If you live in the south, especially Texas right now, you know how brutal Summer has been this year, probably one of the hottest in recent memory. Extreme drought, rolling blackouts, wild fires and dying vegetation and cattle seem to be making things quite miserable for everyone affected. From the looks of it, there is no relief in sight anytime soon. However, with that said there is no reason you still can’t enjoy the remainder of the summer. There are plenty of days left to hang out by the pool, sip on an ice cold glass or two of lemonade (or beer, if you prefer) and listen to some of the best songs ever recorded for those lazy Summer days.

Like most people, I usually carry a list of ‘top 10’ songs or albums in my head at any given time, because you never know when you are going to be asked, “What’s you top ten favorite…?” So, in honor of this ‘effing triple digit heat of Summer, here are some of my ‘Top 10 Records of Summer’:

1. Sly & The Family Stone – “Hot Fun In The Summertime”
2. Jimi Hendrix Experience – “Long Hot Summer Night”
3. Eddie Cochran – “Summertime Blues”
4. Bob Dylan – “Summer Days”
5. Jethro Tull – “Summer Day Sands”
6. The Doors – “Summer’s Almost Gone”
7. Big Brother & The Holding Company – “Summertime”
8. Sidney Bechet – “Summertime”
9. B.B. King – “Summer In The City” (much better than the Lovin’ Spoonful original)
10. Frank Sinatra – “Summer Wind”

Of course, there are plenty of other ‘Summertime’ themed records out there that deserve honorable mention, like The Beach Boys’ “All Summer Long”, Nat King Cole’s “That Summer, That Sunday” and The Who’s cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues.” Of course, who could possibly forget John Travolta & Olivia Newton John’s hit from the film, “Grease”, “Summer Lovin'”?!? It’s one of those catchy tunes that sticks with you until the bitter end.

So, no matter how extreme and oppressive the heat, just remember there are some great classics you can throw down onto your turntable while staying cool indoors. Before too long, after baseball season is over, and you’ve stuffed your face with all of the backyard bbq hot dogs you can possibly stand, you’ll be playing Sinatra’s “Autumn In New York”, yearning for your scarf and sweater and forgetting all about the sweltering unpleasantness that ‘was’ the Summer of 2011.

Until then, what are your ‘Top Ten Records of Summer’?