Today in the Northern Hemisphere marks the Summer Solstice, the day on which the Earth has its maximum tilt towards the sun. It is known variously as Midsummer and the Longest Day, among others, though these can be slightly misleading. Today the solstice point is timed to be at 9.51pm, slightly after sundown at 9.22pm (don’t ask, I haven’t a Scooby). Looking at the weather charts tells us that today, tomorrow and Saturday all share the same sunrise and sunset times, so in effect we have three longest days. And despite the meme above, we are forecast to have a day of sunshine and 20 degrees, which is nice. The day has been marked in culture for thousands of years, and no doubt the tv news will be showing us the modern day druids getting as close as they can to Stonehenge. I’m marking the day in my own traditional way of culture by playing you a few songs about summer – what else would you expect me to do?
Let’s get going. How could I start with anything other than this:
Have I just planted an earworm? Sorry (not really!). What can I say about this one? The basic facts are that it topped the UK charts for seven weeks in summer 1970, for six of which it kept Free’s All Right Now at #2. I loved that Free record – still do – and feel that it deserved at least a week at #1, but when you’re contending with a juggernaut like this one I guess you just have to take your place in the queue! This song captured the summer spirit around the world: it was #1 in eighteen countries, reached #3 in the US – the band’s only hit there – and has sold more than 30m copies. Not bad for a bit of jugband music that it is claimed took ten minutes to write. And for anyone who doesn’t know, the band’s name was inspired by the poem Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, from T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The lead singer and band leader, who wrote this song, is actually called Ray Dorset. They had a total of nine hit singles here, of which three others reached the top ten, including the follow up, Baby Jump, which also got to #1.
Next up is one of my all time favourites. I’ve had trouble playing this in the past, given the record company’s protectionist policy over copyright, but this is a 2022 re-released official video, from Don Henley’s official YouTube page, so I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed:
That newly remastered video was posted in December 2022 and has more than 34m views, so it seems that I’m not the only one who likes this song! Hopefully that video will have solved the copyright issues, but please let me know if you can’t watch it! As I have done before, in an attempt at pre-empting that eventuality, here is a link to an official live version. This was the opening track on Don Henley’s second solo album, Building The Perfect Beast, which was released in November 1984, reaching #13 in the US and #14 here in the UK. The song was released as a single the previous month, and got to #5 in the US and #12 here. It resonated with me: I was born and brought up in coastal towns which depended on itinerant workers for summer holiday staffing, which is also what I had relied on for holiday jobs in my schooldays, some fifteen years earlier. We were always glad to see the back of those guys: coming down here, stealing our girls!
One of our favourite summer pastimes has always been going to the beach and getting a tan – though nowadays I’d hope that this is done responsibly! I played this one last year in a Tuesday Tunes post but I think it fits well here as a song about summer:
Sheryl Crow released Soak Up The Sun as a single in February 2002, ahead of its inclusion on her album C’mon C’mon in April of that year. The single peaked at #17 in the US and #16 in the UK – maybe it should have come out in the summer? The album did much better, though, reaching #2 in both the US and the UK. I’ve always liked Sheryl’s records since she first burst onto the scene with Tuesday Night Music Club, and she has continued to give me music I enjoy: her most recent album, Evolution, came out in March this year and while it hasn’t done all that well in the charts so far I quite liked it. Her previous record, Threads, which came out in August 2019, is a series of collaborations with a wide range of artists, and there are some real gems on it.
How about a classic for summer? I can’t leave this one out, can I:
All too short, like Eddie Cochran’s life, sadly. Released in 1958, that reached #8 in the US and #18 here. There have been many cover versions, notably by The Who, but I don’t think the original has ever been beaten. Its description of teenage angst and frustrations is superbly captured in such a succinct fashion. Cochran was only 21 when he was killed in a car crash in Wiltshire on his way back to London in April 1960, having just played in Bristol. He was already a star and could well have gone on to become huge, though his posthumous legacy has done well and he has taken his place as an icon of rock and roll history. There is a tragic irony in that the final single he released in the US when alive had just come out before the crash that took his life: it was Three Steps to Heaven. It wasn’t released here until the month after his passing – we took it to #1 in his honour.
Moving from one of rock and roll’s greats onto a modern day troubadour now, another of my long time favourites:
Like the Don Henley one, that is a recently reissued video for the song, which will hopefully get round any copyright issues from previous uploads. The imagery of the song is a wonderful evocation of how love can pass on and how little things, like seeing girls in their summer clothes, can remind us of happier times: it is a collection of vignettes from life, very typical of Bruce Springsteen’s storytelling style of songwriting. Girls In Their SummerClothes was a track on his album Magic, released in September 2007, which peaked at #1 in both the US and the UK, as well as elsewhere. It was released on iTunes as a digital single in January 2008, and reached #98 on the Billboard chart. It is one of my favourites of his – something about it just gets to me. I think that may be because the album was released around the time my marriage was ending, and I played it a lot once I was living on my own, with plenty of time to think!
I’ve now reached my Tuesday Tunes quota of five songs but as this is a special extra I thought I’d play one more. There are so many I could have chosen, but again I’m returning to a previously played old favourite. Has anyone ever done ‘welcoming the summer‘ better than this:
As I’m sure you know, Here Comes The Sun was a track on Abbey Road, which was released on 26 September 1969, and this video was released to mark the 50th anniversary reissue of the album, on 26 September 2019. I think it’s rather lovely, and it just had to be my final choice for today. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the Beatles or this song and album: suffice it to say that it is a George Harrison song, written by him while in his friend Eric Clapton’s garden, and that John Lennon didn’t feature on the original recording as he was recuperating from injury at the time. The album was, of course, #1 in the UK and the US, and in just about every other country you care to think of. The 50th anniversary reissue? Also a UK #1. In the main US chart it was #3, though it made #1 in the Rock chart. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that this video has over 150m views in a little less than five years!
That’s all for today, and my collection of songs to mark the solstice. If you celebrate I hope you have a great time, and if you’re going to Stonehenge try not to get arrested – getting stoned is fine, though 😉
I didn’t know that about Eddie Cochran, Wiltshire seems an incongruous part of the world for his end. Sadly young men have always found themselves in fatal car crashes, but of course we only remember the famous ones.
Wow, Clive! The only one I wasn’t familiar with was Bruce Springsteen’s! That’s a first, isn’t it? And … even better, I LOVE all of the ones I knew! Sorry I’m late to the game … too damn much going on these days … but thanks for this post and for pointing me to it, else I might have missed it, and I just enjoyed several old faves!
Clive, thanks for offering the link on Jill’s post. Great selection. Your George Harrison reference reminded me of great book on the making of Abbey Road. The album was the last straw for Lennon as he only got a couple of songs on the album with Harrison’s song writing success. Arguably, the two best songs on the album are Harrison’s. And, Harrison had also penned much of what would be on his solo album “All things must pass.” Keith
Thank you, Keith. I thought it worth adding in that link as last week’s updated post included some new choices and a replacement for the now defunct Don Henley song – too good to leave out!
Given all the friction in the band, with all except McCartney saying they were leaving at some point, it’s remarkable that the Beatles managed to complete Abbey Road and just about finished Let It Be. All Things Must Pass is still for me the best solo album by any of them – absolutely stuffed with great songs.
Happy Summer Solstice, Clive! These are all great summer songs and I got such a kick out of that opening meme. Hilarious! If you’re looking for a few more degrees to add to your UK summer temps, I’ll gladly send you some of ours; we’ve been blistering at 90º+ all week! 🥵
When I think of the days spent on the beach slathered up in baby oil with our reflectors positioned just right for maximum tanning, I have to shake my head and ask ‘what was I thinking?!‘ These days you’ll find me under our big awning with my feet in the kiddie pool while my granddaughter splashes around happily indifferent to the heat. Oh, to be 4 (or 40!) years old again! 🌞
There are photos of me at 2 or 3, wearing swimming trunks, as brown as a berry from spending summer running around the garden, so I know where you’re coming from with that. Sun tan lotion? What’s that! You’re wise to do it your way nowadays 🤣
That’s a great summer selection and all the better for playing now the sun is back! Mungo Jerry reminds me of the summer of 1970 when I was 16 and left school to go to Technical College. It was a mixture of sad and happy and growing up vibes. Love the other tracks. Summertime Blues is a favourite and one we did when playing on the band in the day. It was the The Who’s version though.
I was lucky with the timing, wasn’t I! Summer 1970 was a good one for me too: didn’t turn 17 till September, one year of three in the sixth form completed and no public exams, every evening hanging out with the scooter crowd at the youth centre! Glad you enjoyed the tunes, though I’m not sure what your version of Summertime Blues would have been like!
I worked Sundays in a local coffee bar and had my first summer holiday job there, starting on the day of the moon landing when I’d been up half the night! Earned the money to buy the scooter, which I got in the September as soon as I turned 16. Had a lot of fun with it, many happy memories.
I’ve not been able to get to the blogging world of late, but I had the time to dig into this today and I’m glad I did, it’s probably my favourite Clive collection! Boys of Summer is probably the number one summer song for me, it doesn’t age and the video is so interesting and surreal, a little bit noir and that kid on drums with his hypnotic stare! I read that Tom Petty turned it down as he felt is was a little heavy on the synth, but I could imagine him doing it – but not as well as Don.
Thanks so much for the comments on Girls In Their Summer Clothes, I’ve always loved that song since first hearing but I don’t know of anyone who agrees. But now I do, I concur with everything you said.
Love the video of Eddie Cochran, what a great performance. And what an incredible song.
Thanks, Paul, I’m glad you enjoyed them. It felt like a good set to me, too! Boys of Summer has long been a favourite of mine and it was good to have the official video for it at last.
I’ve never understood the criticism of that Springsteen one either, so I’m pleased we agree.
That was the only Eddie Cochran performance I could find of the song, but it’s great: they were clearly enjoying themselves!
Here Comes the Sun has always been one of my favorite Beatles tunes, but my favorite today is definitely The Boys of Summer. I’ve always liked that video too. I prefer some of Cheryl Crow’s hits more than others. Even though I know you love it and have played it before, I’ve never cared for the Mungo Jerry tune.
I agree on Here Comes The Sun – John and Paul underrated George. I was pleased to find the Don Henley video – it seems the record company is playing fair at last! Sorry about Mungo Jerry – it is a reminder of a great summer for me 😊
A great selection, Clive our favourite Eddie Cochran(hubbies) a big fan…Whats not to like about Mungo Jerry such a fun summer song although I’m with you on the fact Free were kept from the top spot love that band and their music….they all brightened up a summers day xx
That is a genuine rock and roll classic, isn’t it, and they seemed to be having a lot of fun with it. Mungo Jerry is another that has become a classic, in a different way. Still think Free were robbed, though – the two big sounds of summer 1970 for me. Glad the songs brightened up your day xx
“If her daddy’s poor just do what you feel”, what a line. “I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac”, always made me feel like Don henley thought he was better than the Grateful Dead. Sheryl Crow soaking up the sun is a great way to launch off summer. Cochran wrote the ultimate song about a relatable teenage experience where the kid has to spend the summer working instead of cruising around and having fun with his girlfriend. Nice finish with Bruce and the Beatles, loved your summer solstice tribute post Clive. Have you ever gone to Stonehenge?
Glad you enjoyed them, Jim. They felt good to me playing them as I put the post together. I’ve never interpreted that line in that way: it always seemed to me to be a nod of appreciation in their direction.
Yes, a brief visit to Stonehenge – a quick detour on a long car journey for a holiday in the West Country. It was fairly early on a summer Saturday morning, very quiet and quite eerie. You could sense that the site was special.
Love the mix…that Bruce song is derided by super fans as being beneath him, but why does he always have to write anthems? I love the he wrote a perfect summer song…and Don Henley talks in the History Of The Eagles documentary how he didn’t like being a solo artist – liked being in a band with shared responsibility…this is a perfect video however and gorgeous song!
Thank you, John. I had a great time putting these together! Some long time favourites of mine here. I agree with you on Bruce’s song: it has a good, nostalgic feel to it and the video is lovely – also true of the Don Henley one! I’ve played both before and had to skirt round copyright so it was good to see official releases of both at last.
I love the Cheryl Crow song. I recall driving to work and singing this in my car at full volume. It’s one of those feel good songs. I knew if I heard it on the radio in the morning, it would be a good day. (I have a few songs like that)
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I didn’t know that about Eddie Cochran, Wiltshire seems an incongruous part of the world for his end. Sadly young men have always found themselves in fatal car crashes, but of course we only remember the famous ones.
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It doesn’t really fit the image, does it. And sadly not the first or last to go that way, famous or otherwise.
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Wow, Clive! The only one I wasn’t familiar with was Bruce Springsteen’s! That’s a first, isn’t it? And … even better, I LOVE all of the ones I knew! Sorry I’m late to the game … too damn much going on these days … but thanks for this post and for pointing me to it, else I might have missed it, and I just enjoyed several old faves!
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I’m glad you found the post and enjoyed so many of the songs. This was a fun set for me to expand on previous years’ efforts 😊
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Congratulations, check out SSPS 317 on Monday, as you’re featured. https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/
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Thank you, Esme, that’s great!
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HI Clive, I know the Sheryl Crow and The Beetles songs but this one by Bruce Springsteen is new to me.
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Hi Robbie. I didn’t expect everyone to know all of the songs, and as that one is an album track you probably needed to be a fan to know it 😊
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Clive, thanks for offering the link on Jill’s post. Great selection. Your George Harrison reference reminded me of great book on the making of Abbey Road. The album was the last straw for Lennon as he only got a couple of songs on the album with Harrison’s song writing success. Arguably, the two best songs on the album are Harrison’s. And, Harrison had also penned much of what would be on his solo album “All things must pass.” Keith
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Thank you, Keith. I thought it worth adding in that link as last week’s updated post included some new choices and a replacement for the now defunct Don Henley song – too good to leave out!
Given all the friction in the band, with all except McCartney saying they were leaving at some point, it’s remarkable that the Beatles managed to complete Abbey Road and just about finished Let It Be. All Things Must Pass is still for me the best solo album by any of them – absolutely stuffed with great songs.
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Agreed on all your points. Keith
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haha I love the joke at the beginning! I remember mungo jerry, what a fun tune. A dog course the Beatles here comes the Sun…
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haha correction: “and of course” not “a dog course”😂
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It’s ok, I worked that out!
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Glad you enjoyed them – I liked the meme too!
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Happy Summer Solstice, Clive! These are all great summer songs and I got such a kick out of that opening meme. Hilarious! If you’re looking for a few more degrees to add to your UK summer temps, I’ll gladly send you some of ours; we’ve been blistering at 90º+ all week! 🥵
Enjoy these longest days! 😀
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Thank you, Nancy, I’m glad you enjoyed them and the meme too. It just seemed to fit!
I don’t do well in extreme heat so I’ll pass on your kind offer, thanks all the same 🤣
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When I think of the days spent on the beach slathered up in baby oil with our reflectors positioned just right for maximum tanning, I have to shake my head and ask ‘what was I thinking?!‘ These days you’ll find me under our big awning with my feet in the kiddie pool while my granddaughter splashes around happily indifferent to the heat. Oh, to be 4 (or 40!) years old again! 🌞
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There are photos of me at 2 or 3, wearing swimming trunks, as brown as a berry from spending summer running around the garden, so I know where you’re coming from with that. Sun tan lotion? What’s that! You’re wise to do it your way nowadays 🤣
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That’s a great summer selection and all the better for playing now the sun is back! Mungo Jerry reminds me of the summer of 1970 when I was 16 and left school to go to Technical College. It was a mixture of sad and happy and growing up vibes. Love the other tracks. Summertime Blues is a favourite and one we did when playing on the band in the day. It was the The Who’s version though.
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I was lucky with the timing, wasn’t I! Summer 1970 was a good one for me too: didn’t turn 17 till September, one year of three in the sixth form completed and no public exams, every evening hanging out with the scooter crowd at the youth centre! Glad you enjoyed the tunes, though I’m not sure what your version of Summertime Blues would have been like!
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Our version was pretty much this..https://youtu.be/bcNqDQ48baE?si=egHzX8H8hAgTOzwh
I do wish I had a scooter back then. Too late now.
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I guessed it would have been!
I worked Sundays in a local coffee bar and had my first summer holiday job there, starting on the day of the moon landing when I’d been up half the night! Earned the money to buy the scooter, which I got in the September as soon as I turned 16. Had a lot of fun with it, many happy memories.
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Lucky man!
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I’ve not been able to get to the blogging world of late, but I had the time to dig into this today and I’m glad I did, it’s probably my favourite Clive collection! Boys of Summer is probably the number one summer song for me, it doesn’t age and the video is so interesting and surreal, a little bit noir and that kid on drums with his hypnotic stare! I read that Tom Petty turned it down as he felt is was a little heavy on the synth, but I could imagine him doing it – but not as well as Don.
Thanks so much for the comments on Girls In Their Summer Clothes, I’ve always loved that song since first hearing but I don’t know of anyone who agrees. But now I do, I concur with everything you said.
Love the video of Eddie Cochran, what a great performance. And what an incredible song.
Great post.
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Thanks, Paul, I’m glad you enjoyed them. It felt like a good set to me, too! Boys of Summer has long been a favourite of mine and it was good to have the official video for it at last.
I’ve never understood the criticism of that Springsteen one either, so I’m pleased we agree.
That was the only Eddie Cochran performance I could find of the song, but it’s great: they were clearly enjoying themselves!
Thank you 😊
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Here Comes the Sun has always been one of my favorite Beatles tunes, but my favorite today is definitely The Boys of Summer. I’ve always liked that video too. I prefer some of Cheryl Crow’s hits more than others. Even though I know you love it and have played it before, I’ve never cared for the Mungo Jerry tune.
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I agree on Here Comes The Sun – John and Paul underrated George. I was pleased to find the Don Henley video – it seems the record company is playing fair at last! Sorry about Mungo Jerry – it is a reminder of a great summer for me 😊
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A great selection, Clive our favourite Eddie Cochran(hubbies) a big fan…Whats not to like about Mungo Jerry such a fun summer song although I’m with you on the fact Free were kept from the top spot love that band and their music….they all brightened up a summers day xx
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That is a genuine rock and roll classic, isn’t it, and they seemed to be having a lot of fun with it. Mungo Jerry is another that has become a classic, in a different way. Still think Free were robbed, though – the two big sounds of summer 1970 for me. Glad the songs brightened up your day xx
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They did that in spades, Clive the 70’s was great for us all that good music …Have a good weekend, Clive xx
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Glad to hear it! You have a good weekend too 😊 xx
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I like that version of ‘Here Comes The Sun’. They didn’t go over-board with the mix.
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I agree. The mix brings out the song’s simple beauty.
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“If her daddy’s poor just do what you feel”, what a line. “I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac”, always made me feel like Don henley thought he was better than the Grateful Dead. Sheryl Crow soaking up the sun is a great way to launch off summer. Cochran wrote the ultimate song about a relatable teenage experience where the kid has to spend the summer working instead of cruising around and having fun with his girlfriend. Nice finish with Bruce and the Beatles, loved your summer solstice tribute post Clive. Have you ever gone to Stonehenge?
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Glad you enjoyed them, Jim. They felt good to me playing them as I put the post together. I’ve never interpreted that line in that way: it always seemed to me to be a nod of appreciation in their direction.
Yes, a brief visit to Stonehenge – a quick detour on a long car journey for a holiday in the West Country. It was fairly early on a summer Saturday morning, very quiet and quite eerie. You could sense that the site was special.
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Love the mix…that Bruce song is derided by super fans as being beneath him, but why does he always have to write anthems? I love the he wrote a perfect summer song…and Don Henley talks in the History Of The Eagles documentary how he didn’t like being a solo artist – liked being in a band with shared responsibility…this is a perfect video however and gorgeous song!
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Thank you, John. I had a great time putting these together! Some long time favourites of mine here. I agree with you on Bruce’s song: it has a good, nostalgic feel to it and the video is lovely – also true of the Don Henley one! I’ve played both before and had to skirt round copyright so it was good to see official releases of both at last.
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thanks for the summer songs Clive! I love them all! Now it is really beginning to feel like summer! xo
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Glad you enjoyed them. Hopefully summer is here now 😊 x
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Ahhh Summer! I enjoyed the mini concert before I’ve even had breakfast this morning. Sun is just coming up, but it’s cloudy. Happy Summer! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed it! Hope the weather brightens up for you 😊
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I love the Cheryl Crow song. I recall driving to work and singing this in my car at full volume. It’s one of those feel good songs. I knew if I heard it on the radio in the morning, it would be a good day. (I have a few songs like that)
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I like it too – it had the same effect for me on the morning commute 😊
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