The Best Summer Music Is....

SUMMERSONGSHOW

To listen to the show, right-click on the link and select "save as..."

As I threatened, here it is……
SUMMER SONGS

THE SEASON IS UPON US!!!

It’s been a long, cold Winter, followed by a non-existent Spring here in New York, which means that the recent swell of warm weather is long overdue, and completely welcome. The sudden onset of Summer weather has me thinking of vacations, margaritas, swimming in the ocean, playing music outdoors, barbecues, you get the idea.

If you’re from New Orleans (note to Heidy, my fiancé and co-host for ‘American Hit Radio’), the onset of summer may be more of a threat than a promise. Then again, any transplanted New Oreanian who spent a few Winters in New York will probably embrace Summer more enthusiastically than an 8th grader longing for school to end. For these reasons, Heidy and I have decided to compile a list of perfect Summer songs.

That being said, I’m sure that most people will take exception to our choices. Sorry, but in our opinion, there’s no room for the Cure when discussing Summer songs – I doubt Robert Smith could even go outside with his black wardrobe and all that makeup on. I’m not gonna stoop to including Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” either, since it just isn’t our taste. And, although there are two (!) Jimmy Buffett books on the market with my name on them (....let's not go there...) I'm inclined to disqualify him from my list of perfect summer songs, for two reasons. First, his entire catalog falls into this category rather easily - too easily for my taste. Second, the thought of hearing Jimmy Buffet by choice just makes me want to spill out my Tequila and grapefruit, go inside and draw the blinds, then turn on the a/c. And yeah, sure, the Beach Boys have a catalog that is virtually every bit as summer-friendly as Buffett's, but I'm NOT inclined to disregard them. In fact, it’s damn near impossible to exclude the Beach Boys from any collection of Summer songs – they’re the Beach Boys, for chrissakes! So, if you prefer "Margaritaville" over "California Girls," then you ought to make your own list, because you won't be happy with ours.

That being said, here we go. This list will be expanded as our brains adjust to the warm weather.

Summer’s Cauldron/ - XTC*
Grass – XTC*
Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful
Grazin’ in the Grass – Hugh Masekela*
Grazin’ in the Grass – Friends of Distinction*
Sweet and Dandy – Toots & the Maytals
Isn’t This a Lovely Day – Ella and Louis
Rock Lobster – B52’s
Surf’s Up – Brian Wilson*
California Girls – Beach Boys (duh…)
Under the Boardwalk – Drifters
Summertime – Miles Davis*
Solea – Miles Davis
AM Radio – Everclear
Sun Is Shining – Bob Marley
Sunny Afternoon – the Kinks*
Let’s Go Trippin’ – Dick Dale
Pipeline – The Chantays*
Pipeline – MY BAND!!!*
Cruisin’ – Smokey Robinson*
Groovin’ – The Young Rascals
Mother Nature’s Son – The Beatles
Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
School’s Out – Alice Cooper
Green River – CCR
Down Corner – CCR
Saturday Sun – Nick Drake
Girl From Ipanema – Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto*
Waiting On a Friend - Rolling Stones
Street Fighting Man – Rolling Stones
Pink Cadillac – Bruce Springsteen
Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra*
Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin*
Hot Fun In The Summertime – Sly and The Family Stone*
Pulling Muscles From a Shell – Squeeze
Pleasant Valley Sunday – Monkees*
Coney Island – Van Morrison
Smooth – Santana feat. Rob Thomas

*indicates that the song is included on American Hit Radio’s 1st Summer Show broadcast


I don’t know why I associate these with Summer, but I’m going to include them as aberrations that I associate with warm weather for reasons other than their subject matter.

Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
Alone Again Or - Love
Sweetheart – Bee Gees
Lets Dance – David Bowie
Kind of Hush – Herman’s Hermits
Oye Como Va - Santana

THIS……is to be continued…..
How about you?