Hi all, one of my personal favourite songs is " happiness is just around the bend". Brian Auger and oblivion express write and recorded the original version in 73, covered and billboard hit for main ingredient in 74.

I'm aware of the later Cuba gooding version and it was sampled a lot in early 90' house records. Considering it's popularity I can't find any other versions, does anyone know of any other versions of the song? Many thanks in advance. 

Another Auger / Driscoll (Tippets) fan, I love it...  found this one, which is not really a great excursion from the original, and features Auger... collaboration more like?

 

here you go mate, from that 'who did it first' website...

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend - Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - 1973
(First recording in March 1973)

Happiness Is Just Around the BendThe Main IngredientFebruary 1974

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend - Cuba Gooding 1983

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend- Kenya Travitt 2009

Happiness Is Just Around the BendVintage Lounge Orchestra - March 19, 2012

Happiness Is Just Around the BendJeff Golub with Brian Auger - August 13, 2013

2 hours ago, Mal C said:

here you go mate, from that 'who did it first' website...

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend - Brian Auger's Oblivion Express - 1973
(First recording in March 1973)

Happiness Is Just Around the BendThe Main IngredientFebruary 1974

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend - Cuba Gooding 1983

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend- Kenya Travitt 2009

Happiness Is Just Around the BendVintage Lounge Orchestra - March 19, 2012

Happiness Is Just Around the BendJeff Golub with Brian Auger - August 13, 2013

Thank you, I've seen mentions of an AWB version but I can't find any trace of it. 

2 hours ago, Mal C said:

Another Auger / Driscoll (Tippets) fan, I love it...  found this one, which is not really a great excursion from the original, and features Auger... collaboration more like?

 

Great backing but in not so keen on his vocal, thanks

Yeah I agree, original is best in this case me thinks... 

Way before Brian Auger formed Oblivion Express ... when he was switching from jazz to soul ... he was the subject of a UK music mag feature ...

THEN ... after his time with Steam Packet & then Julie D as a mod / soul icon, he became very popular in the US and played all the big venues over there (Filmore West & East, etc) ... it was his popularity over there that resulted in his OBLIVION EXPRESS period and his original version of this thread's track ... 

Edited August 5, 2024Aug 5 by Roburt

The Main Ingredient version is my fave.