"Hi Summer" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul[1] and recorded by Carl Wayne as a single released on the DJM/Weekend label on 5 August 1977,[2][3][4] although curiously, the release of the single was announced in "The Stage" on 17 September 1977[5] The B-side of the single is another song composed by de Paul, "My Girl and Me".[2][6][7][8] Both songs were produced by de Paul with "Hi Summer" being published by Standard Music.[9] It was used as the theme tune to the popular Sunday night prime time ITV variety programme Hi Summer[10] which also featured Carl Wayne as one of the performers.[11][12] The song received good reviews, with notable British DJ and music critic James Hamilton[13] writing "Ultra-brite and bouncy TV theme really does get ‘em jiving" for his weekly disco music feature in Record Mirror.[14] That issue of Record Mirror also contained a half page advert for the single.[14] Music Week also featured a full-page advert for the single.[15] 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.[16]

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),[17][18] it peaked at number 4 on the official Rhodesian singles chart,[19] having been released on the Gallo label[19] and made number 10 in the South African chart,[20] having been released on DJM Records.[19][21] The song is also mentioned in the book La saga de Roy Wood Brumbeat forever by Vincent Lasserre, as is "My Girl and Me".[8] It is listed as the 569th best selling single of 1977 in the UK, with 11,611 copies being sold.[22]

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, T.V. Themes, released on the DJM/Weekend Records label.[23] It receives occasional radio airplay in the U.S.[24][25][26][27]

References

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  1. ^ Music Week, 6 August 1977, p. 43
  2. ^ a b "Carl Wayne - Hi Summer / My Girl And Me - Weekend / DJM - UK - DJS 10797". 45cat.com. 1978-01-21. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  3. ^ "Carl Wayne biography". Carlwayne.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  4. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  5. ^ page 20, The Stage, Thursday 15 September 1977
  6. ^ "Carl Wayne | Biography | MusicMinder, the Premier Entertainers Directory". Musicminder.com. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  7. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  8. ^ a b Vincent Lasserre (20 September 2017). La saga de Roy Wood Brumbeat forever. Camion Blanc. ISBN 978-2357799882.
  9. ^ "Standard Music Ltd". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  10. ^ Daily Record, 30 July 1977, p. 13
  11. ^ "Hi! Summer". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  12. ^ Ramakers, Johan (March 24, 2017). "Carl Wayne was frontman for the Birmingham UK supergroup The Move". Rockandrollparadise.com.
  13. ^ "James Hamilton - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  14. ^ a b Record Mirror, 27 August 1977, p. 23
  15. ^ Music Week, 6 August 1977, p. 46
  16. ^ Record Mirror, 6 October 1977, p. 35
  17. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 3 September 1977.
  18. ^ Music Week, 3 September 1977
  19. ^ a b c "Carl Wayne - Hi Summer". 45cat.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Carl Wayne - Hi Summer / My Girl And Me - Gallo - Rhodesia - PD 1484". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  21. ^ "Carl Wayne – Hi Summer (1977, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  22. ^ "UK Singles Charts: 1976 - 1979 Monthly Top 200 Best Sellers". Ukmix.org. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Unknown Artist - T.V. Themes". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Singles Going Seventies, Part III!: The Evan "Funk" Davies Show". Wfmu.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Offshore Music Radio". OnlineRadioBox.com. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  26. ^ "everything is terrible except the radio: The Evan "Funk" Davies Show". Wfmu.org. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  27. ^ "fill-in for Pseu's Thing With A Hook: How can you miss me if I won't go away: The Evan "Funk" Davies Show". Wfmu.org. Retrieved 7 April 2022.