Music

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

Not a care in the world

Summer Breeze is one of my favourite songs of all time. Just hearing it throws me back to carefree days at school or as a teenager. The long summer evenings out playing with friends or walking back from youth club. Sunbathing over the local park, my skin turning a golden brown. The smell of BBQ’s — and the scent of blossom and flowers.

My older brother had Summer Breeze by The Isley Brothers on 12″ vinyl. But I loved it more than he did, so borrowed it indefinitely. I still have it in my record collection.

Today, the song stands the test of time. Listening to it never fails to put me in a good mood and all my senses seem to come alive…

I can smell the summer.

Visualise the sun setting.

Hear the laughter and…

Feel the breeze brushing over and past my skin.

In fact, I thought I loved this song so much that I knew everything about it. But I didn’t. Last year, I learned that it was performed originally by the writers Seals & Croft. I had never heard of them, but took five minutes to listen to their original version on YouTube. The sound is very pleasant, but there is something remarkably uplifting and optimistic about the way The Isley Brothers sang their soul version. In my opinion, it is the best rendition.

Lyrics

Here are the original Summer Breeze lyrics.

See the curtains hangin’ in the window In the evening on a Friday night A little light a-shinin’ through the window Lets me know everything’s all right

Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowin’ though the jasmine in my mind

See the paper layin’ on the sidewalk A little music from the house next door So I walk on up to the doorstep Through the screen and across the floor

Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind

Sweet days of summer, the jasmine’s in bloom July is dressed up and playing her tune And I come home from a hard day’s work And you’re waitin’ there Not a care in the world

See the smile awaitin’ in the kitchen Through cookin’ and the plates for two Feel the arms that reach out to hold me In the evening when the day is through

Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind Summer breeze makes me feel fine Blowing through the jasmine in my mind

Recently I read a post by Christopher Robin about the Seals & Croft version of this song. But I can’t seem to find it. Now I am wondering if I dreamed the whole thing… sometimes my dreams seem very real. But that’s a story for another day. So Christopher, if I am right, perhaps you can highlight and add your link.

Listen

You can listen to Seals and Crofts or The Isley Brothers perform this amazing — uplifting — song on your tube and decide for yourself which version you prefer.

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