California Dreamin'
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| "California Dreamin'" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by The Mamas and the Papas | ||
| from the album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears | ||
| Released | November, 1965 | |
| Format | Vinyl record (7") 45 RPM | |
| Recorded | 1965 | |
| Genre | Pop rock, folk rock | |
| Length | 2:42 | |
| Label | Dunhill | |
| Writer(s) | John Phillips, Michelle Phillips | |
| Producer | Lou Adler | |
"California Dreamin'" is a song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965. The song is #89 in Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
According to John Phillips in a Bravo documentary, and Michelle Phillips in an NPR piece, the song was written in 1963 while they were living in New York. He dreamed about the song and woke her up to help him write. At the time, the Phillipses were members of the folk group The New Journeymen which evolved into The Mamas & the Papas.
They earned their first record contract after being introduced to Lou Adler, the head of Dunhill Records, by the singer Barry McGuire. In thanks to Adler, they sang the backing vocals to "California Dreamin'" on McGuire's album This Precious Time. The Mamas and the Papas then recorded their own version, using the same instrumental backing track to which they added new vocals and a flute solo by Bud Schank. McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely wiped.[2] The single was released in late 1965 but it was not an immediate breakthrough. After gaining little attention in Los Angeles upon its release, Michelle Phillips remembers that it took a radio station in Boston to break the song nationwide.[3] By early 1966, the song peaked at # 4 and it stayed on the charts for 17 weeks.
The Beach Boys version of California Dreaming is worth the view. Roger McGuinn from The Byrds on 12-string. The single's producer, the late Terry Melcher, got John Phillips (on Sax), Michelle Phillips (Mama’s and the Papa’s) and McGuinn (The Byrds) to appear in this video. Denny Doherty (now deceased) was on the east coast and declined. Sadly, Cass Elliott had died years earlier.
[edit] Naval Academy myth
There has been a long standing myth that "California Dreamin'" was written to express John Phillips' experience at the United States Naval Academy as a "Plebe," or Fourth Class Midshipmen (freshman).[citation needed] Midshipmen call the winter period at the Academy the "Dark Ages" owing to both the short hours of daylight and the extra burden of final exams added to an already strenuous workload. It was believed the song was in essence a day in the life of Phillips during these "Dark Ages" thinking and dreaming of a warmer climate. Phillips resigned during his first (freshman/Plebe) year at the Academy. Also, Midshipmen, as were all cadets at other service academies before 1995, were required to visit the Academy Chaplain's office to consult about their decision to resign, which is a traumatic and emotional event:
...Stopped into a church...I passed along the way....
Whether or not the Naval Academy myth is true can be confirmed only by Phillips, but the several references to life at the USNA, coupled with Phillips' attendance as a freshman, seem to fit well.
[edit] Cover versions
Due to the enduring popularity of this song, it has been covered numerous times. Some high profile artists who have covered this song include Jose Feliciano (B-side on his 1968 hit single Light My Fire), America, The Beach Boys (two versions), The Carpenters, The Four Tops, Bobby Womack, Queen Latifah, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Eddie Hazel and John Phillips without The Mamas & the Papas. House versions are also covered by Royal Gigolos, Benny Benassi and DJ Sammy. The John Mayer Trio covered California Dreamin' on the June 4, 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
[edit] References
- ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11028260/the_rs_500_greatest_songs_of_all_time/1. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
- ^ Rock Family Trees, BBC, interview with McGuire, 1999. McGuire's original harmonica solo can also just be made out under the flute solo.
- ^ NPR : California Dreamin', Present at the Creation
[edit] External links
- 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
Lyrics - *[1]
