[.ca] Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine

should have gone straight to number one!!:
Hmm, so this only available as an import for \oprice\c? Well, I hope they will release it domestically again, as the price is a little steep, although this is a dynamic album. This was Daryl's second solo record, oustide the duo of Hall and Oates. He proves, like on his first album, that he can do just fine going it alone (not to quote "Go Solo"). "Dreamtime" should have been every bit as big a hit for Daryl as anything he did with Oates. Unfortunately, the times were changing for music in the year or so after Big Bam Boom. Three Hearts should have gone on to be just as big as Big Bam Boom. MTV was starting to be more cutting edge, and bands like U2 and REM were beginning to dominate, for better or worse. This record just came out at the wrong time, really. But as much abuse as it takes, I'm still hearing Someone Like You and Foolish Pride in the grocery store just about as much as Sara Smile and Maneater. Except, of course, it's remade with thick layers of strings and tinny saxophones doing the melody in place of Daryl's wonderful voice. "For You" is a good song. The best song on the album is "Only A Vision." It's good that it was not chosen as a single, it never would have gotten any attention, but wow, what a great tune. I don't think there are any bad songs on this album. I seem to recall only one clunker on the (orignial LP) second side. But every H & O album always had one or two clunkers. You know, "Going Thru the Motions." This album, had it done better on the charts, would have been the beginning of a decent solo career for Daryl. He could easily have produced a few more good solo albums before Soul Alone finally came out and broke the dry spell. I wish that more people could have been impressed enough by this album to keep Daryl pumped for a few more years. I get the feeling that he felt slightly bruised after this album didn't do as well. Soul Alone, though in a much different style than Three Hearts, is also worth checking out, hopefully for less than \oprice\c!! It features the brilliant ballad "Wildfire," which should have gone on to outsell whatever was getting played on the radio by Mariah Carey at the time!!

Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine:
To be honest, I thought I was not going to like this CD because I didn't like Sacred Songs. To my surprise and delight, Three Hearts is very good. I loved Hall's voice when he was with Oates and Sacred Songs just didn't do it for me, but this one did. The songs are well written, arranged and performed. I don't think you could go wrong with this one if you like Hall's work.

Definitely Has Its Moments:
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

Daryl's Best Solo Album - Perfect for CD Format!:
Unbelievably, this album is out of print. In spite of the fact that "Dreamtime" was a Top Five hit, it went gold and was well-received by the critics, you should go ahead and pick up the imported version unless you search online for the domestic release. This album, co-produced with Dave Stewart has the best rocking guitars and basslines you'll hear on CD. Daryl's songwriting and vocals are unapproachable throughout. Best songs are "Dreamtime", "Next Step", "Let It Out", "Right As Rain" (with a Joni Mitchell back-up), "Someone Like You" (w/guitar solo). There is a version of "Someone Like You" with a sax solo which is available as a 12" vinyl single (search the used record stores or Amazon. Try also Gemm.Com. You can't miss with this bit of perfection but try to find a domestic copy first and save some dollars... Now where's John Oates?

Daryl Hall at his best for all H & O fans:
I'm surprised by all the reviews. I tought the 3 hits song on this album were "Dreamtime" (02.08.86 Top 5), "Foolish Pride" (18.10.86 top 33) and "Someone Like you" (24.01.87 Top 57) on US billboard. Not to mention "I Wasen't Born Yesterday" that really rocks! Of course all other songs are great but a top hit is based on the billboard ratings... I would else say that all the songs on the albums are top hits! :) If your a fan of Hall and Oates because of their special sound. "Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine" is worth the price! Do not miss "Do it for Love" the most recent Hall and Oates album which is their best album since "Big Bam Boom". Enjoy.

• Dreamtime
• Only a Vision
• I Wasn't Born Yesterday
• Someone Like You
• Next Step
• For You
• Foolish Pride
• Right as Rain
• Let It Out
• What's Gonna Happen to Us