Hot In Hurrrrr

The Main Ingredient: Summer Breeze
From Euphrates River [RCA, 1974]

Jackie Mittoo: Summer Breeze
From The Keyboard King at Studio One [Soul Jazz, 197?]

One thing I’ve learned from living in the Bay Area, when it gets hot, cherish it because it’s not likely to last. While it never really gets “hot” in the coastal regions, the past week has struck a perfect balance between warm and cool, which always makes it easier to start your day, and of course listen to some good music.

Soul Sides has had a number of great postings on summertime songs this past month. I myself have been getting into the summer groove, this time with a couple renditions of “Summer Breeze” which has got to be one of the most covered songs out there.

My first pick goes to The Main Ingredient’s version which is probably the one I enjoy the most of all the ones I’ve heard thus far. I remember first hearing it on a Paul Nice mix a few years ago, and it giving me shivers every time that section came along. More impressively was how he managed to rock doubles on such a soft melodic song. What I think I love most about this one is just how simply sweet and soulful it is, I can’t help but let every note melt in my ears.

The next version comes from keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo. An original member of the Skatalites, Mittoo is an originator of the hammond sound which lent itself to nice Jamaican rhythms and chunky drums. Naturally, this version of “Summer Breeze” is quite different and might scream “Summer!” moreso, although for me reggae in general is quite the summer staple. Perhaps I’ll write more on Mittoo in the future.