Death's Crown

Artist: Happy the Man
Label: Cuneiform
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 045775501529
EAN: 0045775501529
ASIN: B00000I03N

Release Date: 1999-01-18

Death's Crown

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Tracks:

Deaths Crown: Part One
Deaths Crown: Part Two
Deaths Crown: Part Three
Deaths Crown: Part Four
Deaths Crown: Part Five
Deaths Crown: Part Six
Deaths Crown: Part Seven
Deaths Crown: Part Eight
Deaths Crown: Part Nine
Deaths Crown: Part Ten
Deaths Crown: Part Eleven
New York Dreams Suite
Merlin Of The High Places

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Customer Reviews:

Excellent 1970s American progressive rock.......2006-08-20

This is a great album of American progressive rock recorded live in the band rehearsal room in 1974 (Deaths Crown suite) and 1976 (New York Dream's Suite and Merlin of the High Places). I guess it is no surprise that this band hailed from the mid-Atlantic region (Virginia), which was one geographic area in America where prog had a large fan base in the 1970s (along with the Northeast and the Midwest). Although prog bands did emerge from other parts of the country, they were the exception and not the rule.

The lineup at this point included Dan Owen (lead vocals, classical guitar, percussion, and additional bass on New York Dreams Suite); Frank Wyatt (electric piano, vocals); Kit Watkins (Hammond organ, mini-moog, ARP String Ensemble, clavinet, flute, recorder, and sound effects); Stanley Whitaker (guitar, recorder); Rick Kennell (bass); and Mike Beck (drums, percussion). All of the musicians are quite good and it is clear that they were serious about recording each piece (even though it was a rehearsal) because there is not a single botched note. Nice work by all of the band members overall with great ensemble work. The vocals are absolutely excellent.

The three tracks on the album range from the massive eleven-part, 38'00 Death's Crown suite to two shorter pieces including the 8'45 New York Dream's Suite and the 7'10" Merlin of the High Places. The Death's Crown suite alternates smoothly flowing and dreamy synth-heavy instrumental sections with fuller passages that feature the whole band and vocals. Although there are moments that remind me of a few extremely popular British prog bands (Genesis comes to mind), there is little here that sounds like any band around at the time and the piece is somewhat original sounding. While some might argue that the Death's Crown suite might have been better if it had been edited down to 16 minutes or so, I feel that the whole 38 minute piece works pretty well. The two shorter tracks are different and feature much more energetic instrumental work than the comparatively subdued Death's Crown suite. Furthermore, the arrangements are denser and much more emphasis is placed on counterpoint - the ensemble work on New York Dreams Suite is especially intricate. The use of melodies and harmonies is also very nice too and are liberally splashed across the entire album.

Much to my delight, there is not a single shred of boogie, hard rock, or blues on this album and the influences stem largely from European classical. All in all, I would have to say that this is one of the finest albums of American prog out there.

With respect to sound quality, it is extremely good given the circumstances. Cuneiform Records did a nice job with this release.

This was purely an impulse purchase that I made not long after seeing the band at the 2nd NEARFEST (in 2000), and was worth every penny. For those of you that are interested, the album Proto-Kaw: Early Recordings from Kansas 1971-1973 might also prove enjoyable. The Proto-Kaw album is also interesting in that there are no traces whatsoever of boogie, hard rock, or blues.

A rarity among rarities..........2006-07-25

This is a real find for musical archeologists! Progressive rock music is rare enough, Happy The Man is not a well known band, even in progressive circles, and that is a real shame. But this recording of 1974 and 1976 studio performances takes the crown - finding this in a used record store is equivalent to finding Shakespeare's the 1st folio in a used book shop. Imagine my astonishment when I found a used copy for 12.50!

The disclaimer in the booklet said that the music was not recorded under perfect conditions, but it sounds great to my ears - it is some the most sophisticated and complex I've ever heard, and yet it is so listenable and likeable that I had a had a hard time pulling it off my CD player. The long suite is one of the best among its peers, and the two complimentary tracks are amazingly subtle and supple - unmatched musicianship and composition.

ONE OF THE BEST U.S. PROG BANDS.......2005-04-28

ALONG WITH KANSAS THESE GUYS WERE GREAT AMERICAN PROGGERS OF THE 70S. IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS DID NOT GET A MAJOR RELEASE. DAN OWEN IS GREAT ON VOCALS AND SUGGESTS THAT HTM CAN BE GREAT WITH VOCALS AS WELL. GREAT CONCEPT WORK- 38 MIN. DEATH'S CROWN IS SO GREAT IT BRINGS TO MIND THE ESSENTIAL LONG PIECES OF THE TIME SUCH AS SUPPER'S READY, AWAKEN AND HYMM TO THE ATTMAN. AND TO TOP IT OFF THE LAST TWO PIECES ON THIS THREE SONG ALBUM ARE FANTASTIC AS WELL. MERLIN OF THE HIGH PLACES IS A BEAUTIFUL COMPOSITION. NEW YORK DREAM'S SUITE IS WONDERFULLY CHAOTIC. AN ESSENTIAL BUY FOR SERIOUS PROG FANS. THE PEBOZOS OF THE WORLD WILL BUY TOOL AND DISTURBED AND CALL THEM PROG...SICK. THEY SHOULD BE CHECKING THIS OUT.

Very Good for History.......2003-01-31

Happy The Man is one of the last American 1970's art rock groups. kit Watkins is an amazing player. This recording features a vocalist that is much better than any of the singers occurring on later LP's. I am impressed with this record, being that it can from mid seventies technology and done out of the home. David Rosenthal (Rainbow, Steve Vai) has a lot to do with getting this record released and I am glad he did. You can hear some new sounds and many familiar HTM chord progressions. Great spin!

Timeless composition and performance.......2001-10-03

Death's Crown might have been classified as an operatic symphony in centuries past. The visionary compositional thought and crafting exceeds the imagination at times. Solos by Kit Watkins, and Stanley Whittaker are alternatingly haunting, hypnotic, bursting with emotion, dazzling in discharge, and continue to bear new fruit with successive visits.

The careful execution of the nuances of dynamics, emotive strains, and instrumental virtuosity almost leave one wondering if the group members are actually bound by the constraints of human form. If I hadn't seen them live in the 70's, I would hesitate to say one way or the other. In this release, Happy the Man continues to provides the yardstick by which all other progressive music can be measured. This is what Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, and Tangerine Dream were reaching for.

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