Sunshine is the third album by New Zealand / Australian rock band Dragon, it was their first album after they had relocated to Sydney in May 1975. Sunshine was released in 1977 by CBS Records and peaked at #24 on the Australian national albums charts. The single "This Time" had been released in late June 1976, which peaked at #26 on the Australian national singles charts. The second single "Get that Jive" was the best charting peaking at #13 and the third single "Sunshine" reached #36. The album had US and International releases in 1978 on Portrait Records, with "This Time" called "In the Right Direction" and an alternate cover used (see infobox).

Dragon had released two progressive rock albums in New Zealand but in Sydney they were moving to a rock / pop sound and sent for keyboardist Paul Hewson of rival kiwi group Mammal. 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. Storey died of heroin overdose in September 1976, aged 22. Their debut single "This Time" had begun charting, they considered disbanding but continued with ex-Mammal drummer Kerry Jacobson to complete the album. The album was dedicated to Neil Storey (1954–1976).

Tracklisting

Australian / New Zealand release

All songwriters according to Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).

• "Same Old Blues" (Paul Hewson) - 4:54
• "Blacktown Boogie" (Marc Hunter, Robert M. Taylor, Todd Hunter) - 3:15
• "Sunshine" (Hewson) - 4:50
• "On the Beachead" (Taylor) - 3:59
• "This Time" (Hewson, M Hunter, Neil Storey, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:07 ^^
• "Get that Jive" (Hewson) - 2:44
• "Street Between Your Feet" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:19
• "New Machine" (Hewson) - 3:47
• "MX" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 3:28
• "The Letter" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:09

International release

• "Same Old Blues" (Hewson) - 4:54
• "Blacktown Boogie" (M Hunter, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:15
• "Sunshine" (Hewson) - 4:50
• "On the Beachead" (Taylor) - 3:59
• "In the Right Direction" (Hewson, M Hunter, Storey, Taylor, T Hunter) - 3:07 ^^
• "Get that Jive" (Hewson) - 2:44
• "Street Between Your Feet" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:19
• "New Machine" (Hewson) - 3:47
• "MX" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 3:28
• "The Letter" (M Hunter, Taylor) - 4:09

(^^) "This Time" was renamed "In the Right Direction" for International release but is otherwise the same.

Dragon members

• Paul Hewson — keyboards
• Marc Hunter — lead vocals
• Todd Hunter — bass guitar
• Kerry Jacobson — drums (except "This Time")
• Neil Story — drums on "This Time"
• Robert M. Taylor — guitars (electric, acoustic)

Additional musicians

• Tony Buchanan — tenor saxophone on "Sunshine"
• William Motzing — brass arranger

Recording details

• Producer — Peter Dawkins
• Engineer — Bruce Brown @ Albert Studio
• Additional engineering — Wyn Wynard

Manager

• Sebastian Chase

Art work

• Art Direction & Design — J. Peter Thoeming
• International release, Illustrator — Julia van Henneside
• International release, Design — Nancy Donald, Tim Stocke
• International release, Inner sleeve logo — Andy Capel

Cover Photography - Carroll Holloway

info courtesy of Wikipedia