THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

176-The Isley Brothers-Summer Breeze.

1974-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 4.18. After all these years of listening to the song, I have finally got around to googling what a ‘Jasmine’ is.

The original version of ‘Summer Breeze’ was written and recorded by Jim Seals, (1942-2022) and Darrell ‘Dash’ Croft in 1972, who performed as the American Soft Rock duo ‘Seals and Croft.’ They achieved the first of their eight Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles when ‘Summer Breeze’ reached Number 6. Their version was also successful in Australia where it made Number 16, but in the UK the duo never made the top 40 with any of their songs. Prior to joining forces both Seals and Croft had both been members of the American Rock band the ‘Champs,’ this was after the group had reached Number 1 on Billboard in 1958 with ‘Tequila.’ Another member of the ‘Champs’ was the future Country Music star Glen Campbell, (1936-2017) (see also best songs 846 and 197) in 1963 Seals and Croft, and Campbell all left the ‘Champs’ to form the new, but short lived group ‘Glen Campbell and the GC’s.’ Seals and Croft finally became a duo in 1969, and performed for the final time together in 2004, having issued 17 official Albums.

In 1973 The Isley Brothers (see also best songs 823-681-508 and 382) recorded ‘Summer Breeze’ for what was to become their critically acclaimed 11th studio Album ‘3+ 3.’ The Album was the first official collaboration between three of the original founding members of The Isley Brothers, O’Kelly, (1937-1986) Rudolph, and Ronald Isley, who joining forces with their younger brothers Ernie, and Marvin, (1953-2010) and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper, whose older sister Elaine is married to Rudolph Isley. This line up of The Isley Brothers performed and recorded together until 1983, issuing 12 studio Albums. In total the discography of The Isley Brother consists of 31 studio Albums released between 1959-2015, and 111 singles issued between 1957-2021.

The Isley Brothers released their version of ‘Summer Breeze’ as the third and final single from ‘3+3’ in 1974, and although it made Number 16 in the UK, it only made Number 60 in the States, with the probable explanation being it’s proximity to the Seals and Croft hit version. Ernie Isley who was the guitarist on ‘Summer Breeze’ has received critical acclaim for his playing on the track, with many comparing him to Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492) in March 1964, Jimi Hendrix had recorded his first ever single called ‘Testify’ with The Isley Brothers,

‘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 waiting there, not a care in the world.’