1966.....#14 U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #11 U.S. Cash Box Top 100, #1 UK Singles, #1 Canada, #13 Australia, #2 New Zealand
Original video edited and AI remastered with HQ stereo sound.
“Sunny Afternoon“ is a song by the Kinks, written by chief songwriter Ray Davies. The track later featured on the Face to Face album as well as being the title track for their 1967 compilation album. Like its contemporary “Taxman“ by the Beatles, the song references the high levels of progressive tax taken by the British Labour government of Harold Wilson. Its strong music hall flavour and lyrical focus was part of a stylistic departure for the band (begun with 1965’s “A Well Respected Man“), which had risen to fame in 1964–65 with a series of hard-driving, power-chord rock hits.
Released as a single on 3 June 1966, it went to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 7 July 1966, remaining there for two weeks. The track also went to No. 1 in Ireland on 14 July 1966. In America, it peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart early autumn 1966. The promotional video for the single featured the band performing in a cold, snowy environment.
Billboard praised the single’s “off-beat music hall melody and up-to-date lyrics.“ Cash Box said that it is a “slow-moving, blues-drenched, seasonal affair with a catchy, low-key repeating riff.“ “Sunny Afternoon“ was placed at No. 200 on Pitchfork Media’s list of The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s.