Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)

Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) is an EP by alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, released in 1993. The EP is notable for being their first release with a full-band lineup, rather than only the two original members (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) performing. It was also released as a single on 7" vinyl.

Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)
EP by
They Might Be Giants
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1993
RecordedExcello Studio, Brooklyn and Skyline Studios, New York City
GenreAlternative rock
Length9:57
LabelElektra
ProducerThey Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants chronology
Apollo 18
(1992)		 Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)
(1993)		 Back to Skull
(1994)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Robert Christgau [2]

Songs

All of the songs on the EP are cover versions, except for one. The title song is a cover of a song by Hy Zaret from Tom Glazer's 1959 album, Space Songs. The lyrics for the refrain appear verbatim in the 1951 Golden Guide "Stars".[3] They Might Be Giants re-arranged the song in an uptempo version for their 1998 live album, Severe Tire Damage, and their 2009 children's album, Here Comes Science, on which they added the self-penned "Why Does The Sun Really Shine? (The Sun is a Miasma of Incandescent Plasma)", which corrects several factual inaccuracies in the original song. It was also included on the soundtrack to the children's game show Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World.[4]

The second track, "Jessica", was originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band for their 1973 album, Brothers and Sisters. The third track, "Whirlpool", is a song written by alternative rock band Meat Puppets, and can be found on their 1991 album, Forbidden Places. The fourth and final track, entitled "Spy", is the lone original track on the EP. It was later re-recorded for the band's successive studio album, John Henry, released in 1994.

Track listings

Main release
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)"Hy Zaret, Lou Singer2:53
2."Jessica"Forrest Richard Betts, Les Dudek2:24
3."Whirlpool"Curt Kirkwood2:10
4."Spy"John Flansburgh, John Linnell2:30
Total length:9:57

7" vinyl
A. "Why Does the Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)" – 2:53
B. "Jessica" – 2:24

Personnel
Music
Production
  • They Might Be Giants (John Linnell & John Flansburgh) – producer
  • Patrick Dillett – music recording, mixing

References
  1. "Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) - They Might Be Giants". Allmusic. Retrieved 2006-04-14.
  2. "CG: they might be giants". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  3. Zim, Herbert S. and Baker, Robert H. (1951). Stars. NY: Golden Press. pp. 16 (1975 printing). "The sun is a mass of incadescent gas: a gigantic nuclear furnace where hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees."
  4. Carmen Sandiego: Out Of This World allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
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