I posted this several summers ago but it's still true today.
As the temperature hovers around 100 degrees here in Medford, Oregon, I thought it would be fun to list songs about Summer that would have to be included in any album of Summer Music. I love Summer and I love songs about Summer so here is my list.
1. Theme to A Summer Place - by Percy Faith
2. Theme to A Summer Place - by The Letterman
No album would be complete without both versions of this music from the 1959 movie of the same name. According to Wikipedia: "The 1960 hit "Theme from A Summer Place" (composed by Max Steiner and recorded by Percy Faith and His Orchestra) enriched and improved on a secondary musical theme of the film; it remains a classic of its era. A vocal version, with lyrics by Mack Discant, was a hit for The Letterman in 1965"
3. Theme to Summer of 42
Haunting theme to a 1971 movie about young teenage boys "coming-of-age" at a small beach town on Nantucket island on the east coast during World War II. According to Wikipeia: "Legrand's theme song for the film, "The Summer Knows", has since become a pop standard, being recorded by such artists as Peter Nero (who had a charting hit with his 1971 version), Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and Barbra Streisand."
4. Green Leaves of Summer - by the Brothers Four
The Brothers Four were an early 60's folk group formed at the University of Washington (ugh)and had a hit with this cover from music from John Wayne's movie The Alamo in 1960.
5. A Summer Wind - by Frank Sinatra
According to Wikipedia: "a 1965 song, with music by Henry Mayer and lyrics by Johnny Mercer. A cool, nostalgic tale of a fleeting romance, it is most known for a 1966 recording by Frank Sinatra that is informed by what NPR called "a majestic sadness." It is largely forgotten that singer Wayne Newton had the first national chart hit (1965). The Sinatra version originally appeared on his Strangers in the Night album, and hit number one on Billboard magazine's Easy Listening survey.
By the 2000s, it was one of Sinatra's most-used recordings in various contexts, including a mid-2000s television ad campaign for Mastercard and Major League Baseball.
6. Lazy, Craze Days of Summer - by Nat King Cole
This is one of my favorites. It really gets you into the spirit of summer in this 1963 hit
7. Here Comes Summer- by Jerry Keller
According to Wikipedia:it "was a 1959 song, which was written and performed by Jerry Keller. The song was produced for Keller by Richard Wolf. It reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100,"
Love the lyrics :
" Here comes summer
Almost June the sun is bright
Here comes summer
Drive-in movies every night
Double features
Lots more time to hold her tight
Oh let the sun shine bright on my happy summer home"
8. Sealed With A Kiss - by Bryan Hyland
Teenage "love lost" during the summer in this 1962 hit
"So we gotta say goodbye for the summer
baby I promise you this
I'll send you all my love
every day in a letter
Sealed with a kiss"
9. Summertime Blues - by Eddie Cochran
A 1958 song about the trials and tribulations of a teenager during the summer.
10. Surf City - by Jan & Dean
No summer album would be complete with out a Jan & Dean song. "Two girls for every guy" caught my attention so many years ago in 1963.
11. Surfin' USA - by The Beach Boys
and
12. All Summer Long- by the Beach Boys
I could fill this summer album up with Beach Boys songs but limited myself to the two listed above. They even have a classic album called "Endless Summer." In fact, the "Endless Summer" album should be a companion to this as it so expresses the feelings of Summer.
13. A Summer Song - By Chad and Jeremy
A sweet song about summer from 1964
14. Here comes the Sun - by The Beatles
One of my favorite Beatles songs
15. Summer in the City- by The Lovin' Spoonful
With the temperature hovering around 100 in Medford this 1966 hit song is very appropriate. "hot time summer in the city back of my neck getting hot and gritty"
16. Summer Breeze- by Seals and Croft
Mellow song from 1973
17. Our Last Summer- by ABBA
On soundtrack to movie Mamma Mia from summer of 2008. One of the best songs from the movie and play.
18. Summer Nights- by John Trivolta & Olivia Newton John
From the movie "Grease" in 1978. I can't belive I put a John Trivolta song on my list!
19. Surfer Girl- by the Beach Boys
Yes, I know I said I would limit my Beach Boys selection to 2 but I just had to add this third song.
UPDATE
20. Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams
I remember the summer of 69, I graduated from college and was drafted into the United States Army! The United States landed on the Moon and Sen. Ted Kennedy killed a girl at Chappaquiddick.
