Shawn's "Ultimate" Summer Soundtrack

I have a lifelong obsession with the beach, the pool, and summer. Over the past few years, I've compiled this library of my all-time favorite summer tunes. Some were big hits, some were obscurities. Evoke any fond memories for you? 

• Alice Cooper – School’s Out
• Annette Funicello – Beach Party; Muscle Beach Party
• The Archies – Sunshine
• The B-52’s – Rock Lobster
• The Bangles – Bitchin Summer
• Bananarama – Cruel Summer
• The Beach Boys – All Summer Long; California Girls; Catch a Wave; Fun Fun Fun; Good Vibrations; I Get Around; Little Honda; Surfin’; Surfin’ Safari; Surfin’ USA
• Belinda Carlisle – Circle in the Sand
• Billy Idol – Hot in the City
• Blondie – Island of Lost Souls
• Brian Hyland – Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini
• Bobby Freeman – C’mon and Swim
• Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy
• Brady Bunch – Sunshine Day
• Bruce & Terry – Summer Means Fun
• Burning Sensations – Belly of the Whale
• The Challengers – Bulldog
• The Champs – Tequila
• The Chantays – Pipeline
• Chubby Checker – Limbo Rock
• Chuck Prophet – Summertime Thing
• Connie Francis – Vacation
• Dick Dale & the Del-Tones – Let’s Go Trippin’; Misirlou
• Diesel – Sausalito Summer Night
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – Summertime
• Don Hinson & the Rigormorticians – Monster Surf Stomp
• Donna Loren – Beach Blanket Bingo; Muscle Bustle
• Drifters – Under the Boardwalk
• Duran Duran – Rio; Violence of Summer (Love’s Taking Over)
• Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues
• The First Class – Beach Baby
• The Friends of Distinction – Grazing in the Grass
• Glenn Frey – The Heat Is On
• The Go-Go’s – Beatnik Beach; Surfing & Spying; Vacation
• The Honeys – Pray For Surf 
• The Hues Corporation – Rock the Boat
• The Jamies – Summertime Summertime
• Jan & Dean – Little Old Lady From Pasadena; Ride the Wild Surf; Sidewalk Surfin’; Surf City
• Jimmy Buffett – Fins
• Katy Perry – California Gurls
• Len – Steal My Sunshine
• Linda Ronstadt – Heat Wave
• The Lively Ones – Surf Rider
• Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
• The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City
• Martha & the Muffins – Echo Beach
• Martha Reeves & the Vandellas – Heat Wave
• The Marvelettes – Too Many Fish in the Sea
• Mel Tormé – Too Darn Hot
• Mort Stevens & His Orchestra – Hawaii Five-O
• The Motels – Suddenly Last Summer
• Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta & the Cast of Grease – Summer Nights
• The Other Ones – Holiday
• The Ramones – Rockaway Beach
• The Rivieras – California Sun
• Sly & the Family Stone – Hot Fun in the Summertime
• Smash Mouth – Pacific Coast Party
• The Sundays – Summertime
• The Sunrays – I Live For the Sun
• The Supremes – Dr. Goldfoot & the Bikini Machine
• The Surfaris – Wipe Out
• Tracey Ullman – Sunglasses
• The Ventures – Hawaii 5-O; Walk Don’t Run
• Weezer – Island in the Sun

Yeah, I know the list ain't exhaustive. And I've probably omitted some tunes you like. The emphasis here is on fun stuff that evokes the beach and pool for me. Sunny melodies and/or summery lyrical themes are required. Otherwise, it's pretty random. Numerous eras are represented. Styles span surf, pop, R&B, classic rock, new wave, bubblegum, and film/TV. The early 60's figure prominently. Flavors are mostly Californian rather than Caribbean.

Accordingly, here are some Songs That Didn't Make the Cut:

• Astrud Gilberto – The Girl From Ipanema
  Love it! It just doesn’t fit in with the rest of my playlist.
• Blondie – The Tide Is High
  A winter hit, overly long, and brings back bad memories of 1980.
• Chicago – Saturday in the Park
  Sure, it describes a nice scene on the Fourth of July. But I’d prefer Saturday on the beach.
• Don Henley – Boys of Summer
  Anxious and dour, there’s nothing sunny or summery about this song! I don’t understand why it’s on so many “Best of Summer” playlists. Blech.
• Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
  Yeah, her last name is Summer, and this was a huge summer '79 hit, but the song is about sexual heat, not summer temps. I love it, but it doesn't make this list.
• Jimmy Buffett -- Margaritaville
  I crave good margaritas, but I never need to hear this overplayed bar band staple again. 
• Kenny Chesney – Summertime
  One of Country music's best summer anthems. But I don’t do swimmin’ holes, bottles of Yoo-Hoo, or bare feet on dashboards. In summer, or ever.
• Kid Rock – All Summer Long
  I loathe Kid Rock. Period.
• Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime
  Although it’s quirky and fun, it annoys me.
• The Sandals – Theme from “The Endless Summer”
  Bland. Meh.
• The Shangri-Las – Remember (Walking in the Sand)
  Classic girl group tune, but haunting rather than fun.
• Seals & Crofts – Summer Breeze
  Part classic, part cliché. All EZ listening.
• Sheryl Crow – Soak Up the Sun
  I dig it, but the lyrics aren’t very summery.
• Squeeze – This Summer
  Great chorus. Mediocre verses & bridge. 
• Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
  Overplayed & annoying. Unsavory subject matter too.
• War – Summer
  Nice and mellow. A little too mellow. 

That's all, now grab your swimsuit and let's go!  :-)