{{Infobox song | name = Think Summer | cover = File:Think Summer Single by Ed Ames and Marilyn Maye.png | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Ed Ames]] and [[Marilyn Maye]] | album = | B-side = You Do | released = June 1969 | recorded = | studio = RCA's Music Center of the World, [[Hollywood, California]] | venue = | genre = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[easy listening]]}} | length = 2:15 | label = [[RCA Victor Records]] | writer = {{hlist|[[Paul Evans (musician)|Paul Evans]] | Paul Parnes}} | producer = [[Jim Foglesong]] | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = [[Ed Ames]] | type = single | prev_title = [[Son of a Travelin' Man]] | prev_year = 1969 | title = Think Summer | year = 1969 | next_title = [[Leave Them a Flower]] | next_year = 1969 }}{{Extra chronology | artist = [[Marilyn Maye]] | type = single | prev_title = Sing Me a Tune | prev_year = 1969 | title = Think Summer | year = 1969 | next_title = Jimmy | next_year = 1969 }} }}
"'''Think Summer'''" is a 1969 song written by [[Paul Evans (musician)|Paul Evans]] and Paul Parnes. It was most notably performed by [[Ed Ames]] and [[Marilyn Maye]], whose duet of the song was released as a single in the summer of 1969 by [[RCA Victor Records]]. It made chart appearances on US adult-oriented charts.
== Background and release == American singer [[Ed Ames]] enjoyed pop and easy listening success in 1967 and 1968, charting several songs in the top-40 of charts, and had three number 1 songs.<ref name="Hot100" /> [[Marilyn Maye]], like Ames, was also an [[RCA Victor]] recording star and had success with Broadway [[show tunes]] "[[Cabaret (Cabaret song)|Cabaret]]" and "[[Step to the Rear (1967 song)|Step to the Rear]]" during this time as well.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Deb |title=15 Questions in 15 Minutes with the legendary Marilyn Maye |url=https://dctheaterarts.org/2021/05/03/15-questions-in-15-minutes-with-the-legendary-marilyn-maye/ |website=DC Theater Arts |access-date=4 June 2023}}</ref> RCA partnered up both singers for "Think Summer" and "You Do" in 1969, with critics noting the "sales" appeal of the single.<ref name="Cashbox Review">{{Cite magazine |last= Albert |first= George |date=July 5, 1969 |title=Record Reviews: ''Cashbox Picks of the Week'' |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1969/Cash-Box-1969-07-05.pdf |magazine=[[Cash Box|Cashbox]] |issue=49 |volume=XXX |page=36 |access-date=May 20, 2026 |via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref> The song was written by [[Paul Evans (musician)|Paul Evans]] and Paul Parnes who provided Maye her previous 1968 hit "Feelin'".<ref name="EasyListening" /> The single was produced by [[Jim Foglesong]] and arranged by [[Perry Botkin Jr.]].<ref name="Liner Notes">{{cite journal |last1=Maye |first1=Ames |title="Think Summer"/"You Do" (7" single Information) |journal=[[RCA Records|RCA Victor]] |date=June 1969 |id=47-9751}}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cashbox'']] | rev1Score = ''Positive'' (Pick of the Week)<ref name="Cashbox Review" /> | rev2 = ''[[Record World]]'' | rev2Score = ''Positive'' (Sleeper of the Week)<ref name="Record World Review" /> }}
The single received a positive critical reception upon its release. ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'' believed that it's an "Automatic easy listening and MOR magnetism is a solid start that can be counted on by this duet appearance by Ed Ames & Marilyn Maye." They stated that "The material's delightful lilt and summery approach could just prove the key to making the side an across-the-board hit."<ref name="Cashbox Review" /> ''[[Record World]]'' put the single in its "Sleeper of the Week" section and said that Ames and Maye "on this new Evans-Parnes song" is a "pay-off idea to team these two".<ref name="Record World Review">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/RW-1969-07-12.pdf |title=Record World Singles Reviews: "Sleeper of the Week" |magazine=[[Record World]] |volume=24 |issue=1152 |page=1 |date=July 12, 1969 |access-date=May 20, 2026 |via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref>
== Chart performance == "Think Summer" became an easy listening succes while missing the pop charts.<ref name="Hot100">{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/16/mode/2up |title=Joel Whitburn's top pop singles 1955-2002 |date=2002 |publisher=Record Research |isbn=0898201551 |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisc. |pages=16 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 14, 2026}}</ref> The single debuted on the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] chart in the issue date July 19, 1969, reaching number 17 during an eight-week run on it.<ref name="EasyListening">{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnpres0000whit/page/10/mode/2up |title=Joel Whitburn presents Billboard top adult songs, 1961-2006 |date=2007 |publisher=Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research Inc. |isbn=978-0-89820-169-7 |pages=10 |url-access=registration |access-date=May 14, 2026}}</ref> It entered the ''[[Record World]]'' Top-Non Rock chart in the issue dated July 25, 1969, peaking at number 17 during an eight-week run as well.<ref name="Record World Chart">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/RW-1969-08-30.pdf |title=Record World Singles Chart: Top Non-Rock |magazine=[[Record World]] |volume=24 |issue=1159 |page=41 |date=August 30, 1969 |access-date=May 20, 2026 |via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref> It was reissued in May 1970 under the catalogue number 47-9843 and recharted for three weeks, peaking at number 38 on both charts.<ref name="EasyListening" />
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for "Think Summer" ! Chart (1969) ! Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row" | US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|''Billboard'' Easy Listening]]<ref name="EasyListening" /> | rowspan="2"| 17 |- ! scope="row" | US [[Record World|''Record World'' Top-Non Rock]]<ref name="Record World Chart" /> |- ! Chart (1970) ! Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row" | US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|''Billboard'' Easy Listening]]<ref name="EasyListening" /> | rowspan="2"| 38 |- ! scope="row" | US [[Record World|''Record World'' Top-Non Rock]]<ref name="Record World Chart" /> |}
==Release history== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history and formats for "Think Summer" |- ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | Ref. |- ! scope="row" | United States | rowspan="2" | June 1969 | rowspan="5" | {{hlist|[[gramaphone record|7 inch single]]}} | rowspan="5" | [[RCA Victor Records]] | <ref name="EasyListening" /> |- ! scope="row" | Canada | <ref name="Liner Notes Canada">{{cite journal |last1=Ed Ames |first1=Marilyn Maye |title="Think Summer"/"You Do" (7" single Information) |journal=[[RCA Records|RCA Victor]] |date=June 1969 |id=47-9751 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | United States | rowspan="2" | May 1970 | <ref name="EasyListening" /> |- ! scope="row" | Canada | <ref name="Liner Notes Canada2">{{cite journal |last1=Ed Ames |first1=Marilyn Maye |title="Think Summer"/"You Do" (7" single Information) |journal=[[RCA Records|RCA Victor]] |date=May 1970 |id=47-9843 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1" | New Zealand | July 1970 | <ref name="Liner Notes New Zealand">{{cite journal |last1=Ed Ames |first1=Marilyn Maye |title="Think Summer"/"You Do" (7" single Information) |journal=[[RCA Records|RCA Victor]] |date=July 1970 |id=47-9843 |others=Manufactured By – RCA of New Zealand}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Ed Ames}} {{Marilyn Maye}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:1969 songs]] [[Category:1969 singles]] [[Category:Ed Ames songs]] [[Category:Marilyn Maye songs]] [[Category:Male–female vocal duets]] [[Category:RCA Victor singles]]