Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper wrote the soul ballad (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. This song's become one of the best summer songs of all time. Redding recorded it twice in 1967, the last time just three days before he perished in an airplane accident on December 10, 1967. The song, which was released in 1968 on the Volt label of Stax Records, became the first-ever posthumous record to top the US charts. It reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

While perched on a leased houseboat in Sausalito, California, in August 1967, Redding began writing the song's lyrics. With the assistance of Booker T. & the M.G.'s guitarist and Stax producer Cropper, he finished the song in Memphis. Waves smashing on the shore and whistling are heard throughout the tune.

The song has charted on a number of other American Billboard Hot 100 charts. The King Curtis rendition peaked at number 84 during its five-week chart run that began in March 1968. (during the same month, the original was number one). A year later, the version by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 charted for five weeks beginning in June 1969 and reached its highest position at number 66.

Artist: Otis Redding

Released: January 8, 1968

Genre: Soul

The Drifters performed "Under the Boardwalk," a pop song written by Kenny Young and Arthur Resnick, in 1964. On August 22, 1964, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Numerous other artists have since covered the song, with versions by Bette Midler, Sam & Dave, the Tom Tom Club, the Rolling Stones, Billy Joe Royal, The Beach Boys, Bruce Willis, Bad Boys Blue, John Mellencamp, and Lynn Anderson all reaching the top charts in the US and elsewhere. In 2004 and 2010, the song was placed 487 and 489, respectively, on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

A beach town tryst between a man and his girlfriend is described in the song's lyrics. They intend to meet up in private "out of the sun" and out of sight from other people under a boardwalk. violins, the triangle, and the güiro are used as instruments. The chorus of the song shifts from a major to a minor key. The first lyric of the song makes a reference to the Drifters' earlier classic "Up on the Roof," illustrating the getaway's sporadic thermal vulnerability and establishing the scene for an alternative meeting place-under the boardwalk. Prior to the chorus, the violins can be heard performing "Up on the Roof" riff.

Artist: the Drifters

Released: June 1964

Genre: Pop, soul

The American hip-hop group DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince wrote the song Summertime. As the first single from their fourth studio album, Homebase, it was made available in May 1991. The song was created by Chicago-based producers Hula and K. Fingers, and at the 1992 Grammy Awards it was recognized as the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent a week at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart (their highest charting single on the latter). It also became the first single by the duo to climb at number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

The Homebase album's producers delivered Will Smith the tape for Summertime as he was leaving Chicago after finishing the recordings for the tracks they had created in Chicago. Smith chose to record the song in Chicago after his trip back to his own country was delayed, so he wrote the entire song in one sitting. He recorded his song in a lower tone than normal since his voice was tired from a prior night out, unintentionally creating a style reminiscent to rapper Rakim, whom Smith recognized as one of his favorite rappers at the time. The ascending F# octaves played on an ARP 2600 synthesizer in "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang are a prominent example of the song's instrumentation sampling.

Artists: DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Released: May 20, 1991
Genre: Hip hop, R&B

The Lovin' Spoonful's song Summer in the City was written by John Sebastian, Mark Sebastian, and Steve Boone. It was made available as a single in July 1966 and later that same month, on the album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful. The song was the Lovin' Spoonful's lone No. 1 single and their fifth to enter the US top ten. The recording has a harsher rock tone, which is a change from the band's milder sound. The lyrics bemoan the heat, comparing the oppressive warmth and noise of the day with the comfort provided by the chilly night, which enables the start of the nightlife. This sets them apart from most songs about the summer.

John Sebastian reworked "Summer in the City's" lyrics and melody from a song composed by his adolescent brother, Mark. While in the recording studio, Boone helped write the song's bridge. At Columbia Studios in New York, The Lovin' Spoonful cut "Summer in the City" over the course of two sessions in March 1966. Engineer Roy Halee assisted Erik Jacobsen in producing the sessions, and Artie Schroeck contributed as a session musician on a Wurlitzer electric piano. The track is an early example of pop music with added sound effects, using a pneumatic drill and car horns to simulate city noises.

Many music journalists and musicologists have since praised "Summer in the City" for its alternating major-minor keys and creative use of sound effects. Numerous performers have recorded the song, notably Quincy Jones, whose 1973 rendition received the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement and was later sampled by many hip-hop artists. Keep reading to discover more best summer songs of all time.

Artist: the Lovin' Spoonful

Released: July 4, 1966

Genre: Pop, rock, hard rock, psychedelic rock

Featuring Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj and American singer Ty Dolla $ign, Hot Girl Summer is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion that was released on August 9, 2019 via 300 Entertainment. With additional writing credit going to Earl On The Beat, JT (from City Girls), and Lil Yachty for the sampling of City Girls' 2019 song "Act Up," the song was written by all three artists in addition to Michael "Crazy Mike" Foster, Syed Hossain, Derrick Milano, Jordan "Juicy J" Houston, and Georges Olivier. The song was produced by Bone Collection, Juicy J, Crazy Mike, and Syed Hossain. The song debuted and reached its commercial apex at position eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first number one for Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj's eighth, and Ty Dolla Sign's third on Billboard's Rhythmic Songs airplay list.

On September 3, 2019, the song's music video was released. The video, which was directed by Munachi Osegbu, features the performers at a pool party. AGNEZ MO, Rico Nasty, Dreezy, Lala Anthony, Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, DaniLeigh, Juicy J, and French Montana are just a few of the famous people who make brief cameos.

Artists: Megan Thee Stallion featuring Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign

Released: August 9, 2019

Genre: Hip hop

The American soft rock duo Seals and Crofts wrote and first performed the song Summer Breeze. It was released in 1972 and peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In Rolling Stone's list of the Best Summer Songs of All Time in 2013, it was listed No. 13. The Isley Brothers also had success with the song in 1974. The original Seals and Crofts version debuted nine days before their 1972 Summer Breeze album and peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard Pop Singles list. One of those endlessly charming 1970s harmony-rock songs, according to Bruce Eder of AllMusic, it was "appropriately ubiquitous on the radio and in the memory".

In 1972, Seals and Crofts gave the song a live performance on the Bobby Darin Amusement Company variety show. Bassist Harvey Brooks contributed to this recording.

The Isley Brothers released a single version of the song in 1974, reinterpreting it in a heavier rock-soulful style. A rendition by The Ray Conniff Singers was recorded in 1973, included on the I Can See Clearly Now album, and made available as a 45 on the CBS label in the UK in January 1973. Geoffrey Williams, an English vocalist, recorded this version, which was made available as a single in 1992. On the UK Singles Chart, it reached its apex the week of August 16, 1992, at position 56. In August 1993, Type O Negative released a cover of the song on their album Bloody Kisses, modifying it to fit their gothic metal aesthetic.

Artist: Seals and Crofts

Released: 1995

Genre: Gothic metal

Together with Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller, and Ron Wilson, Bob Berryhill created the surf rock instrumental Wipe Out. The song, which was written as a twelve-bar blues, was first performed and recorded by the Surfaris, who rose to fame in 1963 as a result of the single.

The song was initially released on the independent labels DFS (#11/12) and Princess (#50) in January and February of 1963, respectively, before being finally selected for national distribution on Dot as 45-16479 in April. The single was reissued by Dot as 45-144 in April 1965. Since 1964, the song has featured at least once every ten years in over 20 movies and television shows, including the Surfaris' original version and cover versions. A fall from a surfboard, especially one that appears painful, is referred to as a "wipe out."

When they realized they needed a suitable B-side for the planned "Surfer Joe" record in late 1962 at Pal Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California, Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller, and Ron Wilson almost immediately came up with "Wipe Out." One of the band members had the idea to start the song off with a cracking noise that resembled a surfboard breaking, followed by the maniacal rambling of "ha ha ha ha ha, wipe out." Dale Smallin, the band's manager, was speaking.

Artist: The Surfaris
Released: January 1963
Genre: Surf rock

Ramones, an American punk rock group, released the song Rockaway Beach in 1977 from their third studio album, "Rocket to Russia." Dee Dee Ramone, a bassist, wrote the song in the vein of early surf rock bands including the Beach Boys. Dee Dee liked to hang out in Rockaway Beach in Queens, which is the subject of the song. According to guitarist Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee was "the only actual beachgoer" in the band. It was the Ramones' highest-charting song of their career when it was released in 1977 and peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The actual Rockaway Beach in New York, where lead singer Joey Ramone grew up, served as the inspiration for the song Rockaway Beach. Dee Dee Ramone, a bassist who frequently visited the beach, wrote the song.

The Austin Chronicle's Greg Beets dubbed the song "backhanded greatness". Rockaway Beach is listed as one of the "finest collection of tracks" Ramones had composed for Rocket to Russia by AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Its musical arrangement, in his words, was "teeming with irresistibly infectious hooks." It's simple to feel as euphoric as the song does since the imagery transports you to the thick of a steamy New York summer in the middle to late 1970s. The song was praised as a "bubblegum masterpiece" by Time Out's Steve Smith.

Artist: Ramones

Released: 1977

Genre: Punk rock, surf punk

The English pop music duo Chad & Jeremy released "A Summer Song" in 1964. Together with Keith Noble, Clive Metcalfe, and their pair partner Chad Stuart, they wrote the song. The duo's first single, "Yesterday's Gone," and their current single, "A Summer Song," both recall summertime romances. The lyrics of "A Summer Song" are likewise nostalgic in tone, but the song avoids the Merseybeat sound of "Yesterday's Gone" in favor of a softer, folk-influenced arrangement.

In July 1964, "A Summer Song" was released as a single in both the UK and the US. While the US song has unity singing throughout, the UK track opens with Chad and Jeremy switching vocals. When "A Summer Song" was aired on Juke Box Jury, guest judge Ringo Starr rated the song as a "miss" with no chance of becoming a hit in the United States. In fact, "A Summer Song" did not chart in the UK, where Chad & Jeremy's "Yesterday's Gone" had been a very modest hit, followed by the unpopular "Like I Love You Today." This may have been because it had a very small label and was hard to find in stores when it was debuted.

Artists: Chad & Jeremy

Released: July 1964

Genre: Pop, soft rock

Sly and the Family Stone released "Hot Fun in the Summertime" in 1969. The band's highly publicized appearance at Woodstock, which significantly increased their audience, occurred right before the single's release. The Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You" blocked the song from reaching the number 1 spot, and it peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop singles list. In the fall of 1969, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" also reached its highest position at number three on the American Billboard soul singles chart. It was ranked 65th in Canada and seventh in the United States in 1969. The song was ranked #247 by Rolling Stone on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," and it has also been referred to as an "all-time summer anthem" by Yahoo! Music, and AskMen.

Theme-wise, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is a celebration of the summertime's entertainment opportunities. The violins in this song are played in the upper register, which is unusual for Sly and the Family Stone songs. The song "Fun" from the group's 1968 third album, "Life," serves as the single's B-side.

Artist: Sly and the Family Stone

Released: July 21, 1969

Genre: Pop, soul