17 Songs for Spring

Pink Floyd ~ “Cirrus Minor” (1969)

Opening with one minute of dawn songbirds from the BBC sound effects library, David Gilmour’s slowly strummed acoustic guitar, Richard Wright’s misty organ, and Roger Waters’ poetic lyrics set the scene as David Gilmour sings about a pastoral spring paradise (“in a churchyard by a river, lazing in the haze of midday, laughing in the grasses and the graves.”) The second half of the song is sublime and trippy as Richard Wright’s keyboards swirl around the listener’s ears.

Pearls Before Swine ~ “Images of April” (1968)

Early morning bird songs, a floating flute, and Tom Rapp’s echoed, ghostly vocals of April air and lost fantasies blur blissfully into your consciousness thanks to the daydreamy, dazed production.

Arzachel ~ “Garden of Earthly Delights” (1969)

Dave Stewart’s cathedral organ and Clive Brooks’ jazzy drums enter triumphantly as Mont Campbell sings an ode to a ‘60s hippie girl whose face a “thousand flowers do adorn”, she is the “spring that wintered hearts renews.” Steve Hillage lets loose with a soaring guitar solo.

Fairport Convention ~ “Eastern Rain” (1968)

Richard Thompson’s guitar notes sound like cascading drops of spring showers as Sandy Denny’s intoxicating vocals sing about lovers staying up all night until the following day’s sunrise.

Pentangle ~ “Springtime Promises” (1969)

Bert Jansch’s and John Renbourn’s intricate acoustic guitars and Danny Thompson’s jazzy double bass rhythms hum along as Bert Jansch sings about winter’s desolation and spring’s renewal.

Vashti Bunyan ~ “Hebridean Sun” (1970)

Vashti Bunyan’s brief, peaceful, and quiet solo acoustic reverie is a lovely interlude: “the grass knows, the hills know, we all know spring has come, the good fountain flows.”

The Strawbs ~ “Glimpse of Heaven” (1971)

Dave Cousins’ pantheistic, visionary lyrics of eggs, lambs, rebirth, and shining streams are brilliant. Equally brilliant are the cathedral vocal harmonies and the effervescent instrumental arrangements (Dave Cousins on acoustic guitar, banjo, and dulcimer; Tony Hooper on acoustic guitar and autoharp; Rick Wakeman on celeste, Mellotron, and organ.)

Jethro Tull ~ “Mother Goose” (1971)

Ian Anderson’s fanciful nursery rhyme lyrics, his medieval flute, and the band’s freewheeling folk rock playing create a childhood memory as fun and vivid as the picture books you read when you were a kid.

Big Star ~ “Watch the Sunrise” (1972)

Alex Chilton’s and Chris Bell’s clear and crisp 12-string acoustic guitars, as well as Chris Bell’s perfect production and Alex Chilton’s uplifting lyrics, are a gift to the listener: one of the most euphoric songs of all time, sure to leave a smile on your face.

Popol Vuh ~ “Morgengruss” (1974)

At the beginning, Daniel Fichelscher’s breezy and light 12-string acoustic guitar mingles with subtle nature sounds. His electric guitar soon follows and it is one of the most dazzling, glowing, refreshing tones. This cleansing spiritual music is the perfect soundtrack for spring mornings and spring road trips.

Belbury Poly ~ “Green Grass Grows” (2012)

Whimsical electronics bounce along, occasionally accompanied by a little girl’s voice darting through the ether repeating the nursery rhyme refrain.

Temples ~ “Move with the Season” (2014)

Magnificent. This energizing, epic psychedelic rock track ushers in the vernal world with sweeping style.

Black Submarine ~ “Move Me a Mountain” (2014)

This song feels like a fresh breeze clearing the air. Amelia Tucker sings about spring and harvest, innocence and aging, as Davide Rossi’s string flourishes recall Robert Kirby’s orchestral work on Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left and Nick McCabe (of The Verve) plays a pastoral acoustic arrangement.

Ryley Walker ~ “Primrose Green” (2015)

Ryley Walker’s intricate acoustic guitar, wandering lyrics of spring, and emotive vocals summon the sounds of John Martyn and Tim Buckley. His backup jazz musicians on electric guitar, double bass, drums, and piano surround him with a folk rock groove.

Meg Baird ~ “Good Directions” (2015)

Meg Baird’s ascending and delicate vocals are warmly and wonderfully lifted up with a beautiful blend of acoustic 12-string and electric guitars (a rejuvenating resurrection of Daniel Fichelscher’s tones from Popol Vuh’s Einsjager und Siebenjager.) Quintessential spring road trip soundtrack.

Advisory Circle ~ “April Interval” (2018)

Contemplative ambient reflections that sound like a time lapse video of the blooming and blossoming buds of spring, patiently and slowly sprouting to the surface from underground.

Beach House ~ “Dark Spring” (2018)

While the other tracks on this playlist are the bright side of spring, this is the dark side: ominous thunderstorms and windy nights. Alex Scally’s guitar illuminates the void with buzzing flashes of lightning while Victoria Legrand’s mesmerizing and mysterious synths and vocals hypnotize you.

by Mark Lager