Sit back relax and enjoy the sun baked symphony's of The Yellow Balloon, The Free Design, Sagittarius, The Millennium, Mark Eric, The Fun and Games, The Cowsill's, The Association and many more.

Sunshine Pop is by far in my mind the best and most under appreciated genre around. Hopefully this article will turn more people on to these pocket symphony's. Perfect pop songs smothered with heavenly harmonies and studio creativity galore, what more could you ask for. This was music that really went for it with an almost spiritual zest. The thing I love most about sunshine pop is the fact that there is no pretentiousness at all in this music. It's pure and from the heart like all truly great music and we can only hope there will be a resurgence of this attitude in music. This music has a childlike quiet beauty to it just like all the best indie pop. Just remember don't forget to pack your beach ball and sunscreen.

Sunshine Pop had so many unsung sonic genius's. These four men were the main architects behind these sand swept masterpieces. Curt Boettcher, Gary Usher, Gary Zekley, and of course Brian Wilson. These pioneers used the recording studio like mini Phil Spector's on a budget. A little know fact is that Brian Wilson was in awe of Boettcher's studio mastery and stacked harmony arrangements and you can see the results for yourself Boettcher and Wilson took the recording studio to places never dreamt of before or since in music.

Curt Boettcher is the leader of sunshine pop legends the Millennium. There album Begin was at it's time the most expensive album ever made but oh man was it worth it, the studio trickery of this album along with the sugary goodness of the songs make this album a true work of art. He was also a producer extraordinaire a great example of Boettcher's work can be heard on the Tommy Roe Album It's Now A Winter's Day. Boettcher had a stable of musician's that he worked with much like Phil Spector or Brian Wilson and this album showcases there talent's along with having amazing studio effects and dazzling vocals.

Boettcher was also a part of the Sagittarius project with Gary Usher. They crafted one of the most resonant artistic albums of the whole genre the amazing Present Tense. Usher also made a second Sagittarius album mostly without Boettcher called The Blue Marble which is also a playful masterpiece which feature's the then new Moog synthesizer. Gary Zekley produced a trilogy of great sunshiny albums The Fun And Games lost masterpiece Elephant Candy, The Clique's song Superman (was later covered by R.E.M) and the sublime Yellow Balloon album which includes the definitive sunshine pop song Stained Glass Window.

As for Wilson and The Beach Boys their prime time sunshine pop album to look for is the overlooked mellow beauty of the Friends album which just can't be topped in my mind. It has some of the most outstanding vocals and amazing instrumentation I've ever heard. This album should definitely be up there with the other Beach Boys classics. The Association also crafted a one of a kind lost masterwork of sunshiny goodness entitled Birthday which can usually be found for a few dollars at record stores.

The Free Design. one of my all time favourites, have a very charming naive vibe. They kind of sound like a more laid back care free Beach Boys. The Cowsill's crafted an amazing album Captain Sad And His Ship Of Fools that in my mind sounds like a mix of the Baroque goodness of The Left Banke, mixed with angelic psychedelic sunshiny vocals. This is truly an amazing album that needs to be rediscovered. Mark Eric's A Midsummer's Daydream has been a recent discovery for me but oh my what an album this is. It might just be the sunshine pop holy grail as it sound's like a lost Beach Boys or Jan and Dean album.

Roger Nicholas was the resident songwriter for a&m records in the sixties contribution many great song to many great artists like The Sandpipers etc. On his album A Small Circle Of Friends he saved some of his finest California Soft Pop moments for himself. Jan and Dean's Save For A Rainy Day is a Sunshine Pop concept album of the highest order it has fascinating instrumentation and songs you just cant get out of your head. The Ladybug Transistor cover Here Comes The Rain from this album. There are so many wonderful Sunshine Pop Albums out there for you to discover, just remember to follow the sunshine!

Essential Sunshine Pop Albums:

The Millennium, Begin
The Yellow Balloon, Self Titled
Sagittarius, Present Tense
The Free Design, Kites Are Fun
The Fun and Games, Elephant Candy
Mark Eric, A Midsummer's Daydream
The Association, Birthday
The Cowsill's, Captain Sad And His Ship Of Fools
Jan and Dean, Save For A Rainy Day
Harpers Bizarre, The Secret Life Of
Tommy Roe, It's Now A Winter's Day
The Sunshine Company, Happy Is
The Beach Boys, Friends
The Beach Boys, Smile Bootleg Tapes
Roger Nichols & A Small Circle Of Friends
Margo Guryan, Take A Picture
The Peppermint Rainbow, Will You Be Staying After Sunday