Summer Songs: The Recommended Playlist

Over the past week, I’ve asked Twitter for some recommendations that had nothing to do with romance, but a few folks asked me to compile the list of responses and share it, so I’m doing so here. It’s all below the fold – obviously this has little to jack all to do with romance novels, but if you’re looking for some music, this might help you out.

In response to my tweet asking for warm-weather music, here’s the master list of every recommendation I received. It rocked my socks, and might warm your feet, too, if it’s as cold where you are as it is here – and if you’re in the southern hemisphere (G’day, mate!) enjoy some seasonally-appropriate tunage.

The Outfield Your Love

Wake Up Happy by Greta Gaines, recommended by @knitmeapony

Dust in the Wind by Kansas, Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett, or A Horse with No Name by America, recommended by @silverwriter

Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams, Boys of Summer by Don Henley, recommended by @elise_logan

And @elise_logan recommended the playlist here, as well.

Kokomo, by the Beach Boys, In the Summer Time by Mungo Jerry, Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran, recommended by @peggyhailey

@wiremama seconds “Boys of Summer,” which, oh yes, I third and fourth that.

@wiremama also recommends Blister in the Sun by the Violent Femmes.

My college friend @LadyLiberal recommended Jimmy Buffet’s cover of Stars Fell on Alabama, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s “Do U Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans.”

@younglibrarian suggests Vacation by The Go-Go’s.

@bookslover says Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.

@jodyth says I Melt with You– which OMG Yes. I hear that song and I’m grubby and at summer camp again.

@Brooksbelle suggests Cruel Summer by Bananarama, plus re-ups the rec for Boys of Summer, and Summer of ‘69.

@StephaniHaefner says Summertime by the Fresh Prince – Yes! This is one of those songs where it’s not actually summer until I hear it on the radio.

Over on Facebook, where everyone knows everyone and everything, I have more recommendations:

Chris Hamilton suggests Margaritaville, California Girls by the Beach Boys, Beach Baby (First Class), Summer in the City by Lovin’ Spoonful, Magic by The Cars, and A Horse with No Name – everyone thinks summer with this song, really.

I think everything by The Beach Boys pretty much qualifies, now that I think about it.

Carrie Lofty says that anything by Chris Isaak should be on the playlist, particularly Blue Spanish Sky.

Suddenly Last Summer by the Motels is recommended by Zoe Archer.

Tanja Cilia recommends 9 Million Bicycles (covered by Norah Jones in that link), and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

And Santa O’Byrne recommends Margaritaville, The Summer Wind (covered by Michael Buble) – oh, good one! – and Summer in the City.

Thanks for the awesome list, y’all. My iTunes is a rocking place. I’m surprised the icon doesn’t shimmy like when I hold the home button down on my iPhone too long.

Still feeling cold? Leave your warm weather song in the comments. I’ll pick one winner at random to receive a $20 iTunes giftcard. And yes, if you already recommended one above, you can enter again. I’m off to make margaritas!

Comments are Closed

  1. quizzabella says:

    This version of Stand By Me by Playing For Change always makes me feel happy and summery (and it’s a really cool idea to have people from all over the world jamming together.



  2. Sarah Frost says:

    I have lots.  I’ve gone through my iTunes alphabetically by band/group/singer name.  Sorry, some of them may be a bit obscure.

    Cruel Summer – Ace of Base
    Love Shack – The B52s (Australian Group)
    Summer Rain – Belinda Carlisle
    More Than a Feeling – Boston
    Summertime – Bon Jovi
    Lost Highway – Bon Jovi
    Run to Paradise – The Choirboys (Australian Group)
    Bubbly – Colbie Callait
    Khe Sanh & Working Class Man – Cold Chisel (Australian Band)
    Put Your Records On – Corrine Bailey Rae
    Down On The Corner – Creedance Clearwater Revival
    One Summer – Darryl Braithwaite (Australian Singer)
    April Sun in Cuba – Dragon (New Zealand Group)
    September – Earth, Wind, Fire
    Sounds of Then – GANGgajang (Australian Group)
    There She Goes Again – The Getaway People
    Paradise City – Guns n Roses
    Great Southern Land – Icehouse (Australian Group)
    (You’re Love Keeps Lifting Me) – Jackie Wilson
    I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
    I’m Always Here – Jimi Jamison (Baywatch theme song)
    Walking On Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
    All Summer Long – Kid Rock
    Steal My Sunshine – Len
    Summertime – New Kids On The Block
    Life Is A Highway – Rascal Flatts
    Sunshine – Ricki-Lee (Australian Idol contestant)
    In The Summertime – Thirsty Merc (Australian Band)

  3. Jacqueline Nunan says:

    I love songs that encapsulate the tropics, where I grew up; Australian bands/singers do them well.

    Try “Electrical Storm” by ed kuepper, ideally the Live at the Wireless (Triple J) live version; anything on The Cruel Sea’s The Honeymoon is Over album, and more recently, from Tex Perkins Songs of the Black Cattledog collection, my favouritest song EVER, Whenever it Snows.  Trust me, a warm weather song – you can just about see the sweat drip off his beautiful face …

  4. Tina C. says:

    Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti & Spearhead makes me think of summer on this freezing cold winter morning.

    Okay, that’s hilarious!  My word is summer79!

  5. Missy says:

    For me, the classic summery song is “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. Although I can’t exactly explain why.

    Lots of Duran Duran also fit the bill—“Rio” is particularly summery for me.

  6. Laura (in PA) says:

    Toes, by the Zac Brown Band

  7. Eileen says:

    Crystal Blue Persuasion by Tommy James & the Shondells.

    This song doesn’t actually mention summer but it sounds like summer.  It is optimistic and you can’t not smile when you hear it.

  8. Nadia says:

    “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow.
    “Sunny Side of the Street” by Louis Armstrong
    “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” by the Police
    “Red Red Wine” by UB40

  9. Booklight says:

    I recommend Footloose by Kenny Loggins or Almost Paradise by Eric Carmen (both from the Footloose soundtrack)…because it is so cold in Florida right now that I want nothing more than to be able to “kick off my…shoes” and “knock on Heaven’s door” of the tropical paradise that I usually live in.

  10. Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts. Ooh, and Brian Hyland’s Sealed with a Kiss.

  11. Susan Laura says:

    I will second the recommendation for “Walking on Sunshine” and add Sting’s “An Englishman in New York”. I have no idea why I associate that song with summer – but it does make me very happy!

  12. Most of my suggestions have already been mentioned except this one: Blue-Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

    I can see some downloading in my future!

  13. BROWN Eyed Girl (geez!)

  14. “Kissing My Love” by the astounding Bill Withers.

  15. Jaye says:

    Doin’ Time by Sublime is my ultimate ‘roll the windows down’ song!

  16. Natalie L. says:

    My favorite summer song is John Wesley Harding’s “Summer Single”.

  17. Brooks*belle says:

    Oh-my-gosh how could I have forgotten Land Down Under by Men at Work!

    *Off to download some warm tunes now*

  18. Chris says:

    Sunshine by Atmosphere
    Summer Evening by Greg Brown
    Lovecraft in Brooklyn – The Mountain Goats
    Summer – Buffalo Tom

  19. Sitting on a Dock in the Bay by Otis Redding

    Heart of Glass by Blondie

    Take a Chance on Me by Abba

  20. Barbara says:

    “Africa” by Toto
    “Walkin’ on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves
    “Rio” by Duran Duran
    “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston (my Summer Olympics song)
    “Ladies in the SCA” by Joe Bethancourt
    “Pour Your Brother” by Heather Alexander
    “Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton
    “Summertime Blues” by Alan Jackson
    “Wipeout” by The Surfaris

    Anything by Jan and Dean, The Monkees and the Beach Boys

    And that little bit of childhood….“Right Field” by Peter, Paul and Mary. I know, I know, I’m a dork. 🙂

  21. Deb Kinnard says:

    OUR LAST SUMMER, Abba
    ENDLESS SUMMER NIGHTS, now I need to go get the iPod to re-learn who sang this one. Oh, that’s right—Richard Marx.
    A SUMMER PLACE, Percy Faith (?) Orchestra. This is the one they played ad infinitum at the pool where we hung out every day.
    GREEN FIELDS OF SUMMER, I think the Kingston Trio but don’t quote me, ditto endless pool song.
    JOY TO THE WORLD, Three Dog Night. It was playing the moment I hit Daytona Beach for my first Spring Break.

    And thanks for mentioning Seals & Crofts!

    Signed,
    Color Me Outdated

  22. Brooks*belle says:

    Now I’m at the I-tunes store and working on my wishlist—so here are some more of my summery songs:

    Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sprocket
    Walk like and Egyptian by The Bangles
    Circle in the Sand by Belinda Carlisle
    Endless Summer Nights by Richard Marx (BTW, best mullet EVER!)
    Fields of Gold by Sting
    I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff

  23. lucy says:

    Okay my summer song all time favourite is

    Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty

    That horn is just too hot for words, gives me chills everytime!



  24. Sweet Georgia says:

    Here for a good time (not a long time) by Trooper. It’s an anthem.

  25. Tamara Hogan says:

    I agree 100% with Missy – Duran Duran IS the band of summer. 
    Other summer favorites:

    ELECTRICAL STORM by U2 – Mermaids, wetness and Larry Mullen Jr.  Really, what more can you ask for? 

    SUMMER’S END by Foo Fighters – a wistful love song by an introspective Dave Grohl

    DANIEL by Bat For Lashes – rain, fire metaphors, love and kettle drums.  Natasha Khan has a voice to die for.

  26. The Duchess says:

    “Summer Nights” and “You’re the One that I Want” – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (Grease)

    “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong

    “Walking After Midnight” – Patsy Cline

    “Soul Meets Body” – Death Cab For Cutie

    And I agree with everyone who said “Summer of ‘69”, it’s one of my summer favorites.

  27. Selah March says:

    NIGHT MOVES by Bob Seger
    SEASONS IN THE SUN by Terry Jacks
    HOT CHILD IN THE CITY by Nick Gilder
    LONG MAY YOU RUN by Neil Young
    …and I have to second Robin Rotham’s suggestion of SUMMER BREEZE by Seals & Croft as the summer song that moves me every time.

    Apparently the gods of the intrawebs agree, because my word verification is “truth37,” and SUMMER BREEZE was released exactly 37 years and one month ago, in December of 1972, I shit thee not.

  28. lucy says:

    SUMMER BREEZE is the best!  And NIGHT MOVES, who hasn’t made out to that one in the back of a car in the summer?

    Moonlight Feels Right by STARBUCK is another favourite summer song.

  29. ocelott says:

    Here in the tropics of the Canadian prairies, where our winters average between -4 and -40 (Fahrenheit), I do a lot of hibernating and ignoring the weather.  Helpful songs?

    -Anything from the musical Grease
    -Fishing in the Dark (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
    -Summer in the City (Joe Cocker version is awesome)
    -School’s Out (Alice Cooper)
    -Let It Ride (BTO; great song for driving with the top down)
    -Wandrin’ Around (Carbon Leaf)
    -Life Is A Highway (Tom Cochrane)
    -Summer Day (Coconut Records)
    -Blister in the Sun (Violent Femmes)
    -Canned Heat (Jamiroquai)

  30. Marilyn says:

    Take It Easy by the Eagles makes me want to roll the windows down and drive fast! We could use some summer here in FL today. It’s 36! Waaaay cold for us.

  31. Lisa says:

    I’d have to say Jack Ingram ‘Barefoot and Crazy’, Keith Urban ‘Where the Blacktop Ends’ and Rob Thomas ‘Streetcorner Symphony’ for me. Plus anything by Wham for classic 80s memories!

  32. Mary G says:

    Wow Sarah Frost and Jaqueline Nunan got nearly all of mine (teach me to move to the US and be behind on the time)!  All their songs spell S-U-M-M-E-R to me.

    Only ones left to add:

    Never Let Me Go & Hold on to Me – The Black Sorrows
    Deeper Water – Paul Kelly

  33. Lita says:

    For me, songs for warm weather come in two catagories – the first are, naturally, songs that talk about summer and warm weather –

    Sitting on the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding
    Summer in the City – Lovin’ Spoonful
    Taking Care of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive

    And then there are songs/albums that were “imprinted” on me during the summer months:

    Breakfast in America – Supertramp
    At Seventeen – Janis Ian
    Tales from Topographic Oceans – Yes
    Long Distance Voyager – Moody Blues
    Hotel California – Eagles
    Jethro Tull – War Child

    (Yes, I am a child of the 1970’s, clearly)

  34. Already Gone and Take the Money and Run by the Eagles

  35. Tamara Hogan says:

    Must add THE BOYS OF SUMMER by Don Henley.

  36. Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

  37. AndieG says:

    Since I am the queen of the 80’s compliation CD, I have a few 80″s/early 90’s offerings.

    Just Like Heaven – the Cure
    Blister in the Sun – the Violent Femmes

    Dancing in the Dark
    Glory Days – Bruce Sprinsteen

    Karma Chamelon – Culture Club

    If This Is It
    The Power of Love – Huey Lewis & the News

    The Heat is On – Glenn Frey
    Under Pressure – David Bowie and Freddie Mercury
    Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

    Let’s Dance
    China Girl
    Young Americans – David Bowie

    Africa – Toto

    Holiday
    Lucky Star
    Into the Groove – Madonna

    I’m Still Standing – Elton John
    Funky Cold Medina – Tone Loc
    Straight Up – Paula Abdul

  38. We Got the Beat – Go Gos

    How Will I know – Whitney Houston

    The Tide is High – Blondie

    Totally reliving my youth here 🙂

  39. Judy says:

    “Guantanamera” by the Sandpipers.

  40. Theresa Meyers says:

    OMG, I started looking at the list of “summer” songs in my itunes and it makes me sound far wilder and much more of a party person than I EVER was, even back in the day…also, you’ve been warned, it’s heavy on the metal (because hubby, boyfriend, lo these 25 years ago, was into metal…)

    99 In the Shade – Bon Jovi
    Hot in the City – Billy Idol
    Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
    Fight for Your Right to Party – Beastie Boys
    Nothin’ But a Good Time – Poison
    Talk Dirty to Me – Poison
    Cum on Feel the Noize – Quiet Riot
    I Can’t Drive 55 – Sammy Hagar
    Mas Tequilla – Sammy Hagar
    Workin’ for the Weekend – Loverboy
    Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
    Smooth – Santana

    and because of the girl child:
    Fabulous – High School Musical 2

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