Beat Happening
Studio album by Beat Happening
Released	1985
Recorded	1983 – 1985
Genre	Indie pop, lo-fi
Length	19:01 (original LP) 51:13 (1990 reissue)
Label	K
Producer	Greg Sage
Beat Happening chronology
Beat Happening (1985) Jamboree (1988)

Beat Happening is the debut album by Beat Happening, released in 1985 through K Records. It was produced by Greg Sage, singer and guitarist for post-punk band Wipers.

Background and recording

Beat Happening was formed in 1982 in Olympia, Washington by vocalist and guitarist Calvin Johnson, who was working as a radio DJ at the KAOS station, drummer Heather Lewis and guitarist Heather Laura. They contributed to a Sub Pop sampler under the name Laura, Heather and Calvin in 1983; that same year, Bret Lunsford took Laura's position in the band. Their early sound, which lacked a bassist, was akin to the work of the Cramps, as captured on the cassette EPs Beat Happening and Three Tea Breakfast.^[1] They began working on their debut studio album with local musician Greg Sage of the Wipers in December 1983. "Our Secret", one of the first two songs tracked, was released as a standalone single. Further sessions were held in late 1984.^[2]

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Alternative Rock	6/10[2]
Pitchfork	9.0/10[4]

Beat Happening played consistent shows on a roughly monthly basis at the Tropicana club in Olympia throughout 1984.^[2]

In 1986, the album was reissued with "Our Secret" and "What's Important", the two tracks from Beat Happening's first single. These were placed as the fourth and fifth track, with "fourteen" and "Bad Seeds (live)" pushed to the sixth and seventh place on the same side.^[5]

The album has been reissued multiple times since its initial release with slightly altering track listings, sometimes under the title "1983-85". The version with the most comprehensive tracklist is the initial 1990 CD on the Feel Good All Over label.^[6]

Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that the band's "primary objective was to make records which retained the freshness of the ideas that spawned the songs in the first place. This lack of complication and contrivance would remain Beat Happening's touchstone for the remainder of their career." He noted that the 1983–85 version was "draining, but complete."^[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Calvin Johnson, Bret Lunsford, and Heather Lewis.

Original 1985 tracklist

1983–85

Notes:

• 1-4 produced by Greg Sage, Dec. 11, 1983, Young Pioneers' practice room, the old Fire House.
• 5, 7, 8, 10 recorded Nov. 27, 1983, Ray Apts. number three.
• 6 live broadcast, Dec. 11, 1983, KAOS-FM.
• 9 recorded by Rich Jensen, Jan. 1984, 13th Precinct, Portland, Or
• 11, 12, 14, 15 recorded Spring 1984, Nakameguro, Tokyo, Japan, and 13 recorded April 4, 1984, Takashimadaira, Tokyo, Japan
  • These five tracks were taken from the band's 1984 EP "Three Tea Breakfast"
• 16-20 produced by Greg Sage, Nov. 1984, YoYo Studio.
  • 16 originally appeared on K Records compilation cassette, "Let's Together"
• 21 recorded late Fall 1984, Thompson Apts.
• 22 produced by Patrick Maley, Nov. 1984, the Recital Hall.
• 23-26 recorded Feb. 13, 1985, Martin Apts. number twelve
  • 23 originally appeared on K Records compilation cassette, "Let's Kiss"
  • 24 originally titled as "One Two Three" and appeared on K Records compilation cassette, "Let's Sea"

Personnel

Adapted from original LP liner notes.^[7]

• Calvin Johnson – guitar and vocals
• Heather Lewis – drums, guitar, and vocals
• Bret Lunsford – guitar and drums
• Greg Sage – producer
• Pat Maley – producer, bongos on "Bad Seeds"