The Happiest Place in Town (album)

Background

Do-Ré-Mi had formed in Sydney in 1981 when Deborah Conway (lead vocals) and Dorland Bray (drums, percussion, backing vocals), both previously in Melbourne-based group The Benders, joined Helen Carter (bass, backing vocals) ex-Friction. Stephen Philip (guitar), ex-Thought Criminals, was initially a studio musician for their debut EP, Do-Ré-Mi released in August 1982 and was asked to join formally. They returned to the studio almost immediately and recorded The Waiting Room EP which was released in September 1982. Their debut LP Domestic Harmony was released by Virgin Records in 1985. The Happiest Place in Town was recorded in early 1988 but the album and three singles, "King of Moomba", "The Happiest Place in Town" and "Haunt You" had little chart success. Do-Ré-Mi returned to UK to commence recording their next album. Whilst in UK, Virgin Records offered Conway a solo deal, before continuing with the third album. However Do-Ré-Mi disbanded not long after The Happiest Place in Town was released and the third album was never finished. After the break-up, Conway eventually went solo and had success with her debut album String of Pearls in 1991, its associated single "It's Only the Beginning" peaked at #19; Bray joined Richard Grossman of Hoodoo Gurus and Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil in their side project Ghostwriters for their debut self-titled album; Carter and Philip formed the band Lupi.

Track listing

All tracks were written by Deborah Conway, Dorland Bray, Helen Carter and Stephen Philip, except where indicated.

1. "Haunt You"
2. "King of Moomba"
3. "Adultery" (Bray, Carter, Philip)
4. "Valentine's Day"
5. "Take Me Anywhere" (Bray, Carter, Philip)
6. "Heads Will Roll"
7. "Disneyland"
8. "Wild and Blue" (Conway, Carter, Philip)
9. "Desert Song"
10. "Friends Like You" (Bray, Carter, Philip)
11. "That Hanging Business" (Bray, Carter, Philip)
12. "The Happiest Place in Town" (Philip, Bray)

Personnel

Do-Ré-Mi members

Additional musicians

Recording details