Happy Birthday (Altered Images album)

Happy Birthday
Studio album by Altered Images
Released	September 1981
Recorded	Rockfield Studios, Wales (except "Happy Birthday" recorded at Genetic Sound, Berkshire)
Genre	Rock, new wave
Length	38:45
Label	Portrait Records (USA, original release)Epic Records (UK, original release) Edsel Records (2004 CD reissue)
Producer	Steve Severin (except "Happy Birthday" produced by Martin Rushent)
Altered Images chronology
Happy Birthday (1981) Pinky Blue (1982)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Smash Hits	[1]
Allmusic	[2]

Happy Birthday is the debut album by the British new wave band Altered Images. Released in 1981, the album's title track, "Happy Birthday", became the band's biggest hit, peaking at number 2 in the UK in October of that year.^[3]

The album reached number 26 in the UK Album Chart^[3] and was certified Silver by the BPI for sales in excess of 60,000 copies.^[4]

Originally released on vinyl album and cassette in 1981, the album was reissued on CD in 2004 by Edsel Records. Entitled Happy Birthday...Plus, it contained the original album along with six bonus tracks including the band's first single "Dead Pop Stars" which had peaked at number 67 earlier in 1981^[3] but was not included on the original album.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Intro: Happy Birthday" – 0:44
2. "Love and Kisses" – 2:18
3. "Real Toys" – 3:23
4. "Idols" – 2:27
5. "Legionaire" – 3:30
6. "Faithless" – 3:49
7. "Beckoning Strings" – 3:05

Side Two

1. "Happy Birthday" – 3:00
2. "Midnight" – 3:39
3. "A Days Wait" – 4:20
4. "Leave Me Alone" – 4:08
5. "Insects" – 3:28
6. "Outro: Happy Birthday" – 0:44

Bonus tracks on Happy Birthday...Plus CD

1. "Dead Pop Stars" – 3:17
2. "Sentimental" – 3:24
3. "Who Cares?" – 3:00
4. "Happy Birthday" (Dance Mix) – 7:03
5. "So We Go Whispering" – 3:47
6. "Jeepster" – 2:29

Personnel

• Clare Grogan - vocals
• Michael "Tich" Anderson - drums
• Tony McDaid - guitar
• Johnny McElhone - bass
• Gerard "Caesar" McNulty - guitar on "A Days Wait"

References

1. Cranna, Ian (17 Sep 1981). "Album Reviews: Altered Images – Happy Birthday". Smash Hits. London, England: EMAP. p. 29.
2. Allmusic review
3. Charts Stats UK (Altered Images)
4. BPI Certifications Database