AMG Review of Happiness Is the Shades of Blue

Andrew Hamilton
All Music Guide

Impact did a lousy job promoting this lovely, harmony-filled LP. Created around "Oh How Happy," written by Edwin Starr, the rest of the album incorporates that same happy feeling, even when the lyrics are sad. "Happy" climbed to #12 on ~Billboards Pop Chart, but none of these other delightful tracks came close to that. Impact rightfully followed the hit with "Lonely Summer," also written by Starr, and it should have matched its predecessor yet the lovely, pop doo-wopish floater stalled at #72. "Happiness" written by John Rhys continued the descent, managing only a #78 showing. The album's most soulful numbers: "With This Ring," (not the Platters' version), and "Way To Love You" were written by Barney "Duke" Browner, who later wrote the deep soul classic "Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)." A totally underappreciated production, one that you put on and let play until the end.