Summertime

Ah, summer! ugh, humidity! Whether you love the summer sun and fun or you suffer from the summertime blues, there’s a song for it. It seems that of the four seasons, summer, and its related activities, is the subject of the most songs. This theory excludes the genre of holiday songs, where winter is often mentioned. I’ve chosen some off the top of my head and welcome more suggestions from you.

We’ll begin with the California group that sang extensively about summer fun and named themselves after the number one place to spend summer days – The Beach Boys.

Surfin’ USA

Good Vibrations

Kokomo

Surfin’ Safari

The Mamas & The Papas
John, Michelle (who epitomized the California girl), Mama Cass, and Denny needed no instruments. Their harmonies were angelic. The foursome’s greatest success came with the anthemic California Dreamin’. Check it out below.

Dancing in the Street

Creeque Alley

Other summer songs:

Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful

Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone

In The Summeritme – Mungo Jerry

Heatwave – Martha & the Vandellas

Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

Summer Breeze – Seals & Croft

4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) – Bruce Springsteen

Girls In Their Summer Clothes -Bruce Springsteen

Summertime – Janis Joplin

Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams

Summertime – Sublime

Summer Love – Justin Timberlake

Summertime – Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff

Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran

Please send me comments with more suggestions, and we’ll make this list longer throughout the summer.

Seasons in the Sun

Seasons in the Sun was number 1 during this time in 1974, and it stayed on the charts for three months.

Click below for a brief history of Terry Jacks’ one and only hit.

Seasons in the Sun

Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey Jr. on July 7, 1940, making him the oldest Beatle, only thee months older than John. He was also the last to join The Beatles in 1962, replacing Pete Best as drummer.

Starr is left-handed, but plays a right-handed drum kit. His left-handedness contributes to his distinctive drumming style. He’s had an influence on modern drumming techniques and now-famous drummers, while still being underrated. He uses the matched grip – the method of holding both sticks in the same way. He also tunes the drums lower. His unique style is especially effective on Hello, Goodbye, Hey Jude, and the dynamic bass drumming in Lady Madonna.

Aside from keeping the beat, Ringo’s baritone voice took the lead on one song per album, most notably on With A Little Help From My Friends, Yellow Submarine, and Octopus’s Garden, which he composed.

While I am too young to have seen the Fab Four perform as a group, I was able to see Ringo playing drums for the Beach Boys after they lost Dennis Wilson.

His best known solo hits include Photograph, It Don’t Come Easy, and You’re Sixteen.

Here’s an article entitled “13 Reasons To GIve Ringo Some Respect.”

Watch the colorful, fun video for You’re Sixteen here.