Andrea (song)

Andrea is a song by the American surf band The Sunrays. It was composed by the band's singer/songwriter/drummer Rick Henn. It was the band's most successful single, peaking at #41 on the Billboard charts on March 5, 1966.^[1] It was the title track, but the second single released off the band's only original album Andrea. The first single "I Live for the Sun" had peaked at #51 on October 23, 1965 and reached #20 in Australia and a cover by Vanity Fare reached the same position in the UK. The band had previously released a single Outta Gas that was not on the album. The song features a five part harmony, produced by Murry Wilson, who was also the father and producer of the Beach Boys.^[2]

The Sunrays spent 1964 as the opening act for the Beach Boys on tour. After Murry was dismissed as manager for his son's band, he suggested the band get some songs together to put out an album of their own. While on an airplane, guitarist Eddy Medora met "this beautiful stewardess, just lovely." He promised he would write a song about her when he returned home. He mentioned the conversation to Henn. By the time of the band's first rehearsal after returning home, Henn had completed writing the song.^[3] While the girl on the album cover was named Sam, the band launched a nationwide contest, advertised in Tiger Beat to find Andrea.

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