Sun Goddess
Studio album by
Ramsey Lewis
Released1974
Recorded1973-1974
GenreJazz-funk[1]
Length36:05 (Original LP)
LabelColumbia
ProducerTeo 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[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[3]

Sun Goddess is a jazz album by Ramsey Lewis, released on Columbia Records in 1974. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.[4][5] Sun Goddess was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.[6]

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.[7]

The album became a crossover hit, charting at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B and jazz album charts, while peaking at No. 12 on the pop album chart. The tracks, "Hot Dawgit" and "Sun Goddess", charted on the R&B, pop and disco singles charts.[8] Sun Goddess was certified gold by the RIAA.[6]

For years, the identity of the woman on the 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.[9] 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 White8:28
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

Personnel

Technical
  • Dave Antler - Engineer
  • Richard Evans - Horn arrangements, string arrangements

Charts

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gorton, TJ (July 30, 2018). "BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs". BeatCaffeine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess". allmusic.com.
  3. ↑ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 126. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  4. ↑ "Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess (Top Soul Albums)". Billboard.com. Billboard.
  5. ↑ "Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess (Billboard 200)". Billboard.com. Billboard.
  6. 1 2 "Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess". riaa.com.
  7. ↑ Gopal, Siriam (2011-12-07). "Ramsey Lewis's "Sun Goddess," Revisited". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  8. ↑ Sun Goddess on Allmusic.com
  9. ↑ Ramsey Lewis reunites with SUN GODDESS cover model
  10. ↑ "Ramsey Lewis Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Ramsey Lewis Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3936a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1975". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
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