Sunshine (Dragon album)

Sunshine

Original 1977 cover
Studio album by Dragon
Released February 1977
1978 International release
Genre rock / pop
Length 38:32
Label CBS
Portrait
Producer Peter Dawkins
Dragon chronology
Scented Gardens for the Blind
(1975)Scented Gardens for the Blind1975		 Sunshine
(1977)		 Running Free
(1977)Running Free1977
Singles from Sunshine
  1. "This Time"
    Released: 1976
  2. "Get that Jive"
    Released: March 1977
  3. "Sunshine"
    Released: 18 July 1977
Sunshine

1978 International release

Sunshine is the third studio album by New Zealand-Australian rock band Dragon, it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney in May 1975.[1][2][3] Sunshine was released in February 1977 by CBS Records and peaked at #24 on the Australian national albums charts.[4] The single "This Time" had been released in late June 1976, which peaked at #26 on the Australian national singles charts.[4] The second single "Get that Jive" was the best charting peaking at #13 and the third single "Sunshine" reached #36.[4] The album had US and International releases in 1978 on Portrait Records, with "This Time" called "In the Right Direction" and an alternative cover used (see infobox).

Dragon had released two progressive rock albums in New Zealand but in Sydney they were moving to a rock / pop sound and sent for keyboardist Paul Hewson of rival kiwi group Mammal.[3] Hewson joined Dragon with Marc Hunter on vocals and his older brother Todd Hunter on bass guitar, Neil Storey on drums and Robert M. Taylor on lead guitar.[5] Storey died of heroin overdose in September 1976, aged 22.[6][7][8] Their debut single "This Time" had begun charting, they considered disbanding but continued with ex-Mammal drummer Kerry Jacobson to complete the album.[3] The album was dedicated to Neil Storey (1954–1976).

Background

After Dragon relocated to Sydney in May 1975 they landed a contract with CBS Records when record producer Peter Dawkins caught one of their performances.[2][3][6] Dragon co-founder Ray Goodwin left the group in 1975, so Dragon sent for keyboard player Paul Hewson who had a reputation, in New Zealand, as a pop songwriter.[3] Hewson, ex-Mammal, had been scouted by Dragon when they were still in New Zealand but had declined to join.[3] Often courting or creating controversy, the band was rocked by the heroin overdose death of drummer Neil Storey in September 1976, aged 22.[6][7][8] By then, their debut single "This Time" had begun charting.[6] After considering disbanding, Todd Hunter consulted with former manager Graeme Nesbitt (ex-Mammal) who advised him to continue and organised for Kerry Jacobson (ex-Mammal) to join on drums.[3]

Track listing

Australian/New Zealand release

All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).[9]

  1. "Same Old Blues" (Paul Hewson) - 4:54
  2. "Blacktown Boogie" (Marc Hunter, Robert M. Taylor, Todd Hunter) - 3:15
  3. "Sunshine" (Hewson) - 4:50
  4. "On the Beachead" (Taylor) - 3:59
  5. "This Time" (Hewson, M Hunter, Neil Storey, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:07 ^^
  6. "Get that Jive" (Hewson) - 2:44
  7. "Street Between Your Feet" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:19
  8. "New Machine" (Hewson) - 3:47
  9. "MX" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 3:28
  10. "The Letter" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:09

International release

  1. "Same Old Blues" (Hewson) - 4:54
  2. "Blacktown Boogie" (M Hunter, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:15
  3. "Sunshine" (Hewson) - 4:50
  4. "On the Beachead" (Taylor) - 3:59
  5. "In the Right Direction" (Hewson, M Hunter, Storey, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:07 ^^
  6. "Get that Jive" (Hewson) - 2:44
  7. "Street Between Your Feet" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:19
  8. "New Machine" (Hewson) - 3:47
  9. "MX" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 3:28
  10. "The Letter" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:09

(^^) "This Time" was renamed "In the Right Direction" for International release but is otherwise the same.

Charts

Chart (1977) Position
Australian Kent Music Report[10] 24

Personnel

Credited to:[11]

Dragon

Additional musicians

Recording

Artwork

References

  1. ↑ "ARIA Hall of Fame - Dragon". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 2008-05-22. Archived from the original on 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  2. 1 2 "Groups & Solo Artists - Ariel". Milesago. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dragon". Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  4. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  5. ↑ "Dragon". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nimmervoll, Ed. "Dragon". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Marc Hunter (1953-1998)". MILESAGO. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  8. 1 2 "Dragon history". Dragon Online. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  9. ↑ "APRA search engine". APRA. Archived from the original on January 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. SAME OLD BLUES
  10. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988..
  11. ↑ "Images for Dragon (5) - Dragon". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-08-23. Note: some details also taken from Sunshine album cover notes
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