I always play The Animals’ Greatest Hits when I have my grill out for the first time in summer.
Maybe I missed seeing it above, but Summer in the City by the Lovin’ Spoonful.
Or Tar Beach by John Sebastian, about hanging out on flat roofs in the city in hot weather.
The Zombies version of Summertime
Daniel Boone’s Beautiful Sunday. Fairly big hit in the UK in the early 70s; don’t know how it did in the US.
Sunshine by Peter Hammill
Happy Feeling by Manu Dibango
Blue Sunny Day by Jonathan Coulton
I’m indebted to the Dope itself for identifying “Infinite and Tenderlovin’” by Adron, which seems to be a mood piece about dawn breaking:
https://soundcloud.com/adron-1/infinite-tenderlovin
I’m still genuinely amazed that the first reply identified the song. Adron is an obscure band, the lyrics don’t seem to be on the internet anywhere, my description was pretty naff. Perhaps it was just on college radio a lot at the time. One (1) Amazon review from someone who hasn’t actually met the band in person.
How could you people leave out A Summer Song by Chad & Jeremy?
“Trees, swaying in the summer breeze…”
And don’t miss Summertime by Sam Cooke. A great song unto itself. But with his voice it becomes transcendent.
Walking On Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves.
Blue Sky - Allman Brothers. Really a love song with not many lyrics but the light, uplifting music captures the feeling of a beautiful summer day. It makes you happy just to be alive.
The Allman Brothers Band - Blue Sky (Eat A Peach, February 12,1972) - YouTube
Missed the edit window but, since I brought up the Allmans, I might as well mention my current favorite Brothers tune - Where It All Begins. Dickey Betts and Warren Haynes tear it up. How can you not feel good listening to that?
Mr. Blue Sky by ELO.
“Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Black Water” and “Taking It To The Streets” by the Doobie Brothers. OMG. Takes me right back to the summer in the mid-70’s, when I was at the height of my powerz, and the most difficult problem I faced was which guy to go out with on a weekend. Driving around in the hot city, and out into the country to get a watermelon sherbet off the turnpike. Good times! Something about Michael McDonald’s voice just conjures up ‘summer’.
Prelude in D Major, Op. 23 no. 4, by Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff.
‘It’s a Lazy Afternoon’ - Helen Merrill
And in the same song/line as “I’m not talking 'bout the linen, and I don’t want change your life…” England Dan and John Ford Coley are too mellow to enunciate!