Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
It is indeed a rarity when a debut album is able to distil the essence of any artist. However, Victoria Williams is considerably more than just any artist and Happy Come Home is the personification of the word eclectic -- just like Williams herself. She wasn't alone in creating her eponymous masterpiece, either. A cavalcade of pop and rock music's elite congregated with Williams in the celebration of the varied music on the album. The simple folk tales, sage-like observations, and just plain good advice that she writes about are personified by an unbelievably delicious cast of characters both in the studio as well as in between the lines. There is an undeniable strength and maturity in Williams' songwriting. Like few artists or albums, Happy Come Home reveals an artist fully developed with a style and persona that is uniquely American and arguably irresistible. Another musician fitting that description is Van Dyke Parks -- whose contributions to this disc are almost immediately evident. His signature orchestral flourishes are unmistakable throughout the string arrangements for "TC," "Main Road," and the opening cut, "Shoes." Sonically, his pallet blends the humor and whimsy of Mark Twain with the noir romanticism of George Gershwin. These hues ideally suit Williams' folk-tinged songs. In the case of "TC" -- a legitimate pocket symphony -- there are also a few well-placed nods to Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf. The rock & roll pieces -- notably "Animal Wild" and the trippy "Merry Go Round" -- are best described as late-'80s alternative or college rock. A quick rundown of the personnel might best give an idea of the direction Williams found herself and her music in, as it was being somewhat moulded by producer Anton Fier. Among the luminaries are: Syd Straw, Bernie Worrell, T-Bone Burnett, Carla Bley, Peter Blegvad, and Hugh McCracken. Their various -- and unspecified -- contributions are at times typical, but never predictable. It would be futile to attempt a list of all the disparate musical styles that unify Happy Come Home. They range from gospel ("I Will Do His Will") to acoustic folk ("Happy Come Home" and "Lights") and hit upon more subtle influences such as jazz ("Big Fish") and even a sort of bayou travelogue "Opelousas." Concurrent with the release of the album, Williams was the subject of a 28-minute documentary by legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker. The video -- also titled Happy Come Home -- features nine of the 13 tracks from the disc, including a few performed spontaneously for the camera. Originally aired on MTV, it was briefly available on VHS at Williams' live shows.
© Lindsay Planer /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12,49€/month
Van Dyke Parks, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Van Dyke Parks, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist - James Cleveland, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Van Dyke Parks, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Victoria Williams, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steven Soles, Producer - Anton Fier, Producer - "Iron" Mike Krowiak, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steven J. Soles, Producer
℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Albumbeschreibung
It is indeed a rarity when a debut album is able to distil the essence of any artist. However, Victoria Williams is considerably more than just any artist and Happy Come Home is the personification of the word eclectic -- just like Williams herself. She wasn't alone in creating her eponymous masterpiece, either. A cavalcade of pop and rock music's elite congregated with Williams in the celebration of the varied music on the album. The simple folk tales, sage-like observations, and just plain good advice that she writes about are personified by an unbelievably delicious cast of characters both in the studio as well as in between the lines. There is an undeniable strength and maturity in Williams' songwriting. Like few artists or albums, Happy Come Home reveals an artist fully developed with a style and persona that is uniquely American and arguably irresistible. Another musician fitting that description is Van Dyke Parks -- whose contributions to this disc are almost immediately evident. His signature orchestral flourishes are unmistakable throughout the string arrangements for "TC," "Main Road," and the opening cut, "Shoes." Sonically, his pallet blends the humor and whimsy of Mark Twain with the noir romanticism of George Gershwin. These hues ideally suit Williams' folk-tinged songs. In the case of "TC" -- a legitimate pocket symphony -- there are also a few well-placed nods to Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf. The rock & roll pieces -- notably "Animal Wild" and the trippy "Merry Go Round" -- are best described as late-'80s alternative or college rock. A quick rundown of the personnel might best give an idea of the direction Williams found herself and her music in, as it was being somewhat moulded by producer Anton Fier. Among the luminaries are: Syd Straw, Bernie Worrell, T-Bone Burnett, Carla Bley, Peter Blegvad, and Hugh McCracken. Their various -- and unspecified -- contributions are at times typical, but never predictable. It would be futile to attempt a list of all the disparate musical styles that unify Happy Come Home. They range from gospel ("I Will Do His Will") to acoustic folk ("Happy Come Home" and "Lights") and hit upon more subtle influences such as jazz ("Big Fish") and even a sort of bayou travelogue "Opelousas." Concurrent with the release of the album, Williams was the subject of a 28-minute documentary by legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker. The video -- also titled Happy Come Home -- features nine of the 13 tracks from the disc, including a few performed spontaneously for the camera. Originally aired on MTV, it was briefly available on VHS at Williams' live shows.
© Lindsay Planer /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:11
- Main artists: Victoria Williams
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1987 Geffen Records ℗ 1987 Geffen Records
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.