"Happy Ending" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was recorded as a duet with Elaine Caswell and released in April 1984 as the second single from Jackson's sixth studio album Body and Soul. The song was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. "Happy Ending" reached No. 58 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Background
In a 1984 interview, Jackson discussed the song's sound and lyrical message,
Critical reception
On its release, Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the song a 7.5 out of 10 rating and commented, "Attractive male/female vocal sparring in a catch song, even if they do seem in a hurry to see the end of it."
Billboard described "Happy Ending" as "uptempo pop" that was in "middle ground between the spontaneous-sounding R&B of "You Can't Get What You Want" and the precise craftsmanship of Jackson's Night and Day hits." David Okamoto of The Tampa Tribune felt the song deserved to be a hit and described it as "wonderfully empty-headed boy-meets-girl love song in the '60s tradition".
In a review of Body and Soul, Steve Pond of the Los Angeles Times noted the song "rolls along at an infectious pace while tossing out echoes of the Ronettes along the way". Eleni P. Austin of The Desert Sun praised the song's "killer tenor sax solo" that "blends into a complete brass blast". She also added, "Caswell's voice is somewhat similar to Ronnie Spector's and it lends itself quite nicely to Jackson's breathy vocals".
Track listing
7" single
"Happy Ending" - 3:39
"Loisaida" - 5:33
7" single (US promo) "Happy Ending" - 3:39 "Happy Ending" - 3:39
12" single (UK release) "Happy Ending" - 3:39 "Loisaida" - 5:33
Personnel
Happy Ending
Joe Jackson - vocals, alto saxophone
Elaine Caswell - vocals
Vinnie Zummo - guitar
Ed Roynesdal - piano
Tony Aiello - tenor saxophone
Mike Morreale - trumpet
Graham Maby - bass
Gary Burke - drums
Loisaida
Joe Jackson - piano
Ed Roynesdal - synthesisers
Vinnie Zummo - guitar
Tony Aiello - alto saxophone
Mike Morreale - flugelhorn, trumpet
Graham Maby - bass
Gary Burke - drums
Production
Joe Jackson - producer, arranger
David Kershenbaum - producer
Rik Pekkonen - engineer
Bernie Grundman - mastering
Other
Melanie Nissen - cover design
Charles Reilly - photography
Charts
References
1984 songs
1984 singles
Joe Jackson (musician) songs
Songs written by Joe Jackson (musician) Song recordings produced by David Kershenbaum A&M Records singles