Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 12:13:54 GMT
So with these damp,grey days and dark nights it might be time to let some Sunshine Pop back into our lives. A retrospectively named genre to define studio concoted soft pop or folk from the late 60s, usually West Coast American, that was characterised by harmonies, colourful instrumentation and a smooth but warm sound. Usually made by session musicians under the auspices of a studio auteur like Curt Boettcher or Gary Usher. I devoured this stuff in the early 2000s, but I must admit I've not been listening to it much in the last few years and feel it's time to reacquaint myself with the genre.
If I had to pick one record that's a personal love which also typifies the genre, I think I'd choose 'Can't Find the Time' by Orpheus. This is atypical in some ways in that Orpheus were an actual band ( coming, like a lot of these artists, out of the early 60s folk scene) and the track was recorded not in California but in New York. However its sound and euphoric melody epitomise the pleasures of Sunshine Pop. A wonderfully commanding vocal, lots of clever instrumental bits (is that a piccolo?) which add hooks and colour, strings so warm and deep you can take a bath in them and a track of pure melody that delights in its peaks and detours. Released in January 1968, here they are miming to it on tv. Luxuriate and be swept away..
So thoughts on the genre..? And post your own favourites and perhaps say something about them, but try to confine it to one vid per post as I want to savour each track. Cheers!
|
|
nolamike
star
Old Fart At Play
Posts: 874
|
Post by nolamike on Nov 21, 2019 14:47:56 GMT
I've really gotten into this stuff a LOT over the past few years.
This one is an obvious choice, but I think it's absolutely perfect. Great harmonies, great melody, gleefully dopey lyrics, and nothing but joy all around.
|
|
nolamike
star
Old Fart At Play
Posts: 874
|
Post by nolamike on Nov 21, 2019 15:26:07 GMT
I may be alone on this island, but I've always liked this one-hit-wonder:
|
|
loveless
god
Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
Posts: 2,749
Member is Online
|
Post by loveless on Nov 21, 2019 15:27:27 GMT
I may be alone on this island, but I've always liked this one-hit-wonder: I came here to post this. Played it in my DJ set this past Saturday, etc.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 17:00:27 GMT
Nice one, I really enjoyed that. Incidentally the b-side "Fireball" is worth checking out - a demented, fuzz driven surf instrumental. You can't believe it's by the same band!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 17:35:11 GMT
Growing up in an era of Saturday morning cartoon and sitcom TV theme songs, along with groups like the Carpenters and the Partridge Family, I grew up with this stuff. I remember Feeb was really into this stuff too and he and I would discuss it on BCB occasionally. I think my favorite of these groups is Harper's Bizarre, originally from Santa Cruz, so fans don't feel betrayed that I don't mention the SF Bay Area in every post.
Here's a favorite of mine of theirs, later in their career.
I absolutely love the Partridge Family and the theme from Mary Tyler Moore.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 18:26:21 GMT
Here's another side of Sunshine Pop. I originally came across this on one of the Fading Yellow comps. I know nothing about the group, but sometimes such lack of contextual information can help add to its disconnected, other-worldly appeal. This track comes from the more narcoleptic, blissed out side of Sunshine Pop. The opiated, marshmallow softness of this track means it crosses over into a genuinely eerie weirdness.
|
|
|
Post by ernie on Nov 21, 2019 20:59:05 GMT
Is Begin by The Millennium the best sunshine pop album?
This might be my favorite off it besides "To Claudia on Thursday"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 21:02:22 GMT
Here's another side of Sunshine Pop. I originally came across this on one of the Fading Yellow comps. I know nothing about the group, but sometimes such lack of contextual information can help add to its disconnected, other-worldly appeal. This track comes from the more narcoleptic, blissed out side of Sunshine Pop. The opiated, marshmallow softness of this track means it crosses over into a genuinely eerie weirdness. Can you get me some opiated marshmallows?
|
|
|
Post by Charlie O. on Nov 21, 2019 21:11:20 GMT
A longtime favorite:
|
|
fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
Posts: 4,522
|
Post by fange on Nov 21, 2019 22:29:45 GMT
Good lord, this thread should have a sugar content warning sticker attached. I'm a sucker for this stuff in occasional doses though, this is a fave by The Yellow Balloon....
|
|
fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
Posts: 4,522
|
Post by fange on Nov 21, 2019 22:52:09 GMT
Would you say this is a more contemporary take on Sunshine pop? I think the lyrical imagery fits, as do the changes.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 23:13:29 GMT
Let's not dilute the thread with slacker indie. The Association have provided some of the finest moments of the genre and this is their crowning glory.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 23:24:34 GMT
Good lord, this thread should have a sugar content warning sticker attached. I tend to dislike as much as I love in this genre. I'm not keen on everything that's been posted on this thread for instance (but keep posting people!)..if it gets too nursery rhyme, 'hello flowers' I tend to bail. It has to have a certain sophistication to work I think. It's kind of like the difference between Abba and The Brotherhood of Man. It is admittedly a thin line at times.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2019 23:30:20 GMT
Here's the track that got me into the genre. I loved this track from Midnight Cowboy for absolute years and (this is pre-internet days) was always looking for something that sounded similar. This was harder than it sounds as this genre was sort of under the radar in the UK for many years.
|
|