Lovin' Spoonful — Summer In The City
Album: Hums of the Lovin' SpoonfulAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 265
Length: 2:37
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Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night, it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat, it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Comments (56)add comment
Alltime classic for me. 
I suspect this got at least a few bumps just because of the Keith Jackson Gatorade commercial a few years ago...
Some talent right there..........
Another classical , but this one i give only a 6!!
I wish it still was....
orthomd wrote:
my heart bleeds for you.......here in phoenix we haven't been below 105 degrees in months and we have been as high as 116 on a frequent basis
But it's a dry heat.
Whopping 24 degrees today in sunny PG!
my heart bleeds for you.......here in phoenix we haven't been below 105 degrees in months and we have been as high as 116 on a frequent basis
But it's a dry heat.
Whopping 24 degrees today in sunny PG!
I was in High School when this came out. Was it really that long ago? eeek
I propose that this song would be better if it started "Hot damn, summer in the city".
dixiedeb wrote:
my heart bleeds for you.......here in phoenix we haven't been below 105 degrees in months and we have been as high as 116 on a frequent basis
I am really feeling the summer here. It's 101 degrees here in Augusta today, just a bit hot....
my heart bleeds for you.......here in phoenix we haven't been below 105 degrees in months and we have been as high as 116 on a frequent basis
I am really feeling the summer here. It's 101 degrees here in Augusta today, just a bit hot....
One of the top 500 songs of all time, fueled by that electric piano riff
Oh no, it was Boston! And what a great summer it was.
Dog_Ear wrote:
Those days...
I can remember when this came out -it WAS summer in NYC. Played on AM radios everywhere. WHat a perfect pop hit!
I can remember when this came out -it WAS summer in NYC. Played on AM radios everywhere. WHat a perfect pop hit!
The_Enemy wrote:
It's Peter Tork, you dork!
And say RIP to the late Zally.
That guy 2nd from the left looks a lot like Peter York from The Monkees. Turns out it's not. There is a connection somewhere tho'
From Wikipedia:
The chart-topping band was originally selected to perform on the television show that became The Monkees
Also From Wikipedia:
Zal Yanovsky quit the band due to a famous drug bust in San Francisco, in which Yanovsky was arrested for possession of marijuana and pressured by police to name his supplier. he complied. He would later open a restaurant in Canada.
IIRC, The Chez Piggy in Kingston along with the Pan Chancho bakery a block down the road.
Chez Piggy has a great courtyard and if you're in town close to Easter, Pan Chancho has killer hot cross buns. Worth detouring off the highway for.
You can't order a "special special", tho'
From Wikipedia:
The chart-topping band was originally selected to perform on the television show that became The Monkees
Also From Wikipedia:
Zal Yanovsky quit the band due to a famous drug bust in San Francisco, in which Yanovsky was arrested for possession of marijuana and pressured by police to name his supplier. he complied. He would later open a restaurant in Canada.
IIRC, The Chez Piggy in Kingston along with the Pan Chancho bakery a block down the road.
Chez Piggy has a great courtyard and if you're in town close to Easter, Pan Chancho has killer hot cross buns. Worth detouring off the highway for.
You can't order a "special special", tho'
It's Peter Tork, you dork!
And say RIP to the late Zally.
That guy 2nd from the left looks a lot like Peter York from The Monkees. Turns out it's not. There is a connection somewhere tho'
From Wikipedia:
The chart-topping band was originally selected to perform on the television show that became The Monkees
Also From Wikipedia:
Zal Yanovsky quit the band due to a famous drug bust in San Francisco, in which Yanovsky was arrested for possession of marijuana and pressured by police to name his supplier. he complied. He would later open a restaurant in Canada.
IIRC, The Chez Piggy in Kingston along with the Pan Chancho bakery a block down the road.
Chez Piggy has a great courtyard and if you're in town close to Easter, Pan Chancho has killer hot cross buns. Worth detouring off the highway for.
You can't order a "special special", tho'
From Wikipedia:
The chart-topping band was originally selected to perform on the television show that became The Monkees
Also From Wikipedia:
Zal Yanovsky quit the band due to a famous drug bust in San Francisco, in which Yanovsky was arrested for possession of marijuana and pressured by police to name his supplier. he complied. He would later open a restaurant in Canada.
IIRC, The Chez Piggy in Kingston along with the Pan Chancho bakery a block down the road.
Chez Piggy has a great courtyard and if you're in town close to Easter, Pan Chancho has killer hot cross buns. Worth detouring off the highway for.
You can't order a "special special", tho'
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
nothin' but fun on this one
What a perfect time to play this. A classic. Thanks Bill!!
Those days...
I can remember when this came out -it WAS summer in NYC. Played on AM radios everywhere. WHat a perfect pop hit!
Album cover photo looks like an ad from the Sears catalogue. Fortrel Sweaters for the entire family!
WOW, haven't heard this song in a LONG time. I used to have a mix tape that came from a box of cereal called "Splish Splash Summer Hits", and this, of course, was on it.
Summer in the City... Sedona was at 86 degrees today. Mid-November?? Are we all enjohing Global Warming?
Top notch song, BTW!
lovin that lovin spoonful all over again.
Ah, great song from my teen years....still is!
Mid-October and its STILL hot time! Global warming or not, its still too effing hot!!
HOT TOWN - summer in the city...
Whew, it's hot here all right! Great dog-days-of-summer song. 
How appropriate! It has been about 108 degrees here in GA!
Art_Carnage wrote:
Impossible to not sign along with this one. And ya gotta love any song with jackhammers in it!
And a zither!
Ahhhh!
A refreshing drink of cool pop on a sunny friday afternoon in SoCal!
I grew up with this album, among 100's of others...mmm it's like comfort food!
Whenever its hot and sticky here I think of this song.
Its pretty hot and sticky at the moment, humidity is way up. And here it is!
I read a Discover article recently that stated amniotic fluid is an excellent sound condutor and that musical taste can be culivated in the womb: That said I was born to love it.
Joe Jackson does a killer version of this from his live album of the same name. There's also a neat interweaving of "The In Crowd" and "Down to London" and a lovely rendition of "Eleanor Rigby" leading to "Be My Number Two." Fun disc.
Ahhh, sunny 60's pop by John Sebastion and Co.! 
freddyfender wrote:
My brother listened to this stuff when he was growing up. Only problem is that my brother is a grade A dork; so I can't differentiate this tune from him; therefore it rates rather low on my list. I know it isn't fair, but it also isn't fair having a dork for a brother.
Totally! I rated it a "5" for the same reason. My sister listened to this - three girls in a small bedroom and being the youngest I had NO SAY on what we listened to or watched on TV. I wasn't even allowed to watch Kimba the White Lion and if that isn't lousy, I don't know what is. My brother got me into punk and ska and stuff in the late 70s so I'm grateful for THAT influence.
The Quincy Jones version is so many light years better than this (and this ain't bad). I should upload it.
freddyfender wrote:
I have 3 older brothers who helped shaped my musical tastes through convection, osmosis and occasionally by intentional exposure like the chicken pox: "Here kid, go lock yourself in your room with this Chicago album and get that shit out of your system now so you can handle Dark Side of The Moon when you're ready."
My brother listened to this stuff when he was growing up. Only problem is that my brother is a grade A dork; so I can't differentiate this tune from him; therefore it rates rather low on my list. I know it isn't fair, but it also isn't fair having a dork for a brother.
Worthwhile commentary. I have 3 older brothers who helped shaped my musical tastes through convection, osmosis and occasionally by intentional exposure like the chicken pox: "Here kid, go lock yourself in your room with this Chicago album and get that shit out of your system now so you can handle Dark Side of The Moon when you're ready."
good stuff!! this isn't the first time you've thrown this on after doc watson and david grisman, eh? nicely done sir!
I'm Lovin the Lovin'!!!!!!!
Mari wrote: 
Yep I'm with Mari on this one.
My brother listened to this stuff when he was growing up. Only problem is that my brother is a grade A dork; so I can't differentiate this tune from him; therefore it rates rather low on my list. I know it isn't fair, but it also isn't fair having a dork for a brother.
When we were kids my friend thought the line was "Back of my face never looked so pretty" - we puzzled about that for years!
More classics are DEFINATELY welcome.
It seems like you're doing a lot more Blasts From The Past of late, Bill, and I sure do appreciate it! Don't want to see a move to an Oldies or Classic-Rock dominated playlist, but the Best of the Best sure ain't bad!
Thanks!
Had a summer job in S Cal delivering Hammond organs. This was the song.
Great stuff! This ALWAYS make me feel good.
kame wrote:
Beautiful driving tune, easy to sing along to, easy on the ears, and keeps the toes tapping. A solid 8 song.
You get RP in your car??
Doc Watson & David Grisman - Summertime
Lovin' Spoonful - Summer in the City
hmm...keep it going with the Sunday's Summertime?
Art_Carnage wrote:
Impossible to not sign along with this one. And ya gotta love any song with jackhammers in it!
That's the funniest thing I've read here in weeks!
Timeless...
Impossible to not sign along with this one. And ya gotta love any song with jackhammers in it!
Thanx Bill. One of my favourites from the Spoonful.
Brings back memories of middle school lunch period, with all the boys in the gym watching the girls dance...
Beautiful driving tune, easy to sing along to, easy on the ears, and keeps the toes tapping. A solid 8 song.
Oh how I long for summer in this city! Takes me all the way back to high school!
I have a feeling those were the originally intended lyrics.