Labor Day Weekend Playlist

 

It’s almost here! That long weekend everyone looks forward to at the end of the summer when you can lay back and relax one last time before gearing into school or work mode on Tuesday. Sure, the summer isn’t technically over yet, but Labor Day Weekend always feels like a bittersweet send-off to the hot, wonderful few months you just experienced.

With the help of Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of Best Summer Songs of All Time, I’ve compiled some suggestions of tunes to enjoy as a soundtrack to your Labor Day Weekend festivities. One of the bands that made the list is California surf-pop duo Best Coast. Rolling Stone explains that the group’s song “The Only Place” made the list for its “celebration of California living set to some cheerily buzzing guitars. When Bethany Cosentino sings "Why would you live anywhere else," it'll make you want to pack your bags for L.A. faster than Ted Chaough.” This tune is definitely a great pick for a summertime playlist.

Another great song is a more subdued ode to summer by Chad and Jeremy. The magazine says, “Over impossibly tasteful string and brass accents, two young British men think about summer romances come and gone in 1964 and harmonize like angels” of the band’s “A Summer Song.”

Of course, the B-52s made the list with their famous song “Rock Lobster,” a fun and energetic summer jam. Rolling Stone says the song is a “wild, winking throwback to the innocent silliness of Sixties dance crazes. The surfed-up guitar part and Fred Schneider's brilliant Jacques Cousteau-gone-bonkers lyrics made it a psychedelic beach rocker for the ages.”

Rolling Stone’s number one pick for best summer song? Martha & the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” - a classic, upbeat tune that will make you happy to celebrate summer this weekend. Here are a few more of the greatest summer songs to add to your playlist:

“Island in the Sun” by Weezer

“Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” by Vampire Weekend

“Sunny Afternoon” by the Kinks

“Suddenly Last Summer” by the Motels

“King of the beach” by Wavves

“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer

“Summer Babe (winter version)” by Pavement

 “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochran

“California Girls” by The Beach Boys

“Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone

“Cruel Summer” by Bananarama

Image: Capture Play via Flickr CC

Image: Corey Butler via Flickr CC