Summer Symphony

1970 single by Jack Gold Sound

"Summer Symphony"

45 RPM side label

Single by Jack Gold Sound

B-side

"Lilacs"

Released

August 1970 (U.S.)
July 1971 (re-release)

Genre

Jazz, Pop

Length

2:44

Label

Columbia

Songwriter(s)

Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield

Producer(s)

Jack Gold

Jack Gold Sound singles chronology

"It Hurts to Say Goodbye"
(1969)

"Summer Symphony"
(1970)

"Summer Symphony" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It was arranged by John Farrar and produced by Pat Aulton. The song was used on the album Sounds Of Sedaka, a UK issue of the 1969 album, Workin' On A Groovy Thing recorded for Festival Records of Australia.

As the early 60s came to an end, Neil’s last Hot-100 entry in the decade was “The Answer to My Prayer” in 1965. In 1968 he recorded “Star Crossed Lovers” in Australia and re-energized his career with a #1 hit there. The following year he recorded a full album in Australia with arrangements by John Farrar, who went on to guide the career of Olivia Newton-John.

“Summer Symphony” was a track on the album and was one of seven tracks written with Sedaka’s long-time collaborator, Howard Greenfield. Together they wrote some of his biggest hits, including “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” in 1962.

A number of tracks from this album were recorded by other artists; “Summer Symphony” was recorded by Lesley Gore on Mercury (1969). It was a non-album single, however, it used as the B-side of Gore's medley hit, "98.6/Lazy Day" (U.S. AC #38).^[1]

Jack Gold Sound cover

"Summer Symphony" was also covered by songwriter and producer Jack Gold in 1970. His rendition reached #10 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart in the summer of 1970. The following summer the song was re-released and became a hit again, reaching #34. It was included on a compilation LP, Make The Music Play (Neil Sedaka's Songwriting Gems 1963-1971).^[2]

Other versions

In 1972, The Society of Seven recorded another lyricized version with Tony Ruivivar on lead vocals. It was featured on their LP Simply Ourselves.

Chart history

Chart (1970)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary^[3]	10
Chart (1971)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary^[4]	34

References

^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 99.
^ Various – Make The Music Play (Neil Sedaka's Songwriting Gems 1963-1971)
^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 98.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 98.