90.9 WBUR - Boston's NPR news station
Top Stories:
PLEDGE NOW
Thursday, July 12, 2012

Summer Music Listener Picks

(Flickr/emilio labrador)

We recently spoke with critic Steve Almond about what makes a good summer song (Here & Now producers also offered up their favorites) and listeners sent in their suggestions.  Here’s the compiled listener summer music list. Add your picks in the comments section.

  • “Summer Madness” by Kool & the Gang
  • “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
  • “Boys of Summer” by Don Henley
  •  Theme from “A Summer Place,” 1959 by Percy Faith
  • “Summertime Rolls” by Jane’s Addiction
  • “US Blues” by the Grateful Dead
  • “Dream” by Mahavishnu Orchestra
  • “Summer Wind” by Madeleine Peyroux
  • “Night Swimming” by REM
  • “Caller No.99″ by Chris Cohen
  • “Summertime, Summertime” by the Jamies
  • “Surf City” by Jan & Dean
  • “The Girls on the Beach” by the Beach Boys
  • “My Little Honda” by the Beach Boys
  • “Praise” by Kinnie Starr
  • “Rosalee” by the Chris Robinson
  • “Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers Band
  • “Rhythm of Love” by Plain White T’s
  • “Summertime” by My Chemical Romance
  • “Summertime” by The Sundays
  • “America” by Ventura Highway
  • “Another Summer” by Roman Candle
  • “Summertime” by Buffalo Tom
  • “Summer girl,” by Beck
  • “Lazy Afternoon” by the Texas band The Reivers
  • “The Way” by Fastball
  • “Moonlight Feels Right” by Starbuck
  • “Moneygrabber” by Fitz and the Tantrums
  • “Boom Like That” by Mark Knopfler
  • “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas
  • “Summer Sun” by Jukebox the Ghost
  • “Pina Colada in a Pint Glass” by Gaelic Storm
  • “Dan’s Song” by Frank Turner
  • “All Summer,” a collaboration between Kid Cudi, Rostam Batmanglij (of Vampire Weekend) and Best Coast
  • “Hot Town Summer in the City” by The Lovin Spoonful
  • “Kodachrome” by Paul Simon

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

  • Edugator65

    Summer Songs:  “Summer in the City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
                                                                          or
                                   “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves

  • Debbiedawson

    Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone

  • Andrea

    “Sun Goddess” by Earth, Wind & Fire

    Good gosh!  Can’t believe nobody entered that yet!

  • Rosa
  • Dlhanna

    Four songs always say “summer” to me: “While You See a Chance,” Steve Winwood; “New Kid in Town,” Eagles; “Don’t Ask Me Why,” Billy Joel; and “Sailing,” Christopher Cross.

  • Randall

    I’m sure you mean “Ventura Highway” by America?

With Sponsorship from:
Accelerating the pace of engineering and science
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Dr. John S. Wilson, Jr. is president of Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Morehouse College)

President Obama delivers the commencement address this weekend at Morehouse College, the all-male historically black college. The school’s president discusses recent controversies and challenges.

1 Comment | more »
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Mark with Houston at Houston's high school graduation in 2009. (Courtesy of Mac McClelland)

Failures in mental health care mean that often the only way to get help for a loved one is to call the police. We speak with a journalist about the tragic consequences for her family.

18 Comments | more »
Thursday, May 16, 2013
"I Drive Your Truck" screenshot.

In 2011, a Nashville songwriter heard Alex Ashlock’s interview with Paul Monti, who lost his son in Afghanistan. It inspired her to write “I Drive Your Truck.”

Comment | more »
From Twitter