Even though it was Tim Buckley's most popular release, Happy Sad is a divisive chapter in the folk-rocker’s short career. Unlike the previous two records, Buckley began interweaving jazz in with psychedelic folk to create his own signature style, which would later delve further into funk and R&B territory. The first track on the album, “Strange Feelin’” is a direct interpolation of Miles Davis’ “All Blue” off Kind of Blue and the heavy use of vibraphone and marimba in the instrumentation hints at influence from Cal Tjader, who released his notable album Solar Heat during the recording of Happy Sad. Side B opener “Dream Letter," is an ode to his estranged son, Jeff Buckley, who would later go on to record the famous cover of Leonard Cohen's “Hallelujah.” 6 tracks on 180g gold colored vinyl, individually numbered edition of 1000.

• 180g gold colored vinyl
  
• individually stamped + numbered
  
• limited edition of 1000
• music label: Music On Vinyl 2021

reviewed by SHH! 09/2021