Summer in the City

On August 13, 1966, the classic ode to the trials and joys of summer days and summer nights, Summer in the City by the Lovin’ Spoonful, reached number one on the American Pop Singles Charts.  Having entered the charts six weeks earlier over the July 4th weekend, the song stayed at No. 1 for the rest of the summer (a summer which, by the way, included many 100+ degree days and was the hottest on record in New York City until 2010).

Most people know that the Lovin’ Spoonful, like so many American folk/pop/rock acts of the era, got their start in the clubs of Greenwich Village.  But while many may assume that this evocative tale of summertime rituals came from an experienced pen familiar with the grittier side of city life, fewer know that the song actually started as lyrics written by a 15 year old Greenwich Village student.

Mark Sebastian was the younger brother of John Sebastian, the lead singer of the Lovin’ Spoonful.  The Sebastian Brothers grew up in a musical household in Greenwich Village; their father was a noted classical harmonica player and their mother a writer of radio programs.  Regular visitors to the family’s home overlooking Washington Square Park included Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie.

John became a fan of, and then a participant in, the folk music revival that swept the nation in the late 1950s. He started in the Even Dozen Jug Band, playing guitar, harmonica and autoharp.  He soon became a sought-after accompanist on the Village folk scene, working with Fred Neil, Tim Hardin, Mississippi John Hurt, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan and many others.  Soon after John joined the Mugwumps, a folk band which included future Mamas and Papas Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty.  When the Mugwumps split up, John and guitarist Zal Yanovsky formed the Lovin’ Spoonful.

The Lovin’ Spoonful got their start practicing in the basement of the Albert Hotel on University Place (where many an aspiring Village musician or artist lived at the time) and eventually performing at the Night Owl Cafe, which was located at 118 West 3rd Street, and was one of the premier showcases for up and coming musical talent in the Village at the time.

Shortly after getting a record deal, the Spoonful began a series of successful pop hits, including “Do You Believe in Magic?,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” and “Daydream.”  Like many successful domestic acts at the time, they were soon called “America’s Answer to the Beatles.”

But a Number 1 hit eluded them until John’s younger brother Mark (at 15, his junior by seven years) shared with him some lyrics he had written about that particularly grueling summer.  John re-wrote the verses, fellow bandmate Steve Boone contributed to the concoction, and a classic was born and delivered on vinyl (and in countless public performances) by the entire band (see Mark Sebastian’s comment below for more details and backstory).  The song is ranked number 393 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

“Summer In the City” remained the Spoonful’s only number 1 hit, and the band broke up just a few years later.  John Sebastian continues to work as a musician to this day, while his brother Mark continued to write songs, but made a living at film production and real estate.

Hot town summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirt and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
All around people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk hotter than a match head

But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on and dance all night
Despite the heat it will be alright
And babe, don’t you know it’s a pity
The days can’t be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Cool town, evening in the city
Dressed so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat lookin’ for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I’m weezin’ like a bus stop
Running up the stairs gonna meet ya on the roof top

But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on lets dance all night
Despite the heat it will be alright
And babe, don’t you know it’s a pity
The days can’t be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Solo

But at night it’s a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come on, come on lets dance all night
Despite the heat it will be alright
And babe don’t you know it’s a pity
The days can’t be like the night
In the summer in the city
In the summer in the city

Hot town summer in the city