Sunshine Pop

The song “Lazy Day” by Spanky and Our Gang was written by George Fischoff and Tony Powers. In 1967, “Lazy Day” rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canadian RPM Magazine Chart. It’s cheerful and upbeat with nice vocal harmonies and is considered to be an example of sunshine pop. There are lovers in the park with daisies and balloons. It’s a happy sound for the 1960s. “Lazy Day” sold more than one million copies.

Spanky and Our Gang were a folk-rock, sunshine pop band that formed in Illinois and were active from 1966 through 1969. They were named after Hal Roach’s Our Gang comedies (aka The Little Rascals). Members have included Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane, Nigel Pickering, Paul “Oz” Bach, Malcolm Hale, John “The Chief” Seiter,” Kenny Hodges, and Left y Baker. They had a big hit with “Sunday Will Never be The Same” in 1967. After they disbanded, McFarlane went on to a solo career and sang with the Mamas and The Papas in the early 1980s.

Here are the lyrics to “Lazy Day” by Spanky and Our Gang:

“Blue sky, sunshine
What a day to take a walk in the park
Ice cream, daydream
Till the sky becomes a blanket of stars

What a day for picking daisies
And lots of red balloons
And what a day for holdin’ hands
And bein’ with you

Lazy day, just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Baby, you and me, baby you and me
And a honey bee ‘neath a shady tree
Lazy day, lazy day, lazy day for you and me

Blue sky, sunshine
Flowers bloomin’, children sayin’ hello
Rowboats, bird notes
People smilin’ everywhere that we go

What a day to be together
And what a sky of blue
And what a day for thinkin’ right out loud
I love you

Lazy day, just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Baby, you and me, baby you and me
And a honey bee ‘neath a shady tree

Lazy day, lazy day, lazy day for you and me
What a day for a picking daisies
And lots of red balloons
And what a day for thinkin’ right out loud
I love you

Lazy day, just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Lazy day, just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane.”

For another song by Spanky and Our Gang: “Sunday Will Never be The Same.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Lazy Day” by Spanky and Our Gang.