Sunshine Superman (song)

"Sunshine Superman"
Single by Donovan
from the album Sunshine Superman
B-side"The Trip"
Released1 July 1966 (1966-07-01)
Recorded19 December 1965 (1965-12-19)[1]
StudioEMI, London
Genre
Length
  • 3:15 (single/album version)
  • 4:34 (full-length version)
LabelEpic
SongwriterDonovan
ProducerMickie Most
Donovan singles chronology
"Remember the Alamo"
(1966) 		"Sunshine Superman"
(1966) 		"Mellow Yellow"
(1967)

"Sunshine Superman" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released as a single in the United States through Epic Records (Epic 5–10045) in July 1966, but due to a contractual dispute the United Kingdom release was delayed until December 1966, where it appeared on Donovan's previous label, Pye Records (Pye 7N 17241). The single was backed with "The Trip" on both the US and UK releases. It has been described as "[one of the] classics of the era",[9] and as "the quintessential bright summer sing along".[10][11]

"Sunshine Superman" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States (Donovan's only single to do so) and subsequently became the title track of his third album.[12] When finally released in the UK, it reached No. 2. A different mix of "The Trip" (without harmonica) is also included in the album. The single version of "Sunshine Superman" was edited down from its original four-and-a-half minutes to just over three, and this version was also used on the album; the full-length version made its debut on the Donovan's Greatest Hits LP in 1969.

Musical style

Recorded on 19 December 1965,[1] the song "has a claim to be the first psychedelic rock record ever recorded" according to The Guardian.[13] It was arranged by two jazz musicians, pianist John Cameron and Spike Heatley, who played double bass. John Paul Jones, who would also act as an arranger on some Donovan sessions for producer Mickie Most, played electric bass. Session guitarist Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin) played lead guitar, employing an innovative use of the volume control on his guitar for the repeating figure he played during the verses. Cameron played a two-tier Morley harpsichord on the record. After the success of the song, Cameron would arrange (and play on) many tracks for Donovan and Most.[14]

Release and reception

"Sunshine Superman" was initially readied for release on Pye Records in the UK on 28 January 1966,[15][16][17] originally backed by "Sunny South Kensington".[18] After being delayed one week, Pye cancelled the release under the assertion that label could not release a Most production, as the producer was signed with EMI.[17] In the US, where Clive Davis had signed Donovan with CBS Records, Most's involvement was unproblematic as the producer already had a contract with CBS.[19] As such, "Sunshine Superman" got its first release as a single on 1 July 1966 in the US on Epic Records,[20] this time with "The Trip" on the B-side.[21] It wasn't until Donovan negotiated a new Pye contract that the label relented and released "Sunshine Superman" as a single in the UK on 2 December 1966.[22]

Billboard described the single as a "rockin' production ballad with an exciting, commercial sound".[23] Cashbox described the song as a "funky, medium-paced, blues-soaked romancer about a lad who is determined to snare the gal of his dreams", and called it "impressive".[24] Record World said it "has an incessant and irresistible mid shuffle beat."[25]

Following the release of the hit song, the name "Sunshine Superman" became widely associated with Donovan himself, and was used as the title or part of the title of about six of his album releases and reissues (including several compilations and a live album as well as being used as the title track of his 1966 studio album).

Personnel

Chart performance

The Sports version

"Sunshine Superman"
Single by the Sports
from the album The Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan)
B-side"Cargo Cult"
ReleasedNovember 1981 (1981-11)
StudioAAV Studios, Melbourne
GenrePop rock
Length3:11
LabelMushroom
SongwriterDonovan
ProducerJames "Jimbo" Barton
The Sports singles chronology
"When We Go Out Tonight"
(1981) 		"Sunshine Superman"
(1981) 		"Black Stockings (For Chelsea)"
(1982)

Australian rock band The Sports released a version as the lead single from their extended play album, The Sports Play Dylan (and Donovan). The song peaked at number 22 on the Australian Kent Music Report.[41]

Charts

Chart (1981) Position
Australian Kent Music Report 22

References

References

  1. ^ a b Houghton 2011, p. 11.
  2. ^ Bell, Robin (13 February 2016). The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 – 1966. Lulu Press, Inc. p. 263. ISBN 978-91-981916-6-0.
  3. ^ Grunenberg, Christoph; Harris, Jonathan; Harris, Jonathan P. (2005). Summer of Love: Psychedelic Art, Social Crisis and Counterculture in the 1960s. Liverpool University Press. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-85323-919-2.
  4. ^ Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll: Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Touchstone. 8 November 2001. p. 276. ISBN 978-0-7432-0120-9.
  5. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Great Moments in Folk Rock: Lists of Author Favorites". richieunterberger.com. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  6. ^ Davud Burger (23 January 2012). "Sundance music: Donovan to headline BMI Snowball with Dawes". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 18 July 2013. "Donovan will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this spring and is best known for psychedelic folk songs such as 'Sunshine Superman' and 'Catch the Wind'."
  7. ^ Marvin E. Paymer (1993). Garland Publishing Inc. (ed.). Facts behind the songs: a handbook of American popular music from the nineties to the '90s. p. 248. ISBN 978-0824052409. "[Donovan] later proved himself a talent with the release of his original psychedelic folk [single] "Sunshine Superman""
  8. ^ Greene, Doyle (2014). The Rock Cover Song: Culture, History, Politics. McFarland. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-4766-1507-3.
  9. ^ Erlewine., Stephen Thomas. "Donovan's Greatest Hits". AllMusic.
  10. ^ Bush, John (2002). AllMusic Guide to Rock (Bogdanov et al ed.). p. 330. ISBN 0-87930-653-X.
  11. ^ "Donovan: Sunshine Superman (US)". AllMusic.
  12. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 48 – The British are Coming! The British are Coming!: With an emphasis on Donovan, the Bee Gees and the Who. [Part 5]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  13. ^ Petridis, Alexis (12 May 2011). "Donovan: bring me sunshine … again". The Guardian.
  14. ^ Here's One I Made Earlier, podcast. https://open.spotify.com/episode/7D7g30OxApQzi9igqSmjB0?si=QRHhrQL-RLm4SxvTpO61HA
  15. ^ Anon. (22 January 1966). "Donovan Will Star in His Own 'Fantasy' Film" (PDF). Melody Maker. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  16. ^ Anon. (22 January 1966). "Don Disc Titled Changed Yet Again" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  17. ^ a b Murdoch 2005, p. 12.
  18. ^ Anon. (15 January 1966). "Carnegie Hall Solo for Donovan" (PDF). Melody Maker. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  19. ^ Murdoch 2005, pp. 12–13.
  20. ^ Thompson 2024, p. 354.
  21. ^ Murdoch 2005, p. 14.
  22. ^ Thompson 2024, pp. 235–236, 354.
  23. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 16 July 1966. p. 16. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  24. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 16 July 1966. p. 36. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 16 July 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Sunshine Superman in Australian Chart". Poparchives.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Donovan – Sunshine Superman" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  28. ^ "Sunshine Superman in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Sunshine Superman in French Chart" (in French). Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013. You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Donovan"
  30. ^ "Sunshine Superman in Irish Chart". IRMA. Retrieved 18 July 2013. Only one result when searching "Sunshine Superman"
  31. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donovan" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  32. ^ "Donovan – Sunshine Superman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. ^ "NZ Listener". Flavour of New Zealand, 4 November 1966. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  34. ^ "1966 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 31st December 1966". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  35. ^ "Donovan awards on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  36. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 3, 1966". Tropicalglen.com.
  37. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Sixties City – Pop Music Charts – Every Week of the Sixties". Sixtiescity.net.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com.
  40. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966".
  41. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 288. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian singles and albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.

Sources

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