"Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: It was early 1966 and Mark Sebastian, John's 15-year-old brother, had just written a poem about urban life in the metropolis where they were born and raised. He showed it to John and, in collaboration with The Loving Spoonful's bassist Steve Boone, they penned what would become the group's only #1 hit for three weeks and the group's fifth Top 10 single. A hard-rock classic that was a departure from the band's usual soft folk-rock fare. Appropriately, it was released on July 4th. It speaks of the contrast between the hot (hint, hint!) crowded and busy days and night time, when the youth would come out to play. It was the first time that street sounds appeared on a hit record. The producers hired whom Sebastian called "a hilarious old Jewish sound man" and he added car horns, pneumatic drills as well as other traffic and urban noises to create the desired ambiance. Trademark seamless changes between major an minor keys. Song? Answer: "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful. Loved it from the first time I heard it. One of those many bands that I wish I could have seen live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7ofnHmxE-I

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