Islands In The Sun – Songs With A Tropical Theme

The Heat Is On .....

The Surf Is Up …..

The Sails Are Set …..

Anyone thinking of an exotic getaway this summer? … Maybe Hawaii, maybe the Caribbean or Jamaica, how about the Cayman Islands or maybe up Alaska way to the Aleutians and the Cook Inlet. Well, even if YOU can’t escape or getaway this summer, give your mind an exotic vacation with some “Tropical Tunes” of the islands. A range of genres from reggae to rock to country to pop standards of long ago are included to give you the feel of a tropical paradise vacation. Soft white sands, palm trees, sailboats, cool breezes, a gentle mist, mild waves, blue horizons, island sunsets, a tropical drink… all reminiscent of well deserved paradise adventure, at least in your mind. Even a couple of pirates and a coconut thrown in for good measure here also. I’m sure there are more out there but this should give you a good start for putting a playlist together for your ipod or even making a cd to take along with you wherever you’re going.

Put your feet up, kick back and enjoy! 🙂

Islands In The Sun ~ Songs With A Tropical Theme

1. Almost Paradise – Roger Williams
2. Almost Paradise (Love Theme from Footloose) – Mike Reno & Ann Wilson
3. Aloha Oe – George Greeley
4. An American Dream – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
5. Another Day In Paradise – Phil Collins
6. Back To The Island – Leon Russell
7. Bali Ha’i – Jo Stafford
8. Banana Boat Song (Day-O) – Harry Belafonte
9. Beyond The Blue Horizon – Lou Christie
10. Beyond The Reef – Andy Williams
11. Beyond The Sea – Bobby Darin
12. Blue Hawaii – Elvis Presley
13. Caribbean – Mitchell Torok
14. Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean
15. Christmas Island – Jimmy Buffett
16. Coconut – Harry Nilsson
17. Cool Change – Little River Band
18. Cool Night – Paul Davis
19. Ebb Tide – Frank Chacksfield
20. Enchanted Island – The Four Lads
21. Escape (The Pina Coloda Song) – Rupert Holmes
22. Gidget Goes Hawaiian – Duane Eddy
23. Harbor Lights – Sammy Kaye
24. Hawaii – The Beach Boys
25. Hawaii Five-O – The Ventures
26. Hawaii Tattoo – The Waikkis
27. Hawaii Sunset – Elvis Presley
28. Hawaiian War Chant – Billy Vaughn
29. Hawaiian Wedding Song – Andy Williams
30. Hold On – Santana
31. Hula Love – Buddy Knox
32. I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash or Jimmy Cliff
33. In The Middle Of An Island – Tennessee Ernie Ford
34. Island – Jesse Colin Young
35. Island Girl – Elton John
36. Island In The Sun – Harry Belafonte
37. Island Of Lost Souls – Blondie
38. Island Of Love – Elvis Presley
39. Island Woman – Pablo Cruise
40. Islands – John Denver
41. Islands In The Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
42. Jamaica Farewell – Harry Belafonte
43. Jammin’ – Bob Marley
44. Kokomo – The Beach Boys
45. La Isla Bonita – Madonna
46. The Last Farewell – Roger Whitaker
47. Late In The Evening – Paul Simon
48. Leah – Roy Orbison
49. Little Coco Palm – Jerry Wallace
50. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
51. Margaritaville – Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett
52. Montego Bay – Bobby Bloom
53. Moondance – Van Morrison
54. On An Island – David Gilmour
55. Paradise – Sade
56. Paradise – Third World
57. Pearly Shells – Burl Ives
58. Pineapple Princess – Annette
59. A Pirate Looks At Forty – Jimmy Buffett
60. Quiet Village – Martin Denny
61. Red Red Wine – UB40
62. Red Sails In The Sunset – The Platters
63. Rock-A-Hula Baby – Elvis Presley
64. Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
65. Smiling Islands – Robbie Patton
66. Soak Up The Sun – Sheryl Crow
67. Spill The Wine – Eric Burden & War
68. Stranger In Paradise – Tony Bennett
69. Sweet Leilani – Bing Crosby
70. Tamoure – Bill Justis
71. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
72. Thunder Island – Jay Ferguson
73. The Tide Is High – Blondie
74. Tiny Bubbles – Don Ho
75. Two Pina Coladas – Garth Brooks
76. Trade Winds – Billy Vaughn
77. Volcano – Jimmy Buffett
78. White Silver Sands – Don Rondo

Here are a few additional song posts with related themes:

• Songs About Boats & Ships & Sailing

• Songs About Summer & Summertime

• Songs About Sun & Sunshine

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Songs About Summer & Summertime

 

With temperatures heating up and the official start of summer just around the corner I thought I’d throw together a list of sorts for those of you wishing to put together a compilation cd or mp3 playlist of wonderful memories of summer of years past. I tried to cover a vast time frame as well as genre range so this  will benefit  multiple generations. The artist who had a hit or was most associated with the song is listed after each title. The songs are also listed in chronological order (by year of release) to make it easier to skip down to those years within your recollection. I’m  sure this is not complete (but very comprehensive) and only covers those songs that actually charted or received mainstream airplay. I also focused on songs that actually contained the word “summer” or “summertime” somewhere in the title. I’m well aware there are tons of other songs out there that “evoke” summer thoughts and feelings. For the record, I listed just a few other honorable mentions at the end of this long list of songs and/or artists that refer to summer in the lyrics.

Kick back and let these songs  help you reminisce about summer’s past 🙂

1. In The Good Old Summer Time (?)
2. Summertime – George Gershwin (?)
3. Summertime – Billie Holiday (1936)
4. Soft Summer Breeze – Eddie Heywood (1956)
5. Song For A Summer Night – Mitch Miller & His Gang (1956)
6. Summertime – Sam Cooke (1957)
7. Can’t Wait For Summer – Steve Lawrence (1957)
8. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (1958)
9. One Summer Night – Danleers (1958)
10. Lazy Summer Night – The Four Preps (1958)
11. Summertime Summertime – The Jamies (1958)
12. Here Comes Summer – Jerry Keller (1959)
13. Summer’s Gone – Paul Anka (1960)
14. Theme From A Summer Place – Percy Faith & His Orchestra (1960)
15. Green Leaves Of Summer – Brothers Four (1960)
16. Summer Souvenirs – Karl Hammel Jr. (1961)
17. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer – Nat King Cole (1963)
18. My Summer Love – Ruby & The Romantics (1963)
19. That Sunday, That Summer – Nat King Cole (1963)
20. Summer Holiday – Cliff Richard (1963)
21. Wonderful Summer – Robin Ward (1963)
22. A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy (1964)
23. All Summer Long – The Beach Boys (1964)
24. Summer Nights – Marianne Faithfull (1965)
25. Summertime – Billy Stewart (1966)
26. Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra (1966)
27. Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful (1966)
28. Happy Summer Days – Ronnie Dove (1966)
29. Lonely Summer – Shades Of Blue (1966)
30. Summer Samba (So Nice) – Walter Wanderley (1966)
31. Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers (1967)
32. Groovy Summertime – The Love Generation (1967)
33. Summer’s Almost Gone – The Doors (1968)
34. Summertime Blues – Blue Cheer (1968)
35. Hot Fun In The Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone (1969)
36. Summer Wine – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood (1969)
37. In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry (1970)
38. On The Beach (In The Summertime) – The 5th Dimension (1970)
39. Summertime Blues – The Who (1970)
40. Summer Sand – Tony Orlando & Dawn (1971)
41. Theme From Summer Of ’42 – Peter Nero (1971)
42. It’s Summer – The Temptations (1971)
43. Summer Breeze – Seals & Crofts (1972)
44. Summer (The First Time) – Bobby Goldsboro (1973)
45. How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Cheech & Chong (1974)
46. Wombling Summer Party – The Wombles (1974)
47. Summer Love – Sherbet (1975)
48. Summer – War (1976)
49. Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John [Grease] (1978)
50. Hot Summer Nights – Night (1979)
51. Summertime Blues – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1982)
52. Suddenly Last Summer – The Motels (1983)
53. Cruel Summer – Banarama (1984)
54. The Boys Of Summer – Don Henley (1984)
55. Farewell My Summer Love – Michael Jackson (1984)
56. Summer Of ’69 – Bryan Adams (1985)
57. Summer Of Love – The B-52’s (1985)
58. Summertime Girls – Y & T (1985)
59. Summer Nights – Van Halen (1986)
60. Rain In The Summertime – The Alarm (1987)
61. Endless Summer Nights – Richard Marx (1988)
62. Summer Wind – Desert Rose Band (1988)
63. Summer Of Love – Jefferson Airplane (1989)
64. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1991)
65. The Other Side of Summer – Elvis Costello
66. Summer Song – Joe Satriani (1992)
67. That Summer – Garth Brooks (1993)
68. Summertime Blues – Alan Jackson (1994)
69. Summer’s Comin’ – Clint Black (1995)
70. Summertime – Sundays  (1997)
71. Cruel Summer – Ace Of Base (1998)
72. Summer Girls – LFO (1999)
73. Six-Pack Summer – Phil Vassar (2001)
74. Girls Of Summer – Aerosmith (2002)
75. The Boys Of Summer – The Ataris (2003)
76. Summertime – Kenny Chesney (2005)
77. Sunshine & Summertime – Faith Hill (2006)
78. Summertime – Bon Jovi (2007)
79. Summer Love – Justin Timberlake (2007)
80. All Summer Long – Kid Rock (2008)

JUST UPDATED: Over 50+ New Songs have been added since the original list above that I posted last summer…

UPDATED ALPHABETICAL LIST of SUMMER SONGS

July/2010

1. A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy (1964)
2. A Warm Summer Night – Chic
3. All Summer Long – The Beach Boys (1964)
4. All Summer Long – Kid Rock (2008)
5. Can’t Wait For Summer – Steve Lawrence (1957)
6. Celebrated Summer – Husker Du
7. Cruel Summer – Banarama (1984)
8. Cruel Summer – Ace Of Base (1998)
9. Dusk & Summer – Dashboard Confessional (2006)
10. Electric Music & The Summer People – Beck
11. Endless Summer Nights – Richard Marx (1988)
12. Farewell My Summer Love – Michael Jackson (1984)
13. Feel Good Hit of The Summer – Queens of The Stone Age
14. Feels Like Summer Again – The Wallflowers
15. Flip Flop Summer – Kenny Chesney (2007)
16. Girls In Their Summer Clothes – Bruce Springsteen (2007)
17. Girls Of Summer – Aerosmith (2002)
18. Green Leaves Of Summer – Brothers Four (1960)
19. Groovy Summertime – The Love Generation (1967)
20. Happy Summer Days – Ronnie Dove (1966)
21. Happy Summer Time – R. Kelly
22. Here Comes Summer – Jerry Keller (1959)
23. Hot Fun In The Summertime – Sly & The Family Stone (1969)
24. Hot Summer Day – It’s A Beautiful Day
25. Hot Summer Day – Danny Kirwan
26. Hot Summer Girls – Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids
27. Hot Summer Nights – Night (1979)
28. Hot Summer Nights – Walter Egan
29. How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Cheech & Chong (1974)
30. Idiot Summer – Gin Blossoms
31. In The Good Old Summer Time (?)
32. In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry (1970)
33. In The Summertime – Shaggy featuring Rayvon
34. Indian Summer – Sidney Bechet
35. Indian Summer – The Doors
36. Indian Summer – Poco
37. Indian Summer – Brooks & Dunn
38. It’s Summer – The Temptations (1971)
39. It’s Summertime – The Flaming Lips
40. Jewel of the Summertime – Audioslave
41. Last Summer – Lost Prophets
42. Lazy Summer Night – The Four Preps (1958)
43. Lonely Summer – Shades Of Blue (1966)
44. Lonely Summer Nights – Stray Cats
45. Long Hot Summer Night – Jimi Hendrix
46. Long Summer Days – EMF
47. Looking For The Summer – Chris Rea
48. My Summer Love – Ruby & The Romantics (1963)
49. On The Beach (In The Summertime) – The 5th Dimension (1970)
50. One Summer Dream – Electric Light Orchestra
51. One Summer Night – The Diamonds
52. One Summer Night – The Danleers (1958)
53. Our Last Summer – ABBA
54. Picnic In The Summertime – Deee-Lite
55. Rain In The Summertime – The Alarm (1987)
56. Sausalito Summer Nights – Diesel (1981)
57. Six-Pack Summer – Phil Vassar (2001)
58. Soft Summer Breeze – Eddie Heywood (1956)
59. Someone Somewhere In Summertime – Simple Minds
60. Song For A Summer Night – Mitch Miller & His Gang (1956)
61. Suddenly Last Summer – The Motels (1983)
62. Summer – War (1976)
63. Summer – John Denver
64. Summer – Smashing Pumpkins
65. Summer – Sum 41
66. Summer (The First Time) – Bobby Goldsboro (1973)
67. Summer Babe – Pavement
68. Summer Breeze – Seals & Crofts (1972)
69. Summer Breezin’ – Diana King
70. Summer Cannibals – Patti Smith
71. Summer Day – Dar Williams
72. Summer Day – Sheryl Crow
73. Summer Days – Bob Dylan
74. Summer Days – Blackfoot
75. Summer Fling – k. d. lang
76. Summer Girl – Jessica Andrews (2005)
77. Summer Girls – LFO (1999)
78. Summer Holiday – Cliff Richard (1963)
79. Summer Holiday – Chris Isaak
80. Summer In Siam – The Pogues
81. Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful (1966)
82. Summer Lady – Santana
83. Summer Love – Sherbet (1975)
84. Summer Love – Justin Timberlake (2007)
85. Summer Madness – Kool & The Gang
86. Summer Means Fun – Bruce & Terry (1964)
87. Summer Moved On – A-Ha
88. Summer Nights – Marianne Faithfull (1965)
89. Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John [soundtrack from Grease] (1978)
90. Summer Nights – Van Halen (1986)
91. Summer Of ’69 – Bryan Adams (1985)
92. Summer of Love – Melanie
93. Summer of Love – Jefferson Airplane (1989)
94. Summer of Love – The B-52’s (1985)
95. Summer of Love – 311
96. Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers (1967)
97. Summer Rain – Belinda Carlisle
98. Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song) – Incubus
99. Summer Samba (So Nice) – Walter Wanderley (1966)
100. Summer Sand – Tony Orlando & Dawn (1971)
101. Summer Side of Life – Gordon Lightfoot
102. Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
103. Summer Song – Joe Satriani (1992)
104. Summer Souvenirs – Karl Hammel Jr. (1961)
105. Summer Sunshine – The Corrs
106. Summer Was A Bummer – Wade Hayes
107. Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra (1966)
108. Summer Wind – Desert Rose Band (1988)
109. Summer Wine – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood (1969)
110. Summer’s Almost Gone – The Doors (1968)
111. Summer’s Comin’ – Clint Black (1995)
112. Summer’s End – Foo Fighters
113. Summer’s Here – James Taylor (1981)
114. Summer’s Gone – Paul Anka (1960)
115. Summerday Sands – Jethro Tull
116. Summertime – George Gershwin (?)
117. Summertime – Billie Holiday (1936)
118. Summertime – Sidney Bechet
119. Summertime – Sam Cooke (1957)
120. Summertime – Billy Stewart (1966)
121. Summertime – Janis Joplin
122. Summertime – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1991)
123. Summertime – The Sundays  (1997)
124. Summertime – Kenny Chesney (2005)
125. Summertime – Bon Jovi (2007)
126. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (1958)
127. Summertime Blues – Blue Cheer (1968)
128. Summertime Blues – The Who (1970)
129. Summertime Blues – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1982)
130. Summertime Blues – Alan Jackson (1994)
131. Summertime Fever – Tracy Byrd
132. Summertime Girls – Y & T (1985)
133. Summertime Summertime – The Jamies (1958)
134. Sunshine & Summertime – Faith Hill (2006)
135. Sweet Summer Lovin’ – Dolly Parton
136. That Summer – Garth Brooks (1993)
137. That Sunday, That Summer – Nat King Cole (1963)
138. The Boys Of Summer – Don Henley (1984)
139. The Boys Of Summer – The Ataris (2003)
140. The First Day of Summer – Tony Carey
141. The Last Day of Summer – The Cure
142. The Other Side of Summer – Elvis Costello
143. The Summer – Yo La Tengo
144. The Things We Did Last Summer – Shelley Fabares
145. Theme From A Summer Place – Percy Faith & His Orchestra (1960)
146. Theme From Summer Of ’42 – Peter Nero (1971)
147. This Ain’t The Summer of Love – Blue Oyster Cult
148. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer – Nat King Cole (1963)
149. What’s Gonna Happen When Summer’s Gone – Freddy Cannon
150. Wombling Summer Party – The Wombles (1974)
151. Wonderful Summer – Robin Ward (1963)

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Honorable Mention: Here are some other infectious songs of the season, however these do not contain the word “summer” or “summertime” in the title but deserve a plug here anyway.

School’s Out (Alice Cooper), Soak Up The Sun (Sheryl Crow), The Rain The Park & Other Things (The Cowsills), Beach Baby (First Class), Vacation (Go Go’s), Lazy Day (Spanky & Our Gang), Groovin’ (The Rascals), Saturday In The Park (Chicago), See You In September (The Happenings), Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), Penny Lane (The Beatles), Fishing In The Dark (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), WipeOut (The Surfaris), Pipeline (The Chantays), Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves), Take It Easy (The Eagles), Drift Away (Dobie Gray & Uncle Kracker), Heads Carolina, Tails California (JoDee Messina), Chattahoochee (Alan Jackson), Pacific Coast Party (Smash Mouth), Pinch Me (Barenaked Ladies), American Dream (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Seminole Wind (John Anderson), Watermelon Crawl (Tracy Byrd),  Too Much Fun ( Daryle Singletary), Sunshine On My Shoulders (John Denver), Dancing In The Streets (Martha & The Vandellas), Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks), School Is Out (Gary US Bonds), Palisades Park (Freddy Cannon), Beach Party (Annette Funicello), Centerfield (John Fogerty), Vacation (Connie Francis), Girl Watcher (The O’Kaysions), etc, etc, etc….

There are also several artists who have multiple songs reminiscent of summertime such as The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, The Drifters, The Rascals, Chicago, America, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Lovin’ Spoonful, The Monkees, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Dick Dale & The Deltones, etc…

Any additional songs or input are always welcome and encouraged. Did I leave out any of your favorite summer songs? – Let me know with a comment below.

Your comments are also encouraged as well as suggestions for futures “theme” lists.

What are your favorite summer song memories?