Producer Murry Wilson-father of the Beach Boys' Brian, Dennis and Carl-helped catapult this Southern California surf band to stardom. Here are 27 of the best cuts from their 1965 sessions for Capitol's Tower Records division, including their three hits- Andrea; I Live for the Sun , and Still -plus Outta Gas; Car Party; Jo Ann , and more.![Sunrays-The-Very-Best-Of-1.jpg]()
Murry Wilson promoted this Southern California Surf band after the Beach Boys (with his 3 sons Brian, Carl, and Dennis) went thier own road, and were able to produce, write, and perform music the way that they wanted. Murry, although he helped get them in the door of the music business, wanted more controll on the group than they wanted.
To make a long story short, Murry decided that if the Beach Boys didn't want him, he'd create is own "Beach Boys" and promote them. That's what he did with a group that came to be known as "The Sunrays".
Apparently one of the lead singers (Rick Henn) had already written a song called "I Live For The Sun" before the group got it's name. They recorded a full album for Tower records (a sub-division of Capitol records), and recorded the album itself (titled "Andrea") in the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. They released a single ahead of that (both sides penned and produced by Murry Wilson), called "Car Party" and "Outta Gas", but it was "I Live For The Sun" and "Andrea" that would become their best known songs. The rest of the album has more songs by Rick Henn, as well as other original compositions by various band members.
They never got national airplay (or very little), and only played small clubs, appeared on TV on "Shindig" once, and once opened for the Beach Boys (ironic huh?). But at least in Southern California and surrounding areas, they were well known (and probably more so now, as they were mentioned in the recent Beach Boys TV movie). After "Andrea" was released at the end of 1965, they recorded a few more singles, then kind of faded away.
On the technical side...the entire "Andrea" LP is included on this disc in stereo. The fidelity and sound is fantastic. I own the original LP (in MONO though), and the CD sounds just as good, possibly better. Also included on this CD is thier first Tower single "Car Party/Outta Gas", and a handful of post-Andrea singles. The singles are in MONO, but the LP cuts are in STEREO.
Without soundclips here, if you haven't heard their music before, it's very reminiscent of early Beach Boys records; good harmony, some falsetto singing, and some horns mixed in with the songs. Just straight forward goodtimes surfing/beach style songs.
The LP cuts were produced by Murry Wilson and Don Ralke. Don Ralke arranged some of the tracks on that album, and Hiam King arranged the others.
I know it's just another person's opinion (mine), but I hope this review helps. It's not only a valuable and historic set of recordings, but they're very good too!Mr. Saratoga, the Music Man
After being dismissed from the Beach Boys' team, Wilson-clan father Murry set out to recreate some of the sunshine magic he'd helped market with his sons' band. The new quintet included schoolmates of Carl Wilson and featured singer/songwriter Rick Henn as the group's leader. Murry's connections swung a record deal with the Capitol subsidiary Tower, and after a misfiring single that paired two of the elder Wilson's car songs ("Outta Gas" b/w "Car Party"), the group hit locally in 1965 with the Henn-written "I Live for the Sun," charting at #51. The follow-up (also by Henn), "Andrea," faired slightly better, just missing the top-40 the following year. A self-titled LP for Tower (including only one more sappy Murry Wilson tune, "Bye Bye Baby") and a few singles generated little commercial interest, with the side "Still" grazing the bottom of the top-100 in 1966.
The group's harmonies, particularly on their first single, were clearly inspired by The Beach Boys. But the soaring falsetto of "I Look Baby - I Can't See" is closer to New York groups like The Tokens, and the lush harmonies on many tracks suggest the vocal arrangements of The Association. There is some great West Coast sunshine pop here, with the multipart vocals supplemented by horn charts and swinging dance beats. The band recorded at top-notch facilities United Western and Goldstar with engineering by Chuck Britz and Stan Ross, and the high quality results can be heard in Collectables crisp stereo reissue (mono on 1-2, 15-16, and 18-21). Tracks 3-14 constitute the group's LP (though "I Live for the Sun" is moved from its original seventh spot to the top of the order to reflect its pre-LP release). Tracks 15-21 are assorted singles, and the remaining six bonus tracks include a TV mix of "I Live for the Sun," new half-and-half mixes (instrumental, with vocals kicking in mid-song) of "Andrea" "Jo Ann" and "You Don't Phase Me," and the backing track for "Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously.”(Hyperbolic)
trax:
01 Outta Gas 02 Car Party 03 I Live For The Sun 04 Andrea 05 A Little Dog And His Boy 06 Have To Be Myself 07 I Look Baby--I Can't See 08 You Don't Phase Me 09 Still 10 Jo Ann 11 Better Be Good To Me 12 Bye Baby Bye 13 Tears In My Eyes 14 Since My Findin' You 15 When You're Not Here 16 Goodnight Debbie, Goodnight 17 Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously 18 Just 'Round The River Bend 19 Hi, How Are You 20 Loaded With Love 21 Time (A Special Thing) 22 I Live For The Sun (Alternate Version) 23 Andrea (Alternate Version) 24 Jo Ann (Alternate Version) 25 You Don't Phase Me (Alternate Version) 26 Just 'Round The River Bend (Alternate Version) 27 Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously (Alternate Instrumental Version)
…served by Gyro1966...
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Murry Wilson promoted this Southern California Surf band after the Beach Boys (with his 3 sons Brian, Carl, and Dennis) went thier own road, and were able to produce, write, and perform music the way that they wanted. Murry, although he helped get them in the door of the music business, wanted more controll on the group than they wanted.
It's just me having fun with my 45's and whatever random record I pull out of the boxes. I will try to give both sides of the 45 unless one side is unbearable. I hope you enjoy. (Gyro1966)
trax:
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