The Sound of Sunshine

by Alex HendersonMany Americans think that 1975's KC & the Sunshine Band was the disco/funk/soul outfit's first album. After all, it was that self-titled release that boasted the hits "Get Down Tonight" and "That's The Way (I Like It)," both of which soared to number one on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts and made Harry Wayne Casey, aka KC, a superstar in the United States. But, in fact, KC & the Sunshine Band was their third album. Before that, they provided two LPs that were better known in England than they were in the U.S.: 1974's Do It Good (their debut album) and 1975's instrumental The Sound of Sunshine. KC doesn't sing at all on this LP, which he produced and arranged with partner Richard Finch. But even without KC's distinctive vocals, his band is easily recognizable on exuberant offerings like "Sunshine City," "S.O.S.," and "Funky '75" (which is an instrumental version of the 1973 single "Sound Your Funky Horn"). Other noteworthy tracks include the single "Shotgun Shuffle" (which made it to number 25 on Billboard's R&B singles chart) and a remake of the George McCrae smash "Rock Your Baby" (which KC and Finch wrote for that one-hit wonder in 1974). The Sound of Sunshine isn't among KC & the Sunshine Band's essential releases, but it's a decent record that's worth hearing if you're a serious disco-funk collector.