Sherpa Music Vol 19 Kick Your Shoes Off

It’s time to kick our shoes off, feel the earth beneath our feet, jump into a cold lake, dive into the breakers, or lie down in a pasture or on a rooftop.

My memories of summer are those of a New York City kid, in an un-air-conditioned apartment, a loud window fan pushing waves of hot air on me as I tried to sleep. It’s day camp on Staten Island, with the added bonus of two trips a day on the Ferry, a magical vantage point to gain a new perspective of the grand city before us.

It’s Sam the ice cream man, stationed on the corner of twentieth street selling Good Humor bars and acting as a surrogate while our parents dashed into the Lenz’s to pick up some deli. It’s my pals gathered at playground 10 in Stuy Town as the sun sets, talking trash, Yankees, music, and dreams.

The shift to Summer brings on these reflections of Summer’s past and the yearning to kick off those shoes, let down our shoulders, get outside, gather our tribe for an outdoor meal, and hold each other tight as we soldier on through these troubling days.

These are summer songs to keep us in the light. They’re the sounds of guitars, banjos, mandolins, voices, stomps, hollers, cries, and whispers. Some are laid-back porch songs, others take us to funky alleys and uptown streets. All evoke summer, wherever you hang. Play them just for you or as the soundtrack to an outdoor gathering with those you love.

Enjoy,

Jim