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Happy Planet (album)

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Happy Planet is a 1987 album by the American New Wave band Wall of Voodoo. This is their second release featuring vocalist Andy Prieboy, who replaced Stan Ridgway and it marked a return of Call of the West producer Richard Mazda.

Although not as successful as Call of the West, Happy Planet did produce a minor hit with the 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 song writer / bassist 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.[1] Brian Wilson, in real life, has been to psychiactric hospitals at least three times. [2] The front sleeve of the single to "Do It Again" also features photos of the band with Wilson.

Brian Wilson's fabulous career, rough life, and nervous breakdowns are 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, which is a Spector produced and co-written song titled Da Doo Ron Ron. Brian Wilson performed the song live at various benefit concerts in the 1980's. The Beach Boys also recorded a version of the song, albeit unreleased. "Chains Of Luck" also mentions "What'll we do with a drunken sailor, what'll we do with a drunk?" which is a reference to The Beach Boy's hit song "Sloop John B". And 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-addicted recluse, 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.[3]

Track listing

All songs composed by Wall of Voodoo.

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

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Wall of Voodoo video clip featuring Brian Wilson
  2. ^ Wilson, Brian (with Todd Gold), Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story
  3. ^ Wilson, Brian (with Todd Gold), Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story
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