Happiness? (Roger Taylor album) explained

Happiness?
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Roger Taylor
Cover:	Roger Taylor Happiness.jpg
Released:	5 September 1994
Studio:	Cosford Mill
Genre:	Rock
Length:	48:15
Label:	Parlophone, EMI
Producer:	Roger Taylor Josh Macrae (co-producer)
Prev Title:	Strange Frontier
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Electric Fire
Next Year:	1998

Happiness? is the third solo album by English musician Roger Taylor, best known as the drummer for the band Queen. It was his first album outside of Queen since releasing Blue Rock with the Cross in September 1991.

Taylor collaborated with Japanese musician Yoshiki on the song "Foreign Sand".

Controversy

Although released as a single, the lyrics of the track "Nazis 1994", attacking neo-Nazism, were deemed so controversial that it was banned by UK commercial radio stations. Additionally, it was banned from being advertised and many record stores refused to stock the single. Ironically, the publicity aided in the album's success.

Track listing

All songs written by Roger Taylor, except "Foreign Sand" written by Taylor and Yoshiki.

1. "Nazis 1994" – 2:35
2. "Happiness" – 3:17
3. "Revelations" – 3:44
4. "Touch the Sky" – 5:04
5. "Foreign Sand" – 6:53
6. "Freedom Train" – 6:12
7. "You Had to Be There" – 2:55
8. "The Key" – 4:25
9. "Everybody Hurts Sometimes" – 2:52
10. "Loneliness..." – 2:25
11. "Dear Mr. Murdoch" – 4:19
12. "Old Friends" – 3:33

Personnel

• Roger Taylor

Drums, Vocals, Bass, Percussion, Keyboards and Guitars

• Jason Falloon: Guitars
• Phil Spalding

Bass on "Revelations", "The Key", And "Old Friends"

• Mike Crossley: Piano and keyboards on "Happiness", "Touch The Sky", "Freedom Train", "The Key", "Dear Mr Murdoch" and "Old Friends"
• Catherine Porter

Backing Vocals

• Josh Macrae

Programming

Foreign Sand:

• Yoshiki

Arrangement, Drums, Piano and Synthesizer.

• Roger Taylor: Vocals
• Jim Cregan

Guitars

• Phil Chen

Bass

• Dick Marx: Strings Arrangement
• Brad Buxer and Geoff Grace: Programming
• Mastered by Chris Blair at Abbey Road
• Album Design by Roger Taylor and Richard Gray

Singles

"Nazis 1994" - (UK No. 22)

"Foreign Sand"- (UK No. 26)

"Happiness?" - (UK No. 32)

References

Happiness Liner Notes@ http://www.queenpicturehall.com/albums/r03h.shtml