Happy Memorial Day Weekend...the (un)official kickoff to the summer season in the "Great Garden State!"

As we play back summer songs on a "Stronger Than The Storm Weekend," I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of "Jersey's Favorite Hits" with the term "Summer" in the title!

"Summer In The City"--Lovin' Spoonful (#1/1966)

This Greenwich Village NY-based band termed their sound "good time music."  "Summer In The City" was their only song to reach #1...appropriately in the summer (August) of 1966.

"Hot town...summer in the city...back of my neck getting dirty & gritty." And to that, after doing the radio show, add that I have headphone hair, as well!

 

"In The Summertime"--Mungo Jerry (#3/1970)

"In the summer time, when the weather is high...you can chase right up and touch the sky..."

Mungo Jerry isn't a guy...its a multi-member (ever-changing lineup) band from England. Ray Dorset is the band's leader...and founder.

The name was inspired by the T.S. Eliot poem "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer." "Mungomania" has been called "the most startling and unpredicted pop phenomenon" to hit England since the Beatles. "In The Summertime" is their only international chart hit.

 

"Summer Nights"--John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (#5/1978)

Summer and the movie "Grease" are synonymous.  An enduring 1970's multi-media phenomenon that celebrated stylized American life of the 1950's.

And, this summer favorite has a Jersey connection...as John Travolta grew up in Englewood.

 

"Cruel Summer"--Bananarama (#9/1984)

Bananarama is Sarah Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahey, all from London.

The group name is a combination of the children's TV show "The Banana Splits" and the Roxy Music song "Pyjamarama."

Fahey married Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) in 1987.

"Cruel Summer" was the band's first chart hit...debuting in August 1984...

 

"Summer Of '69"--Bryan Adams (#5/1985)

Just a little "Canadian Content" in this overview of "Jersey's Favorite Hits" with "Summer" in the title...

I met Bryan Adams backstage at a station concert in Philadelphia in the late 1990's. Great guy...just a "regular" guy who enjoyed hanging out with the station staff, talking about music, and what we did for fun in Philly...

By the way, Bryan Adams was born November 5, 1959...so he was 9 in the "Summer of '69." Who's life is he singing about? The song's writer's life? Fiction? A combination of both?

I forgot to ask when I had the chance to set the record straight.

Damn.

These are just a few "Summer In The Title" songs from the "rock" world that popped into my head......there are many more!

Please feel free to share your "summer" faves below!!

And, no......I'm not forgetting "The Chairman Of The Board!"

Jersey native, and favorite son, Frank Sinatra...

"Summer Wind" isn't from the "rock 'n' roll" genre....but...I'm pleased to give Frank an "Honorable Mention."

 

 

 

 

 

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