Ever since I was a high-haired '80s scamp lugging around my toaster-sized Sony Walkman on the blue-collar sands of Hampton Beach, N.H. — aw yeah, sing it, Huey Lewis and the News — the merging of music and beach has been a sacred, symbiotic union. I'd sooner forget limes for my Corona than hit the shore sans Frank Sinatra (Summer Wind), Sam Cooke (Summertime) and the Tubes (She's a Beauty).
When I think about the best times of summers past and present, those memories are robustly soundtracked. I need tracks for all moments, too, not just making sand castles (Hot Fun in the Summertime, Sly and the Family Stone) but staring out at the waves in a existential chill-out as well (Vaporize, Broken Bells).
So herewith, a few suggestions for building your very own Beach Playlist 2012. Maybe you want to show state pride (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty) or rely on the typical Coppertone crew (Beach Boys, Buffett, Bob Marley). You can't go wrong either way. I'm just here for sonic inspiration. Now pass the limes and the SPF 50, and turn that radio up:
FOR THE DRIVE
Love Rollercoaster, Ohio Players (Crucial instruction: Play as you're pulling out of the driveway, no sooner, no later. Trust me.)
Come on, Let's Go, Los Lobos
The Girl Got Hot, Weezer
Clambake, Elvis Presley
Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett
Tallahassee Lassie, Freddie Cannon
Dogs on the Run, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
There She Goes, the Las
Summer Nights, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
Surrender, Cheap Trick (Not just one of the great sing-along songs, but Robin Zander lives in Safety Harbor and hangs out at St. Pete Beach all the time!)
FOR THE SAND
4th of July, Shooter Jennings
Summertime Blues, Alan Jackson
Baby Workout, Jackie Wilson (If you don't listen to Jackie Wilson at least a few times a week, you're not living right.)
Good Life, Kanye West
The Girl From Ipanema, Amy Winehouse
Summertime Girls, Y&T
All the Young Dudes, Mott the Hoople
Shake, Otis Redding
Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine
Cecilia, Simon & Garfunkel (If you must form a drum circle, at least do so responsibly.)
FOR THE SUNSET
The Secret Sun, Jesse Harris
To the Sea, Jack Johnson
Tryin' to Reason With the Hurricane Season, Jimmy Buffett (Cliche? Maybe. But you're in Florida, so why not embrace it?)
Weather to Fly, Elbow
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Elton John (Let's build to a big emotional finish, shall we?)
Take a Picture, Filter
My Eyes Adored You, Frankie Valli
Just Like Honey, the Jesus & Mary Chain
Ultraviolet (Light My Way), U2
God Only Knows, the Beach Boys (There's a reason Brian Wilson is considered a genius.)
Sean Daly can be reached at sdaly@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter (@seandalypoplife) and Facebook (facebook.com/seandaly.tampabay).
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