Sun Goddess (album)

Sun Goddess
Studio album by Ramsey Lewis
Released 1974
Recorded 1973-1974
Genre Jazz fusion, R&B
Length 36:05 (Original LP)
Label Columbia
Producer Teo Macero, Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White
Ramsey Lewis chronology
Solar Wind
(1974)		 Sun Goddess
(1974)		 Don't It Feel Good
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[2]

Sun Goddess is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis released on Columbia Records in 1974.

About the album

After his classic acoustic albums in the 1960s, Ramsey Lewis wanted to head in a new musical direction in the 1970s. As the mid-70s approached, he reunited with Maurice White, who at that time was with his own band, Earth, Wind & Fire. Members of EW&F including White played on the album sessions, while Philip Bailey added vocals.

The album became a huge crossover hit, charting at #1 on the Billboard Black Albums chart, as well as the Jazz album chart. The album also charted #12 in the Pop chart. While the album charted in the top 15, the songs "Hot Dawgit" and "Sun Goddess" charted in the Black Singles, the Pop Singles, and the Disco singles charts.[3] Sun Goddess has been certified gold.[4]

For years, the identity of the woman on the iconic album cover, photographed by Herb Breuer, had been a mystery among fans, as there was no credit on the album cover. Lewis revealed on his Facebook page in June 2011 that the model was Susan Leigh Scott, now Susan Maxon.[5] Maxon had moved to Seattle, where Lewis was performing during his 2011 Sun Goddess Tour, and decided to attend one of his performances. A photo was taken of the backstage meeting between Lewis and Maxon, which Lewis posted on his page.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Sun Goddess"  Jon Lind, Maurice White8:31
2."Living for the City"  Stevie Wonder5:22
3."Love Song"  Ramsey Lewis5:55
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Jungle Strut"  Ramsey Lewis4:43
5."Hot Dawgit"  Charles Stepney, Maurice White3:03
6."Tambura"  Ramsey Lewis2:55
7."Gemini Rising"  Ramsey Lewis5:54

[3]

Personnel

[3]

Charts

Year Chart Position
1975 Billboard Black Albums 1
1975 Billboard Jazz Albums 1
1975 Billboard Pop Albums 12

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1975 Sun Goddess Billboard Disco Singles 5
1975 Sun Goddess Billboard Soul Singles 20
1975 Sun Goddess Billboard Pop Singles 44
1975 Hot Dawgit Billboard Pop Singles 50
1975 Hot Dawgit Billboard Soul Singles 61

[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Swenson, J. (Editor) (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 126. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sun Goddess on Allmusic.com
  4. ↑ RIAA Certification for Sun Goddess
  5. ↑ Ramsey Lewis reunites with SUN GODDESS cover model
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