Sunshine is the third studio album by New Zealand[1] rock band Dragon, it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney, Australia in May 1975.[2][3][4]Sunshine was released in February 1977 by CBS Records and peaked at #24 on the Australian national albums charts.[5] The album was certified gold.[6] The single "This Time" had been released in late June 1976, which peaked at #26 on the Australian national singles charts.[5] The second single "Get that Jive" was the best charting peaking at #13 and the third single "Sunshine" reached #36.[5] 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).
Dragon had released two progressive rock albums in New Zealand but in Sydney they were moving to a pop rock sound and sent for keyboardist Paul Hewson of rival kiwi group Mammal.[4] 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.[7] Storey died of heroinoverdose in September 1976, aged 22.[8][9][10] Their debut single "This Time" had begun charting, they considered disbanding but continued with ex-Mammal drummer Kerry Jacobson to complete the album.[4] 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.[3][4][8] 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.[4] Hewson, ex-Mammal, had been scouted by Dragon when they were still in New Zealand but had declined to join.[4] Often courting or creating controversy, the band was rocked by the heroinoverdose death of drummer Neil Storey in September 1976, aged 22.[8][9][10] By then, their debut single "This Time" had begun charting.[8] 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.[4]
Recording
Marc Hunter acknowledged the difference from the band's earlier prog-rock records. He said, "We used to have about ten styles, but we narrowed it down to about four of the album. We thought if we went out and did everything we could do it'd be confusing for anyone who was listening. The wonderful record company though it would be too."[11]
Reception
Rip It Up noted that the song-writing in the band had matured, saying, "A few might argue that Dragon, in adopting a more commercial format, have forsaken their Art: a few more may grumble about the weaker songs on side two, but I for one see their adoption of a tried and true style as good discipline."[12]
RAM said, "It's a refined set covering a multiplicity of styles, a fervent statement of life from a band who've most of their time in Oz teetering on the brink of oblivion."[11]
^ abcdNimmervoll, Ed. "Dragon". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
^"APRA search engine". APRA. Archived from the original on 24 January 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008. Note: requires user to input song title e.g. SAME OLD BLUES
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives: Australian Chart Book. p. 94. ISBN0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
