Every season benefits from a good soundtrack, but the summer sun in particular demands a steady stream of quality tunes. And when it comes to what we crank up on the stereo when it’s blazing hot, the LEO music mavens have some varied tastes. Below are seven of our very own playlists to help get you through the dog days.
Want a copy of our mixes? Sign up for a chance to win at leoweekly.com/promotions by Wednesday, June 13, and you’ll be set for the summer.
Summer of '67
By Peter Berkowitz, Music Editor
“Manic Depression” — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Sunny Girlfriend” — The Monkees
“Plastic People” — The Mothers of Invention
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — The Beatles
“Let’s Spend the Night Together” — The Rolling Stones
“Hip-Hug Her” — Booker T. & the MGs
“Omaha” — Moby Grape
“Itchycoo Park” — Small Faces
“The Hedgehog’s Song” — The Incredible String Band
“Astronomy Domine” — Pink Floyd
“Heroes and Villains” — The Beach Boys
“Love Me Till the Sun Shines” — The Kinks
So Drunk in the August Sun
By Sarah Kelley, Editor
“Good Vibrations” — The Beach Boys
“Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side” — The Magnetic Fields
“Gold Soundz” — Pavement
“Hot Freaks” — Guided By Voices
“Heavy Metal Drummer” — Wilco
“Sunny Afternoon” — The Kinks
“Dig For Fire” — Pixies
“Cannibal Summer” — Wax Fang
“Cedar Point ’76” — The Dirtbombs
“Another Sunny Day” — Belle and Sebastian
“Thunder Road” — Bruce Springsteen
“Cold Beer Hello” — The V-Roys
Here's to you, 502!
By Anne Marshall, Staff Writer
“Beercan” — Beck
“Remix to Ignition” — R. Kelly
“Ditty” — Paperboy
“Kick, Push” — Lupe Fiasco
“Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” — Queen
“100,000 Fireflies” — Magnetic Fields
“Shutterbugg” — Big Boi
“Buggin Out” — A Tribe Called Quest
“Get it Together” — Beastie Boys
“Tidal Wave” — Apples in Stereo
“Sunken Waltz” — Calexico
“Sloop John B.” — The Beach Boys
Funk, yeah
By Joe Sonka, Staff Writer
“Spottieottiedopaliscious” — Outkast
“Hot Fun in the Summertime” — Sly and the Family Stone
“Here I Am” — Al Green
“Mercy Mercy Me” — Marvin Gaye
“Can You Get To That” — Funkadelic
“Long Hot Summer Night” — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Superfly” — Curtis Mayfield
“Respect” — Aretha Franklin
“Hold On I’m Coming” — Sam and Dave
“I Want You Back” — Jackson 5
“Higher Ground” — Stevie Wonder
“Fight the Power” — Public Enemy
Sticky Buns
By Sara Havens, Managing Editor
“Freak Me” — Silk
“Get It While You Can” — Janis Joplin
“Closer” — Nine Inch Nails
“You Remind Me of Something” — R. Kelly
“Right Hand Man” — Joan Osborne
“Fuck the Pain Away” — Peaches
“Crazy On You” — Heart
“Drive” — Melissa Ferrick
“She’s Like the Wind” — Patrick Swayze
“Gimme That Nutt” — Eazy-E
“Crimson and Clover” — Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
“Nobody” — Keith Sweat
Maid in the Shade
By Sheri Squires, Creative Director
“Popsicle” — Talking Heads
“Cannonball” — The Breeders
“Boom Box”— Mosquitos
“Hot Hot Hot!!!” — The Cure
“I Turn My Camera On” — Spoon
“Big Time Sensuality” — Bjork
“Comin’ Home Baby” — Mel Torme
“Long Hot Summer” — The Style Council
“Uncomplicated” — Elvis Costello & The Attractions
“Happy Hour”— The Housemartins
“You’re My Favorite Waste of Time”— Marshall Crenshaw
“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”— The Pogues
Barbecue
By Damien McPherson, Music Writer
“Rock Creek Park” — The Blackbyrds
“Summer Madness” — Kool & The Gang
“It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” — Prince
“Bustin’ Loose” — Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers
“Sun Goddess” — Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind, & Fire
“Hot Fun In The Summertime” — Sly & The Family Stone
“That Girl” — Stevie Wonder
“Summertime” — DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Got to Give It Up” — Marvin Gaye
“That Lady (Part 1 and 2)” — The Isley Brothers