| The Happy Album | ||||
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| Released | July 1994 | |||
| Genre | Ska | |||
| Length | 37:51 | |||
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| The Selecter chronology | ||||
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The Happy Album is the third studio album by British ska band The Selecter, and their first following their reformation in 1990, released in 1994 on Demon Music in the UK and Triple X in the US. Their first album of new material in thirteen years, The Happy Album follows their successful live reunion tour of 1991 and its respective live album document, Out in the Streets (1992). Founding member Neol Davies left the band after Out in the Streets while fellow original member Arthur "Gaps" Hendrickson rejoined the band. The new line-up recorded The Happy Album with production from Aswad guitarist Jimmy "Seyna" Haynes
While retaining the band's ska sound at its core, the album sees a new direction for the band, taking influence from and incorporating other genres, styles and techniques, including electronic music, hip hop, sampling and orchestral music, and also features several slower reggae tracks, including two cover versions. Despite the album's name, the record's lyrics are bleak and concerned with social injustice. Although expected to alienate some long-time fans, upon release, the album was greeted with critical acclaim. The band toured in promotion of the album in 1994 and a special edition was released by Moon Ska Europe in 2004.