Sunflower was the Beach Boys’ first album released on Reprise Records.
The album arrived in the United States on August 31, 1970, after the group signed with Reprise, a Warner Bros. subsidiary. The deal was brokered partly by Van Dyke Parks, who was then working for Warner. Reprise’s contract also required Brian Wilson to remain actively involved in the band’s albums.
Sunflower followed 20/20 and marked a new phase for the group: all six members contributed significant writing or performing, rather than the record being dominated by Brian alone. Songs such as “Forever,” “This Whole World,” and “Cool, Cool Water” helped give it a notably collaborative sound.
A common mix-up is confusing Sunflower with Surf’s Up, the next Reprise album, or with Holland, which came later in 1973. Despite strong reviews, Sunflower reached only No. 151 in the United States, making its label debut commercially disappointing.