October 07, 2024

Roger Hodgson - Hai Hai (1987)

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Hai Hai is the second solo album by ex-Supertramp singer/guitarist/keyboardist Roger Hodgson, released in October 1987. 
Co-produced by future No Doubt and Black Crowes producer Jack Joseph Puig, and recorded at Hodgson's 48-track home studio in Nevada City, California, the album is a merger of Supertramp-styled progressive pop-rock and extensive use of Los Angeles session musicians and late-1980s synthesizer technology.
 Hai Hai features ten songs, all of which were written by Hodgson, with the exception of "Land Ho", an old Supertramp song (at the time never released on an album but only as a single), which Hodgson co-wrote in 1974 with his long-time partner Rick Davies. Hodgson had previously recorded the song in 1983 for his solo album In the Eye of the Storm, but it was never released.

With this release,Hodgson dove head first into the '80s sound, both with production and instruments. 
Gone was the music of Supertramp(long, drawn-out prog/art rock pieces), and in its place, '80s dance-pop, not unlike Wang Chung. 
Hodgson wanted to leave the past behind him, and with the help of top session players (including drummer Jeff Porcaro), he seemed to want to branch out and experiment with other forms of music, such as reggae, pop, dance, and synth pop. The problem is that for the most part, it did not work. 
The songs lack the melodies that he is capable of writing, and the lyrics are at times juvenile and embarrassing (for example "Who's Afraid," or "My Magazine"). 
He may have had the best intentions, and he may have been trying to say something, but the poetry reads like a bored high school student wrote them. 
And while he hints at experimentation with other forms of music, he does not go far enough. For example, the listener is left with the small flavor of reggae without the structure or commitment to go all the way with the sound. 
The brief shining moments harken back to the Supertramp days, including a song he wrote with fellow Supertramp member Rick Davies in 1974 (the highlight of the album, the brilliant and moving "Land Ho"). 
He relies way too much on technology, and the music comes off as sounding cold and distant. 
What could have been beautiful melodies are lost in the heavy electro beat production and arrangements.


Track listing

  1. "Right Place" 4:15
  2. "My Magazine" 4:30
  3. "London" 4:11
  4. "You Make Me Love You" 5:09
  5. "Hai Hai" 5:28
  6. "Who's Afraid?" 4:57
  7. "Desert Love" 5:26
  8. "Land Ho"  (Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson) 4:06
  9. "House on the Corner" 5:30
  10. "Puppet Dance" 5:16
All songs written by Roger Hodgson, except where noted.


Personnel
  • Roger Hodgson - Vocals, Synclavier Drums (5), Keyboards (3, 4, 5, 7-10), Piano (6), Synthesizer (6, 10), Synth bass (1, 4), Guitars (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), 12-String Guitar (7), Bass (7), Backing Vocals (1, 3-5, 8-10)
  • Dan Huff - Guitars (1, 3, 5, 6-10)
  • Ken Allardyce - Harmonica (1, 5), Rhythm Guitar (3), Backing Vocals (3, 8)
  • Nathan East - Bass (3, 6, 9 & 10)
  • Leland Sklar - Bass (8)
  • Robbie Buchanan - Synths (1), Synth Programming (4, 6, 10), Synth Bass (5), Fender Rhodes Piano (6), Keyboards (3-5, 9)
  • David Paich - Synth Bass (2), Hammond Organ (2), Synth Brass (2)
  • Steve Porcaro - Synth Programming (2)
  • Larry Williams - Saxophone (3), Synth Programming (7)
  • Mikail Graham - DX7 Seetar Solo (3)
  • Rhett Lawrence - Fairlight Programming (5, 8, 10), Synths (10)
  • Eric Persing - Synth Programming (5, 6)
  • Albhy Galuten - Synclavier Drums (5)
  • Bruce Albertine - Synclavier Drums (5)
  • Omar Hakim - Drums (1)
  • Joseph Pomfret - Drums (1, 4, 6-8) [this is a pseudonym for Hodgson himself; Joseph is his second name and Pomfret his mother's surname[citation needed]]
  • Jeff Porcaro - Drums (2-4, 6, 9)
  • Carlos Vega - Drums (7, 8)
  • Lenny Castro - Percussion (1-6, 8-10)
  • Anni McCann - Backing Vocals (1, 3-5, 8-10)
  • Willie Hines - Backing Vocals (2)
  • Brad Lang - Backing Vocals (2)
  • Claire Diament - Backing Vocals (3)
  • Marc Russo - Saxophone (8)

Companies, etc.
Credits
Notes
Released:  9 October 1987
Recorded:  Nevada City, California
Genre:  Dance-pop, pop rock, synthpop
Length:  48:48
Producer(s):  Roger Hodgson, Jack Joseph Puig

Label - A&M Records

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