Linda Ronstadt performs at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas in August 1981. Courtesy Circacies/WikiCommons.

It’s our illustrious editor Roman Gokhman’s favorite time of the year: A whine-about-the-heat column! Because, man, it’s a hot one. … Like seven inches from the midday sun. [Gokhman note: Not THIS again…]

At least this time it’s not just my back yard! The brutal, oppressive heat wave basically went national yesterday and today, and brutal, oppressive heat makes me unhappy, so here we are. I’m writing my annual (or biannual) whine column. I probably won’t do another one, at least for a month, probably. Unless it gets really hot again. I make no promises.

Don’t worry, eventually I’ll run out of songs.

Linda Ronstadt — “Heat Wave”

So here’s the thing: It’s been a long couple weeks. My back hurts, I’m tired, it’s clearly hot. So this time I’m gonna go through the obvious ones I’ve avoided so far. This achieves the dual goals of making my life easier today and taking away the temptation in the future. I’m saving me from myself, really.

Anyway, Ronstadt is more than “You’re No Good,” so you should listen to more of her work. Unless you don’t know “You’re No Good” in which case get out. The door is over there. Get out.

The Lovin’ Spoonful — “Summer in the City”

Concord does not get the respect it deserves. Did you know it’s the largest city in Contra Costa County, ahead of Richmond and Antioch? That it has about 5,000 more people than Berkeley? That it’s the largest city named Concord in the United States, including the capital of New Hampshire? That it would be the largest city in eight states?

You didn’t, did you?

Concord is definitely a city, is what I’m saying. By the legal definition, the Census definition, and the practical definition. And I can assure you that it is most definitely summer in Concord right now. Summer with a vengeance.

Glenn Frey — “The Heat Is On”

Of all the lead singers of The Eagles, Glenn Frey is my favorite. Mostly because Don Henley is a terrible person.

In 1980, Henley called the paramedics because of an overdose. The victim was a 16-year-old girl who was found naked. There was also a 15-year-old girl in the house. The 16-year-old was arrested for prostitution, and the 15-year-old was arrested for being under the influence of drugs. Henley wrote a song about the media coverage, “Dirty Laundry,” which became a hit and made him a lot of money.

So yeah, screw Don Henley. Glenn Frey is way better.

AC/DC — “Highway to Hell”

We’re not on the highway to hell, admittedly. Based on the temperature and the news we may have gotten to the end of it, sure, but probably not on the highway.

I’ll be honest, though: The hell thing wasn’t the main impetus for including it. Mostly it’s that I love AC/DC. They always cheer me up, and it’s been quite the week. Did you see the Jan. 6 commission hearing? I think we all need some cheering up. So crank the AC/DC and have a few minutes of respite, you earned it.

Buster Poindexter — “Hot Hot Hot”

Yeah, this is super tacky. But now that I know who David Johansen is and got familiar with the New York Dolls, it was definitely on purpose, and I respect that. I mean the whole Buster Poindexter persona is basically a parody, right? So this is basically a novelty song that nobody got.

But, it’s a cover! It was originally done by a calypso musician from Montserrat named Arrow. Which, in retrospect, seems a little mean, doesn’t it? Johansen was basically mocking the dude’s song. Though Arrow’s original version was a modest hit, and another version he did in 1994 was a slightly bigger hit, so it’s not like he got screwed in the deal.

Anyway, my point is it’s hot. Three times, for emphasis.

Follow editor Daniel J. Willis and tweet column ideas to him at Twitter.com/BayAreaData.