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!
Jeff's Song of the Day 