Come On, Summer!

It’s the time of year when we begin to dream of summer. This year the warm season will be especially welcome after the roller coaster of the past several months.

A couple years ago, around this time, I made a summer playlist. Listening to it now feels like a gift from myself because, this year, I need it more than ever.

The two oldest tunes are, coincidentally, laments by teenage boys who will be missing their girlfriends over the summer. Some of the songs are invitations to another time and place. Didn’t we all long to go to “Indian Lake” or be invited to a “Stoned Soul Picnic”?

Many don’t realize The Kinks song “Sunny Afternoon” is a thinly disguised rant at British taxation rates on high earners — something the band had just become. Another fun fact — Bryan Adams has said that the concept for “Summer of ‘69” was not about a season but, ahem, a certain sexual position.

I’ve got the songs arranged chronologically and hopefully you’ll see some of your favorites. Maybe you’ll find something new to love. Hopefully this list helps you look forward to the next season, a summer sweeter than ever before.

Sealed with a Kiss, Bobby Vinton 1962

See You in September, The Happenings 1966

All Summer Long, The Beach Boys 1964

Summer in the City, The Lovin’ Spoonful

In the Summertime, Mungo Jerry 1971

Bus Stop, The Hollies 1966

Indian Lake, The Cowsills 1968

Stoned Soul Picnic, The 5th Dimension 1968

Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks 1966

Hot Fun in the Summertime, Sly & The Family Stone 1970

Summer Breeze, Seals and Crofts 1972

One Summer Dream, Electric Light Orchestra 1975

Summer Nights, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978

Summertime Blues, Levon Helm 1982

The Boys of Summer, Don Henley 1984

Cruel Summer, Bananarama 1984

Summer of ’69, Bryan Adams 1984

Girls in Their Summer Clothes, Bruce Springsteen 2007

Heavy Metal Drummer, Wilco 2002

The Summer Place, Fountains of Wayne 2011

You Bring the Summer, The Monkees 2016

On a Summer Trail, The Clientele 2015

Mexican Fender, Weezer 2017

Can you think of any great ones I left out? Leave them in the comments and happy summer dreaming!

8 Replies to “Come On, Summer!”

  1. I love this post so so much thank you!!!!!!
    I had a boyfriend who had a VW bus it was green and so cool.
    BTW I know all the words to those songs.
    My favs are
    song:.Turn the Page
    group:CCR
    male singer: Arlo Guthrie and female :Janis of course
    I read them all and each is better than the one before

  2. Such a sucker for lists. I made a similar one a while back which includes:
    “Summertime,” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
    “California Girls” by the Beach Boys
    “Summer,” by War
    “Dancing in the Streets,” by Martha and the Vandellas
    “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” by Bruce Springsteen
    “That Summer Feeling,” by Jonathan Richman
    “Rockaway Beach,” by the Ramones
    “Summertime Thing,” Chuck Prophet

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