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As the email stated, the topic this week was YOUR Song of the Summer, and it was of all-time, and…

It’s easy to list songs with “summer” in the title, or summer in the song’s lyrics/story. But in truth, a good number of summer songs were actually released in the winter.

But what you’ve got below is the songs that remind ME of summer. I can see exactly where I was when I heard them, they make my life come alive. And just about all of them were hits over the summer. Ergo, MY Songs of the Summer.

The list is not comprehensive. I mean how many songs can you play in a one hour radio show, even thirty second snippets, which is what I do, not many. But these are the ones that came to my mind first.

I won’t exactly say your mileage might vary, I KNOW your mileage will vary. You’ve got your own memories. And in truth, I’ve got no specific memories of listening to “Summer in the City,” even though I’ve heard it a zillion times, but I can still see standing by the pool in Lancaster, PA, hearing “Doo Wah Diddy” come out of the radio. Likewise, “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena” at Jennings Beach, coming out of the transistor in the “pavilion.” And riding my Raleigh with the transistor slung over the handlebars waiting for and then exulting in hearing “California Girls.” And sitting in my sister’s apartment in Brentwood looking out towards the ocean listening to “One of These Nights.” And finally liking a Carpenters song when I heard it on the AM-only radio in my ’63 Chevy convertible, sans A/C, driving for the City Directory and…

You get the point.

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Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers

Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & the Family Stone

A Hard Day’s Night – Beatles

Help! – Beatles

I Get Around – Beach Boys

The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) – Jan & Dean

See You in September – the Happenings

Satisfaction – the Rolling Stones

Hello, I Love You – the Doors

Doo Wah Diddy – Manfred Mann

Closer to Home (I’m Your Captain) – Grand Funk Railroad

Hold Your Head Up – Argent

The Bitch Is Back – Elton John

Thick as a Brick – Jethro Tull

Love Is Alive – Gary Wright

What Do You Want From Life – the Tubes

A World Without Love – Peter and Gordon

Do You Love Me – Dave Clark 5

Little Children – Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas

House of the Rising Sun – the Animals

I Can’t Help Myself – Four Tops

I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher

For Your Love – the Yardbirds

Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire

California Girls – Beach Boys

Paperback Writer/Rain – Beatles

Along Comes Mary – the Association

Wild Thing – Troggs

Sweet Pea – Tommy Roe

Sunshine Superman – Donovan

Yellow Submarine – Beatles

Somebody to Love – Jefferson Airplane

Light My Fire – the Doors

All You Need Is Love – Beatles

Carrie-Anne – the Hollies

Little Bit O’ Soul – Music Explosion

Stoned Soul Picnic – 5th Dimension

Pictures of Matchstick Men – Status Quo

Hush – Deep Purple

Grazing in the Grass – Friends of Distinction

Honky Tonk Women – Rolling Stones

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Mama Told Me Not to Come – Three Dog Night

Make It With You – Bread

Yesterday Once More – Carpenters

Signs – Five Man Electrical Band

Rocket Man – Elton John

Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) – the Hollies

School’s Out – Alice Cooper

Sealed With a Kiss – Brian Hyland

Kodachrome – Paul Simon

Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group

Long Train Runnin’ – the Doobie Brothers

Live and Let Die – Wings

Rock the Boat – Hues Corporation

Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot

Rock Your Baby – George McCrae

Jive Talkin’- Bee Gees

One of These Nights – Eagles

Take it Easy – Eagles

Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty

Miss You – Rolling Stones

Funkytown – Lipps Inc.

Emotional Rescue – Rolling Stones

Every Picture Tells a Story – Rod Stewart

Piece of My Heart-Big Brother & the Holding Company