Who's this then?
Happy Rhodes (her real name) is an American musician from eastern upstate New York. She's a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player. She released 11 albums in her career, starting in 1986. Her last and 11th album, Find Me, was released in September 2007. Happy lives on a beautiful farm in central upstate New York with her husband, musician and businessman Bob Muller. She has a day job building pro audio equipment for Dangerous Music, cares for stray, sick and unwanted cats, and lives her life, content.
She appreciates people who listen to her music, and thanks all the fans who have supported her over the years, and welcomes new fans who have just discovered her.
A compilation from Numero Group is to be released on June 29, 2018, called Ectotrophia. It will have songs from Happy's first four albums, 1986-1987 (Rhodes Vol. I, Rhodes Vol. II, Rearmament and Ecto, often referred to as the "1st4" by long-time fans) plus "When the Rain Came Down" released as a bonus track in 1992 when the 1st4, previously only available on hand-made cassettes, were re-released on CD. Ectotrophia will be available on CD and, a first for Happy's music, LP.
The track listing and the albums they came from:
Oh The Drears - Rhodes I
I Cannot Go On - Ecto
Would That I Could - Ecto
Where Do I Go - Rhodes II
For We Believe - Rearmament
When The Rain Came Down - Ecto CD bonus track
If Love Is A Game, I Win - Ecto
I'm Not Awake, I'm Not Asleep - Rhodes I
Baby Don't Go - Rearmament
Come Here - Rhodes II
Don't Want To Hear It - Ecto
If So - Ecto
I'll Let You Go - Rhodes I
Because I Learn - Rearmament
I Am A Legend - Rearmament
Perfect Irony - Rearmament
Many Nights - Rhodes II
To Be E. Mortal - Ecto
"When the Rain Came Down" and "Oh The Drears" have been released as singles by Numero Group on Bandcamp.
As wonderful as the track listing of Ectotrophia is, it shouldn't be perceived as a "Best Of" compilation of songs from Happy's 1st4 albums. Many MANY great songs were left off due to time.
Here's a new Facebook Page for Ectotrophia fans.
Some people who pre-ordered early have received their orders already. Thank you to John Sutton and Eric Fenner for these photos.
Bandcamp article (as Artist of the Week June 25, 2018)
The Beautiful Monsters of Happy Rhodes's Art-Pop by Jes Skolnik.
PopMatters interview
Happy Rhodes: "My Whole Thing Is the Quest for Genius" by Jedd Beaudoin.
In 2016 Happy came out of retirement and started singing with Security Project, a Peter Gabriel appreciation band consisting of Jerry Marotta, Trey Gunn, Michael Cozzi and David Jameson. She sang lead for 11 live shows in 2016, and 19 shows in 2017. 8 more shows were performed in Spring 2018. A list of the shows can be found at RhodeShows.
A live 5-song EP ("Five") and a full-length live CD ("Contact") with Happy on vocals have been released. They can be found at Security Project's Bandcamp page.
Happy Rhodes? For real?
Yes, it's her real, legal name. When she was born (as Kimberley Tyler Rhodes), one of Happy's brothers nicknamed her "Happy" before she even came home from the hospital, and it's all she's ever been called. She legally changed her name to Happy when she was 16 so people would quit calling her Kimberley.
Who's that guy?
One of the most common questions (after "Is that her real name?)" is "Who's that guy singing with Happy?" That's Happy singing with Happy! That astonishing range is all her and it's not done with studio trickery.
This video explores her Vocal Range.
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Go here for lyrics. (It's a mirror)
Listen to all 11 albums at YouTube
All of Happy's albums 1986-2007 are out of print. To buy remaining stock, digital versions, or new copies of Ectotrophia, try these places:
Ectotrophia at Numero Group
International fans should check with their local shops or distributors. Numero has Distribution partnerships all over the world.
Happy Rhodes at Bandcamp (7d Media)
Happy at Bandcamp (Numero Group)
Happy at CD Baby
Happy at iTunes
Happy at amazon.com
International fans should check at their region's amazon
Happy at The Artist Shop
Find Me (2007)
1. One And Many (4:36)
2. Little Brother (4:35)
3. Find Me (5:13)
4. She Won't Go (3:56)
5. Here And Hereafter (4:18)
6. Charlie (4:01)
7. Can't Let Go (5:28)
8. Queen (4:34)
9. Treehouse (6:25)
10. Chosen One (3:45)
11. Fall
Many Worlds Are Born Tonight (1998)
1. 100 Years (5:25)
2. Many Worlds Are Born Tonight (4:52)
3. The Chariot (5:22)
4. Ra Is A Busy God (6:21)
5. If Wishes Were Horses, How Beggars Would Ride (5:02)
6. Roy (Back From The Offworld) (5:33)
7. Tragic (6:09)
8. Proof (4:22)
9. Looking Over Cliffs (4:57)
10. Winter (3:58)
11. Serenading Genius (6:37)
The Keep (1995)
A compilation of acoustic tracks and rarities.
1. Temporary And Eternal (5:33)
2. Life On Mars (3:20)
3. Collective Heart (4:45)
4. The Yes Medley (6:05)
5. Save Our Souls (6:00)
6. Flash Me Up (2:14)
7. For We Believe (2:34)
8. Summer (3:28)
9. Oh Holy Night (3:27)
10. Look For The Child (4:20)
11. Hold Me (3:25)
12. Bye Moon (2:07)
13. Prey Of The Strange (3:36)
14. Oh Hand Of Mine (3:49)
Building The Colossus (1994)
1. Hold Me (4:40)
2. Just Like Tivoli (6:04)
3. Dying (5:44)
4. Collective Heart (4:43)
5. Building the Colossus (4:18)
6. Omar (4:47)
7. Pride (2:39)
8. You Never Told Me (5:03)
9. If I Ever See the Girl Again (5:33)
10. Down, Down (6:15)
11. Big Dreams, Big Life (2:31)
12. Glory (6:00)
Equipoise (1993)
1. Runners (6:00)
2. He Will Come (4:08)
3. The Flight (4:52)
4. Out Like A Lamb (6:48)
5. Save Our Souls (6:16)
6. Closer (5:05)
7. Temporary And Eternal (4:51)
8. Cohabitants (5:41)
9. Play The Game (6:28)
10. Mother Sea (5:24)
11. I Say (5:39)
RhodeSongs (1993)
A compilation including live versions and rarities.
1. Feed The Fire (album version, from Warpaint)
2. The Wretches Gone Awry (album version, from Rhodes I)
3. Ode (album version, from Ecto)
4. I Say (album version, from Equipoise)
5. Save Our Souls (acoustic version)
6. The Revelation (album version, from Rhodes II)
7. Because I Learn (album version, from Rearmament)
8. If So (album version, from Ecto)
9. Given In (for "World Cafe", 1991)
10. In Hiding (acoustic version)
11. I Have A Heart (album version, from Rearmament)
12. Ashes to Ashes (Acoustic cover)
13. Let Me Know, Love (album version, from Rhodes II)
14. Temporary and Eternal (album version, from Equipoise)
15. Summer (previously unreleased)
16. Feed The Fire (acoustic Tribute version)
17. Buggy Track
Warpaint (1991)
1. Waking Up (4:06)
2. Feed The Fire (4:33)
3. Murder (4:55)
4. To Live In Your World (3:33)
5. Phobos (5:13)
6. Wrong Century (4:25)
7. Lay Me Down (3:51)
8. Terra Incognita (4:33)
9. All Things (Mia ia io) (4:48)
10. Words Weren't Made For Cowards (5:22)
11. Warpaint (6:15)
12. In Hiding (3:12)
Ecto (1987)
1. I'm Going Back (4:18)
2. If Love Is A Game, I Win (5:32)
3. Would That I Could (4:11)
4. Off From Out From Under Me (3:53)
5. Project 499 (2:13)
6. I Won't Break Down (3:28)
7. If So (3:36)
8. Ecto (4:40)
9. I Cannot Go On (4:07)
10. Ode (4:10)
11. Don't Want To Hear It (4:56)
12. Poetic Justice (2:59)
13. To Be E. Mortal (8:15)
14. Look For The Child (5:54) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
15. When The Rain Came Down (5:44) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
Rearmament (1986)
1. The Perfect Irony (4:02)
2. For We Believe (2:50)
3. I Am A Legend (4:09)
4. 'Til The Dawn Breaks (5:57)
5. The Issue Is (3:24)
6. Friend You'll Be (3:39)
7. Dreams Are (5:45)
8. Box H.A.P. (3:05)
9. I Have a Heart (4:44)
10. Crystal Orbs (3:44)
11. Because I Learn (3:43)
12. Baby Don't Go (4:13)
3. Rhodes Waltz (2:40)
14. Ally Ally Oxenfree (3:43)
15. Be Careful What you Say (5:37) (a Bartlett/Rhodes* song) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
Rhodes II (1986)
1. Come Here (3:55)
2. The Revelation (3:01)
3. Many Nights (2:50)
4. Under And Over The Brink (2:36)
5. Let Me Know, Love (3:23)
6. Where Do I Go? (3:25)
7. Not For Me (2:49)
8. One Alien (3:26)
9. No One Here (4:13)
10. To The Funny Farm (2:10)
11. Asylum Master (3:18)
12. Beat it Out (3:33)
13. The Chase (4:19)
14. Take Me With You (5:45) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
15. Under And Over The Brink (2:32) ("barely salvaged from the vault") (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
Rhodes I (1986)
1. Rainkeeper (2:24)
2. Oh The Drears (3:17)
3. Given In (4:14)
4. He's Alive (4:22)
5. Possessed (2:55)
6. I'll Let You Go (3:59)
7. Number One (2:49)
8. Case of Glass (3:39)
9. Moonbeam Friends (2:49)
10. I'm Not Awake, I'm Not Asleep (3:23)
11. The First to Cry (3:00)
12. Step Inside (3:46)
13. The Wretches Gone Awry (2:36)
14. The Flaming Threshold (4:39) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
15. Suicide Song (2:24) (CD bonus track, previously unreleased)
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Why monsters?
She loves monsters. They were her friends while growing up (see the He's Alive video and read the full description) and she loves painting them. When she needed covers for her early cassette-only albums she took paintings she'd already done as a teenager and used them. She refused to change the artwork when they were released on CD in 1992 (though they were changed slightly), and good for her. The Rhodes I monster was originally painted on the saddlebag of a motorcycle that's probably long since been trashed or painted over. I (Vickie) now own the original painting that was used for Rhodes II. Here are some other Happy monsters.
Untitled
Tirk
Nightmare In Pastel
Untitled
RhodeWays Cover Issue 08
Alice
Meesh
Ecto logo (never used)
Title unknown
Don't try to tell me there's no
Reason for any moment in time
Every memory of mine
Those years are lines of
Color on my face
My past is warpaint
The past is warpaint
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A few Happy YouTube videos
Note: Happy has never made an official video for any of her songs
. There are hundreds of fan-uploaded concert and audio-only videos on YouTube.
"When the Rain Came Down"
This song was released as a bonus track (on Ecto) in 1992 when her 1st4 albums, previously only available on hand-made cassettes, were re-released on CD. This live audience recording was shot May 9, 1996 at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA, with Kevin Bartlett on guitar and Carl Adami on bass.
These are screenshots, with links to YouTube
Recorded live in John Diliberto's living room, this was part of the Echoes Living Room Concert Series. Recorded on May 16, 1995, this exact version was later released on Happy's album The Keep. The original version of the song is on her album Equipoise. With Kevin Bartlett on guitar and Carl Adami on bass.
This cover of David Bowie's song was only ever performed live. This video was recorded at the late, great Tin Angel in Philadelphia, on October 12, 1996, during the 2nd show of the evening. The entire concert is on YouTube and is linked below. With Kevin Bartlett on guitar, Carl Adami on bass and Kelly Bird on backing vocals.
"If Wishes Were Horses, How Beggars Would Ride"
Performed at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA June 24, 1999. With Bon Lozaga on guitar, Bob Muller on drums/percussion and Carl Adami on bass.
"Lily Of The Valley/Possessed"
This cover of Queen's song and Happy's own song "Possessed" is from May 10, 1996, the 2nd show of the evening, and the 4th of 4 shows in 2 nights. Recorded at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA. With Kevin Bartlett on guitar and Carl Adami on bass.
With musician (and now-husband) Bob Muller at meth&woj's House Concert in New Haven, CT, on April 6, 2003.
With Bon Lozaga (PMG, Gongzilla, Project Lo, Soften The Glare, Tiny Boxes, among others) at Tin Angel in Philadelphia, PA on July 24, 1999.
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Full-length concerts
Be kind to our mistakes. These are fan-shot audience recordings. We're grateful they were captured for posterity, so please forgive the occasional shakiness.
Oct. 12, 1996
Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
May 9, 1996
Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
May 10, 1996
Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
March 15, 1997
Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
November 9, 2003
House Concert - Toledo, OH
Most listeners find her work difficult to describe and yet she incites an almost unheard of
devotion among her fans. She goes from Kate Bush highs to David Bowie lows and you
find yourself being beckoned to follow her into her multilayered worlds. 
For the next two years, she wrote and made some Open Mic Night appearances at a legendary cafe
called Cafe Lena in Saratoga, NY. During this time, she met up with Pat Tessitore, a co-owner of
Cathedral Sound Studios in Rensselaer, NY. She approached him with the idea of becoming an
intern of sorts, just so she could learn the basics of audio recording. "I knew I wanted to be a
professional musician, but didn't really know where to start. So I decided I'd learn how to MAKE records first,
get my foot in the door and then figure the rest out later." 
Happy released approximately 9 CD's on the Aural Gratification label. In 1997 however, Happy
decided that it was time to seek out a different kind of record label. A good friend recommended
her to a newly forming label called, Samson Music. Founded by Norm Waitt Jr.(co-founder of
the Gateway Computer company), this was a label that Happy felt would take her music to the
next level. She signed with them and released "Many Worlds Are Born Tonight" in August of
1998. "I went through a lot of darkness to make that album. It was also the most fun I've ever
had making a record." Happy and Samson Music parted ways in early 2000. 
Happy was the inspiration for the creation of the 