Slapp Happy was a German/English pop group formed in Germany in 1972 when B… Read Full Bio ↴Slapp Happy was a German/English pop group formed in Germany in 1972 when British keyboardist and avant-garde composer Anthony Moore invited his friend, New York guitarist/artist/cartoonist/poet Peter Blegvad, to come over to Hamburg. Moore had already released several albums of “new music” for Polydor. When Polydor rejected one of his albums outright, he proposed a pop-oriented project instead. Local girl Dagmar Krause, a former member of the folk-rock group City Preachers, was recruited as vocalist and Slapp Happy was born.
Their early sound was a quirky, cabaret-inflected pop-rock with witty, literate lyrics from Blegvad. Their first two albums featured members of Faust in the backing band, although the second was later re-recorded with session musicians for Virgin records.
By 1975, they had been interleaved with the British avant-rock group Henry Cow, a union that produced two important works: a theatrical, Kurt Weill-esque set of songs entitled Desperate Straights and a much more daunting and avant-garde set entitled In Praise Of Learning.
The band has had fitful reunions ever since, sometimes just for the odd single, but often for major projects (the 1991 television opera Camera and the 1998 studio album Ça Va, for example).
Krause, Moore and Blegvad reformed Slapp Happy again in November 2016 to perform with Faust at the Week-End festival in Cologne, Germany. The two groups also played on 10–11 February 2017 at Cafe Oto in London. On 24 February 2017 Slapp Happy (without Faust) performed at Mt. Rainer Hall, Shibuya in Tokyo. In September 2017, Slapp Happy and Faust played at the 10th Rock in Opposition festival in Carmaux, France. They made a final appearance in November 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
Their early sound was a quirky, cabaret-inflected pop-rock with witty, literate lyrics from Blegvad. Their first two albums featured members of Faust in the backing band, although the second was later re-recorded with session musicians for Virgin records.
By 1975, they had been interleaved with the British avant-rock group Henry Cow, a union that produced two important works: a theatrical, Kurt Weill-esque set of songs entitled Desperate Straights and a much more daunting and avant-garde set entitled In Praise Of Learning.
The band has had fitful reunions ever since, sometimes just for the odd single, but often for major projects (the 1991 television opera Camera and the 1998 studio album Ça Va, for example).
Krause, Moore and Blegvad reformed Slapp Happy again in November 2016 to perform with Faust at the Week-End festival in Cologne, Germany. The two groups also played on 10–11 February 2017 at Cafe Oto in London. On 24 February 2017 Slapp Happy (without Faust) performed at Mt. Rainer Hall, Shibuya in Tokyo. In September 2017, Slapp Happy and Faust played at the 10th Rock in Opposition festival in Carmaux, France. They made a final appearance in November 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
Desperate Straights
Slapp Happy Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Slapp Happy:
A Different Lie All the broken hearts, when they're taken apart Put you ba…
A Little Something Here's a little something for all you lovers - snuggle…
Blue Flower Waitin' for a sign from you Waitin' for a signal to…
Casablanca Moon He used to wear fedoras Now he sports a fez There's cabalist…
Charlie 'n Charlie Charlie 'n Charlie are twins. You can never tell where Char…
Child Then I could run before I learned to walk, tore the tongues…
Coralie It's not in my make-up. Oh Coralie why don't you even…
Dawn Dawn he's in a postcard of the dawn, Where the knives…
Everybody's Slimmin' Listen my children and you will hear You can shed weight…
Half Way There He's only half-way there He's only half-way there Told me my…
half-way there"|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--"|"--" He's only half-way there He's only half-way there Told me …
Half‐Way There He's only half-way there He's only half-way there Told me my…
Heading for Kyoto Sunlight catchin' on their glasses As the train negotiates …
I Got Evil I got evil inside me You got evil inside you I got…
I'm All Alone I'm all alone in the world I don't really mind It could…
Is it You? Is it the light shining into you? Is it the heart…
Just a Conversation It was just a conversation in Grand Central Station one day…
Karen I loved a girl named Karen She was from the Phillippines S…
King of Straw We owe so much to the enemy. If not for them…
Let's Travel Light Let's travel light. We'll leave our bodies behind. We won'…
Little Girl's World Flags unfurled Streets uncurled It′s too much Too touch It's…
Me and Parvati Me and Parvati In Paris, France Surrounded by musicians D…
Michelangelo Lying back to paint upon the ceiling… No, he never uses…
Mono Plane Monoplane Lost in the arctic Monoplane Lost contact Pass…
Moon Lovers Moon lovers, night. Snow covers the earth. Silent is this …
Mr Rainbow Casquette de moire, Quéquette d'ivoire, Toilette très noire,…
Paradise Express Sho' is nice Ridin' the rails to paradise Watch dem sleepe…
Powerful Stuff One man insulates his heart and hopes to make himself a…
Riding Tigers We're not well, dear. Toll the bell, dear. As our lives…
Scarred for Life Leave me something to remember you by, more than a lock…
Silent the Voice Silent the voice sinking in the sea – ah. Silent the…
Slow Moon's Rose Now that the slow moons rose On a silver trellis grows, Wh…
Small Hands Of Stone Small hands of stone All on my own With the glow you…
Strayed All my dismembered, half-remembered yesterdays, snowing sou…
The Drum Get in line, keep in time with the Drum And don't…
The Secret There he goes, My hero in wonderful clothes - passing me…
The Unborn Byron Byron as an embryo, behold the unborn Byron grow. His budd…
Tutankhamun Ribs wrapped in ribbons And his eyes full of clay Tutankha…
Who's Gonna Help Me Now Who′s gonna help me now Who's gonna help me now He left…
Working at the Ministry Every morning came in several pieces Assembled for the pres…
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Bill Bays
Chris Cutler one of my favorite drummers of all time. Fred Frith one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Peter Blegvad one of my favorite songwriters of all time.
zero points
Peter Blegvad's lyricism is exquisite.
shepmathe
Chris Cutler and Fred Frith amaze me. Well pay more attention to Peter Blegvad. Have both Henry Cow, with and without Dagmar and Slapp Happy but never heard this one before. "In Praise of Learning" is one of my favorites. Thanks for posting.
Oliwally
Obsessed with these dudes right now. Fucking pure musicianship and creativity right here!
dan b
Thank you for posting this. Reminds me of the 70's as a young lad exploring the wonderful world of RIO / Art rock etc. My parents were very distraught over my musical taste.
幻滅Unknown
The inspiration this must've had on Tim Smith of Cardiacs can't be understated. For fans, 'In The Sick Bay' is where he got the title for the song 'Nurses Whispering Verses'!
tannerin
I’m so glad this album exists, one of the best things I’ve heard from its decade
wkbaker3rd
Krause's voice has a rather otherworldly quality that I find enchanting. I've listened to a bit of her singing with slapp happy and the sound isn't nearly as compelling . I think Henry Cow is the real magic in this recording..
Uwe Boll
Great album, great RIO-band! Thank you & greetings from Germany! Long live RIO, ZEUHL, CANTERBURY, Zappa & the gorgeous Laura Nyro!
Richard Burns
I'd forgotten how good this album was!