VA - What a Groovy Day - The British Sunshine Pop Sound 1967-1972 [2023] (3xCD)

BRITISH SUNSHINE POP

VA - What a Groovy Day - The British Sunshine Pop Sound 1967-1972 [2023] (3xCD)

Although the lushly arranged, harmony-based late 60s Sunshine Pop sound is most readily associated with America in general and the sun-kissed California region in particular, the reality is that it was always an international phenomenon. What A Groovy Day is a thrilling four-hour celebration of Britain's contribution to the genre, ranging from household names (The New Seekers, Cliff Richard, Petula Clark, The Hollies, Herman's Hermits) to terminally obscure acts like Infinity and The Mellow Yellow, who failed to release anything at the time. Naturally our compilation includes contributions from the two uncrowned kings of the 60s British harmony pop sound, vocalist Tony Rivers (who provides us with our title song) and studio all-rounder John Carter, represented as both performer and songwriter. Other highlights come from posthumously acclaimed Sunshine Pop maestros Design, a trio of music library recordings by the largely overlooked but hugely talented backroom auteur Barbara Moore and, perhaps most intriguingly of all, the first-ever release of The Sweet's first demo recording, cut when they were still known as Sweetshop. (Amazon)

This box set really has more variety of styles than one might think. You can spot Sunshine Pop, Folk Pop, Music Hall Pop and Baroque Pop here. This is what Pop Psych collectors like me are always looking for, well produced singles of this music heyday from England.

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Track lists

CD1

01 Harmony Grass - What A Groovy Day 3:31

02 Episode Six - Gentlemen Of The Park 3:10

03 Force West - Like The Tide, Like The Ocean 2:27

04 Picadilly Line - At The Third Stroke 2:58

05 Alexander Bell - Alexander Bell Believes 3:03

06 Chuckles - Painting The Day 1:59

07 John Carter - She Won't Show Up Tonight 2:45

08 The Tremeloes - Sunshine Games 1:54

09 Dorian Gray - I've Got You On My Mind 2:22

10 Barbara Moore - Fly Paradise 2:18

11 Weavers Green - Mr. Pseudo-Fabulous 2:13

12 Orange Bicycle - Dropping Out 2:44

13 Ken Smart - The Company I Keep 3:31

14 Philwit & Pegasus - Yoyo Thoughts 2:55

15 Bystanders - Make Up Your Mind 2:54

16 Spectrum - Saturday's Child 2:29

17 Seekers - Georgy Girl 2:19

18 Agincourt - Going Home 2:31

19 The Wilson Malone Voiceband - Loonin' 2:44

20 Tony Rivers & The Castaways - Summer Dreaming 1:49

21 Pinkerton's Colours - Mum And Dad 2:07

22 Warm Sounds - Birds And Bees 2:30

23 Marty Wilde - When Jezamine Goes (Demo Version) 2:58

24 West Coast Consortium - Some Other Someday 2:56

25 Chocolate Watch Band - The Sound Of The Summer 2:07

26 Flies - Gently As You Feel 2:37

27 Petula Clark - Colour My World 2:48

28 Californians - Early Morning Sun 2:38

29 Jason Cord - Why Shouldn't I? 2:20

30 Symbols - Bye Bye Baby 2:24

CD2

01 Episode - Little One 2:42

02 Design - Coloured Mile 2:57

03 Mirage - My Door No. 4 (Aka Lonely Highway) 2:43

04 Majority One - Looks Like Rain 2:48

05 Robbie - Listen To The Man 3:07

06 Dawn Chorus - A Night To Be Remembered 4:02

07 Butterscotch - All On A Summer's Day 2:43

08 Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me (Us Single) 2:59

09 Jefferson - Montage 2:52

10 Tinkerbell's Fairydust - In My Magic Garden 2:35

11 David & Jonathan - Softly Whispering I Love You 3:08

12 Sparrow - I'm Coming Back 2:35

13 White Plains - Every Little Move She Makes 2:50

14 Zombies - Friends Of Mine 2:16

15 Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - Stained Glass Window 2:05

16 Alan Bown! - We Can Help You 2:25

17 Grapefruit - C'mon Marianne (Alternative Version) 2:36

18 Knack - (The Man From The) Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau 3:46

19 Hollies - Everything Is Sunshine 1:57

20 New Seekers - Night In The City 2:47

21 Settlers - The Lightning Tree 2:40

22 Paul Ryan - Hellow Hellow 2:22

23 Normie Rowe - But I Know 2:28

24 Roger Webb Sound - Heavy Lace 1:31

25 Herman's Hermits - Sleepy Joe 3:09

26 Homer's Knods - Mr. Rainbow 2:17

27 Flower Pot Men - Am I Losing You 2:00

28 Mellow Yellow - Cried Enough For You 2:09

29 Infinity - I've Got You Under My Skin 3:41

CD3

01 Harmony Grass - Move In A Little Closer Baby 2:41

02 Design - Take A Boat 2:43

03 Barbara Moore - Fly Away 2:46

04 Paper Bubble - Being Human Being 3:12

05 Cliff Richard - Mr. Nice 2:17

06 Friends - Mythological Sunday 5:10

07 Washington D.c.'s - Any Time 3:50

08 Colors Of Love - I'm A Train 2:34

09 Montanas - Let's Get A Little Sentimental 2:50

10 Deep Feeling - Do You Wanna Dance 3:03

11 Pussyfoot - Dark Star 2:05

12 Tapestry - Like The Sun 2:53

13 Rainbow People - The Walk Will Do You Good 2:16

14 Katch 22 - Don't Listen 1:48

15 Edwards Hand - Close My Eyes 3:15

16 Genesis - Try A Little Sadness 3:18

17 Jonathan King - Cherry, Cherry 2:49

18 Fluff - Holly Golightly 2:25

19 Pennsylvania Sixpence - Midweek Excursion 2:20

20 Sun Dragon - Look At The Sun 2:54

21 Oscar Bicycle - On A Quiet Night 2:47

22 Warm Sounds - Forgive And Forget 2:08

23 March Hare - With My Eyes Closed 2:48

24 Tandem - Shapes And Shadows 2:29

25 Sweetshop - Millions Of Millions 2:14

26 Bullring - Lady Of The Morning Sun 2:10

27 Jason Crest - California Dreamin' 2:50

28 Summer Wine - Sound Of Summer's Over 3:28

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