

[@trishsitt]

Followed them like a puppy dog in College. The had a concert on campus as well, and then saw them later at the State Theater in Falls Church. I married a man 9 years younger than me. He did not share the same passion I did for this band...this brings back SO many memories. Love you Happy the Man!

[@donaldstrump911]

Cold trade in the laughter Cool Jade in the night We barter images on the matrix Fine strands of reality, dream and vision Wind up doll day begins Whirlwind display of whims Splashing across the street into the box My box, your box Dollhouse robbed of fantasy Stacks of office blocks waiting for the wind Blow me over into the starlight, wind Crash down these weights upon me Drive me across the world's scorching lies From someplace that I might see them To that place that I do Draw down the dollhouse blocks Into the whimsical streets Web of the real laid close beside dream Each the barter for the other Twisting together, like worms in their holes Quietly strangling the vision Wind up doll day traded For dream chants on whispering winds Wind up doll day begins Wind up doll day begins Wind up doll day begins Wind up doll day begins It seems to me there’s cold trade in all the laughter There’s the cool gleaming Jade Greed in our minds

[@brettmillering1394]

Great band!!! Was lucky enough to catch them at the tail end opening for Nektar, who I thought they blew away!! They set a very high bar with this album!! It's still my favorite!

[@Percopius]

I saw Nektar, my first rock concert, at the Santa Monica Civic. I barely remember the concert, but I do remember the opening bad was amazing. I wonder if it was HtM....

[@gregorallnight371]

Great group of creative artists...excellent musicians,writers,craftsmen and performers..wow!!

[@andrewg.1377]

Very interesting sound and great guitar work. Can't believe I just discovered this.

[@xsamitt]

I feel so many things hearing this album.........I feel alive! I feel inquisitive! I feel Wonderment! I FEEL New!

[@RICHGREENNOW]

John, they were. I was very involved with them, Kit Watkins the keyboardist was my keys teacher and many times I helped them out into their clapped out cars in the freezing cold just because they were in my heart and felt that they got screwed by Arista records. That was when the punk era was making waves, money, and me throw up. Anyone that wants to be blown away by talent not known by man. Listen here....

[@sk8joey1]

I saw them at Goucher college in Maryland in 1978.Best live act i ever have seen.Have the ticket stubs to all the concerts i have seen just to prove that i was at them

[@TheBlackycat]

Rest in Peace Frank Wyatt.... :(

[@paulbattista6486]

One of the greatest albums of all time by the greatest prog rock band of all time

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

That would be King Crimson.

[@mo000on]

oof that's a bold statement but the comments section of a Happy the Man KZbin album is probably the safest place to make it.

[@siroswaldfortitude5346]

@@lashedbutnotleashed1984 Or 'Yes' ? lol

[@lashedbutnotleashed1984]

@@siroswaldfortitude5346 I would put Yes behind ELP, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, PFM, and Genesis.

[@siroswaldfortitude5346]

@@lashedbutnotleashed1984 Ha, I knew someone would post something along those lines..its all a matter of taste...the BIG question is..Can we class Pink Floyd as Prog?

[@seanarthurjoyce7366]

Superb album. Can't believe I'd never heard of it before in 45 years of listening to music.

[@michaelqualkenbush1391]

Service With A Smile has to be one of the greatest opening tracks of any album out there. Oblivion Sun has a great opener in "Fanfare" in 2007 and "Deckard" off of The High Places album.

[@djgamecock8516]

I totally agree with (and LOVED reading) your first sentence! I actually opened my professional radio career with that tune here in Charleston, SC at 95-SX (100,000 Watt FM rock station WSSX-FM). This station once had a weekend special show called "Sittin' In" where each week they'd pick one lucky listener to play DJ and pick songs (on radio carts) of their choice for one hour. I had begged the Program Director to let me use vinyl tracks instead of just songs already on carts in the studio. I explained I had the perfect opening tune and would pre-plan my show to make sure it was the best one EVER! He balked at first, but then agreed to let me do it. To start my show, I introduced myself and just before playing "Service With A Smile" I announced "I'm going to give you an EARGASM!". LOL That opening HTM tune went into "Atomic Punk" off the first Van Halen album with its opening song lyric "Turn Your Radios On!". As a result, I got hired on the spot and was the last guy to ever do that show. I always wanted producer Ken Scott (& the band) to learn about my story and, hopefully, get a kick out of it.

[@leesystems]

I was introduced to Rick in August 1978 by another student bassist. I ended up taking bass lessons from Rick until I left for college in August 1979. At first I did not understand the music. But soon it became my favorite music. I wore out several tracks of the first album, such as Carousel. Several of these tunes were actually written when they were in college because I have one tape of them in college from 1975 playing knee bitten nymphs in limbo. So, to compare them to Pink Floyd or others is not an accurate comparison. They were forging their own path that was years ahead of the music market. So after this album, which went over budget at around $80,000 and didn't sell well Arista Records dropped them. They were actually more popular in Europe at the time, but, didn't get the support from Arista to travel there to tour and sell albums. Personally, I really enjoyed the bass lessons that Rick gave me. And, once in awhile I got to play his #7 Paul Reed Smith Bass. It was the seventh hand made instrument that Paul Reed Smith made for anyone. Later on he also obtained #11. It was a dream to play #7 because the neck was totally effortless to fit my short fingers around. At the time they lived in a house in Reston Virginia and the basement was the band's practice room. All of what you see on stage was stuffed into this basement.

[@Four4For4]

love the musical history you shared, thanks

[@williamgavalier1960]

Rick K is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I sold him my 67 EBO in 1969. He still has it. Great guy. Great band

[@Freeway_Rollercoaster]

People compared them to Pink Floyd? Lol … no way, they had a unique sound. If anything dashes of Genesis, Yes and Return To Forever

[@Brad-mx9uy]

very cool info! I heard Happy Dah Man on WHFS when they ere in Bethesda Maryland

[@septoberenergy6542]

Probably the best American prog album ever.

[@gianbuzetti3701]

Americano?? en sudamérica tambien hay disos prog... deberias revisarlos. Un saludo

[@mikereiss4216]

It's one of them. I would say the light by Spock's Beard and Leftoverture by Kansas are up there too.

[@joesantianna121]

and yezda urfa sacred baboon, love that one too.

[@davidryan7386]

beat me to it. ditto.

[@leoderecho8648]

@@gianbuzetti3701 American lamentablemente es como se les dice,no existe estado unidense en ingles es american por lo que su comentario esta bien.

[@andrewpearce4588]

Service with a smile and Open Book are my favs.. I had an experience with Open Book on LSD that is indescribable

[@worldcitizengrendel]

Impressive though such underrated band (Peter Gabriel´s favourite).

[@geeman1293]

I was turned on to HtM 4 months ago, and all I'm listening to is this and their self-titled (1st?) album. I'm sure someone mentioned the band back in '77, when I was 20, but there was so much amazing prog/fusion going on that one could afford to be picky. Seems like the rest of my life is spent mining for the gems I missed, and HtM is a MASSIVE DIAMOND. I'm pretty sure the band's name put me off; it sounded trite, and the weak album art belied the magnitude of the music (hate to say this, but a book IS judged by its cover-especially when stacked next to Yes' covers). Not only do they have musicianship chops, but serious compositional chops. They compete with and, in ways, surpass some of the prog bands I've held so highly all these years; such a revelation! While it's a travesty to discover them almost 40 years later, it's a delight for this jaded, cynical music snob!

[@fargonetravels]

Their third (unreleased until 1983, in a very small indie printing; then again in about 1999), titled: _3rd: Better late..._ is much better than their first LP. The debut--and this, from a serious HTM fanatic--upon relistening two nights ago, has quite a few duds. Sorry guys! The highlights are: "Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest"; "New York Dream's Suite" (tho I'll say now that the last 1:00 is a letdown); "Carousel" and "Hidden Moods"[.] _3rd: Better late..._ has no clunkers; "The Falcon" is a bit lite...but I can bear it. (There are two tunes included in the most-recent release, which were not included on the original...been awhile since I listened to the re-release, so there might be a dud amongst those two, but cannot say fer cher). Seven songs that are intriguing and/or kick ass. "While Crome Yellow Shine" and "Labyrinth" are both stone-masterpiece[s]; "At the Edge of This Thought"; "Run Into the Ground" and "Shadow Shaping" (w/ vocals by guitarist Stan Whitaker) are brilliant; "Footwork" is playful and sticks with y', in a fun way. Get their 3rd album. Any way you can.

[@micanut48]

+Gee Man I just discovered them now. I feel just as guilty as most of those who missed them. Yes, you are correct in your assessment about the book cover. I think that for most of us, it was also our budget that limited us in our deeper exploration; we went after things we were somewhat sure of. I am actually fanatic about this genre and yet, this band I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF. What a shame (on me)!

[@funeguy2]

me to I missed it somehow. I was in a record store today (buying a Todd Rundgren box set)HTM was playing Crafty Hands.So Refreshing. in a Progress calm way.I Could hear so many influences.just put it on and let it play .anyway best wishes audio friend.Nice! Todd Rundgren people Love AirPocket by Rodger Powel from UTOPIA.worth a listen. Jim audio-file Out...

[@thomwilkins9097]

My son just turned me on to these guys and they are a Gem!

[@iantravis6583]

Naming your band after a much sought after recording by Genesis didi't sound trite to me, but apparently the name is a reference to Goethe's Faust, which makes it more high-brown than I would ever have guessed. Thanks to US Muse (whoever is hiding behind that nick) for the inside line.

[@ElectricGypsy]

Pure magic... Morning sun ❤️☺️

[@Alcar1612]

L'intro de "Service with a smile" était le générique d'une émission de radio de musique in the eighties et j'adorais ce truc. Tujours aussi bon aujourd'hui.

[@parasitesundinism]

I hung out with original synthesizer player in the 1980s iin my home near nevada, nebraska. i probably was tripping but we played a old timey spaced out ting with bag pipes and whatever else went to mcdonalds wit him one time after it and then....? never saw him again but i always remember this album like i did ah the old days.... it takes me back to hear this gem of progressivo italiano etc... thanks

[@blair750]

One of my fav prog bands period. To me these guys are in no way a knock off Genesis alternative in any sense of the word. To my ear they have their own sound as a band. I hear Gentle Giant influences in regard to some of the meter changes and influences from prog of their time period. But they have their own sound. And I feel Kit Watkins is unique among keyboard players with an incredible sense for melody and phrasing that is truly his own. Really like their compositions.

[@aweso100]

Yeah it only resembles Genesis a bit because of some the synth sounds honestly, specifically Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering. Otherwise, it's pretty unique (maybe a bit of Yes, Camel, and Gentle Giant influences). Much jazzier than those guys ever got.

[@drwugong]

For me they're more Yes\GG and Gong than Genesis. The production is what makes this unique amongst the "never heard of these" bands - it is superb and up there with the best. Makes you realise that not only were the big bands writing great music but they were well produced. How these never really made it I don't know, mabe just didn't have time to build up a fanbase before prog was on the downward spiral in terms of popularity. Great album, a couple of top 50 all time prog songs on this one!

[@bastidface]

Aside from the name "Happy the Man," I hear very little if any resemblance to Genesis. Genesis was more straight forward (standard verse-chorus-bridge) rock fusion with occasional instrumental sections having complex time and key changes. Maybe there's some Genesis influence in the more pastoral sections. If anything, I hear more of a jazz-fusion Brand X influence. Oddly, the second track reminds me of an instrumental in the style of Tony Banks' first solo album "A Curious Feeling," which came after "Crafty Hands."

[@microkorg1]

This album reminds me a bit of SBB, polish progrock /fusion band , albums - Ze Słowem Biegne do Ciebie '76 and Slovenian Girls '77, take a look!!! Great keyboards player - Jozef Skrzek!

[@cesarincamendozaloyola4407]

Gentle Giant, the softer side of Canterbury and the most complex side of Camel with synth sounds related to Corea and Hammer's frameworks.

[@xpump876]

i used to catch every show at the Cellar door when I lived in the DC area in the late 70's - Service with a Smile is hands down #1 in my top 10 favorite music of all time as well as Crafty Hands one of my fav albums - this music is great and overlooked.

[@jennifergonzalez6696]

I'm never going to get tired of this.

[@ReubenSound]

Happy The Man have a really nice orchestral atmosphere to their compositions. I can hear a bit of them in echolyn, another great American prog band.

[@Crafty_Spirit]

The cover really fits the music 🎧

[@robertklouse1369]

breathe deep..my friend

[@robinscouse4840]

Great music, appreciated and pleased I have found this band I never knew about.

[@minochervania2179]

Came from living in Europe in 1975. This band from Harrisonburg, VA had a small devout following in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

[@davidjbrown321]

I wore the needle out on my turntable with this record when it first came out...still holds up quite well...they set the bar high.

[@lakito90214]

Happy the man's first album was the only thing that the Angels would listen to . God bless Happy The Man. 😊

[@nikolaosmosxakis3395]

very good.....................................................................................................................................................................................

[@JohnDavis-lb3js]

In the day, I had soooooooo much respect for this group of players. Compositionally and from the POV of pure technique, I think Happy the Man may, tragically, be one the greatest progressive rock band ever and the most unknown. Aren't they from the DC area? DC has a reputation of producing pure musical diamonds and then hiding them, e.g. Danny G and Eva.

[@myoig8957]

Mr Kit Watkins.... Labyrinth album is gonna enchanted you guys

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

Labyrinth is probably my favorite album of all time

[@StephanieSante]

One of my favorite Progressive Rock albums of all time. Fantastic in every sense.

[@61guitbox]

Stephanie Sante totally agree !! so many a nights spent chillin with this album back in the 70’s/80’s along with all the fine Columbian that was flowing around the area at the time ✌🏻🇨🇦☮️

[@jamiepastman5594]

kit watkins, the great mini moog soloist of the 70's after Jan Hammer

[@jerryvivanco4352]

Good call!

[@franciscofernandez4159]

Sorry, but I prefer the sound and the elegance of Kit and his compositions way.

[@snuppssynthchannel]

@@franciscofernandez4159 Kit has referenced Hammer as an influence alongside Norwegian fusion guitarist Terje Rypdal.

[@jitkafarina3841]

I'd rank Jamie Pastman from the band Apprentice right up there on the top of that list also.

[@katemurphy1915]

Perfect music for learning about space exploration!!!.

[@serferten]

Scratch the surface and look what you find, a near forgotten band from my hometown, like a number of others . . . so close to greatness, so rich, and

[@martialbessou6743]

Absolument sublime

[@ivantorres7661]

Thank you for sharing this great music

[@willierichardson5049]

One of my all time favorites...Thank you so much.

[@inthebeast]

One of my all time favorite albums. Thank you for the video.

[@bowser_inthe_darkworld2]

incredible discovery, thank you.

[@deluge71]

Positively brilliant. Thanks for posting.

[@patriciodiazruiz2485]

Maravilloso trabajo de mi adolescencia en mi biblioteca del rock saludos de stgo Chile

[@trevwignallmusic]

SO beautiful. Stunning.

[@davidryan7386]

the peak of american prog - this album

[@cesarincamendozaloyola4407]

I concur.

[@jamescross1903]

@@cesarincamendozaloyola4407 Me too

[@orestohluk154]

brilliant work !!! thanks , O

[@civilian8697]

😎

[@pasthomas]

one of the best unknown prog bands in history along with yezda urfa, both american of course!

[@andxmenx]

I have been listening to yezda urfa ... Thanks !!!

[@originaluddite]

I was surprised to read they were American, assuming most of such music was British. This has a feel all its own, warmer and more cinematic than a lot of other progressive albums.

[@Claytone-Records]

originaluddite, See Starcastle.

[@Darrylizer1]

Never heard of Yezda Urfa, I'll check them out.

[@runkrunkus2315]

This music is beyond most people. Even accomplished musicians. Melodies and harmonies and key changes, chord changes, rhythm changes and playful antics only heard in the heavenly realm. For advanced music lovers only. Kit and Stanley channeling God, is the closest I can come to describing it's glory.

[@stevenapolitano7829]

This is timeless insane thanks for posting.

[@manelmontalbanquesada9213]

Amazing album. Thanks for your wonderfull work Prog Line.

[@KB-P]

Amazin' album.!!! Thank u!!!

[@davidkolbek4904]

thank you for posting this one!

[@marksykes8722]

One of my favorites!

[@workablob]

Brilliant! Thank you :)

[@danielknight7831]

I used to listen to this back in the 70's and thought it was great then and I just rediscovered it and wow it still great music , it sounds to me like a little of Pink Floyd, and Genesis,

[@ozriccc2448]

"steaming pipes" blows my mind, seriously

[@rickmartin5132]

What!...another brilliant masterpiece! Inspired music, thanks Prog Line.

[@brenttrafalgar7273]

One of my childhood loves. Played the grooves off of this one - as well as their first.

[@alancarriaga3739]

This Is one of the best modern rock albums ever made ! Hands down. This is required listening for my drum students.!

[@lordflyerofdragonsruston5097]

Man I’ve been lost for years I’m 60 now I never heard this and I always thought I was not main stream but lately all the 70s and shit stuff is kicking my ass because I never even knew half the stuff I know now from KZbin and all you people posting great shit Keep sharing and posting making many many people happy thanks all

[@JohnLRice]

Make sure to check out their first album as well! And here's a few others to check out, old and new, you may be aware of many of them. I'll post one cut per each (although the KZbin quality doesn't do them justice): kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppTbamt3ermLh7M kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4mQaJqNjKaLhJI kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5qYk6ysh9R6m5o kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5jRdKWaicemf8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zl6oonSud6-IoK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKmZc4mlg7tkldU kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYXHYZ6Ji72if5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnqacneMg9SEsK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnPEqIWJqst3orc kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJWrZqxmd7qLkJY kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqinZndnab-Nq9U

[@junkiecosmonaut5050]

Crafty Hands, in my opinion was their finest work!

[@roberts6099]

Check out Happy the Man 3rd "Better Late..."

[@cattybound2011]

I absolutely agree with you