Happiness (Elliott Smith song)

"Happiness" is a song by American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. It was released on February 8, 2000 by record label DreamWorks as the first single from his fifth studio album, Figure 8. It was also released on 7-inch vinyl by Cavity Search.

"Happiness"
Single by Elliott Smith
from the album Figure 8
B-side	"Son of Sam (acoustic version)"
Released	February 8, 2000
Genre	Indie rock power pop
Length	5:15 (single version) 5:04 (album version)
Label	DreamWorks Cavity Search
Songwriter(s)	Elliott Smith
Producer(s)	Elliott Smith Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf
Elliott Smith singles chronology
"Baby Britain" (1999) "Happiness" (2000) "Son of Sam" (2000)

Recording and content

Jon Brion sings backup vocals on "Happiness".

On early recording reels, the song was labeled as "Tom's Start".^{[citation needed]}

Release

"Happiness" was released on February 8, 2000^[1] by record label DreamWorks as the first single from his fifth studio album, Figure 8. The single did not chart in the United States.^[2]

The single version is a slightly different mix of the song that was released on the album. On Figure 8, the track is labeled as "Happiness/The Gondola Man" due to the short instrumental that plays after "Happiness" ends. On the single, an entirely different instrumental follows the song. The instrumental that follows on the single is a reversed clip of "Take a Fall", a song recorded in Smith's early duo called A Murder of Crows.^{[citation needed]} This song shouldn't be confused with other Smith songs "Taking a Fall" and "How to Take a Fall".

Critical reception

CMJ New Music Report wrote, "While the tune's production recalls the shimmer of XO, it possesses curiously upbeat energy atypical for Smith".^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Happiness (single version)"	5:15
2.	"Son of Sam (acoustic version)"	3:05

Personnel

• Elliott Smith – vocals, guitars, bass, drums, piano, organ, marching drum
• Jon Brion – backing vocals