About 6 months ago now I started a thread that was a lot of fun. It was The Rock Town Hall Christmas Record. Participating in that heated debate was a good way for a newbie like me to get to know all the visitors to RTH, and it produced a tangible result; nothing less than the greatest Christmas record ever (not)made!
Over the past 6 months I have resisted the temptation to stretch this format to Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, Arbor Day, MLK Day, Independence Day, or even my home country’s beloved “May Two-Four”, Victoria Day.
But here we are, hours before the official start of Summer. The time is right. The season is right. I summon the collective genius that voted, no insisted, that “Christmas In Suburbia” by Martin Newell secure its place underneath our trees. The genius that would happily hear “Jesus Christ” by Big Star with rum and egg-nog. That wouldn’t dare tie a bow before they heard “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. I summon this collective brain to produce
The Rock Town Hall Sounds of Summer, Volume 1.
The Rock Town Hall Sounds of Summer is the 15 greatest songs about Rock and Roll’s rightful season. Spring is for sissies. Girls wear too many clothes in The Fall. I’m Canadian…don’t even talk to me about Winter. Only Summer truly Rocks.
You know the format. Nominate a song. When another Rock Town Hall member seconds that song, it’s in!
To kick things off, I nominate “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
Is it just me, or is it getting Hot In Herre?
I’ll nominate the BBC version of “Here Comes The Summer” by the Undertones which has a brief poem beforehand recited by one of the members about how lousy the winter is but summer’s coming.
I second “Schools Out”. Everybody can relate to that. I nominate “Hot Fun in the Summertime” – Sly and The Family Stone
I second the Undertones entry and preemptorily cast a veto towards Mungo Jerry.
Let’s get some of these out of the way. I’ll cast a vote for the Lovin’ Spoonful’s oft-played Summer In The City. I always like the way that phrase “despite the heat, it’ll be alright” sounds.
Better than the Lovin’ Spoonful song: “Ain’t That Enough” by Teenage Fanclub. “Summers in the city/Do what you gotta do.”
I’ll second “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and suggest War’s “Summer.” If I may second more than one at a time, I’m down with all of the other suggestions so far, including the preemptory veto of the Mungo Jerry tune!
I’ll second Summer in the City, great for capturing the sticky urban summer I’ve been experiencing all week — temps in the 90s here.
For the other side of the summer landscape I’ll nominate the first track off Skylarking, Summer’s Cauldron. It goes without pause into the second song, Grass, which is also summery, but I’m not sure your collection can fit two XTC songs. They’re really sort of two parts of the same song.
And one of the few original tunes on Yo La Tengo’s Fakebook is the very groovy song The Summer (“and the summer comes undone”).
Only if we can include those first two songs off Skylarking as a pair can I second BigSteve’s XTC nomination. They really do work together beautifully as a pair, so well, in fact, that the rest of that album went downhill for me shortly thereafter.
I actually like the Mungo Jerry song, but anyway .. another obvious choice is the Kinks’ Sunny Afternoon (“lazin’ on a sunny afternoon in the summertime, in the summertime”).
I used to put both those XTC songs on summer mixes, and I’m not even that big a fan, generally.
I also really love the song “Water” from the Car Wash soundtrack, and also, the 11 minute “Butterfly” from Herbie Hancock’s 1974 album “Thrust.” A great, steamy laid back groove fest complete with bass clarinet and all kinds of cungas and what-not.
Both of those songs suggest seeing heat waves in the air over the city, or over dry weeds, but not being in the sun yourself, so much…
Oops. Sorry, didn’t get the Rock and Roll filter, there. Cancel my nominations. Save them for girls whose clothes in the fall actually make them more attractive…
I’ll second “Ain’t That Enough”. I also like “Sunny Afternoon” & “Summer In the City”. Although I probably can’t nominate another song, how about a Summer of ’66 trifecta w/”Summertime” by Billy Stewart.
Also, I kinda wish it was really summer. This weather we’re being having around here (Boston area)is pretty depressing.
I second “Grass,” but just to be difficult, I withhold my seconding motion for “Summer’s Cauldron”! “Sunny Afternoon,” “Summer,” “Hot Fun” are all hugely seconded, however.
I’d like to nominate “The Boys Are Back In Town,” but I’m not sure if this lyric should be taken literally:
The jukebox in the corner’s blasting out my favorite song,
The nights are gettin’ warmer and it won’t be long,
Won’t be long ’til summer comes,
Now that the boys are here again.
I second The Boys Are Back In Town.
I nominate Summertime Blue by Eddie Cochran.
I vote against Summer in the City.
Keep them coming, as far as I can tell we have 6 so far:
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
I forgot to mention this: Another unofficial rule we had is one song per artist. I expect a healthy Beach Boys debate. “Good Vibrations” or “California Girls” or…
Also, diskojoe seconded my Teenage Fanclub pick.
Seconding Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues.”
Nominating The Ramones “Rockaway Beach.”
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
I second BigSteve’s nomination of “The Summer” by Yo La Tengo.
If this were songs with the word summer in the title I’d go with The Monkees’ “The Door Into Summer”, but it’s not really summery as a song itself.
How about “Beechwood Park” by the Zombies?
Seconding “Rockaway Beach”!
I nominate “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys. BUT, be careful with casually seconding it, we can only have one and I am sure there will be many nominees!
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
9. “Summertime Blues” Eddie Cochrane
10. “The Summer” Yo La Tengo
11. “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones
Or for that matter All Summer Long or Surfin’ USA by the Beach Boys.
I gotta go with Summertime by The Troggs. I really like t-t-t-t-tttaann skin. That one always gets me in a summery mood.
A band I like for summer is Dirtbike Annie. They never made it big, but they were really fun. They do a great cover of the song from Meatballs that gets me in the mood for summer. All their stuff is just fast and fun.
I’m warning everybody here: “I Get Around” is my favorite Beach Boys song. If you don’t come up with a summer-themed Beach Boys song that blows it out of contention, I’m going to second “I Get Around.” For now I’ll heed the man’s cautionary note.
I do have one question about many of the Beach Boys songs that come to mind: how do we know if they’re really summer songs? If it’s always nice and sunny in their neck of the woods, can we be sure that the song’s summery sentiments and imagery are really based on summer? I mean, Sammymaudlin’s been sitting poolside since February while I’m still waiting to dip into a pool here on the east coast on June 19. Any help in defining the criteria of what constitutes an actual summer song in the Beach Boys catalog would be appreciated. Thanks.
No seconding of any Beach Boys song until a proper debate is had. No filibustering!
That’s a good point mod, but I see it this way; the Beach Boys live in a permanent state of summer the way Santa Claus lives in a permanent state of Christmas. So all beach Boys songs are eligible.
Those Chuck Berry songs about driving always seem like summer too, and of course, the Beach Boys ripped him off pretty well.
You mean like “No Particular Place to Go”?
Yeah. Or You Can’t Catch Me.
Cuz if you get too close, you know I’m gaw-awn like a coo-ool breeze.
I thought this would go in the first 10 posts and maybe I missed it-Husker Du “Celebrated Summer”
As for the Beach Boys-how about staying away from the obvious-I nominate “Sail On, Sailor”
In other words, Northvancoveman, if I’m reading what you’re saying correctly, The Beach Boys exist in an endless summer. Fair enough!
Ha ha yeah, I guess they do!
I’m nominating The Barracudas “Summer Fun”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhvHZ__0dPs
hrrundivbakshi,
Looking back at the excellent cover that was created by…for the RTH Christmas Record got me wondering what your Holy Trinity of Summer Rock would be.
“Long Hot Summer Night”, Hendrix
I think we should consider rising above the obvious by avoiding a Beach Boys selection altogether.
That Hendrix track is a work of genius, but I double-checked the lyrics and I’m not sure how summery it is.
I’m not suggesting we have any reason to prove our hipster cred to anybody in the blogosphere, but The Flaming Lips have a fine song called It’s Summertime on the Yoshimi album. It’s sequenced right before the new official rock song of the state of Oklahoma.
I like that “It’s Summertime” song Big Steve, but not quite enough to second it.
Back in the 80’s when guys got together to do hockey pools you weren’t allowed to take Gretzky.
By suggesting a ban on the Beach Boys here are you doing the same, removing them because of greatness or because their summer songs don’t ring true for you?
Fact is, I think “I Get Around” just rocks AND it reminds me of summer. Not “my” summers, I guess. But summer. To my mind, these are the Beach Boys contenders:
“Surfin’Safari”
“Surfer Girl”
“The Warmth of the Sun”
“Don’t Worry Baby”
“California Girls”
“Good Vibrations”
“I Get Around”
Because of their greatness, because of my contrariness, and because it’s not really summer if there’s never any winter.
once again, alex, you and i are on exactly the same page.
I would’ve nominated that Hendrix tune. BigSteve, you make a good point, though. While the narrative takes place on a “Long Hot Summer Night,” the lyrics aren’t really about summer. I don’t know if that matters to me, though. That song feels like summer. So does “Rainy Day, Dream Away.”
I’m trying to make every rth post i submit these days involve the dead milkmen somehow.
So, I will nominate “Beach Song” by the Dead Milkmen.
I think the Blue Cheer or Live at Leeds versions of “Summertime Blues” should be the choice if that song is included.
Almost all of “Skylarking” would make good nominations!
R.E.M’s “Green Grow the Rushes” is very summery, too.
Van Halen: “Ice Cream Man”!
Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers: “Roller Coaster By the Sea”.
Bananarama: “Cruel Summer”.
a compromise propsal. rather than avoiding beach boys songs altogether, let’s just pick a token one. the should be represented. it would be a glaring omission to leave them out. I think “warmth of the sun” says it all.
Good choices saturn, I second “Ice Cream Man. Mod, you paid the cost to be the boss, you decide this Beach Boys thing. Do I smell poll for the 15th and only Beach Boys song?
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
9. “Summertime Blues” Eddie Cochrane
10. “The Summer” Yo La Tengo
11. “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones
12. “Ice Cream Man” Van Halen
Prof. Ismine, I like Beach Party Vietnam better.
Interesting that the Drifters’ Under The Boardwalk has not been mentioned.
For a beach boys tune, I’d go with “The warmth of the sun”. And maybe “Summer blown’ town” by Ron Sexsmith.
mockcarr: “cookin’ hot dogs…with napalm!”
i thought of that one, too.
but….
“the Beach Song” is the one that mocks the beach boys, right? (“…with the radio blastin’ fun fun fun!”).
Any chance we can swap out the overblown VH version of Ice Cream Man for the John Brin original?
What, there’s an original?
cause summers here and the time is right for ””’
Street Figting Man
Northvancoveman, I’ll try to get a poll up to decide the Beach Boys song. Good idea.
Meanwhile, I’ll second “Beach Party Vietnam” and throw a kinda-faux Beach Boys song that I like into the mix: “Take a Run at the Sun,” by J. Mascis, from the Grace of My Heart soundtrack.
Here’s another one that seems summery to me, from the under-represented Brits: “Itchykoo Park,” by the Small Faces.
That reminds me, I got in the car this afternoon to hear a summer block on WXPN, our local AAA station: “Sunny Afternoon”/”Surf City”/”Summer in the City.” Hearing that Kinks song, which always gets on my nerves a little bit, I was reminded of an appropriate Kinks song that would have better satisfied my tastes: “Lazy Old Sun.” But noooooooooo! Someone had to second “Sunny Afternoon!” 🙂
This is fun stuff, regardless.
“Sunny Afternoon”; title sounds like a summer song, lazy pastoral pace sounds summery. Theme is repossession and bankruptcy.
Put up with it for 2009 Mod, if it fits for summer anytime, it’s this year.
Ok, one spot left and then the Beach Boys poll winnner…
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
9. “Summertime Blues” Eddie Cochrane
10. “The Summer” Yo La Tengo
11. “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones
12. “Ice Cream Man” Van Halen
13. “Beach Party Vietnam” Dead Milkmen
shakes his head in disgust….
the choice of “Beach Party Vietnam” over “The Beach Song” is post punk nerdlingerdom run amok. Once again, RTH reaches for the brass ring of the arcane rather than going for the solid everyman choice.
We’ve been having this argument since back in the Chess years over a number of topics. And when you were all wanking yourselves to whichever obscure Booker T. and the MG’s song you thought was their best, I voted for “Green Onion” because that riff is so fucking timeless is painted on the walls of caves. The Mod’s response was a ringing endorsement. “Aint that a man!” he wrote of me.
Well, this is the same thing.
“B P VN” is a great song, but a deep cut that has more to do with vietnam and beach movies than Summer itself.
Meanwhile, “The Beach Song” is SO OBVIOUSLY the UR Dead Milkmen Summer song, one that chronicles the beach experience that just about every Philly area RTHer had when he was a kid, and was forced to go “downashore.”
I participate in the rest of this thread under protest.
And close it off with “Warm Leatherette”.
The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun
BigSteve, a lyric like “I feel that ice is slowly melting” doesn’t exactly say “summer” to me.
Or how about that song that goes “summertime summertime sum-sum-summertime”? The google says it’s the Jamies?
I considered that, saturn, but I thought maybe that’s what summer is like in Liverpool. It is in northern England after all.
Great, now your choices have turned saturnismine away. He has become the Altamont of this Summer of Love thread…
re. summer in liverpool: ha!
after my “RTH reaches for the arcane” rant, i was thiiiiis close to posting to say “bravo BigSteve! THAT’s what i’m talkin’ about!!”
but then i remembered the “ice” lyric, and also the “it’s been a long cold lonely winter” lyric. it’s an end of winter / beginning of spring thaw song if anything. it certainly doesn’t provoke images of those “lazy crazy hazy days of summer…” in my mind. but hey…who the fuck am i? if someone seconds it, put it in. i’m already playing under protest (“beach party vietnam over the beach song..grumble grumble grumble…”).
i thought about that “sum sum summertime” song, too. but i guess i just don’t like it that much, so i didn’t submit it. Weren’t the Jamies one of those “four lads” type vocal bands?
Don’t Go Near the Water an anti-summer Beach Boys song.
How bout it?
Don’t make me second that Bananarama song!
How about McCartney’s “Hot as sun”? Or some Dick Dale or something…
“Groovin'” by The Rascals. It doesn’t specify whether that Sunday afternoon is a summer one, but come on, that musical arrangement is totally summer themed.
Rock Lobster. B52s.
Hell of a Summer, The Triffids
Here Comes the Summer, The Undertones
Girls & Boys by Blur.
toappeal to the ‘college students having orgies in Greece during Summer Vactaion’ demograph.
That demographic is worth considering, hissing fauna!
I’ll second “Summer” by War. That one always reminds me o’ this time of year. As for the Beatles, how’s about “Good Day Sunshine?” I don’ think it’s specifically about Summer, but it too reminds of the season.
I should disclose this: “Don’t Worry Baby” is probably my favorite song of all time.
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
9. “Summertime Blues” Eddie Cochrane
10. “The Summer” Yo La Tengo
11. “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones
12. “Ice Cream Man” Van Halen
13. “Beach Party Vietnam” Dead Milkmen
14. “Summer” War
15.
What a crap compilation! Fine as a list, but tell me these songs could be sequenced in a way that felt cohesive.
Beach Boys voting closes at 3PM pacific 6PM Eastern. “Warmth of the Sun” has a two stroke lead on the field.
cherguevarra, you may be right, great songs but hard to find any flow
Maybe some brave RTH’er out there wants to take a crack at sequencing it…
As far as sequence goes “Grass” “Ain’t that Enough” “The Summer” “Sunny Afternoon” and whatever Beach Boys song is voted in can flow together well. The trick is which is the transition song to the faster heavier stuff?
I really think we should have done this for Arbor Day instead.
Also, the Beach Boys’ slot should go to the SunRays’ “I Live For The Sun”.
Also also, my current RTH-inspired musical wish would be that a Big Mess Orchestra version of “I Live For The Sun” existed.
1. “Here Comes the Summer”, The Undertones
2. “School’s Out”, Alice Copper
3. “Hot Fun in the Summertime” Sly and the Family Stone
4. “Summer in the City” The Lovin’Spoonful
5. “Grass” XTC
6. “Sunny Afternoon” Kinks
7. “The Boys are Back in Town”, Thin Lizzy
8. “Ain’t that Enough”, Teenage Fanclub
9. “Summertime Blues” Eddie Cochrane
10. “The Summer” Yo La Tengo
11. “Rockaway Beach” The Ramones
12. “Ice Cream Man” Van Halen
13. “Beach Party Vietnam” Dead Milkmen
14. “Summer” War
15. “The Warmth of the Sun” Beach Boys