Summer Songs & Honoring Bo Diddley
Jim and Greg celebrate the songs of summer. Tune in to hear their musical remedies to beat the heat. Plus, Greg honors music legend Bo Diddley.
Music News
Every week Sound Opinions reports music news, but we've never before been in it. As many listeners are probably aware, this was a busy week for our host Jim. His reporting was central to the indictment of R&B star R. Kelly, who is currently on trial for charges of child pornography. So, on the day this episode of Sound Opinions was taped, Jim was required to appear in court. Upon advice of his Chicago Sun-Times counsel, he cited the first and fifth amendments and did not have to testify. Sound Opinions will keep you updated as the trial progresses, and we look forward to having Jim back next week.
Bo Diddley died this week at the age of 79. Greg discusses how much of an impact the former boxer made on rock and roll and how he never got the credit he deserves. This is largely because Diddley was ahead of his time, but by the time the Brits invaded the music scene, it was apparent what a musical stamp he left. Read Greg's obituary of Diddley here.
Ultimate Summer Mixtape
Summer officially begins in a couple of weeks, and in honor of these lazy, hazy days and hot, sweaty nights, Jim and Greg have decided to re-run one of their favorite shows which celebrates the best songs of the season. These are the tracks that would make up their ultimate summer mix-tape:
- The Rivieras, "California Sun"
- The Beach Boys, "All Summer Long"
- Patti Smith, "Dancing Barefoot"
- Wire, "Sand in My Joints"
- Wreckx-N-Effect, "Rump Shaker"
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "Mr. Heatmiser"
- Sly and the Family Stone, "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
- Bananarama, "Cruel Summer"
On Sound Opinions, everyone is a critic. So, Jim and Greg turned to the phones for some other Summer Song suggestions. Here are what the callers recommend:
- The Replacements, "I Will Dare"
- Weezer, "El Scorcho"
- The Pastels, "Windy Hill" (Cornelius remix)
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien, "Dr. Bombay"
Featured Songs
- R. Kelly, "Step in the Name of Love," The Chocolate Factory, Jive, 2003
- Bo Diddley, "Bo Diddley," Bo Diddley, Chess, 1958
- Bo Diddley, "Say Man," Go Bo Diddley, Checker, 1959
- Bo Diddley, "Who Do You Love," Bo Diddley, Chess, 1957
- Rivieras, "California Sun," California Sun, Sonnet Grammafon, 1964
- Beach Boys, "All Summer Long," All Summer Long, Disky, 1964
- The Jam, "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," Setting Sons, Polydor, 1979
- Grandaddy, "Summer Here Kids," Under the Western Freeway, V2, 1997
- Patti Smith, "Dancing Barefoot," Wave, Arista, 1979
- Wire, "Sand in My Joints," Chairs Missing, Harvest, 1978
- The Replacements, "I Will Dare," Let It Be, Twin/Tone, 1984
- Weezer, "El Scorcho," Pinkerton, DGC, 1996
- The Pastels, "Windy Hill," Illuminati: Pastels Music Remixed, Domino, 1999
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien, "Dr. Bombay," I Wish My Brother George Was Here, Elektra, 1991
- Wreckx-N-Effect, "Rump Shaker," Hard or Smooth, MCA, 1992
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, "Mr. Heatmiser," Everything You Want for Christmas, Vanguard, 2004
- DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, "Summertime," Homebase, Jive, 1991
- Pavement, "Summer Babe," Slanted and Enchanted, Matador, 1992
- Sly and the Family Stone, "Hot Fun in the Summertime," Greatest Hits, Epic, 1970
- Bananarama, "Cruel Summer," Bananarama, Rhino, 1984
- Jodeci, "My Phone," Forever My Lady, Uptown, 1991
- Death Cab for Cutie, "Title and Registration (Live on Sound Opinions)," Transatlanticism, Munich, 2003
- The Felice Brothers, "Frankie's Gun!," The Felice Brothers, Fat Possum, 2008
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