With June now upon us, Radio World’s editorial and sales team and longtime contributors are sharing some of their favorite summertime tunes (and some of their favorite places to tune in).
In this story, you’ll find plenty of ’60s throwbacks, music legends and several songs about surfing. So kick back, relax and prepare to step into the season!
From Nick Langan, RW Staff Writer: As the weather has warmed — or at least made up for recent rainfall deficits here in New Jersey — I stream nearly every morning 98.3 CIWV(FM) from north of the border in Vancouver. Smooth jazz is my favorite type of music and “Wave 98.3” captures what the evolution of the once-prominent radio format might sound like today by mixing in some current vocals like Teddy Swims with instrumentalists such as Warren Hill. CIWV originally signed on in July 2022 and I discovered them later that summer, so they bring those vibes. I love the spirit of morning host Tara Jean!
My summer song pick is “So Nice (Summer Samba)” by Bebel Gilberto, her cover of the 1964 Marcos Valle Brazilian classic. To me, the bossa nova sound is synonymous with the warm weather months. To tie this into radio, 103.7 KKSF(FM) broke this song into smooth jazz radio during the summer of 2000. It was unlike anything else the format was playing at the time!
From James O’Neal, RW Contributor: My pick would have to be the quintessential summer song: Nat King Cole’s 1963 hit, “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer.” It doesn’t get a lot of air play, but once in a while it appears on the playlist of the ’60s Channel on SiriusXM.
I was a 16-year-old pulling weekend disc jockey duties at the local AM when it broke, and got a lot of requests for the song. It very definitely spells out summertime for me.
From Paul McLane, RW Editor in Chief: For our recent long drive to and from upstate New York, my wife Angela and I hugely enjoyed digging into Song Exploder, the podcast where musicians take apart their songs and piece by piece tell the story of how they were made. It’s hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway and is a member of Radiotopia from PRX.
We listened to the story behind songs from Lizzo, Foo Fighters, Tears for Fears, New Order, Dua Lipa and even the theme to the TV show “Severance.”
From David Bialik, RW Contributor: My suggestions are “I want to be a Lifeguard” by Blotto and “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys. I also remember the summer when The Beatles released “Hey Jude.”
From Charles “Buc” Fitch, RW Contributor: Between my short attention span AND the uber heavy and very uninteresting commercial load on radio, I’m punching through about 30 radio sources in-car and at the desk (both OTA and internet) to get to some useful content. Music-wise I’m a real cherry picker.
Here in Hartford, Conn., we have one hidden gem and that is WDRC(FM) HD2, which is automated oldies done up like WDRC(AM) when they were a rock and roll 1960-ish Top 40 “force” complete with PAMS radio jingles. The music flows with almost minimal commercial interruption from a very tasty music library. Close your eyes, forget taxes, politics and your extreme loss of hair and you could be 19 again.
To me, the early Beach Boys just scream summer. “Surfin USA” is almost the national anthem of the endless legendary ’60s California. Interesting that we now know that the middle-aged Wrecking Crew was the source of most of that youthful optimistic sound. When most of the world functioned in real-time, radio was an incredible unifying factor.
From Elle Kehres, RW Assistant Editor: I tend to turn to timeless tunes when the weather is nice out. Classics like “A Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James remind me of sipping coffee on my front porch on the weekend, with nothing else on my to-do list.
Living in Denver, Colo., I also like to tune in to KOSI 101.1 since they have a good mix of weekend programming and plenty of throwbacks! (This is also my preferred station for Christmas music … but that’s for another time.)
Alternatively, for something more recent, my favorite go-to band in general is English indie rockstars The Kooks. Their song “Belly Love” always makes me smile.
From James Careless, RW Contributor (& Resident Historian): I’m too busy listening to Jack Benny shows online to listen to music!
From Randy Stine, RW Contributor: My wife and I have a 30-foot travel trailer and camp weekends in northern Michigan throughout the summer. Every time the 100 kW flamethrower WUPS(FM) 98.5 plays “All Summer Long” from Kid Rock, I have to crank up the opening stanzas:
It was 1989
My thoughts were short, my hair was long
Caught somewhere between a boy and man
She was 17
And she was far from in-between
It was summertime in northern Michigan …
From John Casey, RW Publisher: I play these two songs in heavy rotation over the summer: “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly & the Family Stone and “Groovin'” by The Rascals.
From Dan Slentz, RW Contributor: For me, I’m monitoring “The Rock Dog” WDOG(LP) remotely. Lots of community events and, even though I’m about two hours north, I’m really proud of the community involvement of a station that isn’t even a year old. I tune in to Sara Stone (afternoons) and Steve Slentz (mornings … and yes, my “little brother”). Besides listening to these community broadcasts, I listen for the great rock n’ roll!
From Paul “Sarge” Kaminski, RW Contributor: I’m spending my time behind the wheel of the latest vehicles, menu diving to find a radio screen to hear a song, let alone listen. So if I hear “Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen, it’s been a successful search.
From Raffaella Calabrese, RW Account Manager, EMEA: This is a difficult one. I listen to radio all day long … but talk radio! Music-wise, these days I have a massive playlist on Spotify generally called “tracks I like” that I sometimes play in shuffle mode. Looking at my latest additions, I’d recommend “The Joker” by Steve Miller, “Mickey” by Toni Basil and for a sunset drink … the “Dancing in the Moonlight” cover by Olive Klug.
We want to hear from you! What are you listening to this summer? Email [email protected] with your song selections.
[Related: “Hey Radio World, How Are You Tuning In?“]
