Open Thread: Sounds of Summer
Posted: May 30, 2011 Filed under: just because | Tags: American Graffiti, Beach Boys, Drifters, Eddie Cochrane, Lovin' Spoonful, music, open thread, summer 63 Comments
Burkie's Drive-In, Muncie, Indiana
What are your favorite summer songs? Since I’m so old, mine tend to be oldies from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. But we have some younger folks here too–have there been any summer classics in the past couple of decades?
I grew up in a medium-sized town in Indiana. There wasn’t a whole lot to do there. When we wanted to get out, we often just drove around with a gang of kids. We’d drive around the drive-ins to see who was there. One of those drive-ins is pictured above. There was another one in town called John’s Awful Awful Drive-In (awful big and awful good!), but that one has been torn down and I couldn’t find a photo. We would drive around for hours, listening to music, laughing, and talking. It sounds boring, I know, but it was fun. This teen-age lifestyle was depicted in the great summer movie American Graffiti. You’ve probably seen it. America was car-crazy in those days, and rock ‘n’ roll ruled.
In the summer there were always upbeat, happy songs that went along with the sunny season. I’ll share a couple of my old favorites and hope you’ll share yours.
This one is a real oldie but goodie, Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochrane–a big hit in 1958.
Summer in the City, by the Lovin’ Spoonful
The Drifters, Up on the Roof
Of course the ultimate summer group of the ’60s was the Beach Boys. This one is from before they were the Beach Boys. They were so young!
Here’s another live video from before Brian Wilson got sick.
So….. what are your summer favorites?
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
Minkoff Minx
peggysue22
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Just thought of a more recent summer song.
Hey, I was going to post that one!
You beat me to it!
Oh, BB what wonderful memories you’ve churned up! thanks.
Where was I in ’62? I was 9 and I thought teenagers were weird. You pretty much got all of my summer favorites I can think of right now. Will post if i can think of another.
🙂
In my childhood home in Indiana, Memorial Day was memorable for being the day when the city pool opened. So we would go to the pool and then have an evening cook-out in our backyard. The next day we would probably ride our bikes downtown to the Dog n Suds for a hot dog and a root beer. No cares at all.
My favorite Beach Boys’ song has always been “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” :
I love it too.
Here’s a typical Dog n Suds sign. The drive-in in my town is long gone.
*swoons* Car hops and curb service–I’m picturing a lot of tailfins in turquoise and bright jade greens.
love that one!
Oh wow, LOVE that picture! I saw on TV once someone had decorated an entire wall with pictures of amazing signs and Roadside Americana, it was fantastic.
I made it bigger for you. It looks kind of strange without all the cars parked around it. I don’t think I ever saw it empty before.
Believe it or not, I found a site that recommended stopping at Burkies for the pork tenderloin sandwich. LOL
OMG, I just had a pork sandwich at a carnival, I thought it would be breaded but it wasn’t, and the texture was just so, so, so wrong. Definitely not our state sandwich.
BB, you know Indiana is famous for its breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches. I think it is the state sandwich. LOL!
Recipe for the infamous Indiana breaded pork tenderloin sandwich:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Traditional-Indiana-Breaded-Tenderloin-Sandwich/Detail.aspx
It figures. Every one of my high school science teachers was a hog farmer.
Ella is the greatest.
Gosh, I ran around singing ‘Yellow Basket’… 🙂
I love all the ones you’ve listed, although you missed Mungo Jerry. I’ve added one from 1980 from a band that few have probably every heard of – Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins. I think it appealed to me because of the reference to the job – as I was in a similar situation at the time. Anyway, I still enjoy it.
I remember it. They used to play it on the alternative rock station I listened to in the ’80s.
Martha and the Vandellas!
Around the age of 14, I heard Salsa for the first time and loved it. Here’s one that reminds me of summer.
I loved that song!! I remember it well.
BB – I love Martha and the Vandellas!! This is one of my favorites – and perfect for a hot humid Jersey afternoon!
I almost posted that one.
I played this album to death when it came out. She died too young.
Oh gosh, I had that album too.
Spanish Harlem!
I love that song, too!
Cool, but Laura does it so much better.
Sorry Fannie, here it is.
You done good BB…….know what, I would have givin anything to see Laura back in the day. I liked her music awhole lot.
Oh, it’s been years since I last heard this great song! Thanks for posting it.
I was referring to “Stoned Soul Picnic” but “Spanish Harlem” is a classic, too.
Gosh, BB – you opened the flood gates to songs from back in the day!! I’ll try not to post everything that’s flying around head right now!!
Feelin’ groovy…
I love this song, Beata!!
my little guy (now 43) was in love with that song
Soulful Santana always reminds me of summer.
Me too!
I can never forget those leather tie up boots, and stomping to Santana
And then there were the drive-in movies:
Love that one!
Canned Heat
Okay, this song reminds me of summer 1988. That was the year I graduated High School, and this was the song that everyone wanted to have as our graduating class song…Future so bright, gotta wear shades.
But, it was not to be. Turns out Rosemary Milanes (the head of the Senior Class activities committee) used her position to put her own choice as our class song…So unfortunately our song was “Time of my life…”
Little older than most here, this was my favorite. Pink shirts, gray pants and buck white shoes. In a northern Wisconsin dairy farm community we had the Sat nite dance which songs like this which was my favoite
Songs like this with polka’s and shottishes (sp?).Slow watzes at the end. It was fun.
Everybody mambo!!!
Oh, gosh – I sure remember this song. My father was a real audiophile and he had tons of albums. I mean in the 1000s. I remember this song and riding in the car on the way to the Jersey Shore. And it’s true – cherry blossoms are pink and apple blossoms are white! And love that trumpet!
Girls wore can can’s in those days.
My fav Lovin’ Spoonful song:
Mine too. Unfortunately Zal died in 2002 – too young, but his restaurant and bakery are still going strong – best bread ever.
I can’t explain it, but this song always makes me think of summer – perhaps because it’s audacious (and a little bit of history thrown into the intro)?
Groovin’….
And 40 years later, we still have these things. This is my ring tone on my cell – I love the song!
I’ve got a new thread up…so check it out and then post your favorite War and Summer movies!
Love Lolly:
how about this classic?
“orange popsicles and lemonaaaaade!”
also: