Retro Dee is a regular contributor to The Grooveyard’s website, writing about music, fashion and other trends of the 1950s. Check out her blog, Retro Dee’s Guide to the Best Era Ever here, and her column here every week.
Yes, yes, yes, it’s another post where I reveal which songs I voted for, complete with a lot of useless commentary. This time I’m going to be talking about the songs I voted for in The Grooveyard 2022 Summer Song Survey!
The way the Summer Song Survey works, is each year the survey counts down 50 songs in order of the way they were voted for by listeners. We had from May 14 to June 4, to vote once per day, for up to 10 songs.
Listeners were encouraged to vote for songs that they love and/or remind them of great summer memories. Then on June 18th, the Top 50 were played in the order they were voted for on The Grooveyard hosted by Alan Seltzer!
Once again, this year, I’m staying true to the “Summer Only” theme. That means no Buddy Holly (SORRY) and no Everly Brothers songs. Wait, one Everly Brothers song. I’ll explain below.
Let’s go!
#29 “Cathy’s Clown” by The Everly Brothers (voted May 24-June 4)
So at first I thought I’d have to skip all Everly Brothers songs because I wanted to adhere to the “Summer” theme of this survey. But then, half-way through the voting, I realized I DO have a summer memory of listening to “Cathy’s Clown”! It was at the last Peggy Sue’s Cruise in Santa Rosa. When I got a Coke from the street vendor, he complimented me on my vintage red gingham Betty Barclay dress. Then I sat down on the bench and the local radio station that was broadcasting from the sidewalk played “Cathy’s Clown”. Everyone was happy, listening to the music and watching the classic cars cruise by. All was how it should be on the streets of Santa Rosa. At least for the better part of three minutes.
Soooo, FF to now, “Cathy’s Clown” comes in at #29 on this year’s Summer Song Survey. I was multi-tasking while I was listening to the survey, watching an online LIVE vintage goods sale. And when “Cathy’s Clown” came on, what was the name of the seller? Cathy, of course! She even spells it with a “C”. How’s that for coincidence? Hey, and Coincidence also starts with “C“!… I gotta stop watching Sesame Street.
#26 “In The Good Ole Summertime” by Les Paul and Mary Ford
This one’s really old. I mean they’re all old, but this one is really, really old. This song goes alllll the way back to 1951, which means it predates Rock N Roll. But that’s okay! I just like the old fashioned summertime feeling this song conjures up. Plus, I have a good memory of listening to The Summer Song Survey a couple of years ago back in California. Yep, good ole summertime memories on WCWP!
#24 “Now That Summer Is Here” by The Videls
This is the first year I voted for this one, I can’t believe I missed it before. It has all the great things a summer song from that era should have: it’s happy, upbeat and romantic. When you hear it, you can pretend you’re young. If you don’t happen to be already, that is.
#16 “Wildwood Days” by Bobby Rydell (voted May 14 – May 24)
All right, who doesn’t love Wildwood? I’m sure I’d like it if I ever went. Wildwood is probably best in the summertime. I’m not from New Jersey, and even I know that. But the real reason I voted for this song, was to honor the late Bobby Rydell who passed away in April, shortly before his 80th Birthday. Bobby is legend. And I’ll never forget the time I tweeted that his version of “Volare” was by far my favorite, his account tweeted me back to say thank you.
#15 “That’ll Be The Day” by The Crickets – (not voted for)
Here’s where Buddy and The Crickets ended up on the Summer Song Survey this year. Number 15, up 21 spots from last year, without a single vote from me. See? You don’t need me.
Once again, let the record show that I love this song, maybe more than what’s even healthy… but I didn’t vote for it this time, because I wanted to adhere to 10 songs that had some direct correlation with summer. (You really don’t need me, do you?)
#13 “Poison Ivy” by The Coasters
This is a great summer song, I think! It goes along with camping and the great outdoors. It’s fitting that it comes in at Unlucky 13, because if you touch poison ivy, you’ll be outta luck… especially if you wipe with it.
#12 “Whispering Bells” by The Del Vikings
Well, this isn’t a summer song, necessarily, but it’s one of my favorites, so I vote for it in every survey. Every. Freakin. Survey. I don’t even vote for Buddy Holly in every survey. (Not that you need me to.) The point is, I love this song and I love The Del Vikings, so let’s hear it for them making it to Number 12!
#8 “One Summer Night” by The Danleers
Here’s the most romantic song of the summer, “One Summer Night” by The Danleers. I keep mistakenly calling them The Dandeleers, you know, like dandelions. Oh well. This year they come in at Number 8.
#6 “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran
“Summertime Blues” is one of those staple oldies that would come in your 1950’s Starter Kit, if there was such a thing… along with “Hound Dog” and “Peggy Sue”. Still, nothing could be a better song for summer than Eddie Cochran’s biggest hit. Sometimes, I even listen to it in the fall and winter too. But not that much.
#5 “Summertime Summertime” by The Jamies
This song is by The Jamies, not The Jammies, like I originally thought. This is a super fun one. I remember how it used to make me laugh when I first heard it. This year it comes in at a humorous Number 5, up one spot from last year.
#3 “Here Comes Summer” by Jerry Keller
This was last year’s Number One, but this year it is Number 3. It’s a wonderful tune. Funny thing is, I don’t know much about Jerry Keller. Like, did he have many hits? Was he cute? What color were his eyes? Well, I’m sure I’ll figure all that out by next year.
NUMBER ONE: “Sea of Love” by Phil Phillips
This song was Number One in the first Summer Song Survey I participated in back in 2018. And this year it’s… Number One! Up three spots from 2021. Congratulations “Sea of Love”!
And that’s what I voted for on this year’s Grooveyard Summer Song Survey!
You can check out the FULL RESULTS of the 2022 Summer Song Survey right HERE
You can also view the video versions of all 50 songs on The Grooveyard website.
Don’t forget to tune into The Grooveyard on Saturday Nights at 7pm ET on 88.1 FM on Long Island. Or listen anywhere in the world by clicking the 88.1 FM link on wcwp.org, via the TuneIn app. or use the WCWP app on your iPhone or Android device.
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