American Songwriter selects seven songs from the 1970s that it believes capture the nostalgic, transitional mood of late summer, when holidays end and the return to school or routine approaches. The choices focus less on songs explicitly about the season than on music whose lyrics, atmosphere or memories evoke warmth, change and reflection.

– Boston, “More Than A Feeling” (1976): chosen for its nostalgic recollections of people and past summers.
– Seals & Crofts, “Summer Breeze”: presented as evoking sensory memories of the final poolside days of summer.
– Paul Simon, “Kodachrome” (1973): included for its nostalgic imagery and reference to “greens of summers”.
– Steve Miller Band, “Wild Mountain Honey”: selected for its hazy sound and theme of endings leading to new beginnings.
– Eagles, “Hotel California”: chosen for its moody, sultry late-summer atmosphere.
– Big Star, “Thirteen”: described as capturing the period when school has resumed but summer still feels present.
– Bob Seger, “Night Moves”: included for its reminiscence about a summer romance.