from SOUTHERN NIGHTS
Written by Neil Diamond
The late Glen Campbell (1936-2017) was a famous American singer, songwriter and guitar player. In the early sixties, Campbell started his career as a session player in Los Angeles and was part of the legendary “Wrecking Crew,” a group of talented musicians that played on hundreds of hit records throughout the decade. His trademark guitar appeared on dozens of recordings by acts including The Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, Elvis Presley and The Monkees.
Since 1962, Campbell also started a high profile career as a recording artist with dozens of albums and ten Grammy Awards under his belt. His confident voice owned the Pop and Country charts for decades with perennial hits like “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “It’s Only Make Believe,” “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights.”
A #1 crossover hit on the Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts, “Southern Nights” was the title-track of the singer’s 1977 gold-certified album. Gary Klein produced Southern Nights and, just like he did on his contemporary works for Paul Anka, Barbra Streisand or Dolly Parton, he enlisted an impressive number of session aces to play on the record. One of his fixtures was a young, but already super-gifted, David Foster. Foster played keyboards on a few tracks of Southern Nightsincluding the second hit single “Sunflower.”
Written by Neil Diamond, “Sunflower” was a catchy pop/country ditty that was another multi-format hit for the singer. “Sunflower” reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart while going all the way to #4 on the Country chart and #39 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The song sports an irresistible southern rock feel fueled with banjo, acoustic, electric and slide guitars, although the breezy melody lean towards the easy listening/pop zone. Campbell’s beautiful voice was the perfect fit for such a number and gave the song a positive, familiar feeling. The two hit singles broughtSouthern Nights to the top of the Country chart and to #22 on Billboard’s Top 200.
A few years later, Foster played on another country hit for Campbell, a ballad entitled “Any Which Way You Can.” You can read the past review of that song by clicking here.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Glen-Campbell-Sunflower-album-1977_-Southern-Nights-video-compilation-by-bowiart.mp3|titles=Sunflower|artists=Neil Diamond]
- Lead Vocals: Glen Campbell
- Drums & Dobro: Scott Mathews
- Slide Guitar: John Blakeley
- Banjo, Acoustic & Electric Guitars: Carl Jackson
- Bass: Maurice Cridlin
- Keyboards: David Foster
- Arranged by Jack Nitzsche and Conducted by Alan Broadbent
- Produced by Gary Klein & Glen Campbell
Lyrics
Sunflower
Good mornin’.
You sure do make it like a sunny day.
Sunflower
Fair warnin’.
I’m gonna love you if you come my way.
Now
If there’s a chance that romance will find you
Better not find you lookin’ the other way.
Now
Isn’t it time you finally take it.
Make it so real it steals your breath away ?
Hey
Hey
Hey.
Sunflower
Good mornin’.
You sure do make it like a sunny time.
Sun mornin’
Good mornin’.
And some day child
I’m gonna make you mine.
Well
If there’s a chance that romance will find you
Better not find you lookin’ the other way.
Isn’t time you finally take it
Make it so good it steals your breath away ?
Hey
Hey
Hey.
Sunflower
Good mornin’.
You sure do make it like a sunny time.
Sunflower
Sweet mornin’.
For ev’ry time I’m gonna make you mine.
Love to hear him sing
So I’ll adore him just for ever