Sunflower is the sixteenth studio album by The Beach Boys. Released in 1970, it did relatively well in Europe, but performed disastrously in the US, peaking at #151 on the charts. It has since been Vindicated by History though, and rightfully so; it's generally considered to be one of their strongest albums, and a showcase of the growing songwriting abilities of the individual Beach Boys without major involvement from Brian Wilson. It spawned the hits and fan favorites "Add Some Music to Your Day" and "Forever".
Tracklist: note
Side One
- "Slip On Through" (2:17)
- "This Whole World" (1:56)
- "Add Some Music to Your Day" (3:34)
- "Got to Know the Woman" (2:41)
- "Deirdre" (3:27)
- "It's About Time" (2:55)
Side Two
- "Tears in the Morning" (4:07)
- "All I Wanna Do" (2:34)
- "Forever" (2:40)
- "Our Sweet Love" (2:38)
- "At My Window" (2:30)
- "Cool, Cool Water" (5:03)
Principal Members:
- Al Jardine - lead vocals, guitar
- Bruce Johnston - lead vocals, bass, piano, celesta
- Mike Love - lead vocals, percussion
- Brian Wilson - lead vocals, piano, rocksichord, bass, organ
- Carl Wilson - lead vocals, guitar
- Dennis Wilson - lead vocals, drums, tambourine
It's only tropes and what you're tropin' for:
- Break-Up Song:
- "Deirdre"
What could I sayThat you ran awayDon't you think it's time that you stayed right near me?- "Tears in the Morning"
Well you know I lit a candleIt's in my heart now where it glowsDay and night feel my light it's gonna stand tillMy heart believes in what you chose - Cover Version: "Cottonfields" is a cover of a Lead Belly song. Also, its a remake of "Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)" from their 20/20 album.
- Face on the Cover: A group shot of the band with some children.
- Fiery Redhead: "Deirdre"Always had our love, DeirdreI love your red hair
- Gratuitous French: "At My Window"Le moineau est venuSe poser à ma fenêtre note
- Heavy Meta: "Add Some Music to Your Day":The sunday mornin' gospel goes good with the soulThere's blues, folk, and country, and rock like a rollin' stoneThe world could come together as oneIf everybody under the sunAdd some music to your day
- Heel Realization: "It's About Time"I used to be a famous artistProud as I could beStruggling to express myselfFor the whole world to seeI used to blow my mind sky highSearching for the lost elationLittle Did I Know the joy I was to findIn knowing I am only me
- Hymn to Music: "Add Some Music To Your Day" celebrates a bunch of different genres and contexts in which music is heard.
- Lyrical Cold Open: "Deirdre" opens with the band harmonizing the title lyric just before the instruments kick in.
- Mundane Made Awesome: "Cool, Cool Water" is literally about the delight of drinking water.When I'm just too hot to moveCool cool water is such a grooveIn a shady spot when I'm layin' downOnly thing movin' are the ants on the groundWhen I'm thirsty and I reach for a glassCool water tastes like such a gas
- New Sound Album: Particularly "Got to Know the Woman" and "It's About Time".
- Not to mention the country rock "Cottonfields" from the European version of the album.
- One-Woman Song: "Deirdre"
- One-Word Title: "Deirdre", "Forever"
- Pacifism: "It's About Time"It's about time we get togetherTo be out front and love one anotherBrothers sisters everybodyWe better start to help each other nowWe need it nowWhen we're sharin' our love brotherThat's when we know we can shape another world
- Vocal Tag Team: Every then-member of The Beach Boys got at least one lead vocal on this album.