Now that the hockey season is officially over, there is only one major sport that is capturing the nation’s attention: baseball! I find that baseball is synonymous with summer, as it’s been played in the summer months for generations. I’m sure I’m not alone recalling warm summer evenings spent gathered around the radio listening to a hometown announcer with a glass of lemonade in hand.
But summer is much more than our national pastime. It’s also vacations to the shore, time off from school, and, of course, ice cream. In the spirit of summer officially beginning next week (and it definitely feeling like summer here in the Nation’s Capital), here are some tunes that will hopefully inspire your summer:
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game”
This classic Tin Pan Alley tune, written by Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer (younger brother of Harry von Tilzer, who gave Irving Berlin his early start in songwriting), was written in 1908 as baseball fever swept through the country. Interestingly, the original lyrics were meant to be sung by a woman who, although her date insists on taking her to a show, would like to go to a baseball game instead.
Available in braille in The Great Big Book of Children’s Songs (BRM36188) and in large print in Standards and Showtunes (LPM00779).
“Summer Nights” from Grease
“Summer Nights” was a hit song from the movie-musical Grease. It was recorded by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, the stars of the movie. Along with this song, the movie had three other singles that reached the top ten in the summer of 1978, including “Grease,” “You’re the One that I Want,” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
Available in braille at BRM25325 and in the Grease collection at BRM32341
“Under the Boardwalk”
This song was recorded by The Drifters in 1964. Tragically, their current lead singer, Rudy Lewis, passed away the night before it was to be recorded. Former Drifters front man Johnny Moore was asked to perform the lead vocals, which he did. The song went on to be a hit that summer, and is still heard on the radio today.
Available in braille in The 666 Fake Song Book (BRM24360, vol. 26), for ukulele in The Daily Ukulele (BRM35979, vol. 11), and in audio instruction for guitar at DBM03177.
“In the Good Old Summer Time”
This is another classic Tin Pan Alley tune written in 1902. It was featured in a 1949 Judy Garland film that shares the same name as the song. The lyrics evoke the laid back feeling most of us hope to enjoy over the summer months:
“There’s a time in each year
That we always hold dear,
Good old summer time;
With the birds and the trees-es,
And sweet scented breezes,
Good old summer time,
When your day’s work is over
Then you are in clover,
And life is one beautiful rhyme”
Available in braille in Legit Fake Book (BRM22705) and in large print in Big-Note Carnival: Eighteen Famous Melodies (LPM00400).
Lastly, here are some other summer-themed books that might be of interest:
- In the Good Old Summertime - Not teaching the song, but has “thoughts and music of summertime. ‘June is Bustin’ Out All Over’ and Aaron Copland’s The Outdoor Overture with words are heard” (DBM00841)
- Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons DBM02887
- Theme from Summer of ’42, Gershwin, and Others (LPM00399)
And, speaking of George Gershwin, who could forget his evocative song ”Summertime” from Porgy and Bess? We have an instructional course for the alto saxophone on that song at DBM02371. A braille version for voice and piano is available at BRM28250 and a piano solo version is available at BRM22878.
So stay cool out there and learn some new tunes!