Beach Boys | Tracks In The Dust

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11 Jul 2014

Songs That Remind You Of Summer

It is the middle of SUMMER here in Texas, and like always I reflect on the music that made up my younger years. Summer was special because school was out and the weather was ripe for enjoying time at the beach, or camping or traveling. Just sitting out in the backyard in a lawn chair and when I was older cruising the main-streets ( gas was so much cheaper than, but then the cars only got single digits miles per gallon.

Ahh but the songs! My son and I got thinking about those “songs” that made up the memories of summer ( and those that also reminded us of winter). My list was totally different than his (with a few exceptions). But it was fun. I recall listening to the songs on “transistor radios” on the beach blankets, on the AM radio in the car, and later in various Walkman- like things with headphones. But they were indelible and still conjure up those sweet memories.

What are your summer songs?

Here are 6 of mine.

1) The Beach Boys: Do It Again

Actually it could be very many of their songs, this is just one I love. In America these guys are the definition of summer music for a generation or 2! LOVE the outfits in this old video.

2) The Kinks: Sunny Afternoon

Ray Davies is very underrated as part of the Brit Invasion and all the great songs beyond. Love this one. Was and still am a big fan (Waterloo Sunset is another).

3) The Rolling Stones: Honky-tonk Woman

First time I heard this was out in my backyard out of one of those little radios, I turned it up so loud it broke it. I went out that day and got the 45 PRM version and played it to death.

4) America: Ventura Highway

I was listeing to AM radio on my way to the beach and the windows rolled down. My friends were in the car. We sang the do-do-do’s like we were never going back home (the beach forever dude).

5) Steely Dan: Do It Again

We were in the basement of my best friends house. It was a late Friday afternoon. We had opened a 12 pack of Budwiser, we were playing pool and thinking about the weekend coming up when we would be going to the lake up in the woods and fish and eat and drink (not necessarily in that order). We jacked up the stereo and took it all in. Steely Dan is damn cool.

6) Blink 182: What’s My Age Again

Okay so I spent 7 years in a row going with my kids to Warped Tour. I got immersed in the music of their generation. I gotta say I love the energy and… sure I was a fan of that same type of music when I was a teen. There is always high-energy teen angst music playing somewhere. Thanks to my kids- spent some crazy summers on hot pavement finding a lot of new bands. Of course there was some irony on this Blink 182 song …. yeah sure.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Arts and Entertainment, Beach Boys, Blink 182, favorite songs, Life's Soundtrack, Memories, moments, Music, Rock music, Songs of "summer", The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, tracks in the dust

02 Jul 2013

The Soundtrack to Capture Summer

I grew up in an American city that sat on the shore of Lake Michigan, America’s largest freshwater lake.

As kids every summer we would get on our bikes or take the bus and head down to the sandy beach called the North Beach. It was connected to another beach that sat just outside the city zoo. We would spend hours in the sun, walking the beach, eating sandwiches and soda.

As we grew up we would cruise down in our parents cars and suck up the sun and suds (beer in Wisconsin is a staple).

During that time we always had music playing. It went from a small “transistor” radio to a boom-box with cassettes. Over time it created a soundtrack for the summer. Some times the laid back sounds of soul music (loved the Motown sound and the Philly sound), sometimes it was just pop rock and other times the latest in jazz.

One thing for sure even now, the music paints a very clear picture in my mind of those times gone by. I can see it in my mind’s eye with clarity with the accompanying smells of the grill and the scent of coconut oil suntan lotion. There are so many songs that dial-up those images.

Whether on a beach in Florida, a local hot bar or hotspot in your town or your own back yard…

Whether it is the Beach Boys, the Temptations, Chicago or Santana…

Whether it was sounds of a Pitbull club mix or Daft Punk jam- you get your inspiration somewhere….

“What artists are in your personal summer soundtrack?”