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Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Sunny'" is a soul jazz standard written by Bobby Hebb in 1963. It is one of the most performed and recorded popular songs, with hundreds of versions released. BMI rates "Sunny" No. 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century".
Background and composition
Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians. Hebb and his older brother Harold performed as a song-and-dance duo in Nashville, beginning when Bobby was three and Harold was nine. Hebb performed on a TV show hosted by country music record producer Owen Bradley.
Hebb wrote the song after his older brother, Harold, was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub. Hebb was devastated by the event and many critics say it inspired the lyrics and tune. According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a '"sunny"' disposition over a '"lousy"' disposition following the murder of his brother.
Events influenced Hebb's songwriting, but his melody, crossing over into R&B (#3 on U.S. R&B chart) and Pop (#2 on U.S. Pop chart), together with the optimistic lyrics, came from the artist's desire to express that one should always "look at the bright side". Hebb has said about "Sunny": "All my intentions were to think of happier times and pay tribute to my brother basically looking for a brighter day because times were at a low. After I wrote it, I thought 'Sunny' just might be a different approach to what Johnny Bragg was talking about in 'Just Walkin' in the Rain.'"
Mieko Hirota version
"Sunny" was first recorded by Mieko "Miko" Hirota the "Connie Francis of Japan" and Billy Taylor trio (feat. Ben Tucker and Grady Tate) on the Columbia records release "Miko in New York" (1965), recorded in New York. It was also released on the audio album Hit Kit Miko, Vol. 2 (October 20, 1965).
Dave Pike version
In America it was released by marimbaphonist Dave Pike on Atlantic Records in 1966 on the 'Jazz for the Jet Set' album, recorded in New York City on October 26 and November 2, 1965. Grady Tate, who played drums on Mieko Hirotas version, also played on this version.
Bobby Hebb version
The personnel on the Bobby Hebb recording included Joe Shepley, Burt Collins on trumpet, Micky Gravine on trombone, Artie Kaplan and Joe Grimaldi on sax, Artie Butler on piano, Joe Renzetti and Al Gorgoni on guitar, Paul (PB) Brown and Joe Macho on bass, Al Rogers on drums and George Devens on percussion. The song was recorded while the session was in overtime; many of the studio musicians booked for that date had to leave early for other recording sessions. Joe Renzetti was the arranger.
"Sunny" was originally part of an 18-song demo recorded by producer Jerry Ross, also famous for Spanky and Our Gang, Keith's "98.6" and "Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" by Jay & the Techniques (Hebb was offered this song but didn't want to be considered a novelty act and let the song go to Jay Proctor).
"Sunny" was recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York City and released as a single in 1966. It met with immediate success, which resulted in Hebb touring in 1966 with the Beatles. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late August 1966.
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Sunny '76
"Sunny '76'" is a disco take on Bobby Hebb's song. Like the original 1966 version, it features Hebb; however, an updated disco beat was implemented with an eye to having it played in discos around the world. This version was arranged by Joe Renzetti, who also arranged the original record.
The 7-inch single was released in late 1975. The B-side featured another song of Hebb's called "Proud Soul Heritage".
Cher version
Cher recorded the song for her third solo LP 'Chr', an album of covers released in October 1966. It was released as the third single off the album for the European and Asian markets, achieving success mostly in Scandinavian countries. It is considered to be a tribute to her then husband, Sonny Bono.
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Boney M. version
{{Infobox song
| name = Sunny
| cover = Sunny - boney m single.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Boney M.
| album = Take the Heat off Me
| B-side = "New York City"
| released = November 22, 1976
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Euro disco
| length = 4:01
| label = Hansa Records (FRG)
Atlantic Records (UK)
Atco Records (U.S.)
| writer = Bobby Hebb
| producer = Frank Farian
| prev_title = Daddy Cool
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = Ma Baker
| next_year = 1977
| misc =
}}
Euro disco group Boney M. recorded the song for their 1976 debut album, 'Take the Heat off Me', produced by Frank Farian and arranged by Stefan Klinkhammer in a Euro-disco arrangement. Following their breakthrough single "Daddy Cool", "Sunny" topped the German charts and reached the top ten in many other countries.
The single's B-side was "New York City", a reworked version of Gilla's (another Farian artist) 1976 hit single "Tu es!" and its English version "Why Don't You Do It", which had an intro borrowed from the Boney M. album track "Help Help". This was issued in some territories instead of "Baby Do You Wanna Bump" on "Take the Heat off Me".
The track was remixed and reissued several times in 1988, 1999 (it was a minor hit single in early 2000) and 2015, and was sampled by Boogie Pimps on their 2004 version. While Liz Mitchell sang the original lead vocals on Boney M.'s version, original member Maizie Williams recorded a solo version in 2006. The original version was also featured in the Umbrella Academy Season 2 soundtrack.
Charts
2000 remix
The final single from Boney M.'s remix album '20th Century Hits' which peaked at #80 in the Swiss charts. The CD single was released with 8 mixes. A "London Mix" was released on the promotional double-12" single.
Other notable cover versions
* Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington included a cover of the song on their 1968 jazz album Francis A. & Edward K.
* 'Andy' 'Williams' covered 'Sunny' on his 1967 album, 'Born Free.' Due to the popularity of his version, it became a concert staple throughout his long performing career.
* Stevie Wonder included a cover of the song on his 1968 album For Once in My Life.
* Ronnie Dove covered the song in 1971 for the independent 'Wrayco' label. He would later rerecord the song for his 'The Bird Is Back' album in 1985.
* Hong Kong singer and actor Ricky Hui included a Cantonese version of the song, entitled 'Boss' (), in his 1980 album 'From Riches To Rags' ().
* Christophe Willem covered the song in 2006 (#3 in France, #9 in Belgium (Wallonia), #17 in Switzerland).
* American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell covered the song as part of the TV special, 'One World: Together at Home.'
* Jamie Jones of American R&B group, All-4-One covered the song in 2021.
References
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