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19 items

• Vacation

  Go-Go's, The

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  From sunny LA came 80s new wavers The Go-Go's. Their brand of poppy rock music was surely the summer soundtrack for many in that decade. Summer Highlights: "Vacation" and "This Old Feeling"

• The Hits. 2

  Prince

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  The pop legend who needs no introduction, we wanted to highlight some of his most fun and fancy-free hits that would fit well at an outdoor party. Summer Highlights: "Raspberry Beret" and "Little Red Corvette"

• Dazed and Confused Soundtrack

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  The soundtrack for a movie that takes place on the last day of school in 1976 Texas. Naturally, this has plenty of classic rock highlights to choose from. Summer Highlights: "Fox on the Run" by Sweet and "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

• Weezer

  Weezer (Musical group),

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  Some of Weezer's most recognizable songs come from this record, though its summer status is closely rivaled by their more recent White album. Summer Highlights: "Island in the Sun" and "Photograph"

• Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

  Del Rey, Lana, 1985-

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  Most Lana albums would do for a breezy summer night, but these songs are piano-heavy while still capturing that feeling. Summer Highlights: "Let the Light In" and "Fishtail"

• Sleep Through the Static

  Johnson, Jack, 1975-

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  Iconic Hawaiian singer-songwriter Jack Johnson has brought the summer energy for decades now. Good for an easy-going gathering. Summer Highlights: "If I Had Eyes" and "Sleep Through the Static"

• Ghost EP

  Ferreira, Sky, 1992-

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  Sky Ferreira's moody brand of pop compliments a summer party that has gone from day to night. Summer Highlights: "Sad Dream" and "Everything is Embarrassing"

• The Very Best of the Beach Boys

  Sounds of Summer

  Beach Boys

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  All the hits from the band that made summer their whole personality. Summer Highlights: "Surfer Girl" and "Good Vibrations" but also basically anything on here.

• Tragic Kingdom

  No Doubt (Musical group)

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  Folks might remember these pop-punk/ska hits being inescapable in the early 00's. There's a reason people still listen to No Doubt. Summer Highlights: "Just a Girl" and "Sunday Morning"

• you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love by Olivia Rodrigo

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  The latest from Olivia Rodrigo is more of the "sad love songs" and pop mastery audiences have come to expect. Summer Highlights: "Drop Dead" and "The Cure"

• Motown Classics Gold

  Strong, Barrett

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  It is extremely difficult to narrow down just one Motown artist for this list so this is a compilation spanning that includes many of them. Summer Highlights: "Dancing in the Street" by Martha & the Vandellas and "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Siamese Dream

  Smashing Pumpkins (Musical group)

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  Known for having some of the most recognizable alt-rock anthems of the 90s, the Smashing Pumpkins nailed the ephemeral sounds of summer flying by. Summer Highlights: "Cherub Rock" and "Today"

• The Romantic by Bruno Mars

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  Bruno Mars has returned in 2026 with his first solo album in a decade. His groovy charisma has left us with another record of solid dance pop. in Summer Highlights: "Risk it All" and "I Just Might"

• Lover

  Swift, Taylor, 1989-

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  This is one for the Swifties, though we are sure Taylor's best songs for summertime are a subject of hot debate amongst fans. Summer Highlights: "Cruel Summer" and "Lover"

• Channel Orange

  Ocean, Frank, 1987-

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  What is the opposite of prolific? One of our most celebrated and elusive R&B artists dropped this iconic album over a decade ago. Summer Highlights: "Super Rich Kids" and "Pyramids"

• Charli

  Charli XCX, 1992-

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  Before Brat, there was Charli. The distinct production choices on these songs make them a unique but fun choice for your summer playlist needs. Summer Highlights: "1999" and "Gone"

• Golden Hour

  Musgraves, Kacey,

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  Country artist Kacey Musgraves really put her best sunny foot forward on this one. Summer Highlights: "Butterflies" and "Rainbow"

• International Superhits!

  Green Day (Musical group)

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  Pop punk really brings the summer spirit out of people, and this compilation of Green Day's earlier work has a lot to choose from. Summer Highlights: "Good RIddance (Time of Your Life)" and "When I Come Around"

• Rocket to Russia

  Ramones (Musical group)

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  For a punk rock day at the beach, look no further than the fun, fast and freaky sounds of the Ramones. Summer Highlights: "Rockaway Beach" and "Surfin' Bird"