Six More Classic Summer Songs to Get You Ready for the Solstice

The summer solstice is this Friday (June 21). As the first official day of summer (and longest day of the year), the solstice kicks off a season associated with fun in the sun and good times. What better way to get yourself ready than with the perfect summer playlist?

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has previously brought you lists of some of our favorite summer and heat wave songs. Now we’re back with even more summer classics to get your playlists ready for the summer heat. Here are six classic tracks to kick your summer into high gear.

1.       Mungo Jerry, “In The Summertime”: “In The Summertime” is a classic summer song. The 1970 track has a quaint, sundrenched feel to it that transports you to a porch in the middle of a summer day sitting in the sun, drinking soda and listening to the radio. (video)

2.       Bryan Adams, “Summer of ‘69”: Who doesn’t want to sit back and reminisce about the good times on a hot summer day? Bryan Adams’ classic Americana rock anthem “Summer of ‘69” does just that. Adams’ lyrics look back fondly at a past summer fling as he and his band rip through the wistful tune with powerful and bravado. (video)

3.       LFO, “Summer Girls”: “Summer Girls” was a career-defining track for LFO back in 1999 and has been a perennial summer favorite since. The song’s nonsensical lyrics and playful rap-sung style are ear-catching and the simple rhythm makes you want to get up, dance and sing along. (video)

4.       Sheryl Crow, “Soak Up The Sun”: A country-tinged pop tune about putting your worries aside and having fun, “Soak Up The Sun” is full of sundrenched vocal harmonies and zest for life. The summer is all about kicking back and enjoying the nice weather, and this is the perfect companion song for doing so. (video)

5.       The Go-Go’s, “Vacation”: On the surface, “Vacation” is a perky ode to getting away from the humdrum-ness of everyday life. But underneath the bouncy melody and 80s synths, the song is really about taking that time away to realize that you can’t live without someone. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, as the saying goes. (video)

6.       Seals & Crofts, “Summer Breeze”: As cool and refreshing as a “summer breeze,” Seals & Crofts’ 1972 hit “Summer Breeze” congers up vibes of relaxing outside in the cool evening air by the water.  (video)

With the summer solstice officially ushering in the start of summer this week, now is a great time to compile your perfect seasonal playlist. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out some classic summer tracks above. Then, let us know what your favorite summer songs are in the comments below.

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Celebrate the start of summer by picking up music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777! As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands of titles to choose from in a plethora of genres to satisfy the tastes of most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find this summer at Vinyl Bay 777.

Seven Songs about Summer to Blast This Solstice

Happy summer solstice! It’s the first day of summer, which means we can start looking forward to three months of sun, trips to the beach, vacation and hot summer days and nights filled with good music and friends.

There are a lot of songs that try to capture this summer feeling. The best summer songs are the ones make you feel like you’ve been drenched in sunlight and that leave you with a heightened sense of happiness and pleasure after listening. It’s these songs that are the perfect soundtrack to the season.

We here at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, are gearing up for the summer sun by taking a look at some of our favorite summer songs. If you’re having trouble coming up with the perfect songs for your summer playlist, check out these seven tracks and get ready for some fun in the sun.

1.       Len, “Steal My Sunshine”: The only hit by Canadian hip-hop/electronic/pop group Len, “Steal My Sunshine” became the song of the summer in 1999. Its light beat, taken from Andrea True Connection’s “More, More, More” and put on an endless loop, was inescapable that year. But once you hear it, you can’t help but to be transported to a sunny summer day. (video)

2.       The Ataris, “Boys of Summer”: The original “Boys of Summer, written by Don Henley, is a summertime classic. But if you like a little more rock in your summer playlist, pop-punk band The Ataris does an amazing cover. The band speeds the song up and gives it a rock edge that really stands out. (video)

3.       Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun”: A classic song from a classic band. “Here Comes the Sun’s” lyrics are literally an ode to the sun returning after a long winter. The song itself is like watching the sun rise for the day, bringing forth a smile to your face as it starts to make its way across the sky and light up the world. (video)

4.       Weezer, “Island In The Sun”: One of the most popular songs on Weezer’s green album, “Island In The Sun” is a slow jam about forgetting your troubles and relaxing in the sun. The Spike Jonze-version of the video for this song also has the band playing with animals in a field, which gives the song extra points. Weezer has since tried to bring back the summer vibes with their latest single “Feels Like Summer,” but it just doesn’t have the same kind of sunshine factor. (video)

5.       Ramones, “Rockaway Beach”: The New York punk rockers devoted an entire song to going down to Rockaway Beach and taking in some sun. “Rockaway Beach” is about going out and having some fun, the best way to spend a summer day. (video)

6.       Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”: A list of summer songs wouldn’t be complete without the Beach Boys. Surf rock is summer music and there is no other band that has derived so much inspiration from the beach than this band. “Surfin’ U.S.A.” in particular captures that vibe really well, pairing and upbeat melodies with light, easy harmonies and lyrics that promote taking in the surf wherever you may be. (video)

7.       Wavves, “King Of The Beach”: The title track from Wavves’ third album, “King Of The Beach” is a summer-y garage-rock track about hanging out at the beach. Its part Violent Femmes “Blister In The Sun,” part 60’s surf-rock, a pleasant and rocking combination for a wild summer party. (video)

These are some of our favorite summer songs of all time. If you’re still looking for the perfect soundtrack to your summer, check these out and let the sunshine wash over you this solstice.

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Stop by Vinyl Bay 777 this summer to find your perfect summer soundtrack. Long Island’s top new independent record shop has thousands of titles to choose from in-store, as well as online at vinylbay777.com. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs and memorabilia. More titles are being added all the time, so whether your summer is filled with the classics or new discoveries, Vinyl Bay 777 has you covered.