"California Nights" | ||||
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Single by Lesley Gore | ||||
from the album California Nights | ||||
B-side | "I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)" | |||
Released | January 1967 | |||
Recorded | November 1966 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:49 | |||
Label | Mercury Records 72649 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling | |||
Producer(s) | Bob Crewe | |||
Lesley Gore singles chronology | ||||
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"California Nights" is a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Liebling and recorded by Lesley Gore. The song appeared on her 1967 album, California Nights . [1]
The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie. [2] The track features guitars and drum set in a 1960s pop fashion. The chorus includes multiples long tones over abnormal chords and the verses are noticeably accompanied by a soft electric piano. The lyrics speak of reminiscing about romantic evenings on the beach with a lover.[ original research? ]
Billboard described the song as a "production rhythm ballad with groovy dance beat and strong vocal work has the hit ingredients to put Miss Gore back up the Hot 100." [3]
The single peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1967 but stayed on the chart for a then-lengthy 14 weeks, [4] ranking 61 in the year-end Top 100. [5] It was Gore's final Top Forty hit.
An edit of the song (removing the second verse and refrain) was lip-synced by Gore on the January 19, 1967 episode of the TV series Batman , "That Darn Catwoman". She played Pussycat, the Catwoman's protégé, who also wanted to be a singer.
Chart (1967) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 | 16 |
US Cashbox Top 100 | 11 |
Chart (1967) | Position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
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