Genre: soul
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Sunny
Company: Philips
Catalog: PHM 200-212
Year: 1966
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Country/State: US
Comments: mono pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4153
Price: $10.00
Cost: $1.00
Geez, the title track to this LP is literally one of the first songs I remember hearing on the radio as a child ... Ironically it wasn't until I was in my twenties that I found a copy of the parent LP, let alone learned the title track wasn't a love song to a woman, rather a tribute to Hebb's older brother Hai who was killed in a mugging the day after John F. Kennedy's assassination.
Having scored a massive international hit with the exceptionally cool single 'Sunny' b/w 'Bread' (Philips catalog number 40305), it was only natural that Bobby Hebb would find himself given an opportunity to record a supporting album. What's interesting is that unlike most supporting LPs, 1966's Jerry Ross produced "Sunny" is surprisingly impressive. Equally interesting, at first the set doesn't come off as being a traditional soul album in that it's too diverse for such a label. Gifted with an exceptionally versatile voice, Hebb takes capable stabs at pop ('Where Are You?'), blues ('Got You On My Mind') and even Motown-styled soul ('Good Good Lovin''). That said, the underlying feel is soul and some of the strongest songs, including 'You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It', Hebb's own 'Crazy Baby' and 'Bread' have a distinctive soul feel. Released as a follow-up single, 'A Satisfied Mind' b/w 'Love, Love, Love' (Philips catalog number 40400) provided Hebb with another top-40 hit. The title track remains the standout performance, but the entire LP is worth hearing.
"Sunny" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Sunny (Bobby Hebb) - 2:45
2.) Where Are You? (Adamson - McHugh) - 2:34
3.) Got You On My Mind (Biggs - Thomas) - 2:40
4.) Yes or No or Maybe Not (Bobby Hebb) - 2:29
5.) Good Good Lovin' (Cynthia Weil - Barry Mann - Weil) - 2:45
6.) Love, Love, Love (Jerry Renzetti - Jerry Ross) - 3:30
(side 2)
1.) A Satisfied Mind (Hayes - Rhodes) - 2:47
2.) You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It (Kenny Gamble - Jerry Ross) - 2:45
3.) I Am Your Man (Roach) - 2:31
4.) Crazy Baby (Bobby Hebb) - 2:15
5.) Bread (Jerry Renzetti - Jerry Ross) - 2:28
6.) For You (McCoy) - 2:41