To Try for the Sun
Encyclopedia
"To Try for the Sun" is a song written and recorded by Scottish
singer-songwriter
Donovan
. The "To Try for the Sun" single was backed with "Turquoise
" and released in the United States in January 1966 through Hickory Records
(Hickory 45-1402).
In the midst of Donovan's contractual dispute between Pye Records
and Epic Records
, Donovan lost creative control over Pye releases in the United States. Donovan's Pye Records distributor Hickory Records decided against releasing Donovan's fourth single "Turquoise" and instead released the previously released album track "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond". The song became the first Donovan single to fail to chart in the United States.
The songs is about his early days in Hatfield with his friend Gypsy Dave
By early 1966, it was becoming clear that Epic Records
maintained control of all new Donovan releases in the United States. Hickory Records retained the right to release any of Donovan's Pye Records recordings and would subsequently release singles and albums in competition with the Epic Records catalog. Before the appearance of any new Epic Records material, however, Hickory Records released "To Try for the Sun". The song had previously appeared on Fairytale
and even when backed with the unreleased British single "Turquoise", the song failed to chart.
Lindsey Buckingham
included a cover of this song on his 2006 album Under the Skin
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
. The "To Try for the Sun" single was backed with "Turquoise
Turquoise (song)
"Turquoise" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Turquoise" single was released in the United Kingdom on October 30, 1965 through Pye Records and charted to #30. The "Turquoise" single was backed with "Hey Gyp " and only released in the United Kingdom...
" and released in the United States in January 1966 through Hickory Records
Hickory Records
Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several...
(Hickory 45-1402).
In the midst of Donovan's contractual dispute between Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
and Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, Donovan lost creative control over Pye releases in the United States. Donovan's Pye Records distributor Hickory Records decided against releasing Donovan's fourth single "Turquoise" and instead released the previously released album track "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond". The song became the first Donovan single to fail to chart in the United States.
The songs is about his early days in Hatfield with his friend Gypsy Dave
By early 1966, it was becoming clear that Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
maintained control of all new Donovan releases in the United States. Hickory Records retained the right to release any of Donovan's Pye Records recordings and would subsequently release singles and albums in competition with the Epic Records catalog. Before the appearance of any new Epic Records material, however, Hickory Records released "To Try for the Sun". The song had previously appeared on Fairytale
Fairytale (album)
Fairytale is the second album from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was first released in the United Kingdom on October 22, 1965 through Pye Records . The U.S. version of Fairytale was released by Hickory Records in November 1965 with a slightly different set of songs...
and even when backed with the unreleased British single "Turquoise", the song failed to chart.
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham is an American guitarist, singer, composer and producer, most notable for being the guitarist and male lead singer of the musical group Fleetwood Mac. Aside from his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has also released six solo albums and a live album...
included a cover of this song on his 2006 album Under the Skin
Under the Skin (album)
Under the Skin is the fourth solo album by American musician and Fleetwood Mac vocalist/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, released on October 3, 2006. The album, long delayed by Fleetwood Mac's reunion tour in the 1990s and 2003 album Say You Will, was his first solo release in 14 years...
.