Artist: MARILLION
Album: HAPPINES IS THE ROAD VOL. 1: ESSENCE (CD US-IMPORT)

Release date: 2008
Media type: CD

Happiness is the Road is Marillion's 15th studio album, released as two separate album-length volumes respectively entitled Essence and The Hard Shoulder. The overall playing time is 110 minutes (116 including a (semi-)hidden track), taking it to double album length. According to the band, the album combines their signature rock sound with "elements of pop, dub and soul and draws influence from artists as diverse as The Beach Boys and Marvin Gaye to Interpol, The Doors, Traffic, Pink Floyd and David Bowie. The album also sees Marillion experimenting with a host of new instruments including, Dulcimers, Glockenspiels a Harmonium, French Horns and even Sleigh bells a Harp and Zither." The title track "Happiness is the Road" was inspired by Eckhart Tolle's book The Power of Now. [1] The album's artwork was created by the Spanish artist Antonio Seijas in cooperation with Marillion's long-time designer Carl Glover.

It is available in various formats: Two separate jewel case CDs, high-quality (256 kbps) download (by purchasing "Front Row Club" credits at their web page), standard-quality download (128 kbps) (legally available on file-sharing networks), and a "deluxe campaign edition" containing both CDs and special artwork (see below). In most of the world, the physical formats are only available via mail-order from the band's website; as of October 2008, retail versions are available in the USA and Poland only.

All music written by Marillion, lyrics by Steve Hogarth.

TRACKLIST “Volume 1: Essence” :

"Dreamy Street" – 2:02
"This Train Is My Life" – 4:50
"Essence" – 6:29
"Wrapped Up in Time" – 5:06
"Liquidity" – 2:12
"Nothing Fills the Hole" – 3:23
"Woke Up" – 3:40
"Trap the Spark" – 5:43
"A State of Mind" – 4:33
"Happiness Is the Road" – 10:05
[Blank] – 1.59
"Half-Full Jam" – 6:48 ("Hidden track")

LINE-UP:

Steve Hogarth – vocals, keyboards
Mark Kelly - keyboards, backing vocals
Ian Mosley - drums, backing vocals
Steve Rothery - guitars, backing vocals
Pete Trewavas - bass guitar, backing vocals, guitars, clarinet on "Throw Me Out"

Additional musicians:
Sam Morris – French horn on "Real Tears For Sale"
S. Claydon – Arco Bass
S. Audley – Dulcimer
P. Bisset – "Additional Tuned Percussion"
Jon Hotten – "Overworked Tambourine"
Emil Hogarth – "Ultrasound Heartbeat" on "Dreamy Street"
Dawn Roberts – Finger Cymbal on "Essence"