Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Happy Planet (Wall of Voodoo)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
1987

Artist
  
Wall Of Voodoo

Producer
  
Richard Mazda

Genre
  
New wave

Length
  
41:00

Release date
  
1987

Label
  
I.R.S. Records

Happy Planet (Wall of Voodoo) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaen004Hap

Happy Planet (1987)
  
The Ugly Americans in Australia (1989)

Similar
  
The Ugly Americans in Australia, Seven Days in Sammystown, Dark Continent, The Index Masters, Call of the West

Wall of voodoo do it again jj penya


Happy Planet is the fourth studio album by the American new wave band Wall of Voodoo, released in 1987. It marked a return of Call of the West producer Richard Mazda.

Contents

Although not as successful as Call of the West, Happy Planet did produce a minor hit with a cover of The Beach Boys' "Do It Again". The album, recorded at Hit City West, reached #83 on the Australian charts.

Brian Wilson connections

The video to promote "Do It Again" features The Beach Boys leader/main songwriter/bass guitarist Brian Wilson as an orderly in a psychiatric hospital who falls asleep and wakes up to the members of Wall of Voodoo dressed as members of the Mafia. Wilson, in real life, has been to psychiatric hospitals at least three times. The front sleeve of the single to "Do It Again" also features photos of the band with Wilson.

Wilson is referenced in the lyrics to "Chains of Luck". The lines "Brian Wilson chants his mantra, 'Da doo ron ron, da doo ron ron', is a reference to Wilson's obsession with Phil Spector's productions, and to the Spector-produced and co-written song titled "Da Doo Ron Ron". Wilson performed the song live at various benefit concerts in the 1980s. The lyrics "My body lying down in my bed, I need some real big hands, to ease this busted head" is a reference to Wilson becoming a drug-addict, weighing up to 340 lbs, and staying mostly in his bed for two years from 1973 until 1975, except when he needed to purchase drugs (speed, cocaine and heroin) or partied with Three Dog Night singer Danny Hutton.

Track listing

  1. "Do It Again"– 3:18 (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
  2. "Hollywood The Second Time" (Andy Prieboy) – 4:06
  3. "Empty Room" (Bruce Moreland) – 3:53
  4. "Chains Of Luck" (Charles Gray, Ned Leukhardt, Prieboy) – 3:55
  5. "Back In The Laundromat" (Prieboy) – 3:20
  6. "When The Lights Go Out" (Marc Moreland, Prieboy) – 3:19
  7. "Country Of Man" (M. Moreland) – 3:29
  8. "Joanne" (Prieboy) – 3:40
  9. "Elvis Bought Dora A Cadillac" (M. Moreland, Prieboy) – 3:42
  10. "The Grass Is Greener" (Gray. Leukhardt, B. and M. Moreland, Prieboy) – 3:40
  11. "Ain't My Day" (M. Moreland) – 4:38

The album was remastered and re-released as part of a double CD set with Seven Days in Sammystown and The Ugly Americans in Australia, by Australian reissue label Raven Records in 2012.

Personnel

  • Andy Prieboy – vocals
  • Marc Moreland – guitar
  • Bruce Moreland – bass guitar
  • Chas T. Gray – synthesizer
  • Ned Leukhardt – drums
  • Songs

    1Do It Again3:21
    2Hollywood the Second Time4:09
    3Empty Room3:56

    References

    Happy Planet (Wall of Voodoo) Wikipedia