Music Series: Summer 2010 (The Takeaway)

We had to put "867 5309" down on our summer music play list. Jim Keller was the man behind the song that got stuck in everyone's head back in 1982. Thank you Jim Keller. Thank you.   Keller says a good summer song has to sound like the band wasn't trying very hard to make the song. His summer mixed tape includes songs like Bob Dylan's "New Morning" and "Domino" by Van Morrison.   Rod Stewart: "Maggie May"   Tommy Tutone: “8675309”      Bob Dylan: “New Morning”    The Kinks  “Sitting in the Midday Sun”    Van Morrison: "Domino"   Jim Keller: “Sunshine in My Pocket”   Black Keys: “Tighten Up”    

This week Margaret Cho, comedian and star of the Lifetime series 'Drop Dead Diva,' weighs in on our Summer Mixed Tape series. Cho will release her musical comedy CD, 'Cho Dependent,' on August 24th and then kick off her national tour two days later.  The album features comedic musical collaborations with artists like Tegan and Sara, Fiona Apple, Ben Lee, Patty Griffin and Ani DiFranco.  Hear a bonus sample from Cho Dependent: "Lice" Cho says there is something enduring in a good summer song.  They recall memories of sunshine, salty air and freedom.  Check out her list of favorite summer songs below, and tell us what yours are, too! “Here Comes My Girl” – Tom Petty and The Heart Breakers 1979 Album: Damn the Torpedos “Panama” – Van Halen, Album: 1984 “Dirty Work” Steely Dan 1972 Album: Can’t Buy a Thrill “Come Pick Me Up” Ryan Adams 2000 Album: Heartbreaker “Miss Ohio” Gillian Welch the 2003 Album: Miss Ohio   Broken Social Scene's "7/4 (Shoreline)"        

We've been compiling a summer soundtrack for The Takeaway. We're calling this our summer mixed tape series. Who has given us their summer jams so far? MTV's Sway, and SNL's Fred Armisen, who used to play drums in the punk band Trenchmouth. This week, we've got a guest who surely can hang with the best mixtape auteurs: Grammy-winning 80's rocker Pat Benatar.   For Benatar, it's all about what songs were playing on her transistor radio at the beach back when she was growing up in Long Island Here are Pat Benatar's picks for summer songs:  1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys: 2. "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin 3. "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder:  4. "Hey Boy" by Louis Prima and Keely Smith:  5. "Burnadette" by the Four Tops:   What songs are on your summer music mixtape?   

Each Friday morning this summer, we're asking musicians, artists and music lovers to weigh in on what makes a perfect summer song. Last week we spoke with "Saturday Night Live's" Fred Armisen to get his picks. For him, summer music has to be either really upbeat or slow enough to elicit memories of long hot summers of the past. The Takeaway listeners evidently have strong opinions about the topic, as well. Many have called in or written to us to share their ultimate summer songs. Chas J. Wagner from Denver wrote on our website: Two songs come to my mind in the summer. Perhaps my generation's anthem is the Jimmy Hendrix version of the Star Spangled Banner from Woodstock and the "summer of love". But... from my perspective, the quintessential summer song is "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" evoking a summer evening at the ball park and all that goes with that. Pure Americana... Listeners called us at 877-8-MYTAKE with their summer favorites. We hear what they had to say (and sing).

All summer long we'll be asking thinkers, artists and musicians about what makes the quintessential summer song. This week, SNL's Fred Armisen gives us his idea of the ultimate summer playlist. (You've probably seen Armisen play President Obama in SNL sketches, though you might not know he is also the former drummer for the punk band 'Trenchmouth.') When it comes to summer tracks, he says it's all about the tempo. The music has to be either really upbeat or slow enough to elicit memories of our long hot summers of the past. Fred Armisen's Summer Playlist: "Pop Life" from Prince and the Revolution, 1985 "Long Hot Summer" The Style Council, 1983 "Feel it All Around" Washed Out, 2009 "You Saved My Life" Cass McCombs, 2009 "Beach Comber" Real Estate, 2009

We'll be talking periodically about music this summer, and kick off the series by examining what makes a classic summer song work. MTV's Sway dissects what makes a summer hit and talks about some of the tunes that make him the most nostalgic. Listen to Sway's summer classics playlist, after the jump. “Summer Madness!” Kool and The Gang From the 1975 album "Spirit of the Boogie."       Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, “Summertime” From the album “Home Base.”           “Hotel California” The Eagles Title track of the band's 1976 album.       “Nuthin But a G Thang” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggie Dog From the 1993 album “Chronic.”       “One More Chance” by Notorious BIG His 1993 single.   “I Gotta Feelin” by Black Eyed Peas From the band's latest album, "The End."