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 Records
Songwriter(s)Robert Palmer
Producer(s)Teo Macero, Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Dreams to Remember"
(1991)		 "Happiness"
(1991)		 "Every Kinda People (remix)"
(1992)

Released as the final single from the 1990 Don't Explain album, the song saw limited commercial success, reaching No. 62 in Germany.[4] The song's lyrics speak the message of taking chances in life and taking a chance on happiness.

Release

The single was released on 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl and CD in various European counties, including the UK. The single's B-side was a non-album track "All Shook Up", a cover of the 1957 Elvis Presley song.[5] On the 12" vinyl and CD editions, a "12" Remix" of "Happiness" was featured, 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]

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'."[10] 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', the joyous 'Housework' and the atmospheric 'Aeroplane'."[11]

Track listing
7" Single
  1. "Happiness" - 2:51
  2. "All Shook Up" - 2:46
12" 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

Chart performance
Chart (1991) Peak
position
German Singles Chart[4] 62

Personnel
  • Robert Palmer - lead vocals, 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

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 Magazine. April 27, 1991.
  9. Stanton, Peter (6 April 1991). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  10. "Heavy Nova/Don't Explain - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  11. "Best of Both Worlds? Robert Palmer EMI-era combo sets miss the mark". superdeluxeedition. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
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