Sunny Girl (song)

In 1965 alone, the Hep Stars had accumulated six top-10 singles, of which three were number ones.{{Cite web|title=HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}} However, most of this material were covers, and the band had been heavily criticized by Swedish media and other bands for this.Hep Stars, 1964–1969, EMI Svenska AB/Olga 7C1 38-35956/7, double album liner notes So Andersson introduced them "No Response", which was his first composition.{{Cite web|title=Då blev jag ett Svenne-fan|url=https://www.hd.se/2014-04-03/da-blev-jag-ett-svenne-fan|access-date=2020-07-03|website=HD|date=3 April 2014 |language=sv}} The song was a success, reaching number 2 on Kvällstoppen in October 1965.{{Cite web|title=NO RESPONSE av HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112/no-respons-39326|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}} However, the following single was "So Mystifying" written by Ray Davies of the Kinks, which once again brought them back to recording covers as singles, largely because Andersson was not satisfied with "No Response", which made him doubt his songwriting talents.{{Cite web|last=Axelsson|first=Eva|date=2019-06-21|title=Benny Andersson om sina Eskilstunaminnen – Ekuriren|url=https://ekuriren.se/kultur-noje/benny-andersson-om-sina-eskilstunaminnen-sm5171656.aspx|access-date=2020-06-21|website=ekuriren.se|language=sv}} "So Mystifying" and the follow-up, "Should I", still became hits on Kvällstoppen, reaching number 5 and 2 respectively.{{Cite web|title=SO MYSTIFYING av HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112/so-mystifying-39338|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}}{{Cite web|title=SHOULD I av HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112/should-i-39359|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}}

Hep Stars were still doing heavy touring across Sweden during this time, but as they were almost equally as successful in Norway, they embarked on a tour there as well. On 10 February 1966, they arrived at Vinger Hotel in Kongsvinger.{{Cite web|title=The Heo Stars - Hepnickus|url=https://www.thehepstars.se/popupnickus_window.html|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.thehepstars.se|language=no}} After unpacking and checking in to their rooms, the band sans Andersson went to the restaurant inside the establishment. Andersson however, went to the ballroom of the hotel, lit up several candles and started playing his piano. After several hours, he had come up with the melody of "Sunny Girl". In comparison to "No Response", "Sunny Girl" was a huge leap forward for the band, because unlike the rock and roll influenced "No Response", "Sunny Girl" drew inspiration from Classical music and is as a result baroque pop.{{Cite book|last=Palm|first=Carl Magnus|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jo4ZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22sunny+girl%22+%22hep+Stars%22|title=Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Real Story of Abba|date=2008|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-1-84772-419-9|language=en}}

"Sunny Girl" was reportedly inspired by Andersson's girlfriend at the time, who was Norwegian.{{Cite book|last=Palm|first=Carl Magnus|title=Benny's Road To ABBA|publisher=Premium Publishing|date=12 June 2004|isbn=91-89136-14-4|pages=255}} It was not originally a slow-drawn out ballad. Andersson had envisioned a faster version of the song. However, Hep Stars sound engineer Gert Palmcrantz suggested that he'd play the spinet, something he agreed on and promptly slowed down the arrangement of the song. Andersson later admitted that he was heavily influenced by classical music on both "Sunny Girl" and the follow-up "Wedding".{{Cite web|title=Abbalegenden Benny Andersson har fortfarande känsla för hitlåtar|url=https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/10/18/abbalegenden-benny-andersson-har-fortfarande-kansla-for-hitlatar|access-date=2020-07-03|website=svenska.yle.fi|language=sv-FI}} "Sunny Girl" was introduced to their manager Åke Gerhard, who saw great potential in Andersson as a songwriter, and who liked the track. It was recorded in March 1966 at Europafilm Studios with Palmcrantz producing.{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - Sunny Girl|url=https://www.thehepstars.se/popup9_window.html|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.thehepstars.se|language=sv}}

The band did not initially agree on releasing "Sunny Girl" as a single, as drummer Christer Pettersson and guitarist Janne Frisk were not too fond of the slow-baroque sound that the single had produced; all their previous singles had been high-tempoed rock or rhythm and blues recordings.{{Cite journal|last=Palm|first=Carl Magnus|date=12 June 2004|title=Benny's Road To ABBA|url=http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/Upload/abbabooks/images/bennysroadexcerpt.pdf|journal=Meeting Björn|page=113}} However, Andersson, singer Svenne Hedlund and bassist Lennart Hegland liked the song. The members would eventually agree for the single to be released, and in March 1966, "Sunny Girl" was released by Olga Records with the catalogue number SO 21.{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - Hawaii / Sunny Girl|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Hep-Stars-Hawaii-Sunny-Girl/release/803837|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Discogs|year=1966 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - Olga Records|url=https://www.thehepstars.se/olgaa.html|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.thehepstars.se}}

Heavily promoted, the single entered Kvällstoppen on 15 March 1966 at a position of number 15.{{Cite web|title=SUNNY GIRL av HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112/sunny-girl-39385|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}} The following week it had for the first time entered the top-10, at number 7. The week after it had reached number 6 and on 5 April it had reached the top-5 for the first time, at number 3, almost a year after their first charting single. On 12 April, it reached number 1 on the charts, a position which it held for 5 weeks, before finally leaving on the week ending 17 May where it was at number 2, a position it held for two weeks. The week after, it had ascended to number 4, with number 5 following the next week. On 14 June, it had exited the top-5 for the first time at number 8, and the following week it left the top-10 at number 12. "Sunny Girl" was last seen on the chart on 28 June at a position of number 14. In total, the single spent 16 weeks on the charts, of which 13 were in the top-10, 10 were in the top-5 and 5 at number 1.{{Cite book|last=Hallberg |first=Eric |url= |title=Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3 : Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962-19. 8. 1975.|date=1993|publisher=Drift Musik|isbn=91-630-2140-4|location=Värmdö|oclc=165178200}} The single was equally successful on Tio i Topp, where it was voted number 1 on 2 April, a position it held for six weeks. In total, the record stayed on Tio i Topp for 14 weeks, their most successful single on that chart.{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - Tio i Topp|url=https://www.thehepstars.se/TioiTopp.html|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.thehepstars.se}}{{Cite book|last1=Hallberg |first1=Eric |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |url= |title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök 1961-74.|date=1998|publisher=Premium|language=sv|isbn=91-972712-5-X|edition=1. uppl|location=Stockholm |oclc=186200204}}

After being played repeatedly on Radio Luxembourg, the single gained traction in the Netherlands almost two years later.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-08-19|title=Bé Annen duikt in geschiedenis van voormalige band van Benny Andersson|url=https://nieuweooststellingwerver.nl/artikel/1039771/be-annen-duikt-in-geschiedenis-van-voormalige-band-van-benny-andersson.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Nieuwe Ooststellingwerver|language=nl}} For most international releases outside of the Nordic countries, they were issued by Decca Records, but with few exceptions as they were issued by Olga in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, the single was backed by "No Response".{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - Sunny Girl / No Response|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Hep-Stars-Sunny-Girl-No-Response/release/1348982|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Discogs|year=1966 |language=en}} The single entered the charts on 13 July 1968 at a position of number 18.{{Cite web|last=Hung|first=Steffen|title=The Hep Stars - Sunny Girl|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Hep+Stars&titel=Sunny+Girl&cat=s|access-date=2020-07-03|website=hitparade.ch}} The following week, it had reached number 14. On 27 July, it had reached the top-10 for the first time at number 8. The following week, it entered the top-5 for the first time and reached its peak of number 4, a position which it held for two weeks. On 17 August, the single had exited the top-5 at number 10, a position it also held for two weeks. The single was last seen on 31 August at number 17 before exiting the chart. In total, it spent 8 weeks on the chart, of which 5 were in the top-10 and two were in the top-5. "Sunny Girl" became the Hep Stars only successful release outside the Nordic countries, as clashes between Olga Records and Decca Records hindered virtually any records to be released outside of the Nordics, successfully terminating their international career.

The single was also hugely successful on Norway's chart, VG-lista, and became their first charting single on there since "Bald Headed Woman"{{Cite web|title=Hep Stars|url=https://www.vglista.no/artister/hep-stars/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=VG-lista 2020|language=nb-NO}} The single entered the chart at number 9 on 16 April 1966.{{Cite web|title=Sunny Girl|url=https://www.vglista.no/sanger/sunny-girl/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=VG-lista 2020|language=nb-NO}} The following week, it had reached number 8, a position it held for two weeks. On 7 May that year, it had climbed to number 6, and by the following week it had entered the top-5 for the first time, at its peak of number 4. The following week it ascended to number 5, before once again reaching number 4 on 28 May that year. The week after it ascended to number 6, a position it held for two weeks, and was last seen on the chart on 18 June that year at a position of number 7. In total, the single spent ten weeks on the chart, of which all were in the top-10 and three were in the top-5. The B-Side of "Sunny Girl" was a cover of the Beach Boys "Hawaii", which was recorded as a joke (in similar fashion to that of their debut single "Kana Kapila").{{Cite web|last=Palm|first=Carl|title=Cadillac Madness - den otroliga berättelsen om The Hep Stars|url=http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/Upload/abbabooks/images/cadillacchapter.pdf|website=carlmagnuspalm}} A reversed single sleeve which by accident meant that "Hawaii" became the A-side was released. This release managed to actually chart on Kvällstoppen before being recalled. It entered the chart on 15 March 1966 at number 15 before reaching its peak of number 7 the following week.{{Cite web|title=HAWAII av HEP STARS|url=https://www.nostalgilistan.se/hep-stars-112/hawaii-39386|access-date=2020-07-03|website=NostalgiListan|language=sv}} It exited that same date after only two weeks on the chart.

Upon British release, the single gained favorable reviews. In a review for Record Mirror, Norman Jopling and Peter Jones considered the song "open", noting the harpsichord found on the song.{{Cite journal|last1=Jopling|first1=Norman|last2=Jones|first2=Peter|title=Rapid reviews|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-07-16.pdf|journal=Record Mirror|issue=16 July 1966|pages=9}} However, they also found the song unoccupied.

In retrospect, Benny Andersson has stated that the writing of "Sunny Girl" made him physically feel good inside, and made him believe in himself as a serious songwriter after it reached number 1 on Tio i Topp.{{Cite news|title=Benny Andersson berättar varför Sunny Girl är den viktigaste låten han har skrivit|language=sv|work=Sveriges Radio|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=4951&artikel=7193932|access-date=2020-07-03}}{{Cite web|date=2018-01-17|title=Every songwriter needs to sit there, keep going, and wait for 'it' to happen|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/every-songwriter-needs-to-sit-there-keep-going-and-wait-for-it-to-happen/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Music Business Worldwide|language=en-US}} Realizing that it had reached number 1, he started crying.{{Cite web|date=2013-06-20|title=En radikal sjunger ut|url=https://www.fokus.se/2013/06/en-radikal-sjunger-ut/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Fokus|language=sv-SE}} On a bench in a dressing room in Kungsbacka, Andersson decided to dedicate his life to songwriting after this. He has stated that the feeling of physical gratification has been achieved every time he writes a song, ever since "Sunny Girl".{{Cite news|last=Spektra|date=2012-11-30|title=Benny Andersson jagar fortfarande känslan|language=sv|work=Svenska Dagbladet|url=https://www.svd.se/benny-andersson-jagar-fortfarande-kanslan|access-date=2020-07-03|issn=1101-2412}} Andersson stated that "Sunny Girl" was the first song which he wrote that he considered good, as opposed to "No Response" which he considered throwaway.{{Cite web|title=En mästare minns även sina floppar|url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2002-12-28/en-mastare-minns-aven-sina-floppar|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Sydsvenskan|date=28 December 2002 |language=sv}} In a review for his Andersson's 2017 solo album Piano, Jens Peterson of Aftonbladet writes that "Sunny Girl" easily could have been included on the album as it fits right in with the moody, baroque melodies present on the album.{{Cite web|title=Benny Andersson hörs starkare inombords än det mest brusande buller|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/4yB66|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Aftonbladet|date=27 September 2017 |language=sv}}

"Sunny Girl" caused a resurgence in Hep Stars popularity, gaining them their first number 1 since "Bald Headed Woman", and led the following singles "Wedding", "Consolation" and "Malaika" to also reach number 1. However, Andersson has stated that he was not satisfied with the lyrics, which he comprehends as misogynic. Nonetheless, "Sunny Girl" became a huge hit, and is together with "Cadillac" and "I Natt Jag Drömde" considered to be Hep Stars signature songs.{{Cite web|last=Eijde|first=Malin|date=2020-02-25|title=60-talets popkung Svenne Hedlund lockar ännu fansen|url=http://www.gp.se/1.24274932|access-date=2020-07-03|website=gp.se|language=sv}}{{Cite news|last=Amster|first=Harry|date=2008-07-05|title=Björn och Benny har fått blodad tand|language=sv|work=Svenska Dagbladet|url=https://www.svd.se/bjorn-och-benny-har-fatt-blodad-tand|access-date=2020-07-03|issn=1101-2412}}{{Cite web|last=Amster|first=Harry|date=21 January 2014|title=Per Gessle skriver ny låt åt Hep Stars|url=http://blog.svd.se/kultur/2014/01/21/per-gessle-skriver-ny-lat-till-hep-stars/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=SvD.se|language=sv}}{{Cite web|title=Svenne Hedlund till Helsingborg: "Det är fortfarande lika roligt att möta publiken"|url=https://www.hd.se/2019-02-24/svenne-hedlund-till-helsingborg-det-ar-fortfarande-lika|access-date=2020-07-03|website=HD|date=24 February 2019 |language=sv}}{{Cite web|last=Staake|first=Britta|date=2019-03-15|title=Hits of the 60's väcker minnen|url=https://www.kt.se/2019/02/15/hits-of-the-60s-vacker-minnen/|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Karlstads-Tidningen|language=sv}} Svenne Hedlund, Hep Stars frontman and lead singer, has on multiple occasions stated that "Sunny Girl" was his favorite recording by Hep Stars.{{Cite web|date=1 April 2018|title=Svenne utlovar många hits på Saga|url=https://www.skaraborgslanstidning.se/artikel/svenne-utlovar-manga-hits-pa-saga|access-date=3 July 2020|website=skaraborgslanstidning}} Although not released on the original version, "Sunny Girl" was issued on the 1996 remaster of their eponymous second studio album (and third overall released) The Hep Stars.{{Cite web|title=The Hep Stars - The Hep Stars|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Hep-Stars-The-Hep-Stars/release/1949501|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Discogs|year=1996 |language=en}}

• Svenne Hedlund – lead vocals
• Janne Frisk – guitar, backing vocals
• Lennart Hegland – backing vocals
• Benny Andersson – spinett
• Christer Pettersson – tambourine

• Lennart Fernholm – bass guitar
• Gert Palmcrantz – producer

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• The same year, a recording by Hootenanny Singers was released on their album Många ansikten/Many Faces in October 1966, in one of the earliest collaborations between Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, who would later give "No Time" to Hep Stars, which they recorded for their third album The Hep Stars in late 1966.{{Cite book|last=Tobler|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-hkbqflhfKoC&q=%22no+time%22+%22bj%C3%B6rn+ulvaeus&pg=PT20|title=Abba - Uncensored on the Record|date=2012|publisher=Coda Books Ltd|isbn=978-1-908538-23-9|language=en}}
• Another Swedish rock band, the Telstars, recorded the song and released it as a single in mid-1966 with the alternate title "Fröken Sunny Girl" ("miss Sunny Girl"), with "En Liten Snobb", (a Swedish translation of the Kinks "Dedicated Follower of Fashion") as the B-side.{{Cite web|title=The Telstars - Fröken Sunny Girl / En Liten Snobb|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Telstars-Fr%C3%B6ken-Sunny-Girl-En-Liten-Snobb/release/2782483|access-date=2020-07-03|website=Discogs|year=1966 |language=en}} This release charted on Svensktoppen on 17 September 1966 at a position of number 10, which it held for one week before being replaced by "Kristallen den fina" by the Wayfarers.{{cite web|date=1966|title=Svensktoppen|url=http://sverigesradio.se/Diverse/AppData/Isidor/files/2023/3464.txt|access-date=17 July 2011|publisher=Sveriges Radio|language=sv}}

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Category:1966 singles

Category:English-language Swedish songs

Category:Hep Stars songs

Category:1966 songs

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden