Based on Happy Times

Infobox Album
Name = Based on Happy Times
Type = studio
Artist = Tommy Keene


Released = 1989
Recorded =
Genre = Power pop, rock
Length =
Label = Geffen
Producer = Joe Hardy, John Hampton, Tommy Keene
Reviews = "Allmusic" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kcfoxqu5ldke~T1 Link]
"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tommykeene/albums/album/168453/review/5945514/based_on_happy_times June 15, 1989]
Last album = "Songs from the Film"
(1986)
This album = "Based on Happy Times"
(1989)
Next album = "Ten Years After"
(1996)

"Based on Happy Times" is Tommy Keene's third album, his second for major label Geffen Records. It was released in 1989 (catalog #9 24221-2) and was his first album available on CD (it was also released on LP and cassette).

Track listing

All songs written by Tommy Keene, except where noted
#"Nothing Can Change You" – 3:19
#"Light of Love" – 3:00
#"This Could Be Fiction" – 3:24
#"Based on Happy Times" – 3:47
#"When Our Vows Break" – 3:20 (Keene, Jules Shear)
#"The Biggest Conflict" – 3:42
#"Highwire Days" – 3:37
#"Our Car Club" – 3:22 (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
#*Cover of the original recording by The Beach Boys, 1963
#"If We Run Away" – 4:06 (Keene, Shear)
#"Hanging on to Yesterday" – 3:53
#"Where Have All Your Friends Gone" – 2:25
#"Pictures" – 3:34
#"A Way Out" – 4:09

Personnel

The band

*Tommy Keene — Vocals; lead, rhythm, and slide guitar; strings; keyboards
*Joe Hardy — Bass guitar, organ ("Nothing Can Change You"), strings ("Based on Happy Times"), Scale Police ("The Biggest Conflict")
*John Hampton — Drums, percussion

Additional musicians

*Jules Shear — Harmony vocals ("Nothing Can Change You", "When Our Vows Break")
*Jack Holder — Guitar ("When Our Vows Break", "The Biggest Conflict", "Highwire Days", "If We Run Away"), guitar fills ("Light of Love")
*Peter Buck — Guitar ("Our Car Club"), mandolin ("A Way Out")
*Greg "Fingers" Taylor — Harmonica ("Our Car Club")
*Jeff Jurciukonis — Cello ("A Way Out")

Production

*Joe Hardy — Producer, engineer
*John Hampton — Producer, engineer
*Tommy Keene — Producer
*George Marino — Mastering
*Barry Diament — CD mastering

Additional credits

*Digitally recorded and mixed at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
*Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City
*CD mastering at Barry Diament Audio, New York City
*Rocky Schenck — Photography
*Maria Sarno — Stylist
*P"h".D — Art direction and design
*Tom Zutaut — A&R coordination
*Linda Clark & Associates — Management
*"Thanks to: Bobby Keene; Bob and Dorothy Keene; David Geffen, Ed Rosenblatt, Tom Zutaut, John Kalodner, Marko Babineau, and everyone at Geffen Records; Linda Clark; Rick Bates; Rocky Schenck; Michael Hodgson; James Cromwell; Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman; Jerry Phillips; Frank Riley; Pat Magnarella; Julie Panebianco; Karen Moss; Jules Shear; Peter Buck; Joanna Sobol; Shirley Jacobson; John Fry; Jody Stephens; Sally Goodwin and everybody at Ardent; Steve Carr; Billy Connelly; Ted Nicely; Doug Tull; Rob Brill; Joey Picuri; John Hansen; John Chumbris; Darren Brown; Caleb Lentzer; Chris Wickam; Rick Semerjian; Stu and New Breed Studios; Teresa Ensenat; Don Dixon; Steve Haigler; Tim Collins and Staff; Dean Jeffrey; Abaad Behram and Razz for "Car Club"; Rusty Olmert; Joey Sansbury; Jack Holder; Bill Wittman; John Agnello; Robin Rapp; Doug Seymore; Clint Carruth; Aimée Tract; and especially Joe and John-forge"