Length 38:32 Artist Dragon Producer Peter Dawkins Genres Rock music, Pop music | Sunshine
(1977) Running Free
(1977) Release date 1977 Label Portrait Records | |
 | ||
Released 1977
1978 International release Similar O Zambezi, Running Free, Universal Radio, Dreams of Ordinary Men, Body and the Beat | ||
Dragon sunshine
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. Sunshine was released in 1977 by CBS Records and peaked at #24 on the Australian national albums charts. 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 alternative cover used (see infobox).
Contents
- Dragon sunshine
- Little dragon sunshine
- Background
- AustralianNew Zealand release
- International release
- Personnel
- Dragon
- Additional musicians
- Recording
- Artwork
- Songs
- References
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. Storey died of heroin overdose in September 1976, aged 22. 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).
Little dragon sunshine
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. 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.
Australian/New Zealand release
All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).
- "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:
Dragon
Additional musicians
Recording
Artwork
Songs
1Same Old Blues4:58
2Blacktown Boogie3:18
3Sunshine4:53