Lazy Summer

Summer's the time for charting a course to the nearest beach umbrella and letting your inner sloth emerge from its winter hibernation. George & Ira Gershwin's standard "Summertime" is the great granddaddy of lazy summer tunes, and Sarah Vaughan delivers it with just the right breezy touch. Jimmy Buffett personifies the laid-back Key West summer vibe; his "Grapefruit – Juicy Fruit" might not carry the American Dental Association's stamp of approval, but it does a fine job of capturing the beach bum's every stretch and yawn. Then there's Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" — with its seaside sound effects and cool-breeze whistle, it's guaranteed to put you in a hammock mood. And Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" tells you what to do when you get there.

Find more mellow moods in Next Steps.

Don't make any sudden moves — just lie back and let the mellow summertime sounds wash over you like a gentle wave. The original sultans of the season, the Beach Boys, show you how it's done, with their otherworldly gorgeous harmonies and surfer-dude cool, on "Keep an Eye On Summer." Meanwhile, R.E.M.'s slow-rolling, sun-kissed "Summer Turns to High" gives a tip of the surfboard to the classic Beach Boys sound. And speaking of classics, neo-jazz chanteuse Madeleine Peyroux lends an earthy, folk-tinged flair to the ultimate breezy beach-season ballad, "The Summer Wind."

Swing with the sirens of summer in Deep Cuts.

Once you've made up your mind to kick back and soak up the summertime, you might be wondering what's next. Fortunately, some jazzy ladies have a few suggestions for you. Diana Krall's honeyed croon and tinkled piano lines spin a sultry web around a beloved tune and an old idea: "Let's Fall In Love." Cassandra Wilson's mellow, funky flow on "Go to Mexico" adds a hip-hop-tinged groove to her summertime travel directions. And if you're too relaxed to take any big steps, just get in touch with the soothing sounds of summer while nü-jazz crooner Lizz Wright turns Carole King's propulsive pop hit "I Feel the Earth Move" into a dreamy ballad just right for a sun-bathing soundtrack.

The hottest part of the year is the perfect time for chilling out. Ira Gershwin had it right in "Summertime" when he said "the livin' is easy." Summer is the time to bring out the barbecue and the hammock; time to trade the sensible shoes and business attire for sandals and a swimsuit; time to catch a ball game or play hooky on a Friday afternoon. But whatever form your sun-baked relaxation takes, you'll need these lazy-summer sounds to set the scene. Whether you tap into a bluesy ballad from Ben Harper, a gently, jazzy croon from Norah Jones, or the gently loping surfside daydream of Jack Johnson, here's a do-it-yourself kit for a season in the sun that won't make you sweat.