"Sunshine Superman" is a song written and recorded by British singer-songwriter Donovan. The "Sunshine Superman" single was released in the United States through Epic Records (Epic 5-10045) in July 1966, but due to a contractual dispute the United Kingdom release was delayed until December 1966, where it appeared on Donovan's previous label, Pye Records (Pye 7N 17241). The "Sunshine Superman" single was backed with "The Trip" on both the United States and United Kingdom releases. It has been described as having, "proven to be classics of the era," and as, "the quintessential bright summer sing along".
"Sunshine Superman" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and subsequently became the title track of Donovan's third album, Sunshine Superman. A different mix of "The Trip" (without harmonica) is also included in the album. It was the first product from the highly successful three-year collaboration between Donovan and producer Mickie Most and is generally considered to be one of the first examples of the musical genre that came to be known as psychedelia.
The song was written for Donovan's future wife Linda Lawrence.
The lyrics of the song mention not only Superman, but also another DC Comics superhero, Green Lantern.
Chart positions were No.1, and No.2 (the single was released in December 1966 in the UK). It was Donovan's only single to reach No.1 on Billboard's Hot 100 survey.
Read more about Sunshine Superman: Versions, Personnel, In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words sunshine and/or superman:
“In an ancient and dead language, any recognition of living nature attracts us. These are such sentences as were written while grass grew and water ran. It is no small recommendation when a book will stand the test of mere unobstructed sunshine and daylight.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It’s men like you that make it difficult for people to understand one another.”
—Richard Fielding. Lee Sholem. Superman (George Reeves)