4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 15, 1972,[1] and earned a gold record.

[2] "Sunshine" was not originally planned for release, but when an engineer accidentally erased the master of a track called "Please Find Me" near the end of sessions for the album, "Sunshine" was used to fill the hole.

[2] The song was released as a single and first gained popularity[citation needed] on Boston radio, before going nationwide.

Regarding its success, Edwards stated, "It was just at the time of the Vietnam War and Nixon.

"[2] "Sunshine" bears some melodic resemblance to the traditional country blues song "Green Rocky Road",[citation needed] popularized in the 1960s by folk singers Len Chandler and Dave van Ronk.