"California Dreamin'" | ||||
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Single by the Mamas & the Papas | ||||
from the album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears | ||||
B-side | "Somebody Groovy" | |||
Released | December 8, 1965 | |||
Recorded | November 4, 1965 | |||
Studio | United Western, Hollywood | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:42 | |||
Label | Dunhill • RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Lou Adler | |||
The Mamas & the Papas singles chronology | ||||
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Audio | ||||
"California Dreamin'" on YouTube |
"California Dreamin'" is a song written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and first recorded by Barry McGuire. [5] The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who sang backup on the original version and released it as a single in December 1965. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor. [6]
"California Dreamin'" became a signpost of the California sound, [7] heralding the arrival of the nascent counterculture era. [8] [9] It was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 2023 [10] and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. [11] In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 420 in its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. [12]
The song was written in 1963 while John Phillips and Michelle Phillips were living in New York City during a particularly cold winter, and the latter was missing sunny California. John would work on compositions late at night and brought Michelle the first verse one morning. [13] At the time, John and Michelle Phillips were members of the folk group the New Journeymen, which evolved into the Mamas and the Papas.
They earned their first record contract after being introduced to Lou Adler, the head of Dunhill Records, by Barry McGuire. In thanks to Adler, they sang the backing vocals to "California Dreamin'", with members of the session band The Wrecking Crew, [14] on McGuire's album This Precious Time. Adler, impressed with the Mamas and the Papas, then had the lead vocal track re-recorded with Denny Doherty singing, [5] but paired with the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks, [15] and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank, reportedly improvised. [5] The guitar introduction was performed by P. F. Sloan. [16] McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased. [17]
The single was released in late 1965 but was not an immediate breakthrough. After gaining little attention in Los Angeles, a radio station in Boston was the catalyst to break the song nationwide. [18] After making its chart debut in January 1966, [19] the song peaked at No. 4 in March on both the Billboard Hot 100, lasting 17 weeks, and Cashbox , lasting 20 weeks. [20] "California Dreamin'" was the top single on the Billboard end-of-the-year survey for 1966. As well, it tied for #1 on the Cashbox end-of-the-year survey with SSgt. Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets". [21]
"California Dreamin'" reached number 23 on the UK charts upon its original release, and re-charted after its use in a Carling Premier commercial in 1997, peaking at number nine. [22] Billboard described the song as having "a fascinating new sound with well written commercial material" and praised Lou Adler's production." [23] Cash Box described it as a "medium-paced, rhythmic shufflin' romantic woeser [sic] with a plaintive, lyrical undercurrent." [24]
The song is used repeatedly in the 1994 Hong Kong film Chungking Express as a central plot point [25] and a cover by the Beach Boys was used on season 4 of Stranger Things . [26]
Michelle Phillips wrote the lyrics, "Well, I got down on my knees, and I pretend to pray," but Cass Elliot had sung "began" on the original recording and had continued doing so on tour until corrected by Phillips. [27]
According to Dan Daley: [16]
The Mamas & the Papas
Additional musicians
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [34] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [35] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [36] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [37] | Platinum | 100,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [38] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [40] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
"California Dreamin'" | ||||
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Single by America | ||||
from the album California Dreaming soundtrack | ||||
B-side | "See It My Way" (by F.D.R.) | |||
Released | March 1979 | |||
Recorded | Studio 55 (Hollywood) 1978 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | American International | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Phillips, Michelle Phillips | |||
Producer(s) | Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley | |||
America singles chronology | ||||
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In the spring of 1979, the band America reached No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their remake of "California Dreamin'" which was the first studio recording by America as the duo of Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell without third founding member Dan Peek, who had departed the group in 1977. Bunnell – who sang lead – and Beckley – who sang background – self-produced the track which featured America's touring musicians: David Dickey, drummer Willie Leacox, guitarist Michael Woods, percussionist Tom Walsh, and Jim Calire who played keyboards and also saxophone. [41] [42]
America performed "California Dreamin'" at least once in concert in 1974, [43] "California Dreamin'" being a sentimental favorite of the band's members having been a setlist staple of the cover band in which all three had performed while London Central High School students in the late 1960s. [44] [45] [46] [47] The recording of "California Dreamin'" by America was specifically made to play under the closing credits of the American International Pictures (AIP) movie release California Dreaming [48] which had been shot in the final months of 1977 for release in the summer of 1978 although the movie was held back from wide release until March 16, 1979 [49] with America recording the song "California Dreamin'" in the autumn of 1978: [50] Beckley and Bunnell agreed to record the song after being (at least partially) shown the movie – (Gerry Beckley quote:) "We liked what we saw" [42] – and the track was recorded at Studio 55 (Hollywood): (Gerry Beckley quote:) "We did it more as a rock thing [compared to the original], [with] a full sound but reliant on the harmonies." [42]
The track was originally scheduled for a January 15, 1979, release [50] which was delayed until after AIP's February 1979 pacting with Casablanca Records to distribute the California Dreaming soundtrack, Casablanca having recently managed to bolster the modest success of the film Thank God It's Friday through a hit soundtrack album: [51] [52] the recording of "California Dreamin'" by America was therefore given parallel release with the movie, another soundtrack item: "See It My Way" by session group F.D.R., serving as B-side. Both the America single and (in April 1978) the soundtrack album were issued by AIP on its own label (distributed by Casablanca): outside the US and Canada, Casablanca acted as label of release.
By the spring of 1979, America were involved in sessions for their Capitol Records debut album Silent Letter [53] and were either unable or uninterested in promoting their version of "California Dreamin'" which single proved unable to buoy its parent film's faltering box office take. However the publicity inherent in the film's release was evidently enough to afford minor hit status to America's soundtrack item (heard in the film's trailer, America's "California Dreamin'" was also cited in the movie's poster), and despite its lowly chart peak, America's "California Dreamin'" remake was more successful than any of their first five Capitol single releases, none of which ranked in the Hot 100 (the band's sixth Capitol single release, "You Can Do Magic" in 1982 afforded the band a sole latter-day top ten hit). [54] [55]
"California Dreamin'" continued to be featured in America's live gigs eventually being established as a mandatory America concert title. [56] A live performance of the song by America is featured on In Concert , the band's 1996 album release of a 1982 live gig. [57] The band's 1978 recording was included on the 2000 America retrospective box set Highway: 30 Years of America [58] as well as on The Complete Greatest Hits in 2001. [59]
"California Dreamin'" | ||||
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Single by the Beach Boys | ||||
from the album Made in U.S. | ||||
B-side | "Lady Liberty" | |||
Released | 1986 | |||
Recorded | May 1986 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:10 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Phillips, Michelle Phillips | |||
Producer(s) | Terry Melcher | |||
The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
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The Beach Boys recorded "California Dreamin'" in 1986 for their greatest hits compilation Made in U.S. It was produced by Terry Melcher and featured Roger McGuinn of the Byrds on 12-string guitar. This version of the song was referenced in the lyrics of the Dead Milkmen's 1988 novelty hit "Punk Rock Girl".
Although the song only charted at a modest number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number 8 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart [60] and it was supported by a music video that saw heavy rotation on MTV. The video featured the Beach Boys along with John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Roger McGuinn. Denny Doherty was on the East coast and declined; Cass Elliot had died in 1974.
Credits sourced from Craig Slowinski and Andrew G. Doe. [61]
The Beach Boys
unknown – bass, drums, acoustic lead guitar, saxophone, synthesizer
"California Dreamin'" | ||||
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Single by José Feliciano | ||||
from the album Feliciano! | ||||
B-side | "Light My Fire" | |||
Released | May 1968 | |||
Recorded | RCA's Music Center Of The World - Hollywood | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:06 | |||
Label | RCA Victor | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Phillips, Michelle Phillips | |||
Producer(s) | Rick Jarrard | |||
José Feliciano singles chronology | ||||
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Credits sourced from Disco GS and Allmusic guide. [62]
Released as a single on RCA Records in the summer of 1968, José Feliciano's arrangement reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 20 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. The song was the A-side of a single which became a big hit when radio stations started to play the B-side with his cover of "Light My Fire", which reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was popular in many other countries around the world. This elaborate string version with jazz Latin influences serves as the opening track of Feliciano's 1968 hit album Feliciano! (gold status in 1968), and was heard in a key sequence in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and is included on its soundtrack.
Credits sourced from album liner notes.
A tropical house version by German DJ/remixer Freischwimmer was released in 2015. This version reached number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in its February 13, 2016, issue. [63] [64] "Dreamin" had never before hit No. 1 on any ranking, making this version the first in its nearly 50-year history to reach the top spot on a Billboard chart. [65]
America are a British-American rock band formed in London in 1970 by English-born American Dewey Bunnell and Americans Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley. The trio met as sons of US Air Force personnel stationed in London, where they began performing live. Achieving significant popularity in the 1970s, the trio was famous for its close vocal harmonies and light acoustic folk rock sound. The band released a string of hit albums and singles, many of which found airplay on pop and soft rock stations.
The Mamas & the Papas was an American folk rock vocal group that recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968, with a brief reunion in 1971. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. Formed in New York City, the group consisted of Americans John Phillips, Cass Elliot, Michelle Phillips, and Canadian Denny Doherty. Their sound was based on vocal harmonies arranged by John Phillips – the songwriter and leader of the group – who adapted folk to the new beat style of the early 1960s.
Barry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter primarily known for his 1965 hit "Eve of Destruction". He was later a singer and songwriter of contemporary Christian music.
Michelle Gilliam Phillips is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to fame as a vocalist in the musical quartet the Mamas & the Papas in the mid-1960s. Her voice was described by Time magazine as the "purest soprano in pop music". She later established a successful career as an actress in film and television beginning in the 1970s.
Dennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty was a Canadian singer, songwriter and actor. A tenor, he was a founding member of the 1960s musical group the Mamas & the Papas for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
John Edmund Andrew Phillips was an American musician. He was the leader of the vocal group the Mamas & the Papas and remains frequently referred to as Papa John Phillips. In addition to writing the majority of the group's compositions, he also wrote "San Francisco " in 1967 for former Journeymen bandmate Scott McKenzie, as well as the oft-covered "Me and My Uncle", which was a favorite in the repertoire of the Grateful Dead. Phillips was one of the chief organizers of the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
Wilson Phillips is an American pop vocal group formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The group consists of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas.
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears is the debut album from vocal group The Mamas & the Papas, released on February 28, 1966. The stereo mix of the album is included on All the Leaves are Brown (2001), a double CD compilation consisting of the band's first four albums and various singles, as well as on The Mamas & the Papas Complete Anthology (2004), a four-CD box set released in the UK. The mono mix of the album was remastered and reissued on vinyl by Sundazed Records in 2010, and on CD the following year. It is the band's only album to reach number one on the Billboard 200.
Jill Gibson is an American singer, songwriter, photographer, painter and sculptor. She is mostly known for her collaboration work with Jan & Dean and for having briefly been a member of the successful 1960s rock group the Mamas and the Papas. She was also one of the main photographers at the historic Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Lester Louis Adler is an American record and film producer and the co-owner of the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California. Adler has produced and developed a number of high-profile musical artists, including The Grass Roots, Jan & Dean, The Mamas & the Papas, and Carole King. King's album Tapestry, produced by Adler, won the 1972 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and has been called one of the greatest pop albums of all time.
The Papas & the Mamas is the fourth studio album by the American folk rock vocal group the Mamas and the Papas, released in 1968.
The Mamas & the Papas is the second studio album by the Mamas and the Papas, released on August 30, 1966. The album peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and number 24 in the UK. The lead off single, "I Saw Her Again", reached number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 11 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was especially unique because of its origins."Words of Love" was released as the second single in the US peaking at number 5. In the UK, it was released as a double A-side with "Dancing in the Street" and charted at number 47 in the UK.
"Dedicated To The One I Love" is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass that was a hit for the "5" Royales, the Shirelles, the Mamas & the Papas and Bitty McLean. Pauling was the guitarist of the "5" Royales, the group that recorded the original version of the song, produced by Bass, in 1957. Their version was re-released in 1961 and charted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Creeque Alley" is an autobiographical hit single written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas in late 1966, narrating the story of how the group was formed, and its early years. The third song on the album Deliver, it peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard pop singles chart the week of Memorial Day 1967, becoming their last Top 10 hit. It made number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 4 on the Australian and number 1 on the Canadian charts.
Made in U.S.A. is a 1986 double vinyl album compilation of some of The Beach Boys' biggest successes. Released by their original record label, Capitol Records, it marked a brief return to the label, with whom The Beach Boys released one further album, 1989's Still Cruisin'.
"I Saw Her Again" is a pop song recorded by the U.S. vocal group the Mamas & the Papas in 1966. Co-written by band members John Phillips and Denny Doherty, it was released as a single in June 1966 and peaked at number one on the RPM Canadian Singles Chart, number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart the week of July 30, 1966. It appeared on their eponymous second album in September 1966.
"Twelve Thirty" a.k.a. "Twelve-Thirty ", is a song by the Mamas & the Papas.
Deliver is the third studio album by the Mamas & the Papas, released in February 1967 on Dunhill Records. One song, "Creeque Alley", outlines the unique circumstances in which the band met and formed. Other songs on the album are covers of popular hits from years past.
"Safe in My Garden" is a song written by John Phillips and recorded by The Mamas and the Papas. The single was briefly in the Top 100 pop chart in the United States. AllMusic.com calls the song "One of the group's finest latter-day records."
The Mamas & the Papas were a vocal group from Los Angeles, California that was active from 1966 to 1969. Their discography consists of a total of five albums and 17 singles, six of which made the Billboard top ten, and sold close to 40 million records worldwide. "Monday, Monday" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1966 and "California Dreamin'" was the top song on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.
The gently psychedelic pop song pays homage to the enduring allure of the Golden State...
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CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' The Mamas & the Papas Dunhill (1966) (Single) Inducted 2001