The Warmth of the Sun
Encyclopedia
"The Warmth of the Sun" is a song written by Brian Wilson
and Mike Love
for the American
rock
band
The Beach Boys
. It was released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2
and as the B-side of the "Dance, Dance, Dance
" single, which charted at number eight in the United States and number twenty-four in the United Kingdom. Brian Wilson produced the song, and the rest of the album.
In 2008, Mike Love mentioned in Uncut Magazine "The melody that Brian came up with was very melancholy. I'd had an experience where this girl I liked decided she didn't want to reciprocate, so I wrote the lyrics from the perspective of, 'Yes, things have changed and love is no longer there, but the memory of it is like the warmth of the sun…' It was looking for a silver lining in that cumulus nimbus, accentuating the positive. I wanted our music to provide a sonic oasis, a place where literally you could go, like in 'In My Room,' and tell your troubles to-or at least lose yourself in the music."
(1987) along with "I Get Around" and "Don't Worry, Baby."
, which was released in 1967 under Capitol Records.
Willie Nelson
, with the boys providing harmonies, covered the song for the cover album, Stars and Stripes, vol 1
In 2006
, it was covered by Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, the solo side project of Relient K
singer Matt Thiessen
.
Vince Gill
performed a cover version at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)" concert.
In 2006, Matthew Sweet
and Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs
recorded the song for their collaboration, Under the Covers, Vol. 1
.
In 2010, Rumer
recorded a version on the b-side of her single "Aretha".
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. It was released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2
Shut Down Volume 2
Shut Down Volume 2 is the fifth studio album by The Beach Boys, and the first of four they would release in 1964. The album's "Volume 2" refers to it being a follow-up to the 1963 hot rod compilation Shut Down, released by the band's label, Capitol Records, which included "409" and "Shut Down" but...
and as the B-side of the "Dance, Dance, Dance
Dance, Dance, Dance (song)
"Dance, Dance, Dance" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1965 album Today!. It was also released as a single in 1964, with the B-side of the single being "The Warmth of the Sun." The single peaked at #8...
" single, which charted at number eight in the United States and number twenty-four in the United Kingdom. Brian Wilson produced the song, and the rest of the album.
Information
The song was inspired by the emotional shock Brian Wilson and Mike Love felt over the assassination of John Kennedy at the now-defunct Hotel El Dorado in Sacramento, California. Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications declared the assassination 'most memorable' political moment in American radio and television history. As a result to Wilson and Love's shock, the song carries a very serious and emotional quality. Donald A. Guarisco who recently reviewed the song stated "The sublime balance of lush vocals and sensitive songwriting made "The Warmth of the Sun" one of the Beach Boys' finest and most moving ballads."In 2008, Mike Love mentioned in Uncut Magazine "The melody that Brian came up with was very melancholy. I'd had an experience where this girl I liked decided she didn't want to reciprocate, so I wrote the lyrics from the perspective of, 'Yes, things have changed and love is no longer there, but the memory of it is like the warmth of the sun…' It was looking for a silver lining in that cumulus nimbus, accentuating the positive. I wanted our music to provide a sonic oasis, a place where literally you could go, like in 'In My Room,' and tell your troubles to-or at least lose yourself in the music."
Trivia
It was featured on the soundtrack of Good Morning, VietnamGood Morning, Vietnam
Good Morning, Vietnam is a 1987 American comedy-drama film set in Saigon during the Vietnam War, based on the career of Adrian Cronauer, a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio Service , who proves hugely popular with the troops serving in South Vietnam, but infuriates his superiors with what they call...
(1987) along with "I Get Around" and "Don't Worry, Baby."
Cover versions
The song was covered by the Wilsons' (Brian, Carl and Dennis) father on his one and only album, The Many Moods of Murry WilsonThe Many Moods of Murry Wilson
The Many Moods of Murry Wilson is the debut album by Murry Wilson, the father of Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson and uncle of Mike Love of The Beach Boys...
, which was released in 1967 under Capitol Records.
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, with the boys providing harmonies, covered the song for the cover album, Stars and Stripes, vol 1
In 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
, it was covered by Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, the solo side project of Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
singer Matt Thiessen
Matt Thiessen
Matthew Arnold Thiessen is a Canadian-American musician, known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the Christian rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released six full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that...
.
Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
performed a cover version at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)" concert.
In 2006, Matthew Sweet
Matthew Sweet
Sidney Matthew Sweet is an American alternative rock/power pop musician. He was part of the burgeoning Athens, Georgia music scene in the early and mid-1980s before gaining commercial success during the early 1990s...
and Bangles lead singer Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Hoffs
Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:...
recorded the song for their collaboration, Under the Covers, Vol. 1
Under the Covers, Vol. 1
Under the Covers, Vol. 1 is the first collaboration between alternative rock artist Matthew Sweet and Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs. Released by Shout! Factory in 2006, the album contains 15 cover versions of favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s. The album was a result of their mutual love for...
.
In 2010, Rumer
Rumer
Rumer may refer to:*Rumer , British singer*Rumer Willis , actress, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore*Rumer Godden , English author*Yuriy Rumer , Russian physicist also known as Georg Rumer...
recorded a version on the b-side of her single "Aretha".