Sunflower (album)
Encyclopedia
Sunflower is the sixteenth studio album
by American rock group The Beach Boys
, their first on Reprise Records
. The album achieved number 151 on the US albums chart during a four week stay, becoming the lowest charting Beach Boys album until 1978's M.I.U. Album
equalled it. It reached #29 in the UK.
The album's critical reputation has grown since its original appearance. In 2003, the album was ranked number 380 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
. Sunflower is now paired on CD with Surf's Up. In 2009, it was re-released on LP by Capitol Records.
, Dennis Wilson
was the first Beach Boy to head back into the recording studio, producing five tracks in the first two months of 1969: "Forever
", "San Miguel", "Got to Know the Woman", "What Can the Matter Be?", and "Celebrate The News". Bruce Johnston
's "Deirdre" was also recorded during these sessions. In early March the entire band went into the studio to record "Loop de Loop" and "All I Wanna Do", and also finish up Dennis's "Forever".
On April 12, The Beach Boys sued Capitol Records
for unpaid royalties and unpaid production fees in the amount of two million dollars. This was the second time that they had sued Capitol (the first being in the spring of 1967), and it may have contributed to a lack of promotion of The Beach Boys' final Capitol releases.
They then turned their attention to "Break Away
", written by Brian Wilson
and his father Murry
, who used the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar. At the time, it was thought that it would be their last single for Capitol and was a very small hit in the U.S., where it reached number 63. It did much better overseas, peaking at number six in the UK. "Celebrate the News" was the b-side, and neither song was released on a Beach Boys album.
After they were done recording "Break Away", the band went on a tour of Europe. When they got back, they recorded two more Dennis Wilson songs, "Slip on Through
" and "I'm Going Your Way". Next on the agenda was a rerecording of "Cotton Fields
", a Lead Belly song that was released on The Beach Boys previous album, 20/20
. Al Jardine
was the producer for this recording of the song.
", "When Girls Get Together", "Soulful Old Man Sunshine
", "Raspberries, Strawberries", "This Whole World", and "Tears in the Morning
". They also continued work on Dennis's "Slip on Through".
In fall of 1969, The Beach Boys intensified work on their new project. Their reputation had fallen sharply in the US since 1967, but Mo Ostin
decided to sign them to Reprise Records
in November (reportedly on Van Dyke Parks
' urging) despite Brian Wilson
's personal attempts at sabotage by painting his face green before meeting with label executives. Part of the deal was to revive their Brother Records
imprint, initially founded during the Smile
era and used only for the Smiley Smile
album, and the "Heroes and Villains
" and "Gettin' Hungry
" singles before becoming dormant.
" and "Add Some Music to Your Day
", the latter of which was going to serve as the title of the new album. In addition, they recorded nine new songs: "Susie Cincinnati", "Fallin' in Love
", "Carnival", "I Just Got My Pay", "Take a Load Off Your Feet", "Good Time", "Back Home", and "Our Sweet Love". A rough piano run-through of The Beatles' "You Never Give Me Your Money
" was also taped.
After the final session (on February 2, to add car sound effects to "Susie Cincinnati"), they started to assemble the album, and released the lead single, "Add Some Music to Your Day". Reprise was so excited about the single that they convinced retailers to carry more copies of it than they ever had for any other Reprise single. Unfortunately for the band, the single (with the B-side "Susie Cincinnati") did not sell as well as they had hoped, only reaching number 64 on the Billboard top 100 chart.
After the Reprise single failed, Capitol Records released their last Beach Boys single, "Cottonfields". While it failed to chart in the US, the song hit #1 in Australia, Sweden, and Norway, and hit #5 in the UK. Before leaving for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, they finished putting the album together and submitted it to the label. Called Add Some Music, the album was rejected by Reprise. After listening to it, and after the failure of the lead single, Mo Ostin suggested that they come up with a few stronger tracks or their days at Reprise Records would be short-lived. The band was unhappy, but went into the studio one last time.
. Capitol had such little faith in the album that they chose to release it only where the Beach Boys' records were still selling respectably well—the UK. That business decision forced fans around the world into record stores to 'special order' the import version. The live album finally appeared as an official American release in 1976.
, was "Cool, Cool Water". Waronker, then an A&R executive at Warner Music, heard the unfinished tape, and convinced Wilson to finish the track for Sunflower. Waronker was so impressed with the song's inspired simplicity, that he noted, "If I ever get the opportunity to produce Brian, I'd encourage him to do something that combined the vividness of Good Vibrations
with the non-commercial gentleness of Cool, Cool Water."
The other song that they recorded was "It's About Time", a rocker that briefly became a concert staple for them. Bruce Johnston also rerecorded his vocal to "Tears in the Morning". After recording over 30 different songs, and going through several different album titles, The Beach Boys' Sunflower was finally released in August 1970.
(named The Hidden Valley Ranch) near Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, CA. Dean's son Ricci Martin, a friend of the band, took the photograph, also featuring Brian's daughter Carnie, Alan's first son Matthew (later an auxiliary Beach Boy himself), Mike's children Hayleigh and Christian (the latter a current touring member of the Beach Boys Band), and Carl's son Jonah.
The inner gatefold spread on the original vinyl LP featured a series of photographs taken by designer/photographer Ed Thrasher at the Warner Brothers studio backlot.
magazine gave the album four stars, saying it is one of the Beach Boys' best albums. Music critic Robert Christgau
gave it an A-. The album has gained more popularity since its release. In 2003, Rolling Stone named it the 380th Best Album of All Time in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
The vast majority of the album was recorded at Brian Wilson
's home studio in Bel Air.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American rock group The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, their first on Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
. The album achieved number 151 on the US albums chart during a four week stay, becoming the lowest charting Beach Boys album until 1978's M.I.U. Album
M.I.U. Album
M.I.U. Album is the 22nd studio album by The Beach Boys, released in 1978. Recorded at a fraught time for the band, only Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Brian Wilson appear throughout the album. Carl and Dennis Wilson are audible on only a few of the songs....
equalled it. It reached #29 in the UK.
The album's critical reputation has grown since its original appearance. In 2003, the album was ranked number 380 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. Sunflower is now paired on CD with Surf's Up. In 2009, it was re-released on LP by Capitol Records.
Early Sessions
After their last album, 20/2020/20 (The Beach Boys album)
20/20 is the sole 1969 album release by The Beach Boys, and their last studio album to be released with Capitol Records for the next seventeen years.-Recording:...
, Dennis Wilson
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
was the first Beach Boy to head back into the recording studio, producing five tracks in the first two months of 1969: "Forever
Forever (Beach Boys song)
"Forever" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and his close friend Gregg Jakobson. It was released in 1970 as the ninth track on The Beach Boys' Sunflower album and features Dennis on lead vocals. The song, along with the rest of the album was produced by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson declared,...
", "San Miguel", "Got to Know the Woman", "What Can the Matter Be?", and "Celebrate The News". Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
's "Deirdre" was also recorded during these sessions. In early March the entire band went into the studio to record "Loop de Loop" and "All I Wanna Do", and also finish up Dennis's "Forever".
On April 12, The Beach Boys sued Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
for unpaid royalties and unpaid production fees in the amount of two million dollars. This was the second time that they had sued Capitol (the first being in the spring of 1967), and it may have contributed to a lack of promotion of The Beach Boys' final Capitol releases.
They then turned their attention to "Break Away
Break Away (The Beach Boys song)
"Break Away" is a song recorded by The Beach Boys in 1969. Written by Brian Wilson and his father, Murry Wilson, is credited as lyricist using the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar...
", written by Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and his father Murry
Murry Wilson
Murry Gage Wilson was an American musician and record producer, best remembered as the father of The Beach Boys members Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson, uncle of bandmate Mike Love, and the husband of Audree Wilson...
, who used the pseudonym Reggie Dunbar. At the time, it was thought that it would be their last single for Capitol and was a very small hit in the U.S., where it reached number 63. It did much better overseas, peaking at number six in the UK. "Celebrate the News" was the b-side, and neither song was released on a Beach Boys album.
After they were done recording "Break Away", the band went on a tour of Europe. When they got back, they recorded two more Dennis Wilson songs, "Slip on Through
Slip on Through
"Slip on Through" is a song written by Dennis Wilson for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1970 album Sunflower. It was also released as a single, with the B-side of the single being "This Whole World". The single never charted in the U.S...
" and "I'm Going Your Way". Next on the agenda was a rerecording of "Cotton Fields
Cotton Fields
"Cotton Fields" is a song written by blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly who made the first recording of the song in 1940.-Early versions:...
", a Lead Belly song that was released on The Beach Boys previous album, 20/20
20/20 (The Beach Boys album)
20/20 is the sole 1969 album release by The Beach Boys, and their last studio album to be released with Capitol Records for the next seventeen years.-Recording:...
. Al Jardine
Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
was the producer for this recording of the song.
A new record label
After giving Live in London to Capitol, the band began to work seriously on a new album. In October and November 1969, they started recording "Walkin'", "Games Two Can Play", "Add Some Music to Your DayAdd Some Music to Your Day
"Add Some Music to Your Day" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Joe Knott and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was first released as a single in February 1970...
", "When Girls Get Together", "Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
"Soulful Old Man Sunshine" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Rick Henn for the American rock band The Beach Boys. The song was written and recorded in 1969, and finally released on the band's 1998 anthology album, the Endless Harmony Soundtrack....
", "Raspberries, Strawberries", "This Whole World", and "Tears in the Morning
Tears in the Morning
"Tears in the Morning" is a song written by Bruce Johnston for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1970 album Sunflower. It was also released as a single, with the B-side of the single being "It's About Time". The single never charted in the U.S...
". They also continued work on Dennis's "Slip on Through".
In fall of 1969, The Beach Boys intensified work on their new project. Their reputation had fallen sharply in the US since 1967, but Mo Ostin
Mo Ostin
Mo Ostin is a record executive who has worked for several companies, including Verve, Reprise Records, Warner Bros. Records, and DreamWorks. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 by Paul Simon, Neil Young, and Lorne Michaels...
decided to sign them to Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
in November (reportedly on Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
' urging) despite Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
's personal attempts at sabotage by painting his face green before meeting with label executives. Part of the deal was to revive their Brother Records
Brother Records
Brother Records, Inc. is a record label and holding company formed in October 1966 that holds the intellectual property rights of the Beach Boys, including the "The Beach Boys" trademark....
imprint, initially founded during the Smile
Smile (The Beach Boys album)
Smile is a previously unreleased album by The Beach Boys recorded throughout 1966 and 1967. The project was intended by its creator Brian Wilson as the follow-up to Pet Sounds, but was never completed in its original form...
era and used only for the Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile is the twelfth studio album by The Beach Boys, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling...
album, and the "Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains
"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
" and "Gettin' Hungry
Gettin' Hungry
"Gettin' Hungry" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1967 album Smiley Smile.- Information :...
" singles before becoming dormant.
Add Some Music sessions
After signing their new contracts, The Beach Boys redoubled their efforts in the studio, finishing up "Tears in the MorningTears in the Morning
"Tears in the Morning" is a song written by Bruce Johnston for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1970 album Sunflower. It was also released as a single, with the B-side of the single being "It's About Time". The single never charted in the U.S...
" and "Add Some Music to Your Day
Add Some Music to Your Day
"Add Some Music to Your Day" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Joe Knott and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was first released as a single in February 1970...
", the latter of which was going to serve as the title of the new album. In addition, they recorded nine new songs: "Susie Cincinnati", "Fallin' in Love
Lady (Dennis Wilson song)
"Lady" is a song written by Dennis Wilson that was released with Daryl Dragon as "Dennis Wilson & Rumbo" in the United Kingdom on the 4th of December, 1970 on Stateside Records. The song served as the B-side of the "Sound of Free" single. However, the single was not issued in the United States. The...
", "Carnival", "I Just Got My Pay", "Take a Load Off Your Feet", "Good Time", "Back Home", and "Our Sweet Love". A rough piano run-through of The Beatles' "You Never Give Me Your Money
You Never Give Me Your Money
"You Never Give Me Your Money" is a song by The Beatles that opens the climactic medley on side two of the album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney and is credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Structure:...
" was also taped.
After the final session (on February 2, to add car sound effects to "Susie Cincinnati"), they started to assemble the album, and released the lead single, "Add Some Music to Your Day". Reprise was so excited about the single that they convinced retailers to carry more copies of it than they ever had for any other Reprise single. Unfortunately for the band, the single (with the B-side "Susie Cincinnati") did not sell as well as they had hoped, only reaching number 64 on the Billboard top 100 chart.
After the Reprise single failed, Capitol Records released their last Beach Boys single, "Cottonfields". While it failed to chart in the US, the song hit #1 in Australia, Sweden, and Norway, and hit #5 in the UK. Before leaving for a tour of Australia and New Zealand, they finished putting the album together and submitted it to the label. Called Add Some Music, the album was rejected by Reprise. After listening to it, and after the failure of the lead single, Mo Ostin suggested that they come up with a few stronger tracks or their days at Reprise Records would be short-lived. The band was unhappy, but went into the studio one last time.
Reverberation
After returning from an extended tour of Australia and New Zealand, the band assembled an album from unused Add Some Music material which would finish their commitment to Capitol. It had working titles of Reverberation and The Fading Rock Group Revival. Although master tape (dated June 19, 1970) of songs was put together, this album was never released. It is unknown if Capitol rejected the album or if the Beach Boys never submitted it. The Beach Boys fulfilled their contract with Live in LondonLive in London (The Beach Boys)
Live in London is a live album by The Beach Boys, initially released by EMI in the UK in May 1970, and in the US via Capitol Records on November 15, 1976.-Background:...
. Capitol had such little faith in the album that they chose to release it only where the Beach Boys' records were still selling respectably well—the UK. That business decision forced fans around the world into record stores to 'special order' the import version. The live album finally appeared as an official American release in 1976.
Final Sunflower sessions
The Beach Boys recorded the last two Sunflower songs in July 1970. The first, recorded at the behest of Lenny WaronkerLenny Waronker
Lenny Waronker is a record producer for Warner Bros. Records.-Career:He produced recording sessions for Nancy Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, The Beau Brummels, Harpers Bizarre, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Arlo Guthrie, Maria Muldaur, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones, James Taylor, ...
, was "Cool, Cool Water". Waronker, then an A&R executive at Warner Music, heard the unfinished tape, and convinced Wilson to finish the track for Sunflower. Waronker was so impressed with the song's inspired simplicity, that he noted, "If I ever get the opportunity to produce Brian, I'd encourage him to do something that combined the vividness of Good Vibrations
Good Vibrations
"Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
with the non-commercial gentleness of Cool, Cool Water."
The other song that they recorded was "It's About Time", a rocker that briefly became a concert staple for them. Bruce Johnston also rerecorded his vocal to "Tears in the Morning". After recording over 30 different songs, and going through several different album titles, The Beach Boys' Sunflower was finally released in August 1970.
Artwork
The picture of the band on the front sleeve, featuring all six group members, was taken on the golf course at the family ranch owned by Dean MartinDean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
(named The Hidden Valley Ranch) near Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, CA. Dean's son Ricci Martin, a friend of the band, took the photograph, also featuring Brian's daughter Carnie, Alan's first son Matthew (later an auxiliary Beach Boy himself), Mike's children Hayleigh and Christian (the latter a current touring member of the Beach Boys Band), and Carl's son Jonah.
The inner gatefold spread on the original vinyl LP featured a series of photographs taken by designer/photographer Ed Thrasher at the Warner Brothers studio backlot.
Critical reaction
Despite not being the hit it was expected to be, Sunflower has been received well by critics. Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine gave the album four stars, saying it is one of the Beach Boys' best albums. Music critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave it an A-. The album has gained more popularity since its release. In 2003, Rolling Stone named it the 380th Best Album of All Time in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
Track listing
European track listing
This variation of the album was released by EMI subsidiary, Stateside Records, in November 1970. Its opening track was "Cottonfields." "Got to Know the Woman" and "Deirdre" were placed in inverse order on side 1. The contents of the individual tracks were unchanged. This track listing has been superseded with the regular Sunflower running order, now released worldwide.Singles
- "Add Some Music to Your Day" b/w "Susie Cincinnati" (Brother 0894), 23 February 1970; US #64
- "Cottonfields" b/w "The Nearest Faraway Place" (Capitol 2765), 20 April 1970; US #103, UK #5
- "Slip on Through" b/w "This Whole World" (Brother 0929), 29 June 1970
- "Tears in the Morning" b/w "It's About Time" (Brother 0957), November 1970
- "Cool, Cool Water" b/w "Forever" (Brother 0998), February 1971
Production notes
- Producer: The Beach BoysThe Beach BoysThe Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
- Chief engineer and mixer: Steve Desper
- Cover photo: Ricci Martin
- Other photos: Ed Thrasher
The vast majority of the album was recorded at Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
's home studio in Bel Air.
Sources
- Badman, Keith; Bacon, Tony. The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band on Stage and in the Studio (San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2004) ISBN 0-87930-818-4
- [ Bush, John. 'Sunflower', All Music (2005)] Retrieved July 24 2005.
- Elliott, Brad. Surf's Up: The Beach Boys On Record (1981)
- Whitburn, Joel. "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, 2002) ISBN 0-89820-147-0
- Whitburn, Joel. "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, 2002)
- White, Timothy. The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience (1994)
- White, Timothy. CD booklet notes, Sunflower/Surf's Up (2000)
- Wilson, Brian; Gold, Todd. Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story (1991).