The success of Sweet Inspiration (CDCHD 1284) and A Road Leading Home (CDCHD 1370) not to mention constant customer requests for another volume has more than warranted a further Ace dip into the songwriting catalogue of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. It's taken a while to come together, but the wait has been more than worthwhile. Happy Times brings you another two-dozen examples of their stellar collaborations and goes even deeper into their sheaf of copyrights than the previous volumes have done. Here Ace feature tracks from their time working together in Muscle Shoals and Memphis, with a broad spread of repertoire than embraces deep soul, sweet soul, southern pop, country and even an instrumental. Star names here include Dan's pet project the Box Tops, Sandy Posey, Wilson Pickett, Ronnie Milsap, B.J. Thomas and many others whose careers intersected in the 60s with those of Dan and Spooner to everyone's advantage. Almost none of the versions of the songs featured here have been on any previous Ace CD. Many have never been on CD at all. With a booklet chock full of information and illustrations, and the usual Ace attention to detail in the annotation, Happy Times is yet another salute to the words and music of these two magnificent songwriters.

1. I DO – June Conquest
2. CHEATERS NEVER WIN – Tony Borders
3. HAPPY TIMES – The Box Tops
4. UP TIGHT GOOD WOMAN – Wilson Pickett
5. HEY MISTER – Sandy Posey
6. STRANGEST FEELING – Bill Brandon
7. DESTROYED – The Yo-Yos
8. YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO HURT A GUY – Arthur Conley
9. BIG LOUIE – Guy Darrell
10. THE POWER OF LOVE – Don Varner
11. IN THE SAME OLD WAY – Bobby Bare
12. HANDY – Merrilee Rush
13. BROADWAY WALK – Bobby Womack
14. MY MAN (MY SWEET MAN) – June Edwards
15. HELLO THERE – James & Bobby Purify
16. HELP ME FIND MY GROOVE – Dee Dee Sharp
17. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU – Percy Sledge
18. GOODIES – The Goodees
19. EVERYBODY’S GOT TO CRY SOMETIMES – Art Freeman
20. I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU – Jeanie Greene
21. I PRAY FOR RAIN – B J Thomas
22. BLUE SKIES OF MONTANA – Ronnie Milsap
23. THESE BARS HAVE MADE A PRISON OUT OF ME – Terry Melcher
24. I’LL BE YOUR BABY – Spooner’s Crowd