California Soul

This article is about the song by Ashford & Simpson. For the album by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, see California Soul (album).

"California Soul"
Netherlands picture sleeve
Single by the Messengers
A-side	"Window Shopping"
Released	September 7, 1967 (1967-09-07)
Recorded	1967
Genre	Funk-soul
Label	Soul
Songwriter(s)	Ashford & Simpson
Producer(s)	Jeffrey Bowen
The Messengers singles chronology
"Midnight Hour" (1967) "California Soul" (1967) "Right On" (1970)
Official audio
"California Soul" on YouTube

"California Soul" is a funk-soul tune written by Ashford & Simpson, issued originally as the B-side of the Messengers' single "Window Shopping" in 1967 under the Motown group of labels.

Other recordings

• Nick Ashford released his own version in June 1968 on Verve 10599. ^[1]
• The song was then issued as a single by American pop quintet the 5th Dimension in late 1968.
• The song was also covered by Motown vocal duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It was Gaye's and Terrell's last single together when released in early 1970.
• A version appears on the 1970 studio album War & Peace by Edwin Starr (Gordy Records). ^[2] Cash Box said that this version "glimmers with the special touch of a motor city arrangement and the vocal fuel ignited by this splendid team." ^[3]
• Marlena Shaw recorded a version in 1969, which appears on her album The Spice Of Life . ^{[4] [5]}
• Stone Throw Records recorded a version in 2021, which would later be included in the intro for the September 2021 Apple Event. ^[6]

Chart performance

Both the 5th Dimension's version and the Gaye-Terrell version were modest chart hits. The 5th Dimension's performed better, reaching number 25 on the pop singles chart. ^[7] Marvin and Tammi's cover was the B-side of "The Onion Song". The duo's version of "California Soul" reached number 50 pop but never charted on the US R&B chart. ^[8] The duet was released after Terrell's death from a brain tumor in March 1970.

Credits

The 5th Dimension version

• All vocals by the 5th Dimension: Billy Davis Jr., Marilyn McCoo, Florence LaRue, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson
• Written by Ashford & Simpson
• Produced by Bones Howe

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell version

• All vocals by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell/ Valerie Simpson ^[9] )
• Written and produced by Ashford & Simpson
• Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers

Certifications and sales

Marlena Shaw version

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ) [10]	Gold	15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [11] Sales since 2004	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Record World , July 27, 1968, p. 166
2. "War & Peace : Edwin Starr". AllMusic . Retrieved January 4, 2023.
3. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 11, 1970. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
4. "Marlene Shaw - California Soul (Leygo Remix)- FREE DOWNLOAD". Soundcloud.com.
5. "California Soul". YouTube . 7 December 2018.
6. "Apple Event Opening Music - California Soul - September 2021". YouTube.com.
7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 222.
8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 225.
9. The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 9: 1969, Motown/Hip-O Select, 2008, p.109
10. "New Zealand single certifications – Marlena Shaw – California Soul". Radioscope. Retrieved 19 January 2025.Type California Soul in the "Search:" field.
11. "British single certifications – Marlena Shaw – California Soul". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 2, 2022.