Harmonyguy’s Weblog

It was a good day today, despite someone pointing out that my last post used the word “palate” in the title (a song of food word) when I shoulda used “palette” (a song of color word).  Oh well–the meetings were brief, rush hour traffic was light, and my youngest daughter was in a good mood.  And I had Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens on the CD player.  So I think it’s time for a list of top ten happy albums.

1. Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens-The Lion of Soweto  Gravel-voiced Mahlathini (called “The Howlin’ Wolf of South Africa”) is perfectly balanced by the three-part female vocal group The Mahotella Queens.  All of their songs on all of their records were upbeat, major-key love-fests.  And since they aren’t singing in English, there are no unpleasant lyrics.  They could be singing about migraines, famine, or Republican think tanks and you’d still be bouncing right along.
2. Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys-The Tiffany Transcriptions  These radio broadcasts, in several volumes, are full of fun interplay, great solos, & Bob’s nutty asides.  How could you not be happy listening to this stuff?
3. Nino Rota-Amarcord soundtrack  Nino Rota’s Fellini soundtracks are always playful and mysterious.  Some are more playful, including Amarcord, which delights with electric piano frenzies and sunny accordions.
4. Jonathan Richman-Rock & Roll with the Modern Lovers  Jonathan Richman plays the naive, curious boy rocker.  Whether or not it’s genuine, he and the band (whose members provide little playground echo parts throughout) create a funhouse of tunes on this album, a family fave for decades. 
5. The Wild Tchoupitoulas  I think this great studio collision came about because the Nevilles are related to one of the New Orleans Indians.  The street paraders meet the ultimate funksters and the fun ensues.  Happy!
6. This is Fats Domino  Fats Domino is the emissary of good cheer.  His fifties and early sixties records are non-stop joy.
7. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass-Whipped Cream & Other Delights  When I hear this record, I think of game shows.  “Whipped Cream” was indeed the theme for The Dating Game.  But all of the songs sound like game show music.  And that’s pretty happy, right?  Genial hosts, pumped-up contestants, fabulous prizes, beauty contest runners-up showing the fabulous prizes.  Woo-hoo!
8. An Evening with Wild Man Fischer  Side two, just Wild Man, solo, expressing himself.  Pure nutty fun!
9. Motown’s Greatest Hits  The happy, happy, joy, joy factor here is obvious and unbeatable.
10. The Beatles-Meet the Beatles  Is it that this record is really so happy or is it just that I was such a giddy eleven-year-old when I brought this home and played it till the grooves were gone?