Search - Daryl Hall :: Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine

Rock and Soul - Part 2

L.A. Scene | Indian Trail, NC USA | 12/10/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"By the time 1986 would come around, Daryl Hall would have reached the apex of his career. This apex was largely achieved from his success as part of the duo, Daryl Hall and John Oates - which was now being proclaimed as "the most successful Rock and Roll duo in history. In 1984, Hall and Oates would release their most successful album "Big Bam Boom". They would then follow that up with a live album "Live at the Apollo" that would piggyback on their historic performance at Live Aid with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. Following these works, the duo would need to recharge. As part of this recharge, Daryl Hall would go ahead and put together a solo album. This solo album "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine" would be released in 1986. Although this was a solo album, the sound still followed the formula that Hall would follow as part of Hall and Oates. That formula would be a mix of Rock and Soul.



Many people view "Three Hearts.." as Daryl Hall's first solo effort. This was actually his first effort that would be noticed. Six years prior to the release of "Three Hearts..", Hall released a solo album called "Sacred Songs". However it would be "Three Hearts" that would land Hall a great deal of attention. As mentioned above, Hall uses the "Rock and Soul" formula that worked so successfully as part of Hall and Oates. He also brings in a solid cast to support him on this album. The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart who handles co-producing the album with Tom "T-Bone" Wolk and Daryl Hall himself. Stewart also plays a major songwriting role on six tracks. I think Dave Stewart is one of the most underrated people to have in your studio. Also particpating are Bob Geldof (background vocals on "Only a Vision"), Joni Mithcell (background vocals on "Right as Rain"), and the Fixx's Jamie West-Oram (Guitars). Finally, the master of mix - Bob Clearmountain handles the mixing of all of the songs on the album.



The album kicks off with the strongest song of the collection - "Dreamtime". This song was a Top 5 hit for Daryl Hall. This is one terrific song. This song falls more on the "Rock" side of the fence. This song is loaded with terrific music and terrific lyrics. For starters, Hall employs a String Ensemble for this song. There also are some incredible guitar and drum work in this song. The lyrics are loaded with some great lines such as "Rain comes down movin' you fast away", "Standing there is the man with the movie star eyes" (Hall gives credit to Bob Dylan for this line), "The man with the plan that will see you thru", and "I never saw anyone fall aprt so fast". Hall himself delivers a very passionate performance. This song has basically fallen into 80s oblivion - and that is a shame because it is a great song. The bar is set high with such a great song. While the rest of the album has some moments, the bad news is that most of the rest of the album doesn't live up to this song.



For the most part, the rest of the album doesn't follow the lead that "Dreamtime" sets. In fact, most of the remaining 9 songs fall closer to the R&B and Soul side. One song that falls on the "Rock" side is "Let It Out". I can best describe "Let It Out" as Daryl's version of an Arena Rock song. I wouldn't classify it as a hard rock song, but Hall delivers it in an "Arena Rock" fashion. It's a good, but not great song - and certainly not in the class of "Dreamtime". To some extent, I'd put "What's Gonna Happen to Us" into a quasi-Rock category.



Most of the other songs follow the R&B and Soul side of things. These songs include: "Only a Vision", "I Wasn't Born Yesterday", "Someone Like You", "For You", and"Foolish Pride". To some extent I think "Right as Rain" is a good cross of the "Rock and Soul" connection. The song "Next Step" has almost a funk sound to it. I don't think that comes off well.



As mentioned, there are some moments in the other songs. "I Wasn't Born Yesterday" is co-written by Stewart, Hall, and Hall's long-time girlfriend Sara Allen (i.e. "Sara Smile"). "I Wasn't Born Yesterday" also features some terrific sax tracks as well as some nice vocals. "Foolish Pride" has a primarily an R&B sound, but also has a nice Rock intro. "Foolish Pride" is also a pretty catchy song. The collection's finale is "What's Gonna Happen to Us". This song is an exclusively written Hall song and it is probably one of the few songs in which you will hear Hall make any sort of socio-political statements in his lyrics. The song has such lyrics as "I saw on the TV we're selling Arms to the enemy .... And men in power places are resigning ... Here comes another savior to stir the soliders in the field; But what do the generals think about while the soliders are dying". This song is interesting because in the second verse Hall gets a little more personal by saying "Does your shrink say find out who you are; Before you become a part of me". This might not be one of the most catchy songs on the collection, but it still is a pretty good because of the lyrics.



The lyrics to all of the songs are included. All songwriting, production, and musician credits are listed in the liner notes. While overall, this isn't the strongest music you are going to find, (as mentioned above) there are several cases where the CD really shows it has its moments. This album seems to be a very hard find today. If you can manage to get this CD, I would advise it."

Definitely Has Its Moments

L.A. Scene | 06/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Arriving just at the end of Hall & Oates' phenomenal streak of success in the early '80s, 3 Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, Daryl Hall's second solo album, was viewed as the first overture in a solo career but, in retrospect, its kinship with his first solo effort, 1980's Sacred Songs, is apparent. There is some indication that Hall had to make, or wanted to make, some concessions to bring it onto the charts - how could he not, he was one of the most popular musicians of his era - but that's not particularly evident on the tremendous lead single, "Dreamtime," a swirling slice of arty new wave psychedelia that stands in direct contrast to anything Hall & Oates sent into the Top Ten - it might have belonged on Sacred Songs or X-Static, but it could only have been cut in the mid-'80s when Hall had the freedom to make a record like this. And this is a result of an artist who is given the freedom to make close to the record that he wants, with a few commercial concessions, plus a desire to make a modern record. That does mean 3 Hearts is a bit tied to the time, particularly in its production with its clean synths and cavernous drum machines, but that's not necessarily a bad thing since it's primarily of interest as a portrait of where Hall was in 1986. He's not as insistently melodic as he is with Oates, nor is he as experimental as he was on Sacred Songs, and that does mean that 3 Hearts falls in a middle ground that's a bit neither here nor there. And that means it's not particularly cohesive, but it does have its moments, the brightest of which is "Dreamtime," one of his greatest achievements. There are other songs here that aren't quite as good, but it does take a bit of searching to find them, particularly because some of the cuts are either failed experiments or just fall flat. But those moments that do work illustrate that Hall had ambitions that couldn't fit Hall & Oates, and needed an outlet like this, even if he couldn't quite pull it all together all the time. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide"

Great songs + (a little) filler

R. P. Spretnak | Las Vegas, Nevada USA | 07/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The pretentiously-titled "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine" contains some of the best songs in Daryl Hall's impressive canon. With a little filler. It also should be noted that it is the most "Hall & Oates-y" of the Daryl Hall solo efforts.



In his prime, Daryl Hall possessed probably the finest male voice in Anglo-American pop music. He had a powerful instrument which he wielded with authority. His range has always been extraordinary. From loud powerful, tour de force vocal workouts, to rawly emotional soul and R&B, to quiet ballads such as "August Day." Hall has consistently delivered great vocals that support, but rarely overwhelm, the underlying pop hooks and melody.



The hidden gem on this disc is without a doubt "For You." Hall delivers maybe the best vocal performance of his career. From the quiety, whispery vocals on the verse, he acclerates effortlessly to a loud, nearly out-of-control yell on the chorus, both styles perfectly matching the tone of this schizophrenic song. Difficult vocal gymnastic nailed by this consummate professional.



The anthemic "Dreamtime" was the hit single. This may be the best "rock" style vocal of Hall's career. And Hall hits some castrato-esque high notes on the minor hit "Foolish Pride," all of which work in the context of this pop song.



OK, there is some filler. "Right as Rain" is a bit boring, for instance. Daryl Hall John Oates LP's often closed with a ballad and the one closing down "Three Hearts" is "What's Gonna Happen to Us." It's OK, but it's no "Without Tears," which closed "Sacred Songs." (Well, closed it before the bonus tracks were added to the CD.)



Definitely a must-have for Daryl Hall fans. If you've forgotten these songs over the last 20+ years, you'll be happy to become re-acquainted with them on CD. It won't win Daryl Hall any converts, but it'll be much loved by the already-convinced."