Western Bureau:
SCHOOLS ARE on summer holidays and many young people are already singing the Love Generation's tune Groovy Summer, while others are mouthing the hilarious 1972 hit tune How I Spent My Summer Vacation or A Day At The Beach With Pedro and Man by comedians Cheech & Chong. There's a song written for most scenarios at this time of the year: the companionless muses on the Lonely Summer (Shades of Blue) and vocalises Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran).
But, those in love are upbeat In The Summertime (Mungo Jerry) as they pursue Hot Fun In The Summertime (Sly & the Family Stone), in the hope that eventually they will receive some Sweet Summer Loving (Dolly Parton).
Many young girls are out flirting with those Boys Of Summer (Don Henley), while the boys are "going to the mall and checking on the honeys", as Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince did in their Summertime smash of 1991. Older folks do indulge during Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer (Nat King Cole) and on those Lazy Summer Nights (The Four Preps) when they sip Summer Wine (Nancy Sinatra) and enjoy the Summer Side Of Life (Gordon Lightfoot). Summer In the City (Lovin' Spoonful) brings to mind the outdoor fun and frolic at this time of year with music festivals such as Reggae Sumfest.
This week we select the 10 most popular 'Summer' titled hit singles from the 75 or so tunes having summer in their title for the period 1955 to 1995. Topping the list is the Percy Faith Orchestra's movie theme from the summertime romance film A Summer Place starring Richard Egan and Dorothy McGuire.
Theme from A Summer Place topped the Billboard charts for nine consecutive weeks during the winter of 1960-61. As expected, most of the 'Summer' titled tunes made their debut in the summer of their respective years, albeit a considerable number charted in winter time. Just missing the Top 10 chart, in the 11th position, is the ever popular Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer by Nat King Cole. The Top 10 'Summer' songs are presented in order of position (highest chart position/weeks on chart, except for the top two positions), title, artiste and year of release.
1. (1) Theme from A Summer Place
Percy Faith and his Orchestra1960
2. (1)Summer In The City
The Lovin' Spoonful 1966
3. (2/21) Endless Summer Night
Richard Marks 1988
4. (2/16) Hot Fun In The Summertime
Sly & the Family Stone 1984
5. (3/13) In The Summertime
Mungo Jerry 1970
6. (4/18) Summertime
DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince1991
7. (5/22) Boys of Summer
Don Henley 1985
8.(5/17) Summer Of '69
Bryan Adam1985
9. (5/16) Summer Night
Olivia Newton-John & John
Travolta & Cast 1978
10. (6/18) Summer Breeze
Seal & Crofts 1972.
