Here’s the CD I put together for Kelly’ Brown’s music exchange. Naturally, I wouldn’t bother describing it to you if you couldn’t get it too. This time, though, there’s a slight hitch…
Summer Fun-the Barracudas. When I worked at FantaCo, there was a mail order customer in 1987 and 1988 who worked for Rykodisc and would occasionally send me a free disc “in appreciation for all the great mail order service” I provided for him. They were mostly samplers, though I also got King Sunny Ade. Another album I got was Drop Out with Barracudas on ESD Records, which either Ryko was distributing, or he got it in exchange. Cut 8 starts off as a car commercial then leads into this infectious pop tune.
Summertime Blues-Eddie Cochran. Could have picked the Who version, but was seeking something lighter.
Dancing in the Streets-Martha & the Vandellas. I considered Heat Wave, but thought it was too obvious. Besides, these first three tunes are in the same key!
Summer Days-Bob Dylan. I’ve recently noted my joy at listening to “Love and Theft” a week after 9/11.
Summer Breeze-the Isley Brothers. I have the Seals & Crofts version, but I picked this version from a Rhino disc, “Black on White: Great R&B Covers of Rock Classics”.
Independence Day-David Byrne. Now we come to the south of the border segment of the disc. From the “Rei Mommo” album, a cumbia.
Master Blaster (Jammin’)-Stevie Wonder. One of those album where a song is functionally the title song, because the lyrics appear in it, in this case, “hotter than July”.
Montego Bay-Amazulu. I had this friend named Donna who was dying, and she knew her brain would not be functional in a very short while. So she made a list of people who would divvy up her music, her books, her artwork and her other stuff. I was one of the two people who was in charge of the music. One of the albums I kept for myself was “Sun Splashin’: 16 Hot Summer Hits”, from which this song and the next two came.
Coconut-Nilsson. I considered the version by Fred from the B-52’s, but the original suited my mood better.
Hot Fun in the Summertime-Sly & the Family Stone. This is 20 seconds longer than the original. OOH, Lawd!
Too Darn Hot-Erasure. Now we come to the great composers section. From the original “Red, Hot, and Blue” album, music of Cole Porter.
Summertime-Billy Stewart. From “Red, Hot and Gershwin”, one of FOUR versions of this song on the album. This rendition I remember from my youth, mostly for the tongue-rolling. It went to #10 on the Billboard charts in 1966. One of my former officemates HATED this song.
Surf Rider-the Lively Ones. Needed some surf music. From “Pulp Fiction”.
Summer of Love-B-52’s. Goes well with the previous cut.
It’s Summer-Temptations. There was a different, and I think better version of this song on the “Psychedelic Shack” album. This version from the Emperors of Soul box set; I’m guessing it’s originally from the later “Solid Rock” album.
Summerfling-k.d. lang. Pop tune appropriately from the “Invincible Summer” album.
Surf’s Up-the Beach Boys. Of course, I had to end with the Beach Boys, but I thought this would not fit the conventional mode. Beside which, I LOVE the vocals at the end.
Problem is that I’ve been having difficulty making copies. I went to friend Bill’s house and made a half dozen copies. I sent one to Lefty and Kelly, and another to Eddie, but it most of the extra copies, including one for myself, has noise in the background of the latter tracks. I haven’t figured out how to use the burner software on my own computer. So, I WILL get you a copy if you want – e-mail me at my NEW address, Roger.Green@nyssbdc.org, but it may take a while.
