THERE'S one thing you can be certain about in the summer - no, not the sun, but a pile of brand new 'summertime' compilation albums.

The first of them this year is The Best Summer Album 2002 which contains some top fresh and happy chart hits - as well as some great favourites.

It kicks off with Holly Valance's number one Kiss Kiss, followed by Tweet featuring Missy Elliott with Oops (Oh My).

There is also a1's current big hit Make it Good and Liberty X's chart-topper Just A Little, followed by Britney Spears with I'm A Slave 4 U and Mis-teeq with All I Want.

NSync's cracker Bye Bye Bye is featured, as is Steps' blazing hit Summer of Love and the brilliant late 1990s hit Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio.

Eurovision third place winner Jessica Garlick is also featured with Come Back, as is DB Boulevard with the great dance track Point of View.

Darude's classic Sandstorm is great for driving to, as is Sweet Female Attitude's Flowers and the Riva featuring Dannii Minogue hit Who Do You Love Now?

Bob Marley vs Funkstar De Luxe is featured with the excellent Sun Is Shining, as is Shabba Ranks with the classic old skool hit Mr Loverman.

This is one of the best summer albums I've heard, with not only the big hits of this summer, but some of the best music from the last few years.