The Lovin’ Spoonful held on to the top spot of Billboard’s Top 100 the week of August 23, 1966, for the third and final week, with ‘Summer in the City.’
At #2 that week was Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sunny,’ which peaked in that spot for two weeks. This track, written by Hebbs after the death of his brother in 1963, became an international hit for him and his only song to crack the Billboard Top 20.
‘Sunny’ has been covered more than a hundred times, including by Frank Sinatra, Cher, Luis Miguel, James Brown, and Billie Eilish. In 1999, BMI named it as the 25th most-played song of the 20th century.
Given a song this celebrated and ubiquitous, I expected to be more instantly familiar with it. ‘Sunny’ does sound familiar, but top 25 of the century familiar? Not so much.
Old songs. Great memories.
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Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain
Now the dark days are done and the bright days are here
My Sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you
[Verse 1]
Sunny, thank you for the sunshine bouquet
Sunny, thank you for the love you’ve brought my way
You gave to me your all and all
And now I feel ten feet tall
Sunny one so true, I love you
[Verse 2]
Sunny, thank you for the truth you let me see
Sunny, thank you for the facts from A to Z
My life was torn like wind-blown sand
Then a rock was formed when we held hands
Sunny one so true, I love you
[Verse 3]
Sunny, thank you for that smile upon your face
Mm, Sunny, thank you, thank you for that gleam that flows with grace
You’re my spark of nature’s fire
You’re my sweet, complete desire
Sunny one so true, yes, I love you
[Chorus]
Sunny, yesterday, oh, my life was filled with rain
And Sunny, you smiled at me and really, really eased the pain
Now the dark days are done and the bright days are here
My Sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true
[Outro]
I love you, I love you (Sunny)
I love you (Sunny), said, I love you (Sunny)
Yes, I love you (Sunny)
Meet Me In Montauk 