"Halcyon Days" is the eighth studio album by American singer and pianist Bruce Hornsby, released in 2004. This album marks Hornsby's first release with Columbia Records and features his touring band, the Noisemakers. It signifies a return to a more acoustic, piano-driven sound, often described as pure Hornsby.
One notable track, What The Hell Happened, is recognized for its use of bitonality, where two different keys are played simultaneously, a rare feature in pop music. The album also includes contributions from prominent artists such as Sting, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. Songs like "Gonna Be Some Changes Made, Candy Mountain Run, Dreamland, and Circus On The Moon became popular in live performances, showcasing Hornsby's improvisational skills and the Noisemakers' dynamic sound.
Additionally, Halcyon Days features a suite of solo piano tracks What The Hell Happened, Hooray For Tom, and Heir Gordon which have been compared to the style of Randy Newman. The track Gonna Be Some Changes Made was used in several Lowe's commercials starting in 2006. Although the album was less experimental than Hornsby's previous release Big Swing Face, it was well-received for its balance of tunefulness and adventurous spirit.
