Sly & The Family Stone, Hot Fun in the Summertime | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly & The Family Stone.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 94^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Hot Fun in the Summertime” performed by Sly & The Family Stone. 

“End of the spring and here she comes back / Hi, hi, hi, hi there.” Sly & The Family Stone was one of the greatest, most important funk bands of all time.  The late 1960s and early 1970s marked the most lucrative period of the interracial collective – breaking those barriers! “Hot Fun in the Summertime” is one of their most beloved hits.  “Bop-bop-ba-bop-bop-when I want to…” Yeah! Absolutely! “Hot Fun in the Summertime” is set in a major key. Fittingly, it sounds like a carefree, fun summer. Although released as a standalone single, it appears on various compilations including the popular Greatest Hits (I also enthusiastically recommend The Essential Sly & The Family Stone). A rousing success, “Hot Fun in the Summertime” peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1969, well after summertime. It wasn’t released until August 🤯.

When “Hot Fun in the Summertime” was released didn’t seem to matter.  It has ‘hit’ written all over it.  Everything you love about Sly & The Family Stone is locked in – on autopilot – on this summery gem.  It begins with that sick, piano ostinato courtesy of Sly Stone.  Furthermore, the production, arrangement, and orchestration are top-notch. Sly penned and produced sheer musical excellence. The late, great Cynthia Robinson sounds dynamic and jubilant on the trumpet. The vocals are epic too.  Sly sounds incredibly soulful on lead.  Of course, there are vocal contributions from Freddie Stone, Larry Graham, and Rose Stone.  All shine, bringing the infectious lyrics and youthful, summery aesthetic to life.

“I cloud nine when I want to

Out of school yeah

County fair in the country sun

And everything is cool

Ooh, yeah

Hot fun in the summertime.”

Pushing 60 years after its release “Hot Fun in the Summertime” is timeless.  Not only is it the perfect summer song, but it’s also a marvelous song no matter the time or season.

Sly & The Family Stone // Greatest Hits // Sony Music Entertainment // 1970

Sly & The Family Stone, Hot Fun in the Summertime: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 94 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]