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The sun is out at last, so what better excuse do we need to look at the ten most legendary songs about summer than that...

Summer Time Blues - Eddie Cochran

From the summer of 1958 when rock'n'roll was in its infancy and the concept of the teenager was born. Cochran's three-chord masterpiece hits out at those figures in authority standing in the way of this particular young gun having some fun.

Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful

There's no question that the beach is the place to be, but when the sun is out there's something about cities in the summer, too. In 1966, this gaggle of New Yorkers captured that sense of stifling urban heat, suffocating noise and sweat rolling down the back in one of the defining songs of the 60s.

Hot Fun In the Summer Time - Sly & the Family Stone

Released in 1969 in the wake of the band's legendary Woodstock appearance, Sly Stone's sophisticated production blended piano, strings, brass, and doo-wop harmonies in this ode to free time and hot weather. Like many songs of its time, it is also believed to be comment on the race riots which plagued America at the time.

Summer Breeze – Isley Brothers

Originally by US soft rockers Seals & Crofts, the Isley Brothers made this tune their own with their definitive cover in 1973. Fusing rock and soul to perfect effect, the Isley's version is renowned for it's sweet vocals as well as Ernie Isley's legendary guitar playing.

Summertime – George Gershwin

Written in 1935, this song went on to become a jazz standard and has been since covered by literally hundreds of artists, including some of the biggest names in jazz – Charles Mingus, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Miles Davies to name but a few. Ker-CHING!!!

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

In 1970 this heavily side-burned British quartet proved that skiffle was alive and well. This hymn to checking out ladies in the sunshine (“When the weather's fine/ You got women, you got women/ On your mind”) was at number one for seven weeks in the UK and has been rinsed in adverts ever since – which is exactly what you want when you're a one-hit wonder!

Long Hot Summer Night – Jimi Hendrix

Track six on Jimi's 1968 classic, Electric Ladyland, which also featured Voodoo Chile, Crosstown Traffic and All Along the Watchtower. “It sure was a long long long hot summer night, As far as my eyes could see,” says Jimi. But all was not good. “My heart was way, down in a cold cold winter storm, ” he adds. Thankfully his lost love returns as the song draws to an end and by then everyone's boiling...

Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

This was one of a string of hits taken from the soundtrack to the 1978 uber-hit movie Grease, which told the story of 1950s American high school love between Danny Zuko (Travolta) and Sandy Olsen (Newton-John). The song spent seven weeks at number one in the UK and was followed by You're The One That I Want, which was also a smash, thanks in part to Olivia's legendary satin catsuit...

Summer Holiday – Cliff Richard

1963 hit from Cliff and the Shadows, taken from the film of the same name. This was when Cliff was our Elvis. He later covered the song with the cast of 80s cult TV show The Young Ones, and also sang it during his spontaneous performance at Wimbledon's Centre Court in 1996 during a rain break. Elvis eat your heart out...

All Summer Long – The Beach Boys / Kid Rock

Two songs by the same name. The first was the Brian Wilson-penned title track from the Beach Boys sixth studio album. The song stayed on the the US chart for a staggering 49 weeks in 1964. The second is Kid Rock's 2008 white trash global mega hit, where he recalls tales of growing up in Nowheresville USA to the tune of Lynrd Skynrd's Sweet Home Alabama.