Sunny [Original recording remastered]

Bobby Hebb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1966
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000BQOVO4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,759 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" (Philips 40365) has captivated generations with its immaculate melody and philosophy to always look at the bright side. Though many have speculated that Hebb wrote the song for God or for his brother and mentor, Hal Hebb, the singer has stated many times the tune is about a "sunny disposition." And though this one title loved by millions led to Bobby touring with The Beatles in 1966 and brought the Hebb name to prominence, the eleven other performances on the album are also of great substance and filled with entertainment value. "Sunny" became a #1 hit in Cashbox Magazine and #2 in Billboard the week of Bobby Hebb's 28th birthday, July 26, 1966. Less than four months later track #7, "A Satisfied Mind", would break the Billboard Top 40. Recorded by hundreds of artists from Vibraphonist Dave Pike to Frank Sinatra & Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Pat Martino, Stan Kenton, Herbie Mann, Frankie Valli, Roger Williams and so many others, the song and this album have a secure place in popular culture. Hearing the composition as interpreted by others is fascinating and a treat, but it is Bobby Hebb's original "Sunny" with backing vocals by his friends Melba Moore, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson that endures.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The price tag too high not to have included bonus material, August 19, 2004

By 

T. A. Shepherd "tas50l" (Lancaster, Ca. 93536) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunny (Audio CD)

Bobby Hebb enjoyed about four months of fame during the summer and fall of 1966 with two singles "Sunny" and "A Satisfied Mind". Sunny caused quite a stir on our local L.A. radio stations with its soulful arrangement and Hebb's deft vocals, but it was the follow-up (Satisfied Mind) that revealed his sensitive folk side possibly based on an early encounter with Richie Havens. The latter song had been popularised in the mid-fifties by a few country and folk singers including Mahalia Jackson. These two singles are part of the framework of this fabulous album. Within the half-hour or so program is an excellent reading of The Blossoms' hit, Good Good Lovin' and the bluesy Got You On My Mind with some righteous guitar work. Bread is a zany tune which was also the backside of Sunny. The Motownesque Love, Love, Love is a contageous song which ended up as the B-side of A Satisfied Mind. You Don't Know What You've Got is a firm R&B song if there ever was one. From what I can tell, these are mostly Hebb's compositions and they reveal that he had a keen sense for lyric and melody. Being a Japanese import though, many will find the price tag too high not to have included bonus material. Bobby's third single, Love Me, returned to the same feel that Sunny had, right down to the drum roll intro. He had hoped this would reclaim the same chart success, but unfortunately that sameness was a bit overstated and the artists dropped out of sight. Despite that fact, the song should have been added as well as maybe some outtakes or even some live performances. Forget about digging too deep in the pocket book for this and order the disc from Hip-O Select for about 2/3 the price. Again, this version has no bonus tracks either, but for under 20 bucks, it beats these Japanese prices! I only wish we Americans liked our own music as much as our friends overseas.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Album. An Album Of Classics (not just a hit single), December 6, 2010

By 

ELdorado5 (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sunny (MP3 Download)

A lot of soul LPs in the mid-60s weren't that good. Usually you'd have the hit single, and boy, what a hit Sunny was and maybe one or two good tracks and a bunch of second rate covers of 'current' hits.
NOT THE CASE HERE.
This album is fiiled to the brim with original songs that stand out and could have been hits on their own. There are a couple of clunkers, but the good outweigh the bad. Especially fantastic 'You Don't Know What You Got Until You Loose It' & ' A Satisfied Mind'.
Bobby had a style of his own, whether interpreting someone else's songs or singing his own.
This is really a classic 1966 ALBUM, not just an album that was rushed out to cash in on a hit song. You read the expression 'forgotten gem' quite a lot on online reviews but this is definitely the case here. It's just a shame that it came out when soul albums weren't really expected to deliver very much, so I guess it was overlooked. But I feel it's almost my duty to recommend this whole album to anyone who has clicked onto this page and is wondering whether Bobby had more to him that 'Sunny'. Well, the answer is most definetely 'Yes, yes, yes'.
Great voice. Great tunes (most of them). Excellent production.
Groovy finger clicking soul sounds, wonderfully typical of 1966 and a few deeper slower numbers, but not slushy or dreary the way quite a lot of them were then, but subtle growers. Worth every penny!

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than I thought, March 21, 2007

By 

Jack F. Chavoor (Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunny (Audio CD)

It's a little on the poppy side but still pretty good.Not a lot of grit but there is a certain innocence to it that is appealing. If you like soul that sounds like it was aiming for a white audience, this is your stuff. Three and a half stars.