The Happy Dragon – Band: “The Happy Dragon – Band” (1978/2023) Vinyl Review

Often my choices on Record Store Day are albums that I already love, ones that I owned on cassette or CD and am now excited to have on vinyl, perhaps with bonus tracks, as was the case with last year’s release of The Jim Carroll Band’s Catholic Boy. Sometimes they are albums that I missed when they were initially released on CD, such as Jerry Garcia Band’s How Sweet It Is. But every once in a while there is an album that I had heard little or nothing about before it showed up on the Record Store Day list, and something about the title catches my attention. Such is the case with the self-titled album from The Happy Dragon – Band, which was originally released in 1978, and has finally gotten a re-issue, complete with bonus tracks. Apparently, the original pressing was limited to only two hundred copies, and the album did not receive much airplay. I don’t recall hearing it at all in Massachusetts, though I was pretty young when it came out. But it is just the sort of thing that someone somewhere along the way would have recommended to me had anyone I’d known ever heard it. It is the project of Tommy Court, who wrote all the album’s material, and the music combines a lot of different genres, mixing them in a great electronic cauldron and serving them to whoever might be listening. This re-issue is presented on yellow vinyl and contains new liner notes.

Side One

The album opens with “3-D, Free,” and right away a strange atmosphere is created, with a somewhat haunted vibe. There are hints of reggae in the rhythm, but the odd force in control will not let it go too far in that direction. It demands attention, not wanting the audience to lose itself in dancing or anything. “I saw police shooting rats/There was something about all this broken glass/A new generation of life/It was our time to strike.” Then we’re dropped into a more electronic realm with “Positive People.” A strong electronic pulse seems to push this song into existence. But once established, it allows more natural sounds to emerge, so long as they play within this world. And the line “Always happy, always happy, always happy” is sung like a curse or an insult, with disdain. Ah, who believes it? Not in this darkness, with loose wires and limbs hanging above our heads.

Things slow down with “In Flight,” which also makes use of an electronic atmosphere, and an eerie one at that, though also gentle. And as the track continues, our brains adjust to the pace, to the rhythm, like our thoughts are merging with the music. “We made our destination/In what earthlings would feel would be just overnight, overnight.” Then when the guitar is heard at the beginning of “A Long Time,” there is a moment when we are tricked into thinking this could be a more standard rock song. But do not fear, that doesn’t happen. Sure, there is something of a raw garage rock song somewhere in its genetic makeup, but it exists in a world run by tortured computers with a longing to return to a different realm entirely.

On the original record, “Bowling Pin Intro” concluded the first side. It eases in, and takes us within the guts and tubes and wires of some electronic wizard, some conscious computer. And we are deposited in some large room deep inside, with other consumed elements splashing up against the walls, and no discernible exit. Are we feeding this project? Have we been fed to it? The final track on the first side was the first track on the second side of the original release. Titled “Lyrics Of Love,” it has a shockingly more mainstream feel, mixing in some folk elements and a sweet glam vibe. “Lyrics of love/I write for you/You’re my baby/Yes, I mean you.”

Side Two

The second side of the record opens with “Disco American,” a strange song that seems to come from a dark church built to combat disco or praise it from a position far above or below. And when it kicks in, there is something of a David Bowie influence heard. This is a cool track. It seems that this one could have received some airplay, particularly from stations that were playing glam rock. It has a good beat and features some pretty exciting vocal work. That’s followed by “Inside The Pyramid.” A dance beat emerges from the chaos, with a strong bass pulse. Hey, there is a bit of disco to this one, right? If disco had been allowed to get raw, to tear itself open with claws and lasers, and move more like a large beast shaking its blood and hair and other elements over the floor. This is an instrumental track.

“Astro Phunk” eases in, like from the mists, and soon develops a groove. “Come away with me, my dear/ Because I love you/Yes, I do.” Wait, this is a love song? It is surprising when this album touches upon normal subjects and emotions and preoccupations. We’re not sure how to take it when that happens. But this song also has a good, solid groove, and guitars that wail in understandable and expected ways. We are more firmly placed back in the electronic realm in “3-D, Free (Electronic),” which was the final track on the original release. One last wild flight into the synthetic heart of the universe. And then, interestingly, toward the end of the track, the vocals and acoustic guitar suddenly take the place of the electronic romp. These are the lyrics we heard on the record’s first track, but they seem to have a different vibe this time. The track ends with the words, “Happy future.”

There are two bonus tracks, which were not included on the original release. The first is “Re-Re Love,” a somewhat slow number, with just a bit of reggae in its makeup, and with an odd kind of howling. It feels like several songs were stripped of their elements, and some of those elements were gathered from the laboratory floor and pressed together by a madman who might very well be trying to impress his love. And if so, it’s probably working. The second bonus track is “Fanty,” also a slow number, with a deliberate, heavy step as it begins. But some light soon shines in, in the form of a catchy electronic theme. A goddess entering our dark dream and turning it into fantasy. Yes, there is something beautiful about this track.

Record Track List

Side One

1. 3-D, Free
2. Positive People
3. In Flight
4. A Long Time
5. Bowling Pin Intro
6. Lyrics Of Love

Side Two

1. Disco American
2. Inside The Pyramid
3. Astro Phunk
4. 3-D, Free (Electronic)
5. Re-Re Love
6. Fanty

This expanded re-issue of The Happy Dragon – Band was released on April 22, 2023 through Org Music. It is limited to 1,000 copies.