Description
Sunny Day is the solo debut album by the American singer and songwriter John Cox, released on Questar/Mission Records in December 1996. The album was recorded by Kevin Smith and Helik Hadar at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California; with David Kershenbaum producing for John Galt Entertainment. Mixed by Smith and Kershenbaum.
Very seldom do we get to welcome a new voice to the fraternity of Christian songwriters who is incredible accomplished, and yet seems to appear out of nowhere; two examples of gentlemen who at one time fit that description would be Rick Elias and Michael Anderson. John Cox shares with those writers an ability to describe an event – whether as a participant or spectator – and offer the details in a such a way as to elevate the story above the mundane.
Cox, a native Texan, actually packs an awesome wallop on three fronts – as songwriter, singer and guitarist. His powerful voice and driving acoustic guitar work form the base for a sound that assimilates the influence of a broad spectrum of artists, from Led Zeppelin to Counting Crows to (unplugged) Alice in Chains. If your tastes run to the softer side of folk music, you may also hear the influences of singer/songwriters like Pierce Pettis, David Wilcox and even Bruce Cockburn.
However Cox is far from a typical folk-rocker. He incorporates chord changes, harmonics twists and subtle shifts in his arrangements that place him much closer to the alternative/modern rock crowd; not unlike someone such as Paul Westerberg (The Replacements). Helping shape that sound is acclaimed producer David Kershenbaum (Tracy Chapman, Bryan Adams, Blessid Union of Souls). Still, it’s his simple yet compelling lyrics which distinguish Cox’s songs. Line such as “I can see that you are not listening to a single word I say/ But that’s okay/ I’ll say it anyway” or “Please don’t look at me like I know/ All there is to know” fairly leap out of the speakers at the listener. At 34, Cox is no kid, but he’s got better chops and more energy than a lot of artists half his age. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, November 1996]
With ‘Sunny Day’ Nashville-based singer/songwriter John Cox has produced a wee gem. He has shrewdly surrounded himself with a quintet of red hot musicians, perhaps the best known being guitarist Tim Pierce, who memorably distilled 30 years of rock guitar histrionics into one incendiary solo for Michael J. Fox in the film Back To The Future and played on Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Human Touch’ Album. ‘Sunny Day’ has a swampy southern groove reminiscent in places of two other Johns, Fogerty and Mellencamp. It has been crisply produced by David Kershenbaum, who worked behind the desk in the late 1970s with Gallagher and Lyle and Joe Jackson then latterly Supertramp and Kim Hill. However, even with a sound and look reminiscent of Sam Hill (now whatever happened to him?), it is depressing to think that in all likelihood John’s irresistible debut will achieve neither the public recognition nor a fraction of the sales it deserves. [James Tweed, Cross Rhythms, December 1997]
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CD tracklist:
01. Sunny Day – 4:44
02. Little Change – 3:48
03. What Are We Doing Here – 3:58
04. All You Need – 3:55
05. I Don’t Know – 4:56
06. I Need You – 3:53
07. Tell Me – 2:50
08. Heaven Hears You – 4:05
09. Mystery – 4:01
10. This Hand I Hold – 3:22
A full-page advertisement for John Cox’s Sunny Day was featured in the November 1996 issues of CCM Magazine.
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CREDITS. Produced by David Kershenbaum for John Galt Entertainment, Inc. Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA. Engineered by Kevin Smith and Helik Hadar assisted by Doug Boehm and Jeffrey M. Willett. Mixed by Smith and Kershenbaum. Mastered by Steve Marcussen at Precision Mastering. Art Direction by Phillip Ross. Design by Kerosene Halo. Photography by Michael Wilson. Executive Producer: Mark H. Chesshir.
Musicians: John Cox (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar), Rick Dohr (Keyboards), Rick Dohr (Kurzweil), Tim Pierce (Electric Guitar), Anthony Sallee (Bass), Steve Grossman (Drums), Iki Levy (Percussion).
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