Sunshine (Dragon album)

Infobox Album
Name = Sunshine
Type = studio
Artist = Dragon


Caption = Original 1977 cover
Released = 1977 1978 International release
Recorded =
Genre = rock / pop
Length = 38:32
Label = CBS Portrait
Producer = Peter Dawkins
Reviews =
Last album = "Scented Gardens for the Blind" (1975)
This album = "Sunshine" (1977)
Next album = "Running Free" (1977)
Misc = Singles
Name = Sunshine
Type = single
Single 1 = This Time (In the Right Direction)
Single 1 date = 1976
Single 2 = Get that Jive
Single 2 date = 1977
Single 3 = Sunshine
Single 3 date = 1977 Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = "Sunshine"
Type = album


Cover size =
Lower caption = 1978 International release
Border = |

"Sunshine" is the third album by New Zealand / Australian rock band Dragon, it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney in May 1975.cite web |url=http://www.ariahalloffame.com.au/inductees/dragon.htm |title=ARIA Hall of Fame - Dragon |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |date=2008-05-22 |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] cite web |url=http://www.milesago.com/artists/ariel.htm |title=Groups & Solo Artists - Ariel |publisher=Milesago |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] cite web |url=http://www.sergent.com.au/dragon.html |title=Dragon |publisher=Bruce Sergent |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] "Sunshine" was released in 1977 by CBS Records and peaked at #24 on the Australian national albums charts.cite book |title=Australian Chart Book 1970-1992 |format=doc |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink= David Kent|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6 |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] The single "This Time" had been released in late June 1976, which peaked at #26 on the Australian national singles charts. The second single "Get that Jive" was the best charting peaking at #13 and the third single "Sunshine" reached #36. The album had US and International releases in 1978 on Portrait Records, with "This Time" called "In the Right Direction" and an alternate 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. 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.cite web |title=Dragon |publisher=Australian Rock Database |editor=Magnus Holmgren |url=http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/d/dragon.html |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] Storey died of heroin overdose in September 1976, aged 22.cite web |title="Marc Hunter (1953-1998)" |publisher=MILESAGO |url=http://www.milesago.com/Obits/hunterobit.htm |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] cite web |title=Dragon history |publisher=Dragon Online |url=http://www.dragononline.com.au |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] Their debut single "This Time" had begun charting, they considered disbanding but continued with ex-Mammal drummer Kerry Jacobson to complete the album. 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.cite web |url=http://www.howlspace.com.au/en/dragon/dragon.htm |title=Dragon at Howlspace |publisher=Ed Nimmervoll |accessdate=2008-08-23 ] 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. Hewson, ex-Mammal, had been scouted by Dragon when they were still in New Zealand but had declined to join. Often courting or creating controversy, the band was rocked by the heroin overdose death of drummer Neil Storey in September 1976, aged 22. By then, their debut single "This Time" had begun charting. 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.

Tracklisting

Australian / New Zealand release

All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).cite web |publisher=APRA |title=APRA search engine |url=http://www.apra.com.au/site/public/searchworksresult.stm |accessdate=2008-08-23 Note: requires user to input song title e.g. SAME OLD BLUES]
# "Same Old Blues" (Paul Hewson) - 4:54
# "Blacktown Boogie" (Marc Hunter, Robert M. Taylor, Todd Hunter) - 3:15
# "Sunshine" (Hewson) - 4:50
# "On the Beachead" (Taylor) - 3:59
# "This Time" (Hewson, M Hunter, Neil Storey, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:07 ^^
# "Get that Jive" (Hewson) - 2:44
# "Street Between Your Feet" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:19
# "New Machine" (Hewson) - 3:47
# "MX" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 3:28
# "The Letter" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:09

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

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

Personnel

Credited to: [cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=870463 |title=Images for Dragon (5) - Dragon |publisher=Discogs |accessdate=2008-08-23 Note: some details also taken from "Sunshine" album cover notes]

Dragon members
*Paul Hewson — keyboards
*Marc Hunter — lead vocals
*Todd Hunter — bass guitar
*Kerry Jacobson — drums (except "This Time")
*Neil Story — drums on "This Time"
*Robert M. Taylor — guitars (electric, acoustic)

Additional musicians
*Tony Buchanan — tenor saxophone on "Sunshine"
*William Motzing — brass arranger

Recording details
*Producer — Peter Dawkins
*Engineer — Bruce Brown @ Albert Studio
**Additional engineering — Wyn Wynard
*Manager — Sebastian Chase

Art work
*Art Direction & Design — J. Peter Thoeming
**International release, Illustrator — Julia van Henneside
**International release, Design — Nancy Donald, Tim Stocke
**International release, Inner sleeve logo — Andy Capel
*Cover Photography — Carroll Holloway

References