Ten Top Tracks for a Sunny Drinks Reception

Heatwave number two (or is it three?) has arrived. Recent Wedding Jam weekends have been all about sun-soaked weddings up and down the country, each one popping off to the sound of summery songs and the glorious sight of happy, sweaty faces.

With the sun seemingly booked in for the week, we thought we'd put together 10 sweet summer bops for your delectation. Enjoy!

Jamiroquai - Seven Days in Sunny June

Jay Kay returned to his acid jazz roots with this summer classic from 2005; all rich, juicy major 7th chords and leaning heavily into vintage Stevie Wonder, as was Jamiroquai's wont. If summer bops essentially revolve around a feelgood nature, then this is a quintessential summer bop.

Ronnie Hudson - West Coast Poplock

Composer and producer Ronnie Hudson was also a bass player extraordinaire, having worked as Stax Records' in-house bassist before embarking on a solo career. Those bass chops are front and centre on this 1982 gem, a tune that would go on to be sampled by 2Pac and Dr Dre on 'California Love' in 1995.

The Beach Boys - The Warmth of the Sun

It wouldn't be a summer playlist without a bit of Beach Boys. Released in March 1964, The Warmth of the Sun was an early indicator of Brian Wilson's blossoming genius. While most other bands remained shackled by standard chord progressions, this features a chord sequence miles ahead of its time as the group moved away from the surf-rock tropes that had served them so well. An utterly beautiful song.

The Commodores - High on Sunshine

For our money, one of the greatest songs Lionel Richie ever wrote. So good it's hard to believe Motown never saw fit to release it as a single. Simply sweet, sweet soul music at its best. Giving serious stank face opportunities, this slow jam bubbles along punctuated by swelling strings and masterful horns. A real underrated gem.

Central Line - Walking Into Sunshine (Original Larry Levan 12" Mix)

This early '80s slice of Britfunk remains criminally little-known, certainly outside of the clubs where it became a bit of a sensation. This ooozes so much funk it hurts, with a beat to die for and one of the all-time great intros - it is simply impossible to not start moving when those drums kick in.

Finley Quaye - Your Love Gets Sweeter

Prince Harry was once asked, on the Stephen Colbert Show, what is the one song you could listen to for the rest of your life, and he said Your Love Gets Sweeter by Finley Quaye. A somewhat surprising but discerning choice! This was huge back in 1997, but Quaye's troubled private life probably contributed towards his music kind of dropping off the radar for many. Well, not ours!

Bobby Hebb - Sunny

One of the most covered songs in pop history, notably by Stevie Wonder, Boney M and Marvin Gaye, Bobby Hebb's original remains the benchmark. While the song is hugely bright and uplifting, its origins came from a place of real darkness. Hebb wrote the song in late November 1963, while reeling from two tragic events that occurred on consecutive days: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, and the fatal stabbing of his older brother, Harold Hebb, outside a Nashville nightclub the very next day. Devastated by the losses, Hebb turned to music to find comfort and look for a metaphorical sunny day.

Dillard & Clark - Train Leaves Here This Mornin'

Written by the great Gene Clark, formerly of The Byrds, and Bernie Leadon, who went on to become a founding member of The Eagles, this wonderfully languorous country rock track later found fame on the Eagles' debut album, as Leadon took the song with him and re-recorded it. We prefer this original, spruced up by Doug Dillard's trademark banjo and soaked in those gorgeous dreamy harmonies Clark had become so synonymous with with The Byrds.

Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number

Pioneers in reggae, ska and rocksteady, Jamaica's Toots & The Maytals were as important as Bob Marley. Frontman Toots Hibbert wrote this song about his time in jail after being banged up for marijuana possession in 1966. Its delightful and iconic lolloping bassline and rhythm is burned into the mind of most music lovers, a timeless piece of music that will live on forever.

DeBarge - I Like It

This smooth jam classic from 1982 opens with an absolute fire intro and proceeds to just gets better as it goes along - all silky falsettos, killer bass sections and lush harmonies. DeBarge were a group of five siblings, and that closeness radiates throughout. Sadly, like so many family bands, they fractured due to addiction issues and legal disputes, but the music they left is a wonderful legacy.