California Dreamin'

"California DreaminTemplate:'-" is a song written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and first recorded by Barry McGuire.<ref name="scpr">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.

"California DreaminTemplate:'" became a well-known example of the "California sound",<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref> and the 1960s counterculture era.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 2023<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 420 in its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

History

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 DreaminTemplate:'" with members of the session band the Wrecking Crew,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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,<ref name="scpr" /> but paired with the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks,<ref name="pc33">Template:Cite web</ref> and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank, reportedly improvised.<ref name="scpr" /> The guitar introduction was performed by P. F. Sloan.<ref name=MixOnline>Template:Cite web</ref> McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased.<ref>Rock Family Trees, BBC, interview with McGuire, 1999.Template:Fcn McGuire's original harmonica solo can also just be made out under the flute solo.</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After making its chart debut in January 1966,<ref name="Sullivan2013">Template:Cite book</ref> the song peaked at No. 4 in March on both the Billboard Hot 100, lasting 17 weeks, and Cashbox, lasting 20 weeks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> "California DreaminTemplate:'" 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".<ref name=CashBox>Template:Cite web</ref>

"California DreaminTemplate:'" 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Billboard described the song as having "a fascinating new sound with well written commercial material" and praised Lou Adler's production".<ref name=bb>Template:Cite news</ref> Cash Box described it as a "medium-paced, rhythmic shufflin' romantic woeser [sic] with a plaintive, lyrical undercurrent".<ref name=cb>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The song is used repeatedly in the 1994 Hong Kong film Chungking Express as a central plot point<ref>"Song And Vision No. 5: 'California DreaminTemplate:'-' and Chungking Express", Steven Hyden</ref> and a cover by the Beach Boys was used on season 4 of Stranger Things.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Personnel

According to Dan Daley:<ref name=MixOnline />

The Mamas & the Papas

• Denny DohertyTemplate:Sndlead and harmony vocals
• Cass ElliotTemplate:Sndharmony vocals
• John PhillipsTemplate:Sndharmony vocals
• Michelle PhillipsTemplate:Sndharmony vocals

Additional musicians

• Bud ShankTemplate:Sndflute
• The Wrecking Crew
  • Hal BlaineTemplate:Snddrums
  • Larry KnechtelTemplate:Sndpiano
  • Joe OsbornTemplate:Sndbass guitar
  • P.F. SloanTemplate:Sndacoustic guitar

Production

• Lou AdlerTemplate:Sndproducer
• Bones HoweTemplate:Sndengineering

Chart history

Weekly charts

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	87
Canada RPM Top Singles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	3
New Zealand (Listener)<ref>[ Flavour of New Zealand, ]</ref>	14
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref>	23
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - Template:ISBN</ref>	4
US Cash Box Top 100<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4

Chart (1997)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>	9

Year-end charts

Chart (1966)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
US Cash Box<ref name=CashBox/>	1

Other versions

America version

In the spring of 1979, the band America reached No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 with its remake of "California DreaminTemplate:'" 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Access Backstage">Template:Cite web</ref>

America performed "California DreaminTemplate:'" at least once in concert in 1974,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "California DreaminTemplate:'" being a sentimental favorite of the band's members having been a set list staple of the cover band in which all three had performed while London Central High School students in the late 1960s.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The recording of "California DreaminTemplate:'" by America was specifically made to play under the closing credits of the American International Pictures (AIP) movie release California Dreaming,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref name="AFI">Template:Cite web</ref> with America recording the song "California DreaminTemplate:'" in the autumn of 1978:<ref name="Shirlebrities">Detroit Free Press "Shirlebreties" by Shirley Eder November 30, 1978, p.17B</ref> Beckley and Bunnell agreed to record the song after being (at least partially) shown the movie – (Gerry Beckley quote:) "We liked what we saw"<ref name="Access Backstage"/> – 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."<ref name="Access Backstage"/>

The track was originally scheduled for a January 15, 1979, release<ref name="Shirlebrities"/> 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:<ref>Billboard Vol 91 #9 (Mar 3, 1979) "Soundtrack lp for Casablanca" p. 19</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the recording of "California DreaminTemplate:'" 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 its Capitol Records debut album Silent Letter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and were either unable or uninterested in promoting its 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 for America's soundtrack item (heard in the film's trailer, America's "California DreaminTemplate:'" was also cited in the movie's poster), and despite its lowly chart peak, America's "California DreaminTemplate:'" remake was more successful than any of its 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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

"California DreaminTemplate:'" continued to be featured in America's live gigs, eventually being established as a mandatory America concert title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A live performance of the song by America is featured on In Concert, the band's 1996 album release of a 1982 live gig.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's 1978 recording was included on the 2000 America retrospective boxed set Highway: 30 Years of America<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as well as on The Complete Greatest Hits in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Beach Boys version

Background

The Beach Boys recorded "California DreaminTemplate:'" in 1986 for their greatest hits compilation Made in U.S.A. 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 No. 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart<ref name=AllMusic>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.

Personnel

Credits sourced from Craig Slowinski and Andrew G. Doe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Beach Boys

• Carl Wilson – vocals
• Al Jardine – vocals
• Mike Love – vocals
• Brian Wilson – vocals
• Bruce Johnston – vocals

Additional musicians and production staff

• Roger McGuinn – 12-string lead guitar
• Joel Peskin – saxophone
• Jeff Foskett – possible vocals
• Adrian Baker – possible vocals

unknown – bass, drums, acoustic lead guitar, synthesizer

Jose Feliciano version

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 that 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.

Personnel

Credits sourced from album liner notes.

• José Feliciano – vocals, guitar
• Ray Brown – bass
• Jim Horn – flute, alto flute
• Milt Holland – percussion
• Bruce Johnston – vocals

Additional musicians and production staff

• George Tipton – orchestral arrangements
• Rick Jarrard – producer

Freischwimmer version

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Chart history for Freischwimmer. Billboard. Template:Webarchive</ref> "DreaminTemplate:'" 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.<ref>Template:"'California DreaminTemplate:'-' Hits No. 1 After 50 Years, Thanks to Dance Remix". Billboard. February 4, 2016.</ref>

See also

• List of Billboard Dance Club Songs number ones of 2016

External links

• California Dreamin' at Myspace (streamed copy where licensed)
• NPR's "Present at the Creation" segment on the origins of the song
• Technical article describing how California Dreamin' was originally mixed
• Facts and discussion about the song
• Review Of California Dreaming
• Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore
• Template:YouTube