''Crafty Hands'' is an album by the progressive rock band

Happy the Man Happy the Man is an American progressive rock band formed in 1973. The name Happy the Man is a reference to Goethe’s " Faust" and the Bible, rather than the 1972 Genesis single. History Early days (1973–76) The group formed in 1973 in Ha ...

, released in 1978. Only one track, "Wind Up Doll Day Wind," contains vocals.

Reception

Mike McLatchey of Exposé Online stated that the album displays "some of the best, most elaborate and sophisticated symphonic rock ever produced, played by technical geniuses," but noted that, in comparison with the group's debut album, "''Crafty Hands'' seems more polished, yet overall slightly less impressive." Pete Pardo, writing for Sea of Tranquility, commented: "As far as US prog goes, it doesn't get much better than this folks. ''Crafty Hands'' is classy stuff all the way."

Track listing

#"Service with a Smile" (Ron Riddle, Greg Hawkes) – 2:44 #"Morning Sun" (

Kit Watkins Kit Watkins (born 1953) is an American progressive-ambient-jazz recording artist based in Brattleboro, Vermont. He was previously a member of the band Happy the Man.Varga, George (December 28, 1983). "Labyrinth, Kit Watkins, Azymuth Records", ''The ...

) – 4:05 #"Ibby It Is" (Frank Wyatt) – 7:50 #"Steaming Pipes" (Stanley Whitaker) – 5:30 #"Wind Up Doll Day Wind" (Watkins, Whitaker, Wyatt) – 7:06 #"Open Book" (Wyatt) – 4:53 #"I Forgot to Push It" (Watkins) – 3:08 #"The Moon, I Sing (Nossuri)" (Watkins) – 6:16

Personnel

*Stanley Whitaker - six and twelve string guitars, vocals (5) *Frank Wyatt - pianos,

harpsichord A harpsichord ( it, clavicembalo; french: clavecin; german: Cembalo; es, clavecín; pt, cravo; nl, klavecimbel; pl, klawesyn) is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. This activates a row of levers that turn a trigger mechanism ...

, saxes,

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

, words *

- pianos, harpsichord,

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. (later known as Moog Music) produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 20 ...

, fake strings,

clavinet The Clavinet is an electrically amplified clavichord invented by Ernst Zacharias and manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany, from 1964 to 1982. The instrument produces sounds by a rubber pad striking a point on a tension ...

, 33, recorder *Rick Kennell -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

*Ron Riddle -

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, percussion

References

{{Authority control 1978 albums Albums produced by Ken Scott Arista Records albums Happy the Man albums