Sonny James Albums (45)
'Sunny Side Up'
Release Date 12/1/1995
Tracks 10
Label Sony Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Sunny Side Up is the album Sonny James recorded for Monument Records in 1979. It produced two hits that year, the biggest of which (a cover of Joe Tex's "Hold What You've Got") barely cracked the country Top 40. The album wasn't especially successful from a commercial standpoint, which makes it a curious choice for reissue on CD. Buyers shouldn't have any complaints, though; Sunny Side Up is a strong offering from start to finish, and the cover songs (Ken Copeland's "Pledge of Love," the Box Tops' "The Letter," etc.) are much better than mere filler thanks to creative arrangements. The songs with Mexican themes at the beginning of the album make James sound a bit like Jimmy Buffett, and his voice is much different from what it had been during his late-'60s peak, but Sunny Side Up will be a pleasant surprise for adventurous fans. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
'Young Love'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 12
Label Universal Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Young Love includes hits like the title track and "Here Comes Honey Again." ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This Is the Love is dedicated to Sonny James' longtime songwriting partner, Carol Smith, who wrote or co-wrote half of the selections. That is an unusually high proportion of original material for a Sonny James album in the '70s, when his successful formula of updating oldies in a glossy country-pop style dominated his output. "No Sand in a Sand Dune" and the straight rocker "It'll Still Be Worth It All" are decent originals, but the recycling of "All Burned out Inside" from James' 1976 album When Something Is Wrong With My Baby suggests a deficiency of ideas or effort. The title track and "Caribbean" are the album's two hits, the latter of which is a nice cover of Mitchell Torok's hit from the '50s and the album's highlight. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby'
Release Date 1/1/1976
Tracks 10
Label Columbia
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'200 Years of Country Music'
Release Date 1/1/1976
Tracks 12
Label Columbia
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'The Guitars of Sonny James'
Release Date 1/1/1975
Tracks 10
Label Columbia
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What The Critics Say
"Eres Tu (Touch the Wind)," originally a hit for the Spanish vocal group Mocedades in 1974, was reinterpreted as an easy listening guitar instrumental by Sonny James for his most unusual single release of the '70s. The record's only connection with country music was James' name on the label, but it became a minor country hit nonetheless, and James produced a full-length instrumental album around it, The Guitars of Sonny James. James, whose abilities as an acoustic guitar soloist are very competent, if not often flashy, composed "Kickapoo" and "Theme From Venice." "Apache" is a new recording of the Jorgen Ingmann tune with which James had a minor hit in 1961, and "Paper Roses" is a version of the 1973 hit James produced for Marie Osmond. The Guitars of Sonny James is more similar to 101 Strings than Chet Atkins' most schmaltzy efforts, but the subdued blend of James' acoustic guitar with strings and an occasional vocal chorus is hypnotically alluring and tailor-made for quiet moments of relaxation. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
'A Little Bit South of Saskatoon/Little Band of Gold'
Release Date 1/1/1975
Tracks 10
Label Columbia
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'To My Wife With Love'
Release Date 1/1/1974
Tracks 10
Label Columbia
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