Music and summer have always gone hand in hand for me. Certain songs will bring me back to a summer day on Leland Avenue or a blanket on Orchard Beach. Going to a Yankee game and hearing Saturday In The Park is as evocative of a perfect summer’s day as seeing Jeter go from first to third on a single by Bernie.

All good movies have a great soundtrack, and my summer movie throughout the years had some beautiful songs, many of which our good friends on iTunes have made readily downloadable for a modest fee. I encourage you all to create your own Summertime Playlist.

For your general amusement, here is mine.

In no particular order:

Summertime, Summertime by the Jamies

Summer In The City by the Lovin Spoonful

Summer by War

A Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy

In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry

The Boys of Summer by Don Henley

Saturday In The Park by Chicago

Everybody’s Talkin by Harry Nilsson

Goin Back by The Byrds

The Girl From Ipanema by Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto and Stan Getz

Good Morning Starshine by Oliver

HOT HOT HOT by Buster Poindexter and His Banshees of Blues

Had To Cry Today by Blind Faith

Kokomo by The Beach Boys

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band

Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image

A Salty Dog by Procol Harem

Jump Into The Fire by Harry Nilsson

Make Me Smile by Chicago

San Francisco Nights

See You In September by The Happenings

Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum

Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto

Summer Wind by Frank

25 Or 6 To 4 by Chicago

96 Degrees In The Shade by Third World

Jamming by Bob Marley and The Wailers

My Cherie Amour by Stevie

John Barleycorn by Traffic

Spill The Wine by War and Eric Burden

In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

Sleepwalk by Santo and Johnny

Well, that’s a good start. I will probably add songs as I hear them or remember them, Some like Sleepwalk go back a long time, most are from the 60s and 7,0s but all bring a smile to my face when I listen to them.

I would love to hear your suggestions for a summer playlist.