The Happiest Place in Town (song)
| "The Happiest Place in Town" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 7" single cover | ||||
| Single by Do-Ré-Mi | ||||
| from the album The Happiest Place in Town | ||||
| A-side | "Happiest Place in Town" | |||
| B-side | "Take Me Anywhere" | |||
| Released | February 1988 | |||
| Format | 7" vinyl | |||
| Genre | New wave, rock | |||
| Label | Virgin Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Stephen Philip, Dorland Bray | |||
| Producer(s) | Martin Rushent | |||
| Do-Ré-Mi singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"The Happiest Place in Town" is a single by Australian rock/pop group Do-Ré-Mi released by Virgin Records and is the title track from their second albumThe Happiest Place in Town.[1][2] The song was written by, drummer Dorland Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and guitarist Stephen Philip.[3][4] While the B-side "Take Me Anywhere" was written by Bray, bass guitarist Helen Carter and Philip;[3] it is their first single not co-written with lead vocalist Deborah Conway. Do-R´e-Mi's 1985 single "Man Overboard" had been a surprise top 5 hit,[5][6][7][8] but "Happiest Place in Town", from their second album, which was produced by Martin Rushent, had less chart success.[1]
The photograph on the artwork features a shot of an old style pinball parlour with the phrase "the happiest place in town" on the awning. The parlour was located on George Street in Sydney, not far from Broadway.
Background
Do-Ré-Mi had formed in Sydney in 1981 when Deborah Conway (lead vocals) and Dorland Bray (drums, percussion, backing vocals), both previously in Melbourne-based group The Benders, joined Helen Carter (bass, backing vocals) ex-Friction.[4] Stephen Philip (guitar), ex-Thought Criminals, was initially a studio musician for their debut EP, Do-Ré-Mi released in August 1982 and was asked to join formally.[2] They returned to the studio almost immediately and recorded The Waiting Room EP which was released in January 1983. "Man Overboard" was released as a single in June 1985, from Domestic Harmony on Virgin Records, and peaked at #5 on the Australian singles charts.[5] "The Happiest Place in Town", the title track from their second album The Happiest Place in Town, which was produced by Martin Rushent, had less chart success.[1]
Track listing
- "The Happiest Place in Town" (Dorland Bray, Stephen Philip)[3]
- "Take Me Anywhere" (Bray, Helen Carter, Philip)
Personnel
Do-Ré-Mi members
- Dorland Bray — drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Helen Carter — bass guitar, backing vocals
- Deborah Conway — lead vocalist
- Stephen Philip — guitar
Recording details
- Producer — Martin Rushent
References
- 1 2 3 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Do-Ré-Mi'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-768-2. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
- 1 2 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Do-Ré-Mi". HowlSpace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Australasian Performing Right Association". APRA. Retrieved 2008-10-14. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. King of Moomba
- 1 2 Holmgren, Magnus. "Do-Ré-Mi". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- 1 2 Kruger, Debbie (14–20 July 2004). "Once more with feeling". Melbourne Weekly Bayside Magazine. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ↑ "Long Way To The Top article on Helen Carter". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ↑ "Deborah Conway Official Website". Deborah Conway. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ↑ Harris, Anna (30 January 2004). "Deborah Conway - still alive and brilliant". Archived from the original on 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2008-10-14.