Based on Happy Times
| Based on Happy Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Producer | Joe Hardy, John Hampton, Tommy Keene | |||
| Tommy Keene chronology | ||||
| ||||
Based on Happy Times is an album by the American musician Tommy Keene, released in 1989.[1][2]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Rolling Stone |  [4] |
The Washington Post called the album "a pleasant, tuneful collection of songs in Keene's familiar wistful mode."[5] The Gazette wrote that "it's a simple story Keene tells over the course of 12 tough rock songs: a broken heart, a summer night, limitless possibility thwarted by equally limitless romantic angst, all of it transformed into keening, melodic guitars, poignant hooks and evocative lyrics."[6]
Track listing[edit]
All songs written by Tommy Keene, except where noted
- "Nothing Can Change You" – 3:19
- "Light of Love" – 3:00
- "This Could Be Fiction" – 3:24
- "Based on Happy Times" – 3:47
- "When Our Vows Break" – 3:20 (Keene, Jules Shear)
- "The Biggest Conflict" – 3:42
- "Highwire Days" – 3:37
- "Our Car Club" – 3:22 (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
- Cover of the original recording by The Beach Boys, 1963
- "If We Run Away" – 4:06 (Keene, Shear)
- "Hanging on to Yesterday" – 3:53
- "Where Have All Your Friends Gone" – 2:25
- "Pictures" – 3:34
- "A Way Out" – 4:09
Personnel[edit]
The band[edit]
- Tommy Keene — Vocals; lead, rhythm, and slide guitar; strings; keyboards
- Joe Hardy — Bass guitar, organ ("Nothing Can Change You"), strings ("Based on Happy Times"), Scale Police ("The Biggest Conflict")
- John Hampton — Drums, percussion
Additional musicians[edit]
- Jules Shear — Harmony vocals ("Nothing Can Change You", "When Our Vows Break")
- Jack Holder — Guitar ("When Our Vows Break", "The Biggest Conflict", "Highwire Days", "If We Run Away"), guitar fills ("Light of Love")
- Peter Buck — Guitar ("Our Car Club"), mandolin ("A Way Out")
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor — Harmonica ("Our Car Club")
- Jeff Jurciukonis — Cello ("A Way Out")
Production[edit]
- Joe Hardy — Producer, engineer
- John Hampton — Producer, engineer
- Tommy Keene — Producer
- George Marino — Mastering
- Barry Diament — CD mastering
Additional credits[edit]
- Digitally recorded and mixed at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
- Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
- CD mastering at Barry Diament Audio, New York City
- Rocky Schenck — Photography
- Ph.D — Art direction and design
References[edit]
- ^ Abrahams, Andrew (Apr 17, 1989). "Song—Tommy Keene". People. 31 (15): 27.
- ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (Jun 1989). "Tommy Keene". Stereo Review. 54 (6): 104.
- ^ "Based on Happy Times Review by Jack Leaver". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ McCormick, Moira (Jun 15, 1989). "Tommy Keene Based on Happy Times". Rolling Stone (554). Archived from the original on October 1, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (28 Apr 1989). "Keene, Radioblue: No Breakthrough". The Washington Post. p. N22.
- ^ Lepage, Mark (1 June 1989). "Tommy Keene Based on Happy Times". The Gazette. p. F4.
