Sun Goddess (album) explained

Sun Goddess
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Ramsey Lewis
Cover:	Sun Goddess.jpg
Released:	1974
Recorded:	1973–1974
Genre:	Jazz-funk^[1] jazz pop^[2] jazz fusion
Length:	36:05 (Original LP)
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Teo Macero, Ramsey Lewis, Maurice White
Prev Title:	Solar Wind
Prev Year:	1974
Next Title:	Don't It Feel Good
Next Year:	1975

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.^{[3] [4]} Sun Goddess was also certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] Sun Goddess was certified gold by the RIAA.

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.^[8] 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.

Personnel

• Philip Bailey - Conga, vocals
• Cleveland Eaton - Bass, bass guitar
• Johnny Graham - Guitar
• Byron Gregory - Guitar
• Maurice Jennings - percussion, conga, drums, tambourine
• Ramsey Lewis - Synthesizer, guitar, piano, electric guitar, electric piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, string machine
• Don Myrick - Tenor Saxophone
• Derf Reklaw-Raheem - Conga, drums, vocals
• Charles Stepney - Guitar, electric guitar, Fender Rhodes
• Maurice White - Drums, timbales, vocals
• Verdine White - Bass, vocals

Technical

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

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1975)	Position
US Billboard 200^[9]	42
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[10]	4

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

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1975 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Web site: BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs . https://web.archive.org/web/20180825081205/https://beatcaffeine.com/100-best-jazz-funk-songs/ . Gorton . TJ . BeatCaffeine . July 30, 2018 . August 25, 2018 . September 19, 2021.
2. Book: Holtje, Stephen. Earth, Wind & Fire/Maurice White. Graff. Gary. du Lac. Josh. McFarlin. Jim. January 1, 1998. MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. Detroit. 189-190.
3. Web site: Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess (Top Soul Albums). Billboard. Billboard.com.
4. Web site: Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess (Billboard 200). Billboard. Billboard.com.
5. Web site: Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess. riaa.com.
6. Web site: Gopal . Siriam . 2011-12-07 . Ramsey Lewis’s "Sun Goddess," Revisited . 2023-12-12 . . en-US.
7. Sun Goddess on Allmusic.com
8. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150211287590816&set=a.411543130815.195798.239401375815&type=1&theater Ramsey Lewis reunites with SUN GODDESS cover model
9. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1975. Billboard. October 28, 2021.
10. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1975. Billboard. October 28, 2021.