Summer Songs

There is something about a summer song. Perhaps it’s the memory of a particular holiday or a journey in a car or the association with a record with the place where you came of age; in any circumstance the summer and song is a potent blend.
For those of you who may encounter me in my day job over the next few weeks you will probably understand that I have my own favourites and there is a Springsteen connection…but like this week’s special guest, it’s not a song by the more famous owner of that name.

I do recall certain songs of joy as well as songs that are forever blighted by my association with their radio presence coinciding with miserable holidays at summer camps. (well one certainly). In recent years we’ve been transfixed by Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert’s A Song To Sing. This year Miranda has surpassed that with Crisco and, it’s only June , and we have decided it’s our song of the summer. Of course there are so many and I’d love to hear your country faves, but off the top of my head I think of The Gambler, Strawberry Wine and Pontoon and I can smell the factor 30. Do let me know your own suggestions and perhas we can disappear down a summer country rabbit hole later into the season.

Sing Children Sing

One of the joys of young parenthood for me – and increasingly grandparenthood – was listening to my wife sing to our children. It was a family tradition from her own childhood which she passed on. Sometimes they would join in and at other times they would request their own favourites and often I’d simply enjoy the collective performance. In last week’s Observer there was an interesting focus on children, reading and music. Children’s laureate, the great Frank Cottrell Boyce was sharing his own thoughts on encouraging the former and Laura Marling was explaining howimportant the latter had become to her as a young mother. As if to prove the point Laura has recorded an album of the great children’s songs written by Raffi. It set me recalling some other roots children’s songs by some of our favourite AC acts. You’ll enjoy where this one goes if you tune in.

Another Springsteen

It’s no small deal putting the name Springsteen on your marquee I’d imagine. Alana Springsteen however has managed to establish her own identity despite sharing that famous name. She was a guest at our backstage ‘studio’ at this year’s C2C and we recorded a longer conversation than we have managed to broadcast so far. On this week’s show you can hear that longer conversation and discover more about the woman who gave us ‘You Don’t Deserve A Country Song.’ All this in two hours of radio? Yes! Tune in on BBC Radio Scotland or BBC Sounds and join me if you can this Tuesday evening.