Sunshine (The Emotions album)

Last updated
Sunshine
The Emotions (Sunshine).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1977
Genre R&B, soul
Label Stax
Producer Al Bell (tracks: A1, B1, B4, B3), Al Jackson, Jr. (tracks: A2, A4, A5, B3), Jim Stewart (tracks: A2, A4), Jo Hutchinson (tracks: A3, B2), Marvell Thomas (tracks: A1, B1, B4), Pervis Staples (tracks: A3, A5), William C. Brown III (tracks: A1, B1, B4)
The Emotions chronology
Rejoice
(1977)
Sunshine
(1977)
Sunbeam
(1978)

Sunshine is an album by American girl group the Emotions, released in November 1977 by Stax Records. The album reached No. 39 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. [1] The Emotions covered Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Carla Thomas' "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" on the album.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone called Sunshine "harder edged, more classically soulful than (Rejoice)." [4] John Storm Roberts of High Fidelity wrote: "Fantasy Records has begun reissuing some of the old Stax catalog, and "Sunshine" is part of that venture-a bunch of singles backed by Stax house musicians, none of them previously released on albums. The result is pure and amazingly cohesive joy. Without once departing from the classic framework of female group rhythm & blues, "Sunshine" is as rich and varied as anything I've heard in months. With only one exception, Any Way You Look at It, every number positively drips with tasty touches in arrangement, singing. and playing." [5]

John Shearlaw of Record Mirror said, "Old Emotions, new Emotions-they're just as good." [3] Phyl Garland of Stereo Review commented: "Sunshine sounds amazingly fresh. Vocal artistry prevails over background effects as the Emotions weave their way in and out of cool, melodious songs." [6]

Andrew Hamilton of AllMusic wrote retrospectively: "Sunshine has some excellent cuts and some that don't quite fit the Chicagoans' style." [2]

Singles

The song "Shouting Out Love" peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart. [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shouting Out Love"Carl Smith3:15
2."Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" Carla Thomas 3:23
3."I Really Miss You"Wanda Hutchinson3:17
4."Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers 4:45
5."Runnin' Back (And Forth)" Sir Mack Rice, Eddie Floyd 2:56
6."Anyway You Look At It"Carl Smith, Wilkes3:54
7."Baby I'm Through"Joe Hutchinson4:12
8."Innocent" Bettye Crutcher, Lester Snell3:11
9."Put a Little Love Away" Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter 5:18

Personnel

The Emotions

with:

References

  1. "The Emotions: Sunshine (Top Soul Albums)". Billboard .
  2. 1 2 Hamilton, Andrew. "The Emotions: Sunshine". AllMusic.
  3. 1 2 Shearlaw, John (February 4, 1978). "The Emotions: Sunshine" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 12 via americanradiohistory.com.
  4. 1 2 Marsh, Dave (December 15, 1977). "Hot Rods' album relies on originals". The Daily Item . Rolling Stone. p. 7 via newspapers.com.
  5. Storm Roberts, John (February 1978). "The Emotions: Sunshine" (PDF). High Fidelity . Vol. 28, no. 2. p. 120 via americanradiohistory.com.
  6. Garland, Phyl (May 1978). "The Emotions: Sunshine" (PDF). Stereo Review . Vol. 40, no. 5. p. 122 via americanradiohistory.com.
  7. "The Emotions: Shouting Out Love (Hot Soul Songs)". billboard.com. Billboard.