Sunny (Bobby Hebb song)
"Sunny" | ||||
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Jerry Ross | ||||
Bobby Hebb singles chronology | ||||
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"Sunny" is a
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.[3]
Events influenced Hebb's songwriting, but his melody, crossing over into R&B (#3 on
Chord progression's legacy
Its sixteen-
𝄀 Em7 𝄀 G7 𝄀 Cmaj7 𝄀 F7 𝄀
The fourth and final four-bar phrase is a ii–V7–i that settles on the song's tonic:
𝄀 F♯m7 𝄀 B7 𝄀 Em 𝄀 𝄎 𝄂
Elements of this "Sunny" chord progression are found in some later jazz and pop songs, notably:[4]
- Red Clay (title track of Freddie Hubbard's 1970 album Red Clay) loops the "Sunny" progression's first four bars for soloing (but modifies the first V7–I into a full ii–V7–I and modifies the ii–V7 in the last bar into a iiø–V7)
- If You Want Me to Stay (from Sly and the Family Stone's 1973 album Fresh)
- Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing (from Stevie Wonder's 1973 album Innervisions)
- Angela (the )
- Electric Lady (from Janelle Monáe's 2014 studio album The Electric Lady)
- double-timereordering of the "Sunny" progression's first four bars. Subvariants of this progression can be found, for example, in:
- Thank U, Next (from Ariana Grande's 2019 album Thank U, Next) can be thought of as a half-time variant
Mieko Hirota versions
"Sunny" was first recorded by Japanese vocalist
She later released a live version on the albumミコR&Bを歌うin 1968 which goes through the first form with piano as a
Dave Pike version
In America it was released by marimba player 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 Hirota's version, also played on this version.
Bobby Hebb versions
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. Its form modulates up a half step every cycle after the second cycle and ends with a looped tag.
"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.[5]
American TV series
Weekly charts
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada RPM Top Singles[6] | 2 |
Japanese Singles Chart | 86 |
Netherlands
|
2 |
New Zealand (Listener)[7] | 16 |
South Africa (Springbok)[8] | 7 |
UK Singles Chart[9] | 12 |
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 2 |
US Billboard R&B Singles | 3 |
US Cash Box Top 100[11]
|
1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1966) | Position |
---|---|
Dutch Singles Chart[12] | 31 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 27 |
US Cash Box[14] | 3 |
Cher version
Cher sung the song on her third solo LP Chér, 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
Chart (1966) | Peak position |
---|---|
Danish Singles Chart[15] | 8 |
Dutch Singles Chart[16] | 1 |
Finnish Singles Chart[17] | 9 |
Norwegian Singles Chart[18] | 1 |
Swedish Singles Chart[19] | 3 |
UK Singles Chart[20] | 32 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1966) | Position |
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Dutch Singles Chart[12] | 31 |
Sunny '76
"Sunny '76" | |
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Single by Bobby Hebb | |
B-side | "Proud Soul Heritage" |
Released | 1975 |
Genre | Disco |
Length | 3:31 |
Label | Laurie (US) |
Songwriter(s) | Bobby Hebb |
Producer(s) | Joe Renzetti & Marty Sheriden |
"Sunny '76'" is a
The
Boney M. version
"Sunny" | ||||
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Euro disco | ||||
Length | 4:01 | |||
Label | Hansa Records (FRG) Atlantic Records (UK) Atco Records (U.S.) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bobby Hebb | |||
Producer(s) | Frank Farian | |||
Boney M. singles chronology | ||||
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Audio video | ||||
"Boney M. - Sunny (Official Audio)" on YouTube |
Euro disco group
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 Mark Ronson for his 2003 song "Ooh Wee" and 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.[24]
Charts
Chart (1976–77) | Peak position |
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Austria Singles Chart | 1 |
Belgium Singles Chart | 1 |
Finland ( Suomen Virallinen)[25]
|
6 |
France Singles Chart | 1 |
Germany Singles Chart
|
1 |
Ireland Singles Chart | 4 |
Israel ( IBA)[26]
|
1 |
Italy (Musica e dischi)[27] | 21 |
Japan Singles Chart | 41 |
Netherlands Singles Chart | 1 |
New Zealand Singles Chart | 17 |
Norway Singles Chart | 4 |
South Korea Singles Chart | 1 |
Sweden Singles Chart | 11 |
Switzerland Singles Chart | 2 |
UK Singles Chart | 3 |
2000 remix
"Sunny (Remix)" | ||||
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BMG Records (FRG) | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Bobby Hebb | |||
Producer(s) | Frank Farian | |||
Boney M. singles chronology | ||||
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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
- British singer Georgie Fame in 1966
- Andy Williams covered the song on his 1967 album Born Free
- Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra 1968 album[28]
- Stevie Wonder covered the song on his 1968 album For Once In My Life
- The Electric Flag covered the song in 1968, published as a bonus track on 1988 Columbia Records reissue of album A Long Time Comin'
- Frankie Valli covered the song in 1968 on his album Timeless and again in 2007 on his album Romancing the '60s
- Classics IV covered the song for its 1969 album Traces
- Christophe Willem covered the song in 2006 (#3 in France, #9 in Belgium (Wallonia), #17 in Switzerland)[29]
- American singer and songwriter One World: Together at Home[30]
- Jamie Jones of American R&B group, All-4-One covered the song in 2021[31]
References
- ISBN 978-1-61713-009-0.
- ^ "BMI's Top 100 Songs Of The Century". Archer2000.net. Archived from the original on 2014-07-13. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ Maddox, David. "One So True | Stories". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ Cleary, Tom (2019-11-26). "A history of the chord progression from Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny', and an original tune based on it ('Eye On The Sky')". BirdFeed. Archived from the original on 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1966-09-05. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "CHER | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 8/27/66". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ a b Dutch Singles Chart (1966). "Dutch Singles Chart; End of year charts". Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966". Tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
- ^ "Denmark's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "Holland's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard magazine. October 12, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ "Norway's Best-Sellers" (PDF). Cash Box Magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ "Swedish's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox magazine. October 29, 1966. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "Cher's UK chart history". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Boney M. - Sunny". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ "BONEY M | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres N° 1 des 70's". Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ Topham, Michelle (2 August 2020). "Listen to Boney M.'s 'Sunny' from The Umbrella Academy, Season 2, Episode 3, "The Swedish Job"".
- ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- ^ 8 April 1977
- ISBN 9781093264906.
- ^ Robinson, Michael (2021). "That Gleam That Flows With Grace: Duke Ellington and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra". Azure Miles Records. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Christophe Willem - Sunny". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
- ^ Antwane Folk (2021-07-20). "Jamie Jones of All-4-One Releases New Song 'Sunny'". ratedrnb.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.