The first recorded songs for ‘Happiness Is The Road’ are the classic-Marillion harder rock sound， which are contained on the second volume – ‘The Hard Shoulder’; but the first volume， ‘Essence’， features Marillion at their innovative prowess with a tortured， melancholic concept album written during the recording for ‘The Hard Shoulder’. The result was an experimental album of two halves: an atmosphere-heavy ‘Essence’ focusses a spotlight on some impressive synth production and Steve Hogarth’s masterfully emotive vocals， building up to the riff-heavy and more accessible ‘The Hard Shoulder’. This edition of ‘Happiness Is The Road – Essence’ is released as a double LP pressed on to 180g heavyweight audiophile vinyl and presented in a gatefold packaging.

SIDE A:
1. Dreamy Street
2. This Train Is My Life
3. Essence
SIDE B:
1. Wrapped Up In Time
2. Liquidity
3. Nothing Fills The Hole
4. Woke Up

SIDE C:
1. Trap The Spark
2. A State Of Mind
SIDE D:
1. Happiness Is The Road
2. Half Full Jam