1978 International release"},"recorded":{"wt":""},"venue":{"wt":""},"studio":{"wt":""},"genre":{"wt":"[[Pop rock]]"},"length":{"wt":"38:32"},"label":{"wt":"[[Columbia Records|CBS]]
[[Portrait Records|Portrait]]"},"producer":{"wt":"[[Peter Dawkins (musician)|Peter Dawkins]]"},"prev_title":{"wt":"[[Scented Gardens for the Blind]]"},"prev_year":{"wt":"1975"},"next_title":{"wt":"[[Running Free (album)|Running Free]]"},"next_year":{"wt":"1977"},"misc":{"wt":"{{Singles\n | name = Sunshine\n | type = studio\n | single1 = [[This Time (Dragon song)|This Time]]\n | single1date = 1976\n | single2 = [[Get that Jive]]\n | single2date = March 1977\n | single3 = [[Sunshine (Dragon song)|Sunshine]]\n | single3date = 18 July 1977\n}} {{Extra album cover\n | header = ''Sunshine''\n | type = album\n | cover = Sunshine_DragonInternational01.jpg\n | border =\n | alt =\n | caption = 1978 International release\n}}"}},"i":0}}]}" id="mwBQ">1977 studio albumby Dragon
Sunshine | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1977 1978 International release | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 38:32 | |||
Label | CBS Portrait | |||
Producer | Peter Dawkins | |||
Dragon chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sunshine | ||||
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Sunshine | ||||
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 heroin overdose 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).
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 heroin overdose 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]
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." [11]
All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). [12]
(^^) "This Time" was renamed "In the Right Direction" for International release but is otherwise the same.
Chart (1977) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Kent Music Report [13] | 24 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [14] | Gold | 20,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Credited to: [15]
Dragon are a New Zealand rock band which was formed in Auckland in January 1972,and,from 1975,based in Sydney,New South Wales,Australia. The band was originally fronted by singer Graeme Collins,but rose to fame with singer Marc Hunter and is currently led by his brother,bass player and vocalist Todd Hunter. The group performed,and released material,under the name Hunter in Europe and the United States during 1987.
Scented Gardens for the Blind is the second album by New Zealand group Dragon released in February 1975 on Vertigo Records before they relocated to Australia in May. Scented Gardens for the Blind,along with their first album Universal Radio,is in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock. "Vermillion [sic] Cellars" was released as a single in March and was followed by non-album singles,"Education" in May and "Star Kissed" in August but neither albums nor singles had any local chart success.
Marc Alexander Hunter was a New Zealand rock and pop singer,songwriter and record producer. He was the lead vocalist of Dragon,a band formed by his older brother,Todd Hunter,in Auckland in January 1972. They relocated to Sydney in May 1975. He was also a member of the Party Boys in 1985. For his solo career he issued five studio albums,Fiji Bitter,Big City Talk,Communication,Night and Day and Talk to Strangers. During the 1970s Hunter developed heroin and alcohol addictions and was incarcerated at Mt Eden Prison in Auckland in 1978. He was recklessly outspoken and volatile on-stage. In November 1978,during the band's American tour,supporting Johnny Winter,they performed in Dallas,Texas,where "he made some general stage observations about redneck buddies,illegal oral sex and utility trucks" and called the audience members "faggots". Upon his return to Australia,in February 1979,he was fired from the group by his brother,Todd.
Running Free is the fourth studio album by New Zealand rock band Dragon. It was produced by Peter Dawkins and was originally released in November 1977 on vinyl and re-released on CD in 1989. The album peaked at number 6 on the Australian Kent Music Report. The album was certified triple platinum in Australia.
O Zambezi is the fifth studio album by New Zealand rock band,Dragon. It was produced by Peter Dawkins and was released in September 1978 on vinyl and re-released on CD in 1988. The album peaked at number 3 on the Australian Kent Music Report which remains the band's highest charting album in that country. The album was certified platinum in Australia.
Universal Radio is the debut album by New Zealand group Dragon released in June 1974 on Vertigo Records and produced by Rick Shadwell. Universal Radio,along with their second album Scented Gardens for the Blind are in the progressive rock genre—all subsequent albums are hard rock/pop rock.
Snake Eyes on the Paradise Greatest Hits 1976–1989 is a compilation album by rock music group,Dragon,released in 1998. This is the single disc version - there is also a two-disc version called Tales from the Dark Side Greatest Hits and Choice Collectables 1974–1997,which has this disc plus a second disc of album tracks,live,b-sides and other rarities. The album charted at number 70 on the ARIA Charts.
Tales from the Dark Side Greatest Hits and Classic Collectables 1974-1997 is a compilation album by rock music group,Dragon,released in August 1998. Disc one has the same track listing as Snake Eyes on the Paradise Greatest Hits 1976–1989,which was issued in the same year. Disc two consists of album tracks,live,b-sides and other rarities.
Body and the Beat is the seventh studio album recorded by Australian-New Zealand rock band,Dragon. The album was released in June 1984 and peaked at number 5 on the Australian Kent Music Report. The album was certified gold in the week of release and achieved platinum status in Australia. It was the band's first studio album since Power Play in 1979.
"This Time" is a song by New Zealand band Dragon,released in 1976,and included on their album Sunshine. It was released as a single in June 1976,and peaked at No. 26 on the Australian national singles chart,remaining on the chart for 23 weeks
"Get That Jive" is a song by Australian–New Zealand band Dragon released in March 1977 as the second single from the band's third studio album,Sunshine (1977). "Get That Jive" peaked at No. 13 on the Australian Kent Music Report. It was the first of the group's singles to feature drummer Kerry Jacobson.
"Rain" is a song by New Zealand rock group Dragon released in July 1983 as the first single ahead of their seventh studio album,Body and the Beat. It is co-written by the group's brothers,Marc and Todd Hunter,with Johanna Pigott,Todd's then-domestic partner. "Rain" peaked at number 2 and stayed in the Kent Music Report singles chart for 26 weeks. The song reached number 88 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 charts in mid-1984. For the original single version the group's Kerry Jacobson had provided drums and percussion;he left the group in September 1983 and was replaced by Terry Chambers,who is shown in promotional material including cover art and music videos.
Dragon's Greatest Hits Volume 1 is the first greatest hits album by New Zealand group Dragon,released in April 1979 through CBS Records. It includes tracks from the band's three CBS/Portrait albums,Sunshine,Running Free and O Zambezi,as well as three non-album tracks;"Wait Until Tomorrow","Konkaroo" and "The Dreaded Moroczy Bind". Dragon's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 peaked at number 8 on the Australian Kent Music Report.
"April Sun in Cuba" is a song recorded by New Zealand group Dragon,released in October 1977. It is the first single to be released from Dragon's fourth studio album Running Free. "April Sun in Cuba" first charted on 7 November 1977,peaking at number 2 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart and staying on the chart for 22 weeks. It also reached number 9 on the New Zealand singles chart. The b-side of the single,a non-album track called "Telephone",was credited to "Dr. Agony".
"Sunshine" is a song by New Zealand–Australian rock band Dragon,released in July 1977 as the third and final single to be released from the band's third studio album Sunshine (1976). It peaked at number 36 on the Kent Music Report and remained in the chart for 15 weeks.
"Cry" is a song by New Zealand-Australian rock band Dragon released in May 1984 as the third single from the group's seventh studio album Body and the Beat (1984). The song peaked at number 17 on the Australian Kent Music Report.
Live One is the first live album by Australian-New Zealand rock band Dragon. The album was recorded on 10 August 1984 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre during the promotion of the Body and the Beat album. Live One was released in June 1985 and peaked at number 62 on the Australian Kent Music Report.
Sunshine to Rain is the eleventh studio album by New Zealand-Australian band,Dragon. The band reformed featuring Mark Williams on vocals. The album was released on 27 June 2006 and is their first since 1995's Incarnations. The album debuted and peaked at number 87 on the ARIA Charts. The album release was followed with a tour.
So Far is a compilation album by New Zealand group Dragon,released in January 1988 through J&B Records,under licence from CBS Records and PolyGram Records. The album was released as the band's cover version of Kool &The Gang's "Celebration" was in the top 20 in Australia,on the RCA Records label.
Are You Old Enough is a compilation album by New Zealand group Dragon,released in 1983 through budget label K-tel. The album includes all tracks from the 1979 LP Dragon's Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and adds six album tracks from the group's tenure with the Portrait label,while omitting the top 40 single "Love's Not Enough" or any tracks from Power Play which did not feature Marc Hunter as vocalist.