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It's A Beautiful Day — Hot Summer Day
Album: It's A Beautiful Day
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1974









Released: 1968
Length: 5:45
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Hot summer day (Hot summer day)
Carry me along
Oh, hot summer day (Hot summer day)
Please carry me along
Hot summer day
Carry me along
To its end
Where I begin

Long summer dream (Long summer dream)
Sliding round my mind
Those long summer dreams (Long summer dream)
Are leaving me behind
Hot summer day
Carry me along
To its end
Where I begin

Circling like a river
Over brightly colored stones
Breaking up my soul
And taking part of me home
Leaving the other half
To tumble all alone
Love, love, where did you go?

Hot summer day (Hot summer day)
Carry me along
To its end where I begin
Those long summer dreams (Long summer dream)
Still spinning round my mind
And they end where they begin

And I want to grab that river
And stop the love that's dying
Because I know that somewhere
Deep inside my soul you're still lying
Waiting to awaken
And shake that river's flow
Love, love, where did you go?

They told me that the sun turned green
I said I didn't know
And they told me that the moon turned blue
I said it didn't show
And they told me that I looked a fool
And I said I'd let that go
But when they told me that our love was dead
I had to turn and go

Oh love
Love
Love
Love
Love
Where did you go?

Hot summer day (Hot summer day)
Carry me along
To its end
Where I begin
Long summer dreams (Long summer dream)
Sliding round my mind
And they end
Where they begin

Circling like a river
Over brightly colored stones
Breaking up my soul
And taking part of me home
Leaving the other half
To tumble all alone
Love, love, where did you go?
Comments (329)add comment
First, it was Fairport Convention earlier today - now It's A Beautiful Day.  I miss my friend John SO much right now.  He loved this.  
 unclehud wrote:
BillG:  "One of my favorite bands to see live back in the olden, olden, olden days ..."

You're lucky to have seen them live, especially since you used 3 "oldens" to describe how long ago it was.


I saw them live at the City Auditorium in Colorado Springs. That must have been during the Katz era when he wouldn't let them perform in San Francisco because they "weren't ready." Source: Wikipedia.  David LaFlamme went through TWO bows that night. Unbelievably great!
In 1981, I was working in a B-rate, 3 star hotel in Denver. To my amazement, It's A Beautiful Day had a one night gig in the ballroom, and nobody came! It was me and the bellmen getting a personal concert, hootin' and applauding as loud as possible. I chatted with one of the band members after the show. I mentioned their road manager should have found them a better venue... that they were such a stellar band with iconic songs. I remember his reaction was, "Aw, it's cool man."
 ri_shelton wrote:

Didn’t Tom Waites cover this song? ;)


Not even Jeff Goldblum can reckon with such tomfool chicanery. 
My dear friend John - I miss you so much.
Until the next life.  Everytime I hear this band I will think of you.  <3
 krichard72 wrote:

Amazing. Can't remember where I set my glasses down, but I remember all the lyrics to this song even though I probably haven't heard in since 1970.




Your glasses are in the fridge, where they belong.  LOL!  Sing away & enjoy the tune!   
Bombay Calling is also an excellent tune.
 RedGuitar wrote:

As a friend of mine says, "Our job isn't done."  He refers to the values and ideals of the sixties.
What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?




Don't ask a liberal, you'll be lied to your face.
Amazing. Can't remember where I set my glasses down, but I remember all the lyrics to this song even though I probably haven't heard in since 1970.
 jef wrote:

"White Bird" also a winner from this album...



White Bird, one of my favorites, it moves my soul somehow!
One of my most favorite lost bands of the '60s.  I miss hearing this on the radio.  It's probably because it was overplayed a bit, in the day.  I'm going to listen to the whole album now.  

One of the great things about RP is that while I listen to RP almost exclusively, it's RP that triggers me to go elsewhere to listen to more of the new music I've just heard on RP,  or to fondly reminisce with more of a great oldie.

Thanks William, et. al.
BillG:  "One of my favorite bands to see live back in the olden, olden, olden days ..."

You're lucky to have seen them live, especially since you used 3 "oldens" to describe how long ago it was.
Great band! I love their first 2 albums. They should have been as successful as the Grateful Dead or the Jefferson Airplane IMHO. 

Unfortunately they got screwed by bad management.
This song actually brings the feeling back of those hot summer days that in retrospective felt hotter than today, in every sense. 

Despite global warming.
 Easyrider wrote:

I’ve been trying to buy this album and went on Amazon where they sell it for €260.


Go to Discogs, the have a 4 copies between 20 and 35 euros and more in the US.

Very generic

 jef wrote:

"White Bird" also a winner from this album...




I AGREE!!!
 Easyrider wrote:

I’ve been trying to buy this album and went on Amazon where they sell it for €260.



Wow! Maybe I should auction my copy. NOT.
"White Bird" also a winner from this album...
Its cool, David LaFlamme lives nearby and came over to lay down some Violin on a song of mine, we (Linda too) talked music history for 3 hours drinking a good bottle of wine and never got to recording..LOL!!! Great sweet peeps!!! This was like 3 years ago...
I’ve been trying to buy this album and went on Amazon where they sell it for €260.
 Piranga wrote:

Phenomenal band that has been overlooked by history. 


Not on RP . . .
would rate it higher but the female voice is too "Slick" (never a big fan)
 coloradojohn wrote:

Brings back memories of when it started getting played on the new (at the time) Classic Rock stations, in '87-'88...and can't shake the memory of my first time to Pa'ia, in Maui, and seeing the cover as a poster in a hip little coffee and music shop...It was a beautiful day!




I saw them in London some time around '69, also on the bill was Taj Mahal. When you were in Pa'ia did you go to Freedom Park and Jimi's statue? My buddy Ray got to go to Rainbow Bridge lucky guy.
 junebaby65 wrote:
And then one day, the song ended!
 
That's pretty funny
Didn’t Tom Waites cover this song? ;)
 eyke wrote:
Nice to hear something else beside White Bird.


Not that White Bird isn't a magnificent song as well.  
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Always loved the cover art, and the Maxfield Parrish original, which must have inspired it:

https://kelleyeskridge.com.fqdns.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/MaxfieldParrish-MountainEcstasy.jpg



Looks like a Disney picture to me.
out painting again and occasionally dancing (loose definition) with this music... the shadow cast by the sun shows a younger, slimmer me and adds to the beauty of the day! Thanks for the music
Have this on blue vinyl. Give it a 9.
Nice to hear something else beside White Bird.
 coloradojohn wrote:
There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...
 
Juuuust a little bit of hyperbole.
Great song, tho.
Phenomenal band that has been overlooked by history. 
 coloradojohn wrote:
There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...
 
Seriously?
I did not get this when I was a teenager.  It sure took me a long time to figure out how spectacular it is.  Slow learner, I guess.{#Biggrin}
 coloradojohn wrote:
There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...

 
Yeah, if you say so. 
 coloradojohn wrote:
There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...

 
Amen, brother.  No passion, no vision, and "talent" is now defined by how sexy you appear on YouTube and your Instagram feed.

EVERYtime I hear that squealing violin intro I get chicken skin....memories of road-trips with dad and stepmom and his well crafted, LP to cassette mix-tapes.  Maybe some Uriah Heep on RP one day (July Morning!!)

LONG LIVE RP!!

Nick Cave should cover this song on his next LP.
I agree that back around '68 it was a more fertile time (for a number of reasons) for artists to create great music, and therefore many special songs were written, however don't be so naive to assume that you have heard enough artists today, from every musical genre, and from every country/culture to make such a sweeping generalization. Without being exposed to a tremendous amount of music, you can't possibly know what is available, especially now in the digital and indie age. There is no need to make such a foolish statement. It doesn't have to be your taste in music, but it might be for many others.

coloradojohn wrote:
There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...

 


 I get ya   coloradojohn wrote:
Sometimes this oddly theatrical but magically successful masterpiece can really choke me up...but it always makes me reminisce anew

 


There are ZERO songs made by any musicians today that have even 1/1000 the value of this fabulous showcase of talent & passion...
Lovely as it was in the early 70s.
Bill's doing the Sunday morn show from heaven today
.
.
 8:35 amIt's A Beautiful Day
Hot Summer Day
It's A Beautiful Day (1968)6.6 8:29 amThe Cinematic Orchestra
To Build A Home
Ma Fleur (2007)7.6 8:25 amTindersticks
What Are You Fighting For?
Across Six Leap Years (2013)6.8 8:20 amHooverphonic
Magenta
Blue Wonder Power Milk (1998)7.1 8:17 amThe Beatles
Across The Universe
Let It Be (1969)
Yes- takes me back as well. I had it on 8 track! Put a lot miles in my 67 with them.
Sometimes this oddly theatrical but magically successful masterpiece can really choke me up...but it always makes me reminisce anew
 Larrygrrl wrote:
Somehow I hear Bowie in there...

 
Bowie is in all music of the last 100 years and the next 100
 ScottD wrote:

As another who lived through those times and was often called a dirty hippie I can tell you that not all of us were dirty or rich spoiled brats. Being a hippie was more about the state of mind, of caring for your fellow man and not very much about money. Just enough to live on. Just thought I'd mention it.

 
{#Sunny}
 rdo wrote:

I always suspected the hippies were rich spoilt brats and now I have it on what may be the best authority out there.  Great post OF.  Keep rocking!!

I grew up more or less dirt poor myself.  I never had very much money for albums and certianly could not dream of rock concerts.  I watched a lot of MTV (at friend's house cuz we never had it) and of course listened to good ole American FM radio.  My mom had some sort of collection too.  We were on food stamps for several years.  

When i think of the options kids have now I am quite envious.  I know now if i. had to i could get by on an extremely juicy diet of great muzic all thanks to the greatest and most important revolution since GW and TJ in 1776 and i am talkin bout he digital revolushon that has changed the world!!
 
As another who lived through those times and was often called a dirty hippie I can tell you that not all of us were dirty or rich spoiled brats. Being a hippie was more about the state of mind, of caring for your fellow man and not very much about money. Just enough to live on. Just thought I'd mention it.
Somehow I hear Bowie in there...
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Always loved the cover art, and the Maxfield Parrish original, which must have inspired it:

https://kelleyeskridge.com.fqdns.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/MaxfieldParrish-MountainEcstasy.jpg

 
On_The_Beach SCO-O-O-O-ORES!!!
 JeriF wrote:
I enjoy this, now and back then.  Not all good music from the 60's and 70's was rock. Lotsa good music from that era had its roots in folk.  

 

Yes, but now it seems so dated.... I still have this album btw
Always loved the cover art, and the Maxfield Parrish original, which must have inspired it:
Brings back memories of when it started getting played on the new (at the time) Classic Rock stations, in '87-'88...and can't shake the memory of my first time to Pa'ia, in Maui, and seeing the cover as a poster in a hip little coffee and music shop...It was a beautiful day!
Wonderful album.  Wonderful song!
Anyone ever notice that some of the album is Mono, some Stereo?
I'll have to dial this one into my playlist for driving.
Graham (somewhere in Kuwait)        
So great to hear IABD here. Thanks, RP!
I enjoy this, now and back then.  Not all good music from the 60's and 70's was rock. Lotsa good music from that era had its roots in folk.  


 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
Please, stop the torture! You're making a laughingstock of the 60's and 70's.

 
There was a more-than-ample supply of laughable music from those decades (as with any other decade); many people have just selectively forgotten it.  This is pretty funny though, in a morbidly pleasant way.
I always liked "Let My Woman Flow"
No, not anymore. Am grateful for PSD.
Please, stop the torture! You're making a laughingstock of the 60's and 70's.
 oldfart48 wrote:

I think it's funny the conceptcion of " hippys" describing the folks actually doing the life. " hippys"  were middle and upper class kids with money, the rest of us freeks were stonney broke doing whatever it took to stay alive and groove. I'd stand outside the filmore selling the Berkley burp every nite to get enough dough to get in or eat depending on who was playing. some nites bill would chase us away, some nites we all got invited in. some times he would get up on stage and tell everyone to leave unless they wanted to get locked in. yowza all nite party time. cuz if you didn't get out before 2 you got locked in till 6am. thoese were magic times with everyone from the dead Ritchie havens the dobbies whoever showed, jamming all nite. killer times. holey hot tuna bubba it was on. remember when "pop tops" fit in parking meters ?used to be the way to beat the loitering rap, pay for a parking place and sit in it.you can get a lot of folks in a parking place of caddy size.

 
I always suspected the hippies were rich spoilt brats and now I have it on what may be the best authority out there.  Great post OF.  Keep rocking!!

I grew up more or less dirt poor myself.  I never had very much money for albums and certianly could not dream of rock concerts.  I watched a lot of MTV (at friend's house cuz we never had it) and of course listened to good ole American FM radio.  My mom had some sort of collection too.  We were on food stamps for several years.  

When i think of the options kids have now I am quite envious.  I know now if i. had to i could get by on an extremely juicy diet of great muzic all thanks to the greatest and most important revolution since GW and TJ in 1776 and i am talkin bout he digital revolushon that has changed the world!!
Like the music or not, it's the best album cover of all time!  I've always loved the entire album - but maybe it's just the time in my life.  It was a gift from my college-going sister while I was in high school.  I carried it from Minnesota to the stone crab boats of SW Florida, and my new friends in the Everglades loved it - some still remember me by it.. ha!
Lovely.  Makes me miss something I was too young to even remember.
 idiot_wind wrote:
Way, way, back in the 1970s, I went ot a concert that this band teamed up with Nazareth. 

It's A Beatiful Day opedn the show and got booed off stage after two or three songs. Maybe it was the violin.


Felt sorry for them, kind and gentle souls they were.           

 
Yeah, I can't imagine fans of this band having a lot in common with fans of Nazareth. Not a good fit. 

It's a Beautiful Day reminds me a little of Will Ferrell and Anna Gasteyer as Marti and Bobbie Culp, the middle-aged squares teaching high school music: 

 

I think the Culps are lagging a bit in talent, though.


Isabeau wrote:
Sounds an awful lot like a Jefferson Airplane clone. {#Shifty} jus sayin. 

  
Maybe JA with a lot less drugs and arrogance. It didn't take long for Grace, Marty and Co. to become mightily impressed with themselves from what I could tell.  
My goodness this is cheesy - but in a good way - like a really ripe Camembert. Love it!
Way, way, back in the 1970s, I went ot a concert that this band teamed up with Nazareth. 

It's A Beatiful Day opedn the show and got booed off stage after two or three songs. Maybe it was the violin.


Felt sorry for them, kind and gentle souls they were.           
ah, what a time
 
 PopKombo wrote:
Whatever happened to Patti Santos? 

 

She died in a car accident in Northern California. I think I posted more info about it on the White Bird page.
Brings back memories. I used to hang out with Pattie and her friend Meg. Then Meg and I became best friends - lifetimes ago. Never saw either of them since then, 1967.  I know what happened to Pattie but not Meg. Where is Meg?
This was way overplayed on the radio—decades ago.  But I just love to hear it again once in a while.  "Girl with No Eyes" is heard way less often. *hint, hint
And then one day, the song ended!
 BBoyes wrote:
 The album is best enjoyed whole IMO. 

 
Totally agree!
Nice!
David LaFlamme played a small local dive club on South State Street here years ago. He was actually born in Salt Lake City and his mother was Mormon. Didn't remember that... https://www.davidlaflamme.com/ Anyway we both happened to head to the men's room at the same time where we both peed and had a rather awkward conversation at the same time. In the show he was amazing, way better than that club deserved. He played the violin behind his back (still not sure how he did that). He and Linda played the Salt Lake Arts Festival one summer about the same time. Also present: John Prine and Laurie Anderson. That was quite a summer. He also has played with the Utah Symphony: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Beautiful_Day 

There are other great songs on this album: Girl with no Eyes and Bombay Calling are spectacular. The album is best enjoyed whole IMO. 

 Highspirits wrote:
This is absolutely one of the best albums of the era.  Original and well crafted rock sounds like this...IMHO.  takes me back..........
White Bird and this one!  Yum.
 
Yum is it-excellent production values-this band and Family established a more not so much doper scene, which still existed. Less color, more performance!   {#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}
Sounds an awful lot like a Jefferson Airplane clone. {#Shifty} jus sayin. 
I had never heard this song before, but I worked with a guy who was part of the hippie scene in the 60s, he knew some of these people, so I gained a respect for the movement.  I think this song is good.
This is absolutely one of the best albums of the era.  Original and well crafted rock sounds like this...IMHO.  takes me back..........
White Bird and this one!  Yum.
 Carl wrote:
When I see the silly 60s movies with the bouffant hairdos and stereotypical Henry Mancini scores, I'm almost embarrassed to have been a part of that scene. "It's A Beautiful Day," on the other hand, for me has a sound that nails that era and thankfully persists to present. What a great group!
 

Exactly! At fourteen I was lucky enough to see them at London's Royal Albert Hall with Taj Mahal on the same bill. I had a wonderful childhood.
Iconic album cover.
                                                  {#Daisy}
Cool!  I love Jefferson Airplane!  Thanks...oh, huh?  Wait...
Oh, never mind... 
You won't fully appreciate them until you listen to a live recording. It happened to me. When I liked them already.
Great transition from the last song...
Thanks Bill.  Had forgotten this one and it is my favorite from the album.
Thanks SO MUCH for playing this great tune!  Best album cover of all time, plus great music—and it's usually White Bird that gets recognized.  My older sister brought this album home from college and gave it to me for Xmas..  I was in Jr. high school.
 Master_Po wrote:

Died 1989 @ age 40 (automobile accident).
 
Well, that's sad to hear. I was not a huge fan of the band, but I enjoyed the music when it was on the radio mainly due to her vocals.
 PopKombo wrote:
Whatever happened to Patti Santos? 
 
Died 1989 @ age 40 (automobile accident).
Whatever happened to Patti Santos? 
Jefferson Airplane, anyone?
   I'm scared...starting to like this
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Grace Slick on backing vocals? It' too hot and I'm too lazy to look it up.
 
Patti Santos.
When I see the silly 60s movies with the bouffant hairdos and stereotypical Henry Mancini scores, I'm almost embarrassed to have been a part of that scene. "It's A Beautiful Day," on the other hand, for me has a sound that nails that era and thankfully persists to present. What a great group!
Does anybody really know what time it is?
 MiracleDrug wrote:
okay...

this one is LESS vomit inducing than White Bird...
Yes, a bit more tolerable, perhaps.  I didn't much care for this album when it came out, and still don't.


 Shesdifferent wrote:
I might have to bump this to a 10 for me, because this song is timeless and I've never gotten tired of it......Beautiful arrangement....thoughtful lyrics, ambient in the picture it paints..I wish I could be in such a place again...
 
Yeah... what SHE says !   um hmmmm
I might have to bump this to a 10 for me, because this song is timeless and I've never gotten tired of it......Beautiful arrangement....thoughtful lyrics, ambient in the picture it paints..I wish I could be in such a place again...
Hey Bill !  I gotta mention a cool dude from college turned me on to this album.  I forget his name but I'm sure glad you like this too! {#Clap}
okay...

this one is LESS vomit inducing than White Bird...
Interesting controversy about the band members getting screwed out of millions of dollars by the producer Mr. Katz  Full post in amazon reviews of this album.  Interesting that some reviewer disliked it so much, I thought it was nice.
Nice segue (I don't know how to spell that.)
 siandbeth wrote:
This is the era I cannot abide. Totally personal. 
  It had it's moments.  For myself a time of gaining an incredible amount of knowledg in a short period of time.  Wouldn't go back though.

Great!
 Kimbolini wrote:
Wow I haven't heard this group for many years.  Brings back some memories {#Sunny}
  Holy Mackerel......I am transported .


Wow I haven't heard this group for many years.  Brings back some memories {#Sunny}
Discovered she died in 1989 - only 40 years old. How sad.
Does anyone know whatever happened to Pattie Santos of It's A Beautiful Day?  I used to know her when I was 15, many moons ago.
 
This is the era I cannot abide. Totally personal. 
 Quasicoonass wrote:
{#Dancingbanana}  Bring back great memories... and reminds me of summer
 
I remember this back in the day...
 More_Cowbell wrote:
put this away forever...{#Hand}
 
phhhtttt!
 DaveInVA wrote:
This would be one of my "Desert Island" lps choices for sure
 
Yup,not a bad track on it !

Yes, it's easy to make fun of this ripe cheese, but I don't mind saying I liked it then and I like it now.
Now I know who this group reminds me of!

i'm starting to realize there were quite a lot of 60's vocalists who had a slickian voice—-this one's pattie santos it says—-there were even some fellas who sounded like her—-maybe
because they were often folkies before psychedelia kicked in.
Grace Slick on backing vocals? It' too hot and I'm too lazy to look it up.
Yea, I am not too crazy about this.
 contractor07 wrote:
looked this up in the dictionary and it says "see also sucks, crappy"
 

{#Lol}   {#High-five}  Don't forget ANNOYING.
Wow, this song is soooo apropos!  It's been 106 here in central/Austin Texas....this is SOOOO much a SUMMER song!!!
Groovy! I've never heard this song before...made me pause and look it up.