Sun
Sun was an American R&B, soul, disco, and funk band from Dayton, Ohio, best known for hits like "Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My Bic)". The band was founded by Byron Byrd in the mid-1970s and recorded prolifically for Capitol Records from 1976 to 1984.
The band was the brainchild of saxophonist and composer Byron Byrd, who initially aspired to a career in aerospace. As a side pursuit, he led an early 70s Dayton R&B band called the Ohio Majestics, which eventually morphed into Sun. Byrd envisioned a group that would blend jazz sophistication with raw street funk, with multi-instrumentalists who believed music could move both the body and soul.
Sun signed with Capitol Records in 1976, the same label as Earth, Wind & Fire and Maze. Their debut album, Live On, Dream On (also referred to by its title track, Wanna Make Love), released in 1976, established their signature sound characterized by tight horns, cosmic synths, and relentless rhythm sections. The album featured the hit single "Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My BIC)," which reached number 31 on Billboard's R&B chart.
Subsequent albums expanded on their "cosmic" themes and sound. Each album was conceptual, exploring themes of space, light, and human connection, distinguishing them within the vibrant Dayton funk scene that also produced bands like The Ohio Players, Lakeside, Zapp, and Slave.
The original lineup included members such as Kym Yancey (drums), Chris Jones (vocals, keyboards), Gary King (trombone, vocals), John Wagner (trumpet), Hollis Melson (bass), and Shawn Sandridge (vocals, guitar).
A significant lineup change occurred before their third album when several members, including Shawn Sandridge and Chris Jones, left the band due to disagreements over musical direction. These former members went on to form the band Dayton. Sun welcomed new members, including guitarist/vocalist Keith Cheatham and bassist Curtis Hooks, forming a highly regarded unit in the band's history. Notably, Roger and Lester Troutman of Zapp contributed to Sun's debut album, with Roger adding his signature talk box effect to "Wanna Make Love (Come Flick My BIC)".
Commercial success for the band waned by the mid-1980s due to the evolution of music and label/lineup changes. They released a total of seven albums on Capitol Records between 1976 and 1982, and a final album on Air City in 1984.
Sun is remembered as an energetic force that exemplified the essence of funk, leaving a timeless musical legacy. Their music, characterized by positive themes and a universal groove, remains influential and continues to be sampled by modern artists.
Sun Over The Universe
Written-By – B. Byrd, K. Yancey
4:58
A2 Hot Spot
Written-By – Byron Byrd
5:37
A3 Stay By My Side
Written-By – B. R. Fleming, B. Byrd
4:50
A4 Quest (Instrumental)
Written-By – Byron Byrd
4:40
B1 You Threw My Love Away
Written-By – Byron Byrd
4:28
B2 I Want Your Love
Written-By – B. Byrd, K. Yancey
4:49
B3 I Made A Mistake
Written-By – Byron Byrd
4:52
B4 Fancy Feet
Written-By – Byron Byrd
4:08
Label: Capitol Records – ST-12088
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk, Disco
Sun Over The Universe is the fifth studio album by the Ohio-based funk and R&B band Sun, released in 1980 under Capitol Records. It is widely regarded as a transitional record that moves the band away from their earlier raw funk roots toward a more polished, disco-influenced sound.
The album generally receives moderate to positive scores from niche audiences, holding a rating of 4.06 / 5 on Discogs based on user reviews.
Reviewers often note that the production is tight and professional, characteristic of the late 1970s and early 1980s R&B scene. However, some critics feel it lacks the "grit" found on their earlier successful records like Sunburn (1978).
While not as commercially dominant as their gold-certified predecessors, the album is valued by collectors for its blend of "spacey" synths and rhythmic funk.
The album is part of a discography that includes hits like "Radiation Level," though Sun Over The Universe is often seen as a deeper cut for fans of the "Ohio funk" sound.
For collectors, original vinyl pressings remain the primary way to experience the album, as it has not seen the same level of widespread digital remastering as major pop hits of the same era.
In essence, it's a classic funk/disco record from the late '70s/early '80s known for its tight grooves, impressive musicianship, and a "sun-drenched" yet otherworldly feel, fitting its evocative title.