YOUR TOP 200 ALL-TIME SUMMER FAVORITES
After 45,000 votes, THIS is the way that you have ranked your All-Time Summer Favorites.
We have done this poll in 2001, 2006, 2010 and now again in 2020.
ALL four times, you have voted SUMMER IN THE CITY by THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL to be YOUR ALL-TIME SUMMER FAVORITE.
This time, we placed no "year restrictions" on the songs that could be nominated ...
And the criteria was simple:
What songs best evoke the feeling of summer in your mind?
That means they can be songs about summer ...
Songs with Summer in the title ...
Songs about Hot Fun in the Summertime ...
or Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer ...
Happy Summer Days ... or Summertime Blues ...
Summer activities like Surfin' and Cruisin' ...
or Dancin' in the Street ...
California Girls, Surfer Girls, Girl Watchin' ...
Summer places ... whether they be Under the Boardwalk or Up on the Roof ...
Drinkin' Summer Wine ...
Summer Lovin' ...
Saying Goodbye for the Summer ...
but then Seeing you again in September ...
The sun and sunshine ...
A walk along the beach ...
Twistin' the night away ...
Singin' in the Sunshine ...
or Walkin' in the Summer Rain ...
Or simply the Biggest Songs of Summers Past ...
Songs that take you back to a particular place in time with indelible memories.
Capturing the spirit of ALL of the above,
THESE are the Summer Songs that mean the most to YOU ...
Rank Title Artist Year 2010 Rank
1 SUMMER IN THE CITY The Lovin' Spoonful 1966 1
2 CALIFORNIA GIRLS The Beach Boys 1965 9
3 IN THE SUMMERTIME Mungo Jerry 1970 5
4 HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME - Sly and the Family Stone 1969 3
5 SATISFACTION The Rolling Stones 1965 19
6 A SUMMER SONG Chad and Jeremy 1964 2
7 I GET AROUND The Beach Boys 1964 11
8 DANCING IN THE STREET Martha and the Vandellas 1964 15
9 SUMMERTIME Billy Stewart 1966 7
10 SUMMERTIME BLUES Eddie Cochran 1958 8
11 SCHOOL'S OUT Alice Cooper 1972 18
12 LIGHT MY FIRE The Doors 1967 37
13 THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - Percy Faith 1960 6
14 SUMMER OF '69 Bryan Adams 1985 22
15 ALL SUMMER LONG The Beach Boys 1964 4
16 FUN FUN FUN The Beach Boys 1964 17
17 BORN TO BE WILD Steppenwolf 1968 29
18 THE BOYS OF SUMMER Don Henley 1985 35
19 CALIFORNIA SUN The Rivieras 1964 13
20 BEACH BABY First Class 1974 27
21 SEALED WITH A KISS Brian Hyland 1962 16
22 HERE COMES THE SUN The Beatles 1969 HM
23 UNDER THE BOARDWALK The Drifters 1964 45
24 SURFIN' USA The Beach Boys 1963 14
25 SATURDAY IN THE PARK Chicago 1972 38
26 SAN FRANCISCO (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)
Scott McKenzie 1967 31
27 HERE COMES SUMMER Jerry Keller 1959 12
28 SURF CITY Jan and Dean 1963 21
29 SUMMER BREEZE Seals and Crofts 1972 23
30 WIPE OUT The Surfaris 1963, 1966 26
31 WALKIN' ON SUNSHINE Katrina and the Waves 1985 41
32 WONDERFUL SUMMER Robin Ward 1963 20
33 SUMMER WIND Frank Sinatra 1966 39
34 SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER The Happenings 1966 25
35 WINDY The Association 1967 28
36 WOULDN'T IT BE NICE The Beach Boys 1966 30
37 CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' The Mamas and the Papas 1966 98
38 SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME The Jamies 1958 10
39 PALISADES PARK Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon 1962 43
40 SURFER GIRL The Beach Boys 1963 47
41 KOKOMO The Beach Boys 1988 62
42 SUMMER NIGHTS John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978 24
43 SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME Gary Lewis and the Playboys 1965 49
44 DO IT AGAIN The Beach Boys 1968 66
45 SUNNY Bobby Hebb 1966 80
46 GROOVIN' The Young Rascals 1967 33
47 HEAT WAVE Martha and the Vandellas 1963 34
48 SUMMER War 1976 46
49 SUNNY AFTERNOON The Kinks 1966 87
50 MARGARITAVILLE Jimmy Buffett 1977 99
51 ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA-DOT BIKINI
Brian Hyland 1960 50
52 GRAZING IN THE GRASS Hugh Masekela 1968 74
53 WILD THING The Troggs 1966 95
54 ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE The Beatles 1967 97
55 HAWAII FIVE-O The Ventures 1969 61
56 ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Bill Haley and the Comets 1955 59
57 HONKY TONK WOMEN The Rolling Stones 1969 96
58 CALIFORNIA NIGHTS Lesley Gore 1967 32
59 CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OF YOU Frankie Valli 1967 HM
60 SUNSHINE SUPERMAN Donovan 1966 88
61 THE WARMTH OF THE SUN The Beach Boys 1964 57
62 BROWN EYED GIRL Van Morrison 1967 HM
63 I CAN'T HELP MYSELF The Four Tops 1965 55
64 LITTLE BIT O'SOUL The Music Explosion 1967 42
65 SO MUCH IN LOVE The Tymes 1963 48
66 LET'S TWIST AGAIN Chubby Checker 1961 xx
67 ONE SUMMER NIGHT The Danleers 1958 51
68 WALK DON'T RUN The Ventures 1960 HM
69 JACK AND DIANE John Cougar Mellencamp 1982 94
70 DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT King Harvest 1973 90
71 SUMMER RAIN Johnny Rivers 1967 36
72 VACATION The Go Gos 1982 83
73 SMOOTH Santana featuring Rob Thomas 1999 xx
74 BARBARA ANN The Beach Boys 1966 HM
75 NIGHT MOVES Bob Seger 1978 68
76 LIKE A ROLLING STONE Bob Dylan 1965 xx
77 WOOLY BULLY Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs 1965 xx
78 CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION - Tommy James and the Shondells - 1969 xx
79 SUMMER SUN Jamestown Massacre 1972 79
80 THOSE LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER
Nat "King" Cole 1963 40
81 HANKY PANKY Tommy James and the Shondells 1966 60
82 SUNDAY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME - Spanky and Our Gang 1967 HM
83 SPILL THE WINE Eric Burdon and War 1970 HM
84 I LIVE FOR THE SUN The Sunrays 1965 44
85 STONED SOUL PICNIC The Fifth Dimension 1968 xx
86 CRUEL SUMMER Bananarama 1984 100
87 MY SHARONA The Knack 1979 xx
88 COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT Every Mother's Son 1967 72
89 NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO Chuck Berry 1964 70
90 BRANDY Looking Glass 1972 HM
91 SUMMERTIME BLUES The Who 1970 65
92 GOOD VIBRATIONS The Beach Boys 1966 91
93 A WHITER SHADE OF PALE Procol Harum 1967 xx
94 LITTLE OLD LADY FROM PASADENA Jan and Dean 1964 xx
95 A HARD DAY'S NIGHT The Beatles 1964 HM
96 AFTERNOON DELIGHT The Starland Vocal Band 1976 HM
97 HELLO, I LOVE YOU The Doors 1968 xx
98 RAG DOLL The Four Seasons 1964 xx
99 SURFIN' SAFARI The Beach Boys 1962 52
100 DON'T WORRY BABY The Beach Boys 1964 73
101 MISERLOU Dick Dale 1963 xx
102 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 1974 58
103 LAKE SHORE DRIVE Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah 1973 HM
104 I GOT YOU BABE Sonny and Cher 1965 xx
105 UP, UP AND AWAY The Fifth Dimension 1967 xx
106 TOSSIN' AND TURNIN' Bobby Lewis 1961 xx
107 SUMMER WINE Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood 1967 76
108 MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK The Angels 1963 xx
109 EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE The Police 1983 xx
110 DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYIN'
Gerry and the Pacemakers 1964 xx
111 WE'LL SING IN THE SUNSHINE Gale Garnett 1964 HM
112 INDIAN LAKE The Cowsills 1968 HM
113 SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE Cream 1967 xx
114 SUMMER MEANS FUN Bruce and Terry 1964 67
115 LOVE SHACK The B-52's 1989 xx
116 IT'S TOO LATE Carole King 1971 xx
117 LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER - The Captain and Tennille -1975 xx
118 "FINGERTIPS, PART 2" Stevie Wonder 1963 xx
119 THE TWIST Chubby Checker 1960, 1962 xx
120 MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS BY The Bob Crewe Generation 1967 HM
121 SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS Lesley Gore 1965 xx
122 GOOD DAY SUNSHINE The Beatles 1966 HM
123 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT Starbuck 1976 xx
124 I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN The Beatles 1965 HM
125 GIRL WATCHER The O'Kaysions 1968 HM
126 SAUSALITO SUMMER NIGHT Diesel 1981 xx
127 REMEMBER (WALKIN' IN THE SAND) The Shangri-Las 1964 xx
128 LITTLE DEUCE COUPE The Beach Boys 1963 63
129 WHITE RABBITT Jefferson Airplane 1967 xx
130 WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO The Supremes 1964 xx
131 VACATION Connie Francis 1962 56
132 UP ON THE ROOF The Drifters 1963 75
133 HITCHIN' A RIDE Vanity Fare 1970 xx
134 PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY The Monkees 1967 HM
135 CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters 1970 HM
136 JUMPIN' JACK FLASH The Rolling Stones 1968 xx
137 ACTION Freddy Cannon 1965 71
138 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978 xx
139 WILDWOOD DAYS Bobby Rydell 1963 xx
140 HELP ME RHONDA The Beach Boys 1965 92
141 LOCO-MOTION Little Eva 1962 xx
142 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John and Kiki Dee - 1976 xx
143 SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND - The Beatles 1967 xx
144 CALIFORNIA GURLS Katy Perry 2010 xx
145 THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA - Stan Getz and Astrid Gilberto 1964 HM
146 IT COULD BE WE'RE IN LOVE The Cryan' Shames 1967 xx
147 HAPPY SUMMER DAYS Ronnie Dove 1966 xx
148 CHAPEL OF LOVE The Dixiecups 1964 xx
149 PURPLE HAZE The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967 xx
150 WHERE THE BOYS ARE Connie Francis 1961 89
151 CENTERFIELD John Fogerty 1985 81
152 LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCA Ricky Martin 1999 xx
153 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 1967 xx
154 THE RAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS - The Cowsills 1967 HM
155 DIRTY WATER The Standells 1966 HM
156 SHORT SHORTS The Royal Teens 1958 HM
157 HEY YA OutKast 2003 xx
158 SHERRY The Four Seasons 1962 HM
159 SUMMERTIME BLUES Blue Cheer 1968 69
160 WHAT DOES IT TAKE Jr. Walker and the All-Stars 1969 xx
161 GRAZING IN THE GRASS Friends of Distinction 1969 xx
162 STAND BY ME Ben E. King 1961 HM
163 GREEN GRASS Gary Lewis and the Playboys 1966 xx
164 SUMMERTIME Janis Joplin 1969 54
165 BUS STOP The Hollies 1966 84
166 GTO Ronny and the Daytonas 1964 53
167 DAYDREAM The Lovin' Spoonful 1966 xx
168 SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER The Motels 1983 HM
169 GO ALL THE WAY The Raspberries 1972 78
170 EYE OF THE TIGER Survivor 1982 xx
171 "HELLO MUDDUH, HELLO FADDAH" Allan Sherman 1963 xx
172 WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND Grand Funk Railroad 1973 xx
173 MY CHERIE AMOUR Stevie Wonder 1969 xx
174 THE LETTER The Box Tops 1967 xx
175 SUMMER (THE FIRST TIME) Bobby Goldsboro 1973 64
176 HUNGRY Paul Revere and the Raiders 1966 xx
177 ALONG COMES MARY The Association 1966 xx
178 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 1970 xx
179 MAGIC The Cars 1984 xx
180 SMOKE ON THE WATER Deep Purple 1973 xx
181 ALL SUMMER LONG Kid Rock 2008 xx
182 MAKE ME SMILE Chicago 1970 xx
183 VENTURA HIGHWAY America 1972 xx
184 SOAK UP THE SUN Sheryl Crow 2002 HM
185 LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND Pat Boone 1957 HM
186 OLD DAYS Chicago 1975 xx
187 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Jefferson Airplane 1967 86
188 TWISTING THE NIGHT AWAY Sam Cooke 1962 xx
189 SUNDOWN Gordon Lightfoot 1974 xx
190 MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME Three Dog Night 1970 xx
191 THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" The Lettermen 1965 HM
192 SUNNY DAYS Lighthouse 1972 xx
193 DEAD MAN'S CURVE Jan and Dean 1964 xx
194 ALL RIGHT NOW Free 1970 xx
195 TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS Bachman-Turner Overdrive 1974 xx
196 "TIGHTER, TIGHTER" Alive 'n' Kickin' 1970 xx
197 GET READY Rare Earth 1970 xx
198 25 or 6 to 4 Chicago 1970 xx
199 HOUND DOG Elvis Presley 1956 93
200 GOD ONLY KNOWS The Beach Boys 1966 xx
HONORABLE MENTION:
When you already have 200 Songs IN The Countdown, how many more "extras" can you run?
Well, in this case, 80 more ...
As this list of "Honorable Mentions" covers EVERY record that earned fifty or more votes in our Summer Favorites Poll.
These tracks would make for a welcome addition ANYTIME ... all year round.
59th STREET BRIDGE SONG - Harpers Bizarre (1967)
ALL DAY MUSIC - War (1971)
ALL I WANNA DO - Sheryl Crow (1994) HM in 2010
ALLEY OOP - The Hollywood Argyles (1960)
BALL OF CONFUSION - The Temptations (1970)
BORN TO RUN - Bruce Springsteen (1975)
BROWN SUGAR - The Rolling Stones (1971)
CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - The Beatles (1964)
CATCH A WAVE - The Beach Boys (1963) #85 in 2010
CLASSICAL GAS - Mason Williams (1968)
C'MON MARIANNE - The Four Seasons (1967)
DANCING IN THE DARK - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC - The Lovin' Spoonful (1965) HM in 2010
DON'T BE CRUEL - Elvis Presley (1956) #77 in 2010
DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY - Petula Clark (1967)
ESCAPE - Rupert Holmes (1979)
FUNKYTOWN - Lipps, Inc. (1980)
GET CLOSER - Seals and Crofts (1976)
GIMME SHELTER - The Rolling Stones (1969)
A GIRL LIKE YOU - The Young Rascals (1967)
GOOD LOVIN' - The Young Rascals (1966)
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - The Beatles (1966, 1976)
GREEN ONIONS - Booker T and the MG's (1962)
THE HEAT IS ON - Glenn Frey (1985)
HELP! - The Beatles (1965)
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - The Animals (1964)
I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER - Stevie Wonder (1967)
IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT - The Five Satins (1956) HM in 2010
ISLAND IN THE SUN - Weezer (2001)
IT MIGHT AS WELL RAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER - Carole King (1962)
LA GRANGE - ZZ Top (1974)
LAY LADY LAY - Bob Dylan (1969)
LAZY DAY - Spanky and Our Gang (1967)
LET'S LIVE FOR TODAY - The Grass Roots (1967)
LITTLE GIRL - Syndicate Of Sound (1966)
LOVELY DAY - Bill Withers (1978)
MAGIC - Pilot (1975)
MISS YOU - The Rolling Stones (1978)
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN - Mountain (1970)
MONY MONY - Tommy James and the Shondells (1968)
MR. BLUE SKY - Electric Light Orchestra (1978)
MY BOY LOLLIPOP - Millie Small (1964)
ODE TO BILLIE JOE - Bobbie Gentry (1967)
ONE OF THESE NIGHTS - The Eagles (1975)
PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE - The Rascals (1968)
RAMBLIN' MAN - The Allman Brothers Band (1973)
RASPBERRY BERET - Prince (1985)
RED RUBBER BALL - The Cyrkle (1966)
RIDE THE WILD SURF - Jan and Dean (1964)
SAIL ON SAILOR - The Beach Boys (1973, 1975)
SAN FRANCISCAN NIGHTS - Eric Burdon and the Animals (1967)
SIDEWALK SURFIN' - Jan and Dean (1964) HM in 2010
SILLY LOVE SONGS Paul McCartney and Wings (1976)
SISTER GOLDEN HAIR - America (1975)
SKY PILOT - Eric Burdon and the Animals (1968)
SLEDGEHAMMER - Peter Gabriel (1986)
SLOOP JOHN B - The Beach Boys 1966)
START ME UP - The Rolling Stones (1981)
STEAL MY SUNSHINE - Len (1999)
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT - Frank Sinatra (1966)
SUGAR SUGAR - The Archies (1969)
SUMMER HOLIDAY - Cliff Richard (1963)
SUMMER SAND - Tony Orlando and Dawn (1971)
SUNSHINE GIRL - Parade (1967)
TAKE IT EASY - The Eagles (1972)
THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER - Nat "King" Cole (1963)
THERE'S NO SURF IN CLEVELAND, USA - The Euclid Beach Band (1978) HM in 2010
TURN DOWN DAY - The Cyrkle (1966)
TWIST AND SHOUT - The Beatles (1964)
VEHICLE - The Ides Of March (1970)
WAKE UP SUNSHINE - Chicago (1970)
WALKIN' ON THE SUN - Smash Mouth (1998)
WAR - Edwin Starr (1970) HM in 2010
WATERFALLS - TLC (1995)
WE ARE FAMILY - Sister Sledge (1979)
WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES - Billy Preston (1973)
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - Joe Cocker (1968)
YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder (1973)
YOU BABY - The Turtles (1966) HM in 2010
YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH (HOT SUMMER NIGHTS) - Meatloaf (1979)
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