Happy Ending (Joe Jackson song)

"Happy Ending" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was recorded as a duet with Elaine Caswell and released in April 1984 as the second single from Jackson's sixth studio album Body and Soul. The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum.[3] "Happy Ending" reached No. 58 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[4][5]

"Happy Ending"
Single by Joe Jackson
from the album Body and Soul
B-side"Loisaida"
Released20 April 1984[1]
RecordedJanuary 1984
StudioMasonic Hall (Manhattan)[2]
GenrePop
Length3:39
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Joe Jackson
Producer(s)Joe Jackson
David Kershenbaum
Joe Jackson singles chronology
"You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)"
(1984)		 "Happy Ending"
(1984)		 "Be My Number Two"
(1984)

Background

In a 1984 interview, Jackson discussed the song's sound and lyrical message,

"I always liked the idea of doing a duet, I always liked the idea of two voices trading off against each other. I had the idea that if I did [a duet], it should be a classic sounding sort of song, it should sound like a '60s kind of pop, boy-and-girl duet, but from an '80s perspective, and I think that's what this song is. On the face of it, it sounds like a bright, cheerful pop song about 'oh yeah, we're in love' and all that sort of thing, but in actual fact there's a lot of cynicism and disillusionment in it. It compares the relationship to like being in a movie. It's kind of like saying, 'well you know movies don't have happy endings anymore, people are suspicious of a movie that has a happy ending'. People seem to feel the same way about relationships and that's kind of what the song is about, and I tried to make it seem more sort of poignant by having it sung as a boy and girl duet."[6]

Critical reception

On its release, Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 7.5 out of 10 rating and commented, "Attractive male/female vocal sparring in a catch song, even if they do seem in a hurry to see the end of it."[7]

Billboard described "Happy Ending" as "uptempo pop" that was in "middle ground between the spontaneous-sounding R&B of "You Can't Get What You Want" and the precise craftsmanship of Jackson's Night and Day hits."[8] David Okamoto of The Tampa Tribune felt the song deserved to be a hit and described it as "wonderfully empty-headed boy-meets-girl love song in the '60s tradition".[9]

In a review of Body and Soul, Steve Pond of the Los Angeles Times noted the song "rolls along at an infectious pace while tossing out echoes of the Ronettes along the way".[10] Eleni P. Austin of The Desert Sun praised the song's "killer tenor sax solo" that "blends into a complete brass blast". She also added, "Caswell's voice is somewhat similar to Ronnie Spector's and it lends itself quite nicely to Jackson's breathy vocals".[11]

Track listing
7" single
  1. "Happy Ending" - 3:39
  2. "Loisaida" - 5:33
7" single (US promo)
  1. "Happy Ending" - 3:39
  2. "Happy Ending" - 3:39
12" single (UK release)
  1. "Happy Ending" - 3:39
  2. "Loisaida" - 5:33

Personnel

Happy Ending

  • Joe Jackson - vocals, alto saxophone
  • Elaine Caswell - vocals
  • Vinnie Zummo - guitar
  • Ed Roynesdal - piano
  • Tony Aiello - tenor saxophone
  • Mike Morreale - trumpet
  • Graham Maby - bass
  • Gary Burke - drums

Loisaida

  • Joe Jackson - piano
  • Ed Roynesdal - synthesisers
  • Vinnie Zummo - guitar
  • Tony Aiello - alto saxophone
  • Mike Morreale - flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Graham Maby - bass
  • Gary Burke - drums

Production

Other

  • Melanie Nissen - cover design
  • Charles Reilly - photography

Charts
Chart (1984) Peak
position
Australia Kent Music Report[12] 47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 40
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 34
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 19
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 58
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 57
US Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles[18] 61

References
  1. "Joe Jackson – Happy Ending". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. David Kershenbaum (February 1984). Body and Soul (Liner notes). A&M Records. A&M CD5000.
  3. "Body and Soul - Joe Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. "JOE JACKSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. "Joe Jackson". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. Joe, Jackson (1984). Joe Jackson - Interview March 1984 (vinyl LP). Joe Jackson. UK: A&M Records. SAMP 22.
  7. Edmonds, Frank (27 April 1984). "Soundscene". Bury Free Press. p. 10.
  8. "Singles Reviews". Billboard. 14 July 1984. p. 60.
  9. Okamoto, David (23 July 1984). "Hot Stuff". The Tampa Tribune. p. 2D.
  10. Pond, Steve (15 April 1984). "The Record Rack - Joe Jackson: Pushing too hard". The Los Angeles Times. p. 69.
  11. Austin, Eleni P. (28 April 1984). "Jackson's 'Body and Soul' has too many influences". The Desert Sun. p. G12.
  12. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 151. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. "Joe Jackson – Happy Ending" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Joe Jackson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  15. "Joe Jackson – Happy Ending" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  16. "Joe Jackson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  17. "Joe Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  18. Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 170. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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