Sunshine pop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sunshine pop, also known as sunshine rock, is a musical movement that incorporated much of the lighter rock music from the United States Of America, and particularly California in the mid to late 60s and early into the 1970s. While there is no formal definition of the sound, the most common elements would appear to be harmony vocals, a full production sound and a generally optimistic attitude. Related styles include Baroque pop, folk-rock, bubblegum pop, and psychedelia.
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[edit] History
While no single influence can be credited with starting the Sunshine Pop sound, early evidence could be seen in the mid-60s Beach Boys records such as The Beach Boys Today!. The mid 60s saw a number of big hits from bands that are normally associated with the genre such as Cherish by The Association, Up, Up and Away by The Fifth Dimension and California Dreaming by The Mamas and the Papas. In the later 60s, harder edged rock styles and the singer/songwriter genre came to the fore, and many of the bands associated with the genre struggled for commercial success. This included the Beach Boys, who were commercially very unsuccessful in the USA after 1967, until the mid 70s. However, records that are associated with the genre continued to be put out until the early 70s, by which time many of the bands associated with the genre had split up, faded into obscurity, or (as with the Beach Boys with the more soulful sound on records such as Carl and the Passions) moved onto different styles of music.
[edit] Artists
The best known artists in the genre (those who had significant hits) include
- The Beach Boys (not generally known as a Sunshine Pop group but at least parts of their 1965-1971 work can be regarded as in the genre)
- The Mamas and the Papas
- The Association
- The Fifth Dimension
Other artists who are generally regarded as part of the genre include
- Strawberry Alarm Clock
- The Cowsills
- The Yellow Balloon
- The Sunshine Company
- Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends
- Eternity's Children
- Spanky and Our Gang
- The Millennium
- The Ballroom
- The Free Design
[edit] Songwriters and producers
While some very well-known bands are associated with the style, songwriters and producers played an important role in shaping the Sunshine Pop sound as well. Apart from the production influence of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, other producers generally regarded as influential for the genre include Gary Usher, Curt Boettcher and Gary Zeckley. Songwriters included Jimmy Webb and Paul Williams.
[edit] Revival
There has been some revival of interest in the genre, in particular with groups like The Free Design being re-appraised in the late 1990s, as well as Brian Wilson's touring and release of Smile. Indeed, the sound is being to some extent by some of the musicians associated with Brian Wilson's band such as the Wondermints and The Now People. Other current artists associated with the revival of the genre are Belle & Sebastian, The Heavy Blinkers, The Green Fields, & The Ladybug Transistor.
