Summer Son

For the Craig Lancaster novel, see The Summer Son.

"Summer Son"
Artwork used for most releases
Single by Texas
from the album The Hush
B-side	"Don't You Want Me" (live)
Released	9 August 1999 (1999-08-09)
Studio	Shar's house, Park Lane (Glasgow, Scotland)
Length	4:06
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Johnny McElhone Sharleen Spiteri Eddie Campbell Robert Hodgens
Producer(s)	Johnny Mac
Texas singles chronology
"In Our Lifetime" (1999) "Summer Son" (1999) "When We Are Together" (1999)
Alternative cover
UK CD2 artwork
Music video
"Summer Son" on YouTube

"Summer Son" is a song by Scottish band Texas, released as the second single from their fifth studio album, The Hush (1999). The song was released in Europe on 9 August 1999 and in the United Kingdom on 16 August 1999, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. In mainland Europe, "Summer Son" became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching the top five in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, and Wallonia. It has received gold certifications in Belgium and Germany and a silver certification in the United Kingdom.

A major chart success for the band, it has appeared on three of their compilation albums ― The Greatest Hits (2000),^[1] Texas 25 (2015)^[2] and The Very Best of 1989–2023 (2023).^[3]

Critical reception

J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun noted that the band are infusing the song with "an ABBA-esque melancholy."^[4] Howard Cohen from The Miami Herald said they do "some Garbage/ABBA melding", picking it as "this CD's catchiest number."^[5] Stephen Dalton from NME wrote that "these 12 tracks perform their ear-soothing job with ruthless efficiency", noting the "Abba-tinged retro-disco" of "Summer Son".^[6] A reviewer from Sunday Mercury stated that "the new single from Texas, is a great wedge of Scot pop. With its tubular bells chorus, catchy riff and Sharleen's breathy vocals, it's one of the best singles for weeks and deserves to go straight into the top 10."^[7] Sunday Tribune complimented its title as "really clever, right, because it's called 'Summer Son', and she's talking about a bloke, but it sounds a bit like 'Summer Sun'".^[8] Australian newspaper Sydney Morning Herald deemed it "hugely infectious".^[9]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Spiteri writhing with a hunky male model on a bed. The video was banned from daytime TV, as it was deemed too provocative.^[10]

Track listings

UK CD1 (MERCD 520)[11] "Summer Son" (enhanced version) "Don't You Want Me" (live at Glastonbury 99) "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix) * Enhanced CD includes video and photo gallery UK CD2 (MERDD 520)[12] "Summer Son" "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch) "Summer Son" (Tee's Freeze mix) - 7:30 UK 12-inch single (MERJJ520)[13] A1. "Summer Son" (Sunburn mix) – 7:39 A2. "Summer Son" (Love to Infinity radio mix) – 3:57 B1. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch) – 5:14 B2. "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix) – 3:39

UK cassette single and European CD single (MERMC 520; 562 244-2)[14][15] "Summer Son" – 4:04 "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder radio mix) – 3:39 Australian CD single (562 382-2)[16] "Summer Son" "Don't You Want Me" (live at Glastonbury '99) "Summer Son" (Giorgio Moroder alternative 12-inch) "Summer Son" (Love to Infinity Sunburn mix) "Summer Son" (Tee's Freeze mix) "Say What You Want" (live at 2Day FM in Sydney, 28 May 1997)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from The Hush album booklet.^[17]

Studios

• Recorded at Shar's house and Park Lane (Glasgow, Scotland)
• Mixed at the Mix Suite, Olympic Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Texas – all instruments, programming
  • Johnny McElhone – writing, production (as Johnny Mac)
  • Sharleen Spiteri – writing
  • Eddie Campbell – writing
  • Ally McErlaine
• Robert Hodgens – writing
• Tony McGovern – guitars
• Paul Smith – guitars
• Richard Hynd – drums, additional programming
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 95 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 4 Croatia (HRT)[22] 6 Denmark (IFPI)[23] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 3 France (SNEP)[26] 4 Germany (GfK)[27] 3 Greece (IFPI)[28] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[23] 4 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[29] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 18 Italy (Musica e dischi)[31] 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 63 Norway (VG-lista)[33] 15 Scotland (OCC)[34] 3 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 31 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 5 Chart (2023) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[39] 65

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 91 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[41] 44 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] 27 France (SNEP)[43] 42 Germany (Official German Charts)[44] 36 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[45] 78 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 28 UK Airplay (Music Week)[47] 28

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[48]	Gold	25,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[49]	Gold	250,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50]	Silver	200,000^‡
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Europe	9 August 1999	CD	Mercury	[35]
United Kingdom	16 August 1999	CD cassette		[51]

References

1. "The Greatest Hits". Amazon UK. Mercury Records. 2004. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
2. "Texas 25". Amazon UK. Play it Again Sam. 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
3. Gotto, Connor (25 April 2023). "Texas announce The Very Best Of 1989 – 2023 greatest hits album". RETROPOP. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
4. Considine, J.D. (10 June 1999). "Early, quirky Randy Newman is back in 'Bad Love'". p. 10. The Baltimore Sun.
5. Cohen, Howard (4 June 1999). "Jamiroquai retreats further into '70s". p. 18G. The Miami Herald.
6. Dalton, Stephen. "Texas – The Hush". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
7. "New Releases". Sunday Mercury. 15 August 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
8. Sunday Tribune. 15 August 1999. p. 35. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
9. (23 May 1999). "Spins". p. 17. Sydney Morning Herald.
10. Scott, James (20 August 1999). "SEXING UP THE STATE OF TEXAS; Sharleen Spiteri Changed Her Band's Image and They Hit Paydirt, but JAMES SCOTT Finds She's Still Down to Earth". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
11. Summer Son (UK CD1 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. MERCD 520, 562 275-2.
12. Summer Son (UK CD2 liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. MERDD 520, 562 276-2.
13. Summer Son (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. MERJJ520.
14. Summer Son (UK cassette single cassette notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. MERMC 520, 562 275-4.
15. Summer Son (European CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. 562 244-2.
16. Summer Son (Australian CD single liner notes). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. 562 382-2.
17. The Hush (UK CD album sleeve). Texas. Mercury Records. 1999. 538 972-2.
18. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 277.
19. "Texas – Summer Son" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
20. "Texas – Summer Son" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
21. "Texas – Summer Son" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
22. "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 21 October 1999. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
23. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 45. 6 November 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 43. 23 October 1999. p. 11. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
25. "Texas: Summer Son" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
26. "Texas – Summer Son" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
27. "Texas – Summer Son" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
28. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 41. 9 October 1999. p. 16. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
29. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 339 Vikuna 2.8. – 9.9. 1999)". DV (in Icelandic). 3 September 1999. p. 12. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Summer Son". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
31. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 4 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Texas".
32. "Texas – Summer Son" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
33. "Texas – Summer Son". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
35. "Texas – Summer Son" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
36. "Texas – Summer Son". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
37. "Texas – Summer Son". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
38. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
39. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 17.06.2023–23.06.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
40. "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
41. "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
42. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. 1 January 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
43. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1999" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
44. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
45. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005.
46. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1999" (in German). Retrieved 15 March 2019.
47. "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 22 January 2000. p. 31. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
48. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
49. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Texas; 'Summer Son')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
50. "British single certifications – Texas – Summer Son". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
51. "New Releases – For Week Starting 16 August, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 August 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 22 July 2021.