Sunny Afternoon
Encyclopedia
"Sunny Afternoon" is a song by The Kinks
, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies
. Like its contemporary "Taxman
" by The Beatles
, the song references the high levels of progressive tax
taken by the British Labour
government of Harold Wilson
. The track later featured on the Face to Face
album as well as being the title track for their 1967 compilation album
. Its strong Music Hall
flavour and lyrical focus was part of a stylistic departure for the band (begun with 1965's "A Well Respected Man
"), who had risen to fame in 1964-65 with a series of hard-driving, power-chord rock hits.
Released as a single in 3 June 1966, it went to number 1 on the UK singles chart
s on 7 July 1966, remaining there for two weeks. The track also went to number 1 in Ireland on 18 July 1966. In America, it peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100
pop singles chart early autumn 1966. "Sunny Afternoon" was placed at #200 on Pitchfork Media
's list of The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s.
The promotional video for the single featured the band performing in a cold, snowy environment.
on their 1967 album "The Hot Ones" Jimmy Buffett
on his Fruitcakes
album (1994), the Stereophonics
on the DVD Live at Morfa Stadium
(1999), former Space singer Tommy Scott, in a duet with Tom Jones
, on Jones' Reload
album (1999), Bob Geldof
, included on the four CD compilation, Great Songs of Indifference (2005) and The Cat Empire
performed the song for Triple J
's "Like A Version" Series in 2009. Take That
also used the backing music on their track "Kidz" from their 2010 album Progress
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
. Like its contemporary "Taxman
Taxman
"Taxman" is a song written by George Harrison released as the opening track on The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver. Its lyrics attack the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson.-Composition:...
" by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, the song references the high levels of progressive tax
Progressive tax
A progressive tax is a tax by which the tax rate increases as the taxable base amount increases. "Progressive" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate progresses from low to high, where the average tax rate is less than the marginal tax rate...
taken by the British Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government of Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
. The track later featured on the Face to Face
Face to Face (The Kinks album)
Face to Face, released in 1966 on Pye Records in the United Kingdom and on Reprise Records in the United States, is the fourth UK studio album by The Kinks. A major artistic breakthrough for Kinks' songwriter Ray Davies, the LP represents the first full flowering of Davies' use of narrative,...
album as well as being the title track for their 1967 compilation album
Sunny Afternoon (compilation)
Sunny Afternoon is the second UK budget-priced compilation album by British rock group the The Kinks released in 1967. The album consists of some of the most popular singles and b-sides released by the Kinks from 1965 and 1966...
. Its strong Music Hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
flavour and lyrical focus was part of a stylistic departure for the band (begun with 1965's "A Well Respected Man
A Well Respected Man
"A Well Respected Man" is a song by the British band The Kinks, written by the group's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ray Davies, and originally released on the U.K. EP Kwyet Kinks in September 1965 . It was released as a single in the U.S. during October of that same year and reached #13...
"), who had risen to fame in 1964-65 with a series of hard-driving, power-chord rock hits.
Released as a single in 3 June 1966, it went to number 1 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
s on 7 July 1966, remaining there for two weeks. The track also went to number 1 in Ireland on 18 July 1966. In America, it peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop singles chart early autumn 1966. "Sunny Afternoon" was placed at #200 on Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's list of The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s.
The promotional video for the single featured the band performing in a cold, snowy environment.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by a number of performers, including The StandellsThe Standells
The Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
on their 1967 album "The Hot Ones" Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
on his Fruitcakes
Fruitcakes (album)
Fruitcakes is the 19th studio album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. This album was released in May 1994, coming off a five year hiatus from the recording studio since 1989's Off to See the Lizard.-Chart performance:...
album (1994), the Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
on the DVD Live at Morfa Stadium
Live at Morfa Stadium
Live at Morfa Stadium is a 1999 DVD released by Welsh Rock trio, Stereophonics. The DVD features live recordings from a concert at Morfa Stadium from July 31, 1999.-Track listing:# Hurry Up and Wait# The Bartender and the Thief# T-Shirt Sun Tan...
(1999), former Space singer Tommy Scott, in a duet with Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, on Jones' Reload
Reload (album)
Reload is the title of an album, released in 1999 by Welsh singer Tom Jones.After a lengthy career, and a notable absence from the music charts for several years, Jones resurrected his career with this album of 15 cover versions and 2 original tracks recorded as duets with current artists...
album (1999), Bob Geldof
Bob Geldof
Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
, included on the four CD compilation, Great Songs of Indifference (2005) and The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire are an Australian ska and jazz band formed in 1999. Core members are Harry James Angus , Will Hull-Brown , Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala , Ollie McGill , Ryan Monro and Felix Riebl...
performed the song for Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
's "Like A Version" Series in 2009. Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
also used the backing music on their track "Kidz" from their 2010 album Progress
Progress (Take That album)
Progress is the sixth studio album by British band Take That. It is the band's first album to feature Robbie Williams since 1995. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2010. The album received positive reviews, with most critics commending the influence of electronic music and...