Sunny – BOBBY HEBB***

Sunny/Where Are You/Got You On My Mind/Yes Or No Or Maybe Not/Good Good Lovin’/Love Love Love/A Satisfied Mind/You Don’t Know What You Got Until You Lose It/I Am Your Man/Crazy Baby/Bread/For You

Nashville born Bobby Hebb specialised in light breezy soul tracks epitomized by his big hit single Sunny which peaked at No. 2 in the US and No. 12 in the UK. Despite some positive reviews the accompanying album struggled in the charts. (US:103)

“Having scored a massive international hit with the exceptionally cool single Sunny, it was only natural that Bobby Hebb would be given an opportunity to record a supporting album. Unlike most this one is surprisingly impressive. Equally interesting, the set doesn’t come off as a traditional soul album being too diverse for such a generic label. Gifted with an exceptionally versatile voice, Hebb took capable stabs at pop, blues and even Motown-styled soul. That said, the underlying feel was soul. The title track was the standout but the entire LP is worth hearing.”

“Sunny is such an amazing song, covered by hundreds of artists, but the original version is the one which shines the most. What about the rest. Well, I must say that they’re rather disappointing and boring. Most of the songs are a bunch of bland soul pop songs backed by those horrible and dated female vocals bawling behind. There are a couple are interesting songs, but all the rest are more or less disposable.”

“Bobby Hebb enjoyed a few months of fame with the singles Sunny and A Satisfied Mind. The first caused quite a stir with its soulful arrangement and Hebb's deft vocals, but it was the follow-up that revealed his sensitive folk side.”

“A lot of soul LPs in the mid-60s weren't that good. Usually you'd have the hit single, and maybe one or two good tracks and a bunch of second rate covers. This is not the case here. This album is filled to the brim with original songs that stand out and could have been hits on their own. There are a couple of clunkers, but the good outweigh the bad.”

“It's a little on the poppy side but still pretty good. Not a lot of grit but there is a certain innocence to it that is appealing. If you like soul that sounds like it was aiming for a white audience, this is your stuff. Groovy finger clicking soul sounds and a few deeper slower numbers, but nothing slushy or dreary the way quite a lot of them were then, but subtle growers.”