Based on Happy Times
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   Link |
| Rolling Stone |  June 15, 1989 |
Based on Happy Times is Tommy Keene's third album, his second for major label Geffen Records. It was released in 1989 (catalog #9 24221-2) and was his first album available on CD (it was also released on LP and cassette).
Track listing
All songs written by Tommy Keene, except where noted
- "Nothing Can Change You" – 3:19
- "Light of Love" – 3:00
- "This Could Be Fiction" – 3:24
- "Based on Happy Times" – 3:47
- "When Our Vows Break" – 3:20 (Keene, Jules Shear)
- "The Biggest Conflict" – 3:42
- "Highwire Days" – 3:37
- "Our Car Club" – 3:22 (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
- Cover of the original recording by The Beach Boys, 1963
- "If We Run Away" – 4:06 (Keene, Shear)
- "Hanging on to Yesterday" – 3:53
- "Where Have All Your Friends Gone" – 2:25
- "Pictures" – 3:34
- "A Way Out" – 4:09
Personnel
The band
- Tommy Keene — Vocals; lead, rhythm, and slide guitar; strings; keyboards
- Joe Hardy — Bass guitar, organ ("Nothing Can Change You"), strings ("Based on Happy Times"), Scale Police ("The Biggest Conflict")
- John Hampton — Drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Jules Shear — Harmony vocals ("Nothing Can Change You", "When Our Vows Break")
- Jack Holder — Guitar ("When Our Vows Break", "The Biggest Conflict", "Highwire Days", "If We Run Away"), guitar fills ("Light of Love")
- Peter Buck — Guitar ("Our Car Club"), mandolin ("A Way Out")
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor — Harmonica ("Our Car Club")
- Jeff Jurciukonis — Cello ("A Way Out")
Production
- Joe Hardy — Producer, engineer
- John Hampton — Producer, engineer
- Tommy Keene — Producer
- George Marino — Mastering
- Barry Diament — CD mastering
Additional credits
- Digitally recorded and mixed at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
- Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
- CD mastering at Barry Diament Audio, New York City
- Rocky Schenck — Photography
- Maria Sarno — Stylist
- Ph.D — Art direction and design
- Tom Zutaut (Rock Radio Hall of Fame 2014 inductee) — A&R coordination
- Linda Clark & Associates — Management
- "Thanks to: Bobby Keene; Bob and Dorothy Keene; David Geffen, Ed Rosenblatt, Tom Zutaut, John Kalodner, Marko Babineau, and everyone at Geffen Records; Linda Clark; Rick Bates; Rocky Schenck; Michael Hodgson; James Cromwell; Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman; Jerry Phillips; Frank Riley; Pat Magnarella; Julie Panebianco; Karen Moss; Jules Shear; Peter Buck; Joanna Sobol; Shirley Jacobson; John Fry; Jody Stephens; Sally Goodwin and everybody at Ardent; Steve Carr; Billy Connelly; Ted Nicely; Doug Tull; Rob Brill; Joey Picuri; John Hansen; John Chumbris; Darren Brown; Caleb Lentzer; Chris Wickam; Rick Semerjian; Stu and New Breed Studios; Teresa Ensenat; Don Dixon; Steve Haigler; Tim Collins and Staff; Dean Jeffrey; Abaad Behram and Razz for "Car Club"; Rusty Olmert; Joey Sansbury; Jack Holder; Bill Wittman; John Agnello; Robin Rapp; Doug Seymore; Clint Carruth; Aimée Tract; and especially Joe and John-forge"