Summer Songs 2016

by KUTX
It’s a bit balmy out there. Fish are jumping. Your daddy’s rich and your momma’s good lookin’. That must mean it is summertime. Over here at KUTX, we asked our on-air staff to cook up an even hotter summer playlist. Enjoy jammin’ to these sweet summer tracks on your way to the pool, nearest ice cream parlor or backyard BBQ…

Laurie Gallardo, music host 8-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday
Bobby Caldwell – “What You Won’t Do For Love”
Most of my summer jams come from the ’70’s, and rightly so. Plenty of sultry sexiness. This particular 1978 jam has the classic keys action that just screams “smooooth.” How can you not sway to this amorous groove? Baby, I know I  got the power to make you do for love…what you would not do… ordinarily.
Frankie Valli – “Grease”
The title track to the 1978 film version of this much-beloved musical was heard during the opening credits in the film. Because it was so catchy, it quickly developed a life of its own. It is, quite simply, a badass song. Listen to that drum breakdown toward the end. It’s got groove, it’s got meaning…
Foreigner – “Feels Like the First Time”
Oh no. I’m not typically a Foreigner fan, but this anthemic sing-along-at-the-top-of-your-lungs revelry was, and still is, perfect for summer hangin’, either cruising through the neighborhood or socializing at your friends’ house by the pool – even for those of us who never were aquatically inclined. Feels like the first time, all the time.
Gary Wright – “Love Is Alive”
Everybody absolutely clung to Wright’s “Dreamweaver” well into the early ‘90s, when it made its way onto the Wayne’s World soundtrack. And that was total perfection, by the way. But, since the ‘70s, my heart has always remained with this sweet groove – funky, mellow and far superior, in my book.
Kool & The Gang – “Summer Madness”
Oh. Em. Gee. Talk about the super sexy keyboard work. Kool & The Gang became famous for tracks like the commercially-successful “Celebrate” and “Ladies’ Night,” but…growing up in El Paso, this is the track I remember most. So damn sexy without even trying. And that ending…! This is my summer theme song, each and every year. Never, ever gets old.
Jody Denberg, music host 5-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon-4 p.m. Friday
The Flatlanders – “South Wind Of Summer”
The Flatlanders reunited on disc with this Summer stunner on the soundtrack to “The Horse Whisperer”.

Jonathan Richman – “That Summer Feeling”
This song by rock’s great innocent lives up to its title.

The Isley Brothers – “Summer Breeze”
Heard this soulful take on the middle-of-the-road Seals & Crofts number on The Old School Dance party. Changed my life – or at least that summer day.

It’s A Beautiful Day – “Hot Summer Day”
This Bay Area band’s other keeper (along with “White Bird”)

Joni Mitchell – “The Hissing Of Summer Lawns”
Never knew summer lawns made a sound until Joni pointed it out

Rachell Goswell – “Warm Summer Sun”
The Slowdive/Mojave 3 singer released this gem on a 2004 solo album.

 

 

Jack Anderson, music host 11 p.m.- 3 a.m. Saturday

Elvis Presley – “Crawfish”
Taken from the soundtrack of the 1958 film, King Creole, Elvis shares vocals with Kitty White on this one. Joe Strummer (of The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite) was spot on when he said you can feel the heat on the street when listening to Crawfish. WARNING: This song will make you hungry for crawfish.

The Fixx – “One Thing Leads to Another”
It’s tough to not jam this Miami Vice-ready tune in the summer, especially given that it appears on an album entitled Reach the Beach. It’s fun, energetic, and makes you feel like you’re cruising in Don Johnson’s Ferrari Testarossa wherever you go.
Bob Marley – “Jamaica Rum”
This rare instrumental by Bob Marley will make you want to bake in the sun all day. Sunscreen not included.
Sergio Mendes – “Mas Que Nada”
I first heard Sergio Mendes’ classic bossa nova recording in the Las Vegas Strip sequence from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, and since then it’s been a go-to for the summer. You don’t need to know Portuguese to appreciate how shagadelic the chorus vocals are.
Art Levy, producer, music host 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
Sly & The Family Stone – “Just Like A Baby”
Everything about this song–the slurred, smeared production, that loping beat, Sly’s I-don’t-have-enough-energy vocals–just makes me think of 100 degree days where you have to conserve energy like a lizard.

Jorge Ben – “Errare Humanum Est”
Usually around August, the cumulative effect of a Texas summer sun can produce psychedelic effects on a daily basis. I first heard this song on such a day, and it was the perfect soundtrack: sunburned and slow-rolling.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Ffunny Ffriends”
Hip-hop beats melted onto psych-rock. Perfect for the beach or the blacktop.

Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
Duh.

Souls Of Mischief – “93 ‘Til Infinity”
This is how we chill, from ’93 til.

Elizabeth McQueen, music host 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday

Madonna – “Burning Up”
I’ve recently become re-obsessed with this song.  Sure she’s talking about the burning flame of desire overtaking her. To me though it sounds like pool parties and pink jamboxes and that time my life when summers were the most magical.

Flaming Lips – “Yoshimi Versus the Pink Robots”
Take it from me, this is a great song to sing to your child while trying to get her comfortable enough to float on her back in the pool.
Call Me Maybe – “Carly Rae Jepsen”
This will always remind me of the summers I spent on the road with my kids traveling from city to city and hitting as many Municipal Pools as we could. This song was playing at every. single. one.

 

 

John Parsons, music host 6 a.m. -10 a.m. Saturday

Pavement – “Gold Soundz”
I was on one of those pontoon boats that had a CD player out on Lake Travis a few years back, and Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain was the only CD that was in there. We had it on loop for hours and we– and obviously I’m speaking for everyone there who I assume loves hearing things over and over again– never got sick of it. Great to listen to on a boat for hours and hours.

Pixies – “Cecilia Ann”
The surf rock riffs meet Ennio Morricone choirs make me wanna cannonball in the nearest pool ASAP. Great to listen to in a manic rush to find the nearest body of water.

Delroy Wilson – “This Life Makes Me Wonder”
A pensive sentiment from one of Jamaica’s best singers of the 60s set to a dusty upbeat rhythm. Great to listen to when someone drops a plate of hot dogs from the grill.

Beastie Boys feat. Q-Tip – “Get It Together”
The Eugene McDaniels sample, the feather light moog stabs, Q-Tip pulling the Beastie Boys down to a consistent mellow buzz on the verses; it feels like an impromptu backyard jam session from some of the most disciplined emcees ever. Great to listen to after the nap and before the fireworks, you know, to ease yourself back into more partying.

John Aielli, host “Eklektikos” 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. Monday-Thursday

Mungo Gerry – “In the Summertime”

Lovin’ Spoonful – “Summer in the City”

 

 

Paul Carrubba, music host 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday

The Rascals – “Good Lovin'”
It’s got lyrics as crisp and simple as a cold glass of lemonade and classic rock ‘n’ roll cha-cha rhythm made for dancing at Fourth of July backyard barbecue.

Bruce Springsteen – “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)”
Speaking of Independence Day, this is one of those brilliant, wordy early Bruce songs that really plants you smack-dab in a very specific time and a very specific place. In this case, a languorous summer night on the Jersey Shore.
The Hold Steady- “Constructive Summer”
A fist-pumping rocker with real heart. Craig Finn has a Boss-like ability to transform greasy, small-town palookas into romantic heroes. The weather is warm and it’s time to drink cheap beer, double-whiskey-cokes-no-ice and hang out on the water tower. Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer!
Wilson Pickett – “Land of 1000 Dances”
A sweaty soul-stomper made for hot summer nights.
From Handel’s Messiah – “Hallelujah”
Because my friend and I decided to walk home on the last day of junior high. The kids were all gone, the two of us were still in earshot of the school, and we heard this blasting from the loudspeakers.
Taylor Wallace, Eklektikos producer and music host 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday 

A Tribe Called Quest – “Bonita Applebum”
ATCQ will always remind me of long summer nights spent at my Aunt and Uncle’s house hanging out with them and all of their cool friends when I was wee. ’90s hip-hop was always on, and Tribe was always in heavy rotation.

Architecture in Helsinki – “Heart It Races”
I got really into Places Like This the same summer I got my first record player, was making serious money, and could take weekly trips to record stores. This song was my jam that summer; my friends and I played it basically anytime we were in the car. I was floored with excitement when I found a used vinyl copy at Waterloo Records. Pure, summertime kismet!

Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Summertime is guilty pleasure time. Deal with it.

Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce – “Telephone”
This should actually read “Everything by Lady Gaga.”

 

 

Michael Crockett, host of “Horizontes” and “Global Grooves”

Fatal Mambo – “Magot Tcheri” (In The Summertime)
I always loved the original by Mungo Jerry from the summer of 1970, so I went crazy over this cajun/salsa-like cover by the French band Fatal Mambo.

Mangu –  “La Playa” (The Beach)
This bi-lingual beach-party mix of hip-hop and salsa made me want to move to Miami Beach when I first heard it.

Tunacola & Loki Da Trixta – “Coco Maitai”
A  funky Spanglish beach-party mash-up from the shores of Chile named after a drink you would only consider drinking  in the summer.

Dominguinhos & Gonzagão – Quando Chega O Verão (When Summer Comes)
This song comes from northeastern Brazil where the heat is as oppressive as a Texas summer. It features two guys complaining about the summer which is what I will be doing on the August days I don’t swim at Barton Springs.

 

 

Jacquie Moody-Fuller – Assistant Program Director 

Lisa Lisa & The Cult Jam – “Head to Toe”
I grew up in San Antonio and was in middle school when this came out, at the height of the roller skate craze. This – as well as freestyle tracks from the likes of Debbie Deb, Nu Shooz, The Jets, and Shannon – will forever make me think of summer nights at the roller rink.

Peter Bjorn & John – “Young Folks”
Since it came out in late summer of ’06, it will forever feel like summer to me. Whistling + bongos + a boy/girl back-and-forth? It’s the Carnation Instant Breakfast of summer jams.

Freddy Fender – “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.”
Because Texas and backyards and barbecues. String up the globe lights, throw some meat on the grill, and turn this one up loud enough for the neighbors to hear. Hell, invite the neighbors.

Girls – “Lust for Life”
This song captures that delicious cocktail of angst, hope, and abandon that is youth. No matter how old I am, it will make me feel young.

 

 

Trina Quinn, music host 2  – 5p.m. Monday- Thursday 

Laura Mvula – “Overcome”

Wham – “Club Tropicana”

Broncho – “Senora Borealis”

Isreal Kamakawiwo (IZ) – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”

 

 

Deirdre Gott, Live Music Producer

Junior Senior – “Move Your Feet” 
Can’t stop, won’t stop.  Released in 2003, this track from the Danish duo brings me great joy everytime I hear it.

Robert Ellis – “Couples Skate”
A little doowopy gem on Robert’s latest self-titled album makes me think of sweet summer nights.

Cellars – “Nightime Girl”
Allene Norton’s (aka Cellars) new album Phases is my summer obsession. Currently in rotation on KUTX, this track gets me through our sweltering Austin traffic.

Starship – “We Built This City”
The best worst song ever. Fist pumps are in order.

 

Jay Trachtenberg, music host Noon- 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Deee-lite – “Picnic in the Summertime”
My intro to this song was thru the Ronin Get Down-Tempo-remix with its wicked bassline, but either way, the song’s a pure deee-lite.

Martha & The Vandellas – “Dancing In The Streets”
One of my very favorite Motown hits, it always trumpets the advent of summer………”The Sound Of Young America,” indeed!

Mungo Jerry – “In The Summertime”
This was somewhat of a radio novelty at the time it was released but the care-free hippy vibe with it’s island feel is perfect summer fare.

Corinne Bailey Rae- “Put Your Records On”
It was love-at-first-listen for me with CBR’s angelic voice and the image of slapping a stack of 45s on the record player on a warm summer night.

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