Happy Rhodes: Ectotrophia 2LP/CD compilation coming from Numero in 2018

Vickie was interviewed by the Numero person writing the liner notes for an hour. It looks to be up to their usual exemplary standards.

 

Numero posted a video of a test pressing on Instagram:

Instagram post by Numero Group • Jan 10, 2018 at 8:01pm UTC

 

Kate Bush seems to be the most obvious influence. And that is not a bad thing at all.

 

Happy taught herself to sing from Kate Bush records. That particular track When The Rain Came Down got her a bit of attention when it was uploaded to Napster by persons unknown misidentified as a duet between Kate and Annie Lennox. Here is a live version of the song, and it's remarkable to hear Happy jump octaves:

 

Numero Group on Instagram: “Ectotrophia slipcase samples are in. Another gorgeous sidestep from @tabreenstagram”

 

Thank you very much for posting that. I called Vickie and let her know.

 

Numero just put up a trailer for the album on YouTube:

 

They also put up When The Rain Came Down. This is as good quality as I've heard this track.

 

Cool article about the compilation on Tiny Mix Tapes:

New Numero Group release, Ectotrophia, compiles early work by Happy Rhodes

 

I've not heard the CD or LP, but just based on the YouTube video and the samples on Numero's page, this compilation will be vital, even if you have the rare Aural Gratification CDs.

 

Numero Tweeted out a Spotify playlist to support the release. Vickie doesn't like the term "Dream Pop", but I think it works as well as anything.

Ecto, a playlist by Numero Group on Spotify

 

So, I wonder how Numero feels about this? Happy Rhodes

Any insights or back story on this, @Chris DeVoe ?

 

I'm pretty sure 7D does not actually have rights to the first four albums, and I'm also pretty sure that the Numero mastering will be superior in any case.

This was a complete shock to Vickie, who had heard nothing about this before Trey Tweeted it out.

 

Thank you sir. Updates appreciated, as appropriate.

 

Several people have reported receiving shipment notices on the album, one person indicating that it should arrive Wednesday the 16th.

 

A review of Ectotrophia

Indie Basement (5/11): Simian Mobile Disco, Luke Haines, more

 

Some people who pre-ordered have received their copies already:






Very proud that Vickie is so prominently credited.

Interesting that Chris Muth mastered the collection. He's the engineer who designs all the mastering equipment for Dangerous Music.

 

A little bit more about Happy and the Dangerous Music connection. She recorded her last full album Find Me at the Dangerous Music studio, which was then owned by drummer Bob Muller. The studio's technician Chris Muth had gained a reputation for building high quality custom gear. Happy was at the studio in New York on 9/11 looking out a window when the first plane hit. They climbed the roof to look at it and witnessed the plane hitting the 2nd tower.

Eventually Muller closed the studio to concentrate on building high-end mastering equipment. Muller and Muth co-own the business, Bob and Happy married and Happy actually builds much of the custom equipment.

Not asking him to reveal any of the tricks of his trade, but I'm curious if our host @Steve Hoffman has any Dangerous Music equipment in his rack?

 

I have the CD and LP.

 

The gentleman in the shipping department let me take a couple of snaps:

 

...and the hype sticker:

 

My CD arrived yesterday. Will be listening soon!

 

One interesting bit of Happy's history that was left out of the biography in the booklet was that Happy is the granddaughter of Dave Stamper, one of the founders of ASCAP and songwriter for 21 editions of the Zeigfeld Follies. Stamper never got credit for his most popular song, Shine On Harvest Moon, which was stolen by his then employers Nora Bayes and her husband Jack Norworth (who is also credited for Take Me Out To The Ballgame.)

Another interesting tidbit is that Happy's middle name Tyler is after her mother's friend and fellow dancer Mary Tyler Moore. And she's a descendant Cecil Rhodes, the "founder" of Rhodesia.

As always truth is stranger than fiction...and much harder to believe.

 

Am looking forward to getting this...

 

Presumably a number of folks have this by now. What say you all?