Happiness (Robert Palmer song)

"Happiness" is a song by the English vocalist Robert Palmer, which was released in 1991 as the fifth and final single from his tenth studio album Don't Explain.[2] The song was written by Palmer, and produced by Teo Macero and Palmer.[3]

"Happiness"
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Don't Explain
B-side"All Shook Up"
Released2 April 1991[1]
Genre
Length2:51
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer
Producer(s)
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Dreams to Remember"
(1991)		 "Happiness"
(1991)		 "Every Kinda People (remix)"
(1992)

As the final single from Don't Explain, "Happiness" saw limited commercial success, failing to chart in the UK and peaking at number 62 in Germany.[4]

Release

"Happiness" was released on 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl and CD in the UK and various European counties. The B-side is a cover of the 1957 Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up".[5] For the 12-inch and CD formats, a "12" Remix" of "Happiness" was included, remixed by Carl McKintosh.[6][7]

Critical reception

On its release, Music & Media wrote, "When it comes to careless swing, Palmer is the absolute lord and master. This follow-up to 'Mercy, Mercy' offers a respite from the rat race of EHR."[8] Peter Stanton of Record Mirror concluded, "Mr Palmer has done better in his illustrious career, but he's at the stage now where if he just belched on a record, that would probably get into the top 20."[9] Jon Wilde of Melody Maker was critical of the song, describing it as "a fidgety piece of soft-headed funk that ambles aimlessly all over the knocking shop like an inebriated trollop with obligatory wart on nose".[10]

Accrington Observer gave a three out of five star rating and wrote, "Change of direction, with a pop song that's got an almost calypso feel to it. Should be a hit."[11] Penny Kiley of the Liverpool Echo described the song as "catchy" and noted the "brash brassy arrangement", "laid-back vocals" and "nice, optimistic words". She added that Palmer's version of "All Shook Up" was "distinctive".[12]

In a retrospective review of Don't Explain, Terry Staunton of Record Collector felt that both "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" and "Mercy Mercy Me" were "both pedestrian compared to the thrust and swagger of originals 'Mess Around' and 'Happiness'."[13] Paul Sinclair of Super Deluxe Edition said, "You do have to forgive Palmer some charmless excursions into heavy-ish rock. Much better are tracks like the poppy 'Happiness'."[14]

Track listing

7-inch single

  1. "Happiness" - 2:51
  2. "All Shook Up" - 2:46

12-inch single

  1. "Happiness (12" Remix)" - 5:22
  2. "All Shook Up" - 2:46
  3. "Happiness (7" Version)" - 2:51

CD single

  1. "Happiness (7" Version)" - 2:52
  2. "Happiness (12" Remix)" - 5:20
  3. "All Shook Up" - 2:47

Personnel

Production

  • Robert Palmer - producer
  • Teo Macero - producer of "Happiness"
  • Eric "E.T." Thorngren - mixing on "Happiness"
  • Carl McKintosh - remixer of "Happiness (Extended Remix)"
  • David Harper - executive producer
  • Timothy Greenfield Saunders - photography
  • Bill Smith Studio - design

Charts
Chart (1991) Peak
position
German Singles Chart[4] 62
UK Playlist Chart (Music Week)[15] 19

References
  1. "Index: Releases". Record Mirror. 6 April 1991. p. 9.
  2. "Robert Palmer - Don't Explain at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  3. "Robert Palmer - Happiness / All Shook Up - EMI - UK - EM 186". 45cat. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  4. "charts.de". charts.de. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  5. "Robert Palmer - Happiness (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  6. "Robert Palmer - Happiness (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  7. "Robert Palmer - Happiness (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  8. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. April 27, 1991.
  9. Stanton, Peter (6 April 1991). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  10. Wilde, Jon (20 April 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 35.
  11. JC (12 April 1991). "Discs: Singles... singles... singles". Accrington Observer. p. 16.
  12. Kiley, Penny (1 April 1991). "New singles". Liverpool Echo. p. 11.
  13. "Heavy Nova/Don't Explain - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  14. "Best of Both Worlds? Robert Palmer EMI-era combo sets miss the mark". superdeluxeedition. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  15. "Playlist Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 27 April 1991. p. 18. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via World Radio History.
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