Summer in the City, Lovin’ Spoonful

In my preteen and early teen years I spent a lot of time in my room listening to records. Some of Mom’s old 33’s, then 45’s handed down to me from my brothers. That’s how I came to know the Lovin’ Spoonful’s song “Do You Believe in Magic?” But the version I first listened to was actually a later cover by Sean Cassidy. It would be years later before I would hear the original, which somehow felt more mature than the happy, smiley Sean Cassidy version.

Image by JLB1988 from Pixabay

I’m pretty sure the “Summer in the City” single on my record player was the original, though, and talk about gritty and mature. I don’t know how you get grit and depth into a song that seems to be just a simple teen tune about going out in town on a hot summer night, but there’s something about it, whether its the key changes, the tempo . . . I am sure Brian could give me an excellent musical analysis for how this song has impressed listeners and critics alike.

It was their only number one single, but released in 1966, it was their fifth song to make it into the top ten. The band’s songwriter John Sebastian reworked a song written by his 14-year-old brother, Mark and created some major-minor key contrast between the verses and chorus. I can’t find any information on whether Mark was pleased with the results of his big brother’s changes, but I suspect he didn’t mind being part of the creation of a number one hit.

I’m heading to the city with Brian this weekend and it will be hot. He’ll be playing in a gaming tournament while Eliot, our pup, and I dip our toes in at the beach on Long Island. Wish us luck!

Dance With Me, 1975

I don’t know about you, but I need a slow dance at this point. I know it’s Friday and we usually kick up our heels a bit more, but grab a partner, a coat rack or your cat, and let’s sway slowly today. It’ll be good for our nerves. We started our dance tour this week in the early 2000’s on Tuesday with the Scissor Sisters, jumped back to the 60’s for a song from Martha and the Vandellas, then skipped to the 80’s yesterday to dance with the Kinks. Today, we step back to the mid 70’s for a more mellow dance tune with a band called Orleans.

This song brings back a lot of memories, not from high school, but from my younger childhood days, when I looked like I did in those photos up there. I used to listen to my brothers’ old 45’s and my mom’s old 33’s, even some occasional 8-track tapes. Ah, the benefit of those 8-tracks, when the album was over, it started back at the beginning again. The stuff I bought for myself in those days, when I had a few bucks, was usually on cassette. Whatever way I could get the music, old or new, I spent a lot of time in my bedroom listening to it, and songs like this just take me right back.

Orleans was also known for songs like “Love Takes Time” and “Still the One.” I think “Dance With Me” stands the test of time.