"Hi Summer" is a song written by
Lynsey de Paul and recorded by
Carl Wayne as a single released on the DJM/Weekend label on 5 August 1977,
although curiously, the release of the single was announced in "
The Stage" on 17 September 1977 The
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
of the single is another song composed by de Paul, "My Girl and Me".
Both songs were produced by de Paul with "Hi Summer" being published by Standard Music. It was used as the theme tune to the popular Sunday night prime time
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
variety programme ''
Hi Summer'' which also featured Carl Wayne as one of the performers. The song received good reviews, with notable British DJ and music critic James Hamilton writing "Ultra-brite and bouncy TV theme really does get ‘em jiving" for his weekly disco music feature in ''
Record Mirror''.
['' Record Mirror'', 27 August 1977, p. 23] That issue of ''Record Mirror'' also contained a half page advert for the single.
''
Music Week'' also featured a full-page advert for the single. College DJ Andy Davids promoted an uptempo television theme playlist at the time, that included "Hi Summer" along with the theme tunes from "
Happy Days" by
Pratt & McClain as well as the ''Muppet Show''.
Although it did not reach the
UK Singles Chart, in part due to lack of BBC radio play (though it was play listed by Thames Valley radio), it peaked at number 4 on the official Rhodesian singles chart,
having been released on the Gallo label
and made number 10 in the South African chart, having been released on
DJM Records.
It is also mentioned in the book ''La saga de Roy Wood Brumbeat forever'' by Vincent Lasserre, as is "My Girl and Me".
Later, the song was also used to advertise ITV's weekly magazine ''
TVTimes'' and its affiliated regional commercial television channels,. "Hi Summer" was also included as an album track on the 1977
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
, ''T.V. Themes'', released on the DJM/Weekend Records label. It receives occasional radio airplay in the U.S.
References
{{Reflist
Songs written by Lynsey de Paul
Music television series theme songs
1977 singles