Summer songs

Ok.. since I have been a music collector for years, amassing quite a bit on the tune side of things in various formats from vinyl to digital, I was inspired this afternoon as I drove through this white hot Oklahoma afternoon, stereo playing, singing along with the IPOD at the top opf my lungs. (mind you, that is the only place I am allowed by law to sing at the top of my lungs.. alone, in a sealed auto)

The tune that set me off was "Sunny Afternoon" by the Kinks. I began to think.. "What would be the ultimate summer playlist?" I have a bunch of favorites, and there are the summer songs that seem to recycle over and over through the years.

But, what makes a great summer song?

It has to capture something we either experience azs summer, or embody the imagined summer of our fancy. It might be a song that we identified with some great summer experience. It might be that tune we heard playing over the radio while we lay, blisfully, in the hot sun on a dock, slowly drying after a swim. It might be the song that brings back the memory of that breath taking girl we saw on a summer day.

Lots of songs qulify in one of those categories, but some are pure SUMMER.

Below I ve listed a collection of my favorite songs that seem in one way or another to capture something about these mythical summers thta we always look forward to with such great anticipation.Sure... the list is not complete and does not include some new or some old tunes that fit the bill, but it is my list and will probably bear some revision as toime goes on.

These are not lsied in order of preference, but randomly... and of course, those eternal boys of summer, The Beach Boys do have the most tunes on the list. It would be blasphemy to do otherwise.

Some are obvious, such as "California Girls" by both the Beach Boys and katie Perry. Others are listed more by their feel, such as "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondels.



I'd like your input. What would you add or delete?

the Dugan List

Hot Fun in the Summer Time- Sly and Family Stone. To me, this is teh ultimate one. It is funky and laid back.. it reminds me of a summer day. Probably my number one.

Sunny Afternoon - the Kinks. Lazing on a sunny afternoon... in the summertime!

Summertime- Will Smith (Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff). Kinda catches that same feel of Sly Stones summer. Laid back and funky.

In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry. It keeps showing up. one hit that ever went away.

Summertime Blues - the Who or Eddie Cochran. Sometimes there ain't no cure for summertime blues.

Girls in Summer Clothes- Bruce Springsteen. When I heard this, I thought, "I know what he means." You know it's summer whne the girls are in the summer clothes.

Goou Vibrations- the Beach Boys. Never mentions summer, but is there any doubt that the best vibrations are on a summer day?

California Girls- Beach Boys- Man... those summer girls beach boy style!

Summer Song- Chad and Jeremy. And when the rain beats against teh window pane, I'll think of summer days and dream of you

Summer Breeze- Seals and Crofts. Tis has to be early summer.. caus ethe summer breeze, amkes me feel fine!

boys of summer- Don Henley. Cool images of summers gone. along with a Dead Head sticker on a Cadilac.

Summer nights- John Travolta - Olivia Newton John- Who doesn't know the words? even for the rockers, this is a guilty pleasure.

cruel Summer- Bananarama. Great late 80's tune that makes you feel the heat.

Summer in the City- Lovin' Spoonful- Hot town, summer in teh city!

California Girls- Katry Perry- Skin so hot it'll melt your popsicle? well, yeah!

All Summer Long - Kid Rock- even though I am not a great Kid Rock fan, this tune does amke the summer sun shine into my car stereo.

Summer of 69- Bryan Adams- Those blissful summers of our youth that become more mystical as time passes.

Kokoamo- Beach Boys- It was the summer come back by the Beach Boys, and they did nail it on this tune.

Wipe out - The Safarais - It doesn't take words to make a summer song and a beach blanket spontaneous dance!

Soak up the Sun- Sheryl Crow- and a bikini Sheryl Crow in video soaking up the sun?

Good day Sunshine- The Beatles- The sun is shining down,. Burns my feet as they touch the ground!

Crimson and Clover- Tommy james- What could be any more groovy than Tommy James on a summer day?

Indian lake - Te Cowsills- It's teh scene you should make, swim in teh cove, have a snack in the grove!

the Way= fastball- That fanciful idea of driving off into an eternal summer. Ahhhhh

Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees- suburban summer, lawns being mowed, people cooking out...

Saturday in the Park- Chicago- Chicago managed to capture a summer day picnic in a song... and it's the 4th of July!

Rock Lobster- B 52's - The 80's beach party!