A wistful and bittersweet ode to the passing of time and lost youth, set against the backdrop of a vibrant urban summer.
The air shimmers with heat, the pavement radiates a day-long warmth, and the long, lazy days stretch into twilight. For those of us who came of age in the 1970s, the song “Summer in the City” by Brian Connolly is more than just a tune; it’s a time machine. It’s a bittersweet memory of an era when glam rock ruled the airwaves and the world felt alive with possibility. This song, released in 1980, marked a poignant moment in the career of one of the decade’s most charismatic frontmen, the golden-haired singer of The Sweet.
Following his departure from The Sweet in 1979, Brian Connolly embarked on a solo career that, while not reaching the dizzying heights of his former band’s chart-topping success, produced a handful of tracks that offered a glimpse into his evolving artistry. “Summer in the City” was his second solo single, released on the Polydor label. It stands as a testament to his enduring talent and his ability to craft a melancholic yet powerful pop-rock anthem. While the song didn’t replicate the explosive chart performance of The Sweet‘s iconic hits like “Ballroom Blitz” or “Fox on the Run,” it was a respectable outing for an artist stepping into a new chapter.
The story behind this song is deeply intertwined with Connolly‘s personal journey. After a tumultuous time with The Sweet, marked by creative disagreements and his well-documented struggles with alcoholism, he was trying to find his footing as a solo artist. The lyrics of “Summer in the City” are laden with a sense of longing and reflection. They speak of reminiscing about a bygone summer, a time when things were simpler, and the future stretched out like an endless highway. For fans who had followed his career from the early days of The Sweet, the song resonated on a profoundly personal level. It felt like a conversation, an honest acknowledgment of the past, and a quiet hope for what was to come.
The meaning of the song goes beyond a simple summer anthem. It’s an exploration of memory and the passage of time. The “city” in the title is not just a physical location; it’s a symbol of all the places, people, and moments that shaped a person’s life. The warmth of the summer sun serves as a metaphor for the golden glow of nostalgia. As Connolly sings, you can almost feel the phantom ache of a lost love or a friendship that has faded with the years. The song carries a quiet weight, a reflective sadness that is both beautiful and deeply relatable.
“Summer in the City” also holds a special place in the discography of Brian Connolly‘s solo work. It showed a maturity and a musical direction that was a departure from the bubblegum-pop origins of The Sweet. It was more melodic, more introspective, and more soulful. This track, along with a few others from his solo career, provided a glimpse of the artist he was becoming—one who was moving beyond the confines of glam rock and into a more nuanced, personal sound. It’s a song that speaks to the hearts of those who remember the 1970s, not just for the music but for the feeling it captured. It’s a reminder that even when the brightest lights dim, the memories they created continue to shine, just like a distant, hazy, and perfect summer.