From '' Extensions ''
Label: Philips -- PHS 600-301
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Tracklist
A1 California Dreamin'
A2 Nothing On My Mind / Moments Ago
A3 The Last Thing On My Mind
A4 If You Must Leave My Life
A5 Norwegian Wood
B1 Webb Of Jim Collage (MacArthur Park / Yard Went On Forever)
B2 There's A Good Earth Out Tonight
B3 Theme From Shoes Of The Fisherman
B4 Paul Simon Montage (Bookends / Old Friends / Flowers Never Bend In The Rainfall)
B5 Lalena
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"California Dreamin'" is a popular song by The Mamas & the Papas, first released in 1965.
It is #89 in Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The lyrics of the song expresses the narrator's longing for the warmth of California during a cold winter.
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 it.
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 and backing vocal tracks to which they added new vocals and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank.
P.F. Sloan did the guitar introduction.
McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely wiped.
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.
By early 1966, the song peaked at #4 and stayed on the charts for 17 weeks. "California Dreaming" and "The Ballad Of The Green Berets" sharply divided the popular music market in March 1966. It also reached #23 in the UK charts.
Other versions
Some high profile artists who have recorded this song include:
R.E.M.,
The Beach Boys,
America (two versions),
Wes Montgomery,
Gary Hoey,
Dead Artist Syndrome,
José Feliciano,
The Carpenters,
the Four Tops,
Melanie,
Bobby Womack,
Queen Latifah,
The Seekers,
George Benson,
Hugh Masekela,
Eddie Hazel,
Raquel Welch,
Benn Jordan,
Jack Frost,
and John Phillips without The Mamas & the Papas.
House cover versions have been released by DJ Sammy and Royal Gigolos.
The John Mayer Trio covered "California Dreamin'" on the June 4, 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
The Japanese punk band Hi-Standard in 1996.
In 1987, Orange County-based punk band M.I.A.
In 2004 Lutricia McNeal.
Alvin and the Chipmunks.
The Beach Boys recorded a second version of "California Dreamin'" in 1986.
John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and McGuinn appear in the video.
Denny Doherty was on the East coast and declined; Cass Elliot had died in 1974.
This version of the song was referenced in the lyrics to The Dead Milkmen's 1988 novelty hit "Punk Rock Girl".
River City People recorded a version as a double A sided single with Carry the Blame in 1990, reaching number 13 on the official UK top 40 singles chart.
Mower
Sungha Jung plays this song on the fourth track of his 2011 debut album, "Perfect Blue".
Meat Loaf recorded the song on his 2012 album Hell in a Handbasket.
Use in media
The song is used repeatedly in the 1994 Wong Kar-wai film Chungking Express, in which a character played by singer Faye Wong obsessively listens to it.
In the soundtrack on the Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning film Forrest Gump.
A version by the band The Bald Eagles was used for the remake of the movie The Hills Have Eyes.
In the movie Congo the song is sung by members of an expedition as they prepare rafts for an ill-fated river trek.
"California Dreamin'", as covered by Bobby Womack (1968), features prominently in 2009 British film Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold, where the main character Mia dances to it and uses it as her audition piece.
In the South Park episode 201.
In the British time travelling sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart, one of the main characters, Phoebe, sang this song, thinking it had been written by her husband, Gary Sparrow.
A cover of the song by Shaw Blades was used in the final scene of the season 2 finale of Californication.
The song is used in promos for HBO Films' Cinema Verite.
It was also used in a "Butter Menthol" Cough Lolly TV advertisement in Australia
In 2004 the Mexican bank Banamex use the theme for a TV Commercial.
In 2003 was used in a sketch for 'The Sketch Show'.
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