SUN: Inquire Within

Sun

Inquire Within

© 2000 Sun PK (634479559921)

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For all its retro 60's Sunshine Pop charm this CD is decidedly contemporary, each song a rare gem in a pop music treasure chest.

notes

Sun's CD "Inquire Within" was produced by Daniel Wise (Joan Osborn, Wu Tang Clan, Maceo Parker, European Grammy winner Marie Frank, Andy Partridge (XTC), Dave Hunter (Counting Crows), James Taylor, Ke, Chynna Phillips, 22 Brides, Ani DiFranco and many more (http://www.theshed.us).

This CD was released in Japan on Air Mail Recordings (www.airmailrecordings.com) with the alternative title "It's A Smiley Face World" and received rave reviews in many magazines including Amplifier and NineVolt.

"I Wonder How I Know" received the grand prize in the Onion River Radio Songwriting Contest in August 2002. "It's A Smiley Face World" received a 3rd place in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the children's category in 2003.

Sun is also an accomplished songwriter in many styles including Country, Dance, Pop, Rock, R&B, Adult Contemporary & Swing.

As an artist Sun initially worked with Robert Victor as 100th Monkey whose approach was Euro/Synth Pop/New Age. The uptempo songs are eclectic electronic Europop post modern disco tinged dance (huh?) while the ballads are New Age/AC. 100th Monkey's spiritual material is on sale here at CD Baby:http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/100thmonkeyrock.

Sun's on air jingle credits include Nick At Nite's famous "Hello Out There From TV Land" campaign, which ran from 1991 through 1997. The 'jewel in the crown' of that campaign "Beautiful Place" won the prestigious silver BPME award in 1992. Other jingle compositions include a number of station ID's for TV Land, "Dey All Over De Floor (The Rug Rats)" for Nickelodeon, "Rockin' Our Dreams" for Club Disney and the banner jingle for PlayHouseRadio.com the (sadly defunct) children's music site. The jingles can be heard on Sun's website in the music section at http://www.sunpk.com/music/menu.htm

Also a talented abstract painter and graphic artist among other things, Sun is a coffee table book waiting to happen. See why at his colorful, unique and often hilarious website and be sure to look for more great music at Sort of Records on Sun's website www.sunpk.com.

A note about the digital aspect: When this album was made several segues between songs were blends that have one song flow seamlessly from one to the next. For some of the songs, when a single digital version is downloaded, this flow will not be present so two of the songs will end abruptly. Those songs are My Baby Makes Me Feel So Good and Move On. We have included single versions of these songs (with fades) on a new page for two new original tracks, Christmas Wish and Passing Parade. Also on this page is a gorgeous cover of the Beatles' I'm Happy Just To Dance With You and It's a Smiley Face World with a short intro instead of the abrupt beginning it currently has as an individual download on this page. The new page, Some Sun Singles is at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/sunpk2. Thanks for listening!

reviews

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  • I love some songs of it!
    author: Mike

    Especially "Love will take your breath away"!

  • Something of a Hidden Gem
    author: Paul Martin, Shindig Magazine, 2008

    Although this is not a new release, it is something that still deserves attention now. Released as Smiley Face World in Japan, Inquire Within is a 43-minute carousel ride. The actual track 'Smiley Face World' and 'The Puppet Master' with its catchy whistled refrain are the best songs Mark Wirtz never wrote - toytown fans will lap these up. Elsewhere the CD features strong, melodic pop such as 'Nowhere' and 'Bear Witness', which remind me of the pop magician The Resonars. The middle section of the disc is devoted to quieter, more intimate sounding numbers such as 'On & On Forever' and 'I Didn't Have Time To Cry On Thursday'. Sun's light breathy vocal style gently sits atop the music steering its harmonic direction. The final track 'Love Will Take Your Breath Away' is also a well constructed beauty and life affirming closer. All in all, this is something of a hidden gem in contemporary yet 60's centred pop and I get more from it with each play.

  • breath of fresh pop air!
    author: tom james

    ilove this disc..catchy.extremely well crafted tunes..standouts-"move on" "puppet master", "if love has ever passed me by" ,"bear witness"... almost sounds like a live recording.deep sincere roots..lyrics are well written and caught me up in their vibe..the real deal..superb production and cool layering of instruments and voices..

  • Happy Happy :-) It's a smiley face world
    author: "T"

    Wonderful 60's-ish pop music that's not just for little kids! I love this CD; it makes me SMILE!

  • suns inquire within fairly warmed a cold scottish winter
    author: dennis patience from scotland

    suns inquire withen gorgous 60s pop influenced soft pop absolutly beuyful whens the next one coming out

  • a musical journey
    author: Len Rogers, Equal Pride, 2001

    The pop-retro style creates a feel of comfort and familiar places and things. A must CD for a day at the beach, you feel a strong connection to artists like the Beatles, Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Who, yes the Who, especially the Tommy album, and even a little Simon and Garfunkle. Incredibly up songs like "It's A Smiley Face World" are an indication of Sun's ability to create mood. My favorite; "The Puppet Master" has a great up feel with a foreboding sense of all just might not be well here, quick shadows dance in the corners of your mind while your ears take you on a merry journey. Sun deals with all matters emotional in "Inquire Within". Upbeat, happy inspiring songs, mixed with ones about desire, longing, happiness, peace, and searching make this musical journey one with which we can all relate. "Inquire Within" has a consistent underlying theme, which brings the entire CD together. As I said earlier a musical journey. I find it quite difficult to break this piece into sections. Definitely to be enjoyed as a whole, complete selection of Sun's musical prowess. Sort of our own community magical type mystery tour, although Sun’s music is geared to appeal to the community of humankind. Tempo and mood variations keep the CD flowing in a directed force. A musical river which brings vivid images and emotions at each bend. At times the river is calm, then turbulent, calming and uneasy as well. This makes for great musical excitement. Art they say is something which should cause an emotion when experienced. Sun does in both his visual arts and his music.

  • Pop -- with a capital "P"
    author: Gary "pig" Gold, Dead Flowers, 2001

    Tinkly, sunshine-y, nothing-but-Fun-timey Pop -- with a capital "P" at least! Yep, there's lots of luscious background voices always going "ahhh" and "ba-ba," some whistling even, and damn -- I mean darn it -- You can even hear the (nice, clean) guitars trebly-high within the mix! True, like such great sound smiths as Lindsey Buckingham, it really needn't be the SONGS that are the stars here, as the instrumentation and especially arrangements provide never ever less than a bright, flawless sonic sheen throughout. Then it's all topped with lazy, happily-heartbreaking, work-a-day lyrics entirely worthy of a certain B. Wilson at his very best, sung in what sometimes veers close to actual Colin Blunstone breathiness. Why, the proceedings even close on a wonderfully apt touch-o-Buddy Holly: Oh Boy, as The Master Himself would say! Raspberry-fresh cotton candy for the ears -- and I mean that in the utmost complimentary way, I say.

  • A real treat you may have missed ...
    author: John M. Borack, Amplifier Magazine, 2001

    A real treat you may have missed is Sun's Inquire Within. A must for '60s soft-pop aficionados and/or those who miss the days of bright 'n' bubbly "feel good" music, this is squeaky clean sweetness from beginning to end, with nary a duff track to be heard. If tunes like "It's a Smiley Face World" and "I Didn't Have Time To Cry On Thursday" don't make you break out in a big 'ol goofy grin and sing along, then you just ain't livin'!

  • ...carefree Bubblegum shines through ...
    author: Robert Pally, Music Scene Magazine, 2001

    The New Yorker Sun has many talents. Besides being a musician, he is a philosopher, paints and used to appear as drag queen. Concerning his music, Sun seems to like sixties soft pop and bubblegum. On the back of the cover of his album “Inquire Within” he has named some bands he likes. Besides others there are Harpers Bizarre, Sagittarius, Bobby Fuller Four, Left Banke and the Beach Boys amongst his favorites. “Inquire Within” is at the same time a kind of tribute to all above bands. One could add the Archies, whose carefree Bubblegum shines through in the song “It's A Smiley Face World”. All in all Sun’s album is a beautiful piece of sixties sunshine pop.

  • "...a true testament to the healing power of music.”
    author: Will Harris, Ninevolt Magazine, 2001

    Could this be any happier an album? I mean, the first full song is actually entitled "It's A Smiley Face World," and come bearing loads of "la-la's” backed by, at various times, kazoos and a slide whistle. Not so fast. In fact, Inquire Within can far more accurately be summed up with the phrase, "Screw you, life: I can be happy despite everything you've thrown at me." The origin of the lovely "My Baby Makes Me Feel So Good" is explained in the liner notes: "To my beautiful Monte for 18 years of companionship and the closest I've come to experiencing eternal love in the material world so far. After almost 11 years I finished writing (the song) just hours before you died...it is for you." The track "Lavender Lane" is dedicated "to everyone who watched me publicly struggle and flail through the muck of my life." And, yet, despite whatever hardships Sun has suffered, Inquire Within is a wonderfully produced tribute to the breezy pop of the '60's (from the Association to the Cyrkle, even some early Bee Gees) with melodies as cheery as any theme song ever recorded for a Sid & Marty Krofft show. It's an unabashedly retro (if occasionally overly saccharine) experience, and a true testament to the healing power of music.

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