Posted on 12/20/2024 4:03:09 PM PST by nickcarraway
Released in 1965, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.
The Mamas & The Papas’ classic 1965 version of “California Dreamin’” has joined Spotify’s Billions Club. It’s the seminal California band’s first time achieving the milestone.
The group, fronted by Mama Cass, originally sang backup on the song, first released in 1963 by Barry McGuire. But their version would go on to endure as one of the most popular hits of the era.
‘Jingle Bell Rock’: Bobby Helms’ Rockin’ Christmas Classic Cara Delevingne Stars As Elton John In New ‘Step Into Christmas’ Video US Battle Royal, Christmas 1964: The Supremes Vs. The Beatles Christmas Music 2024 Playlist The Mamas & The Papas "California Dreamin'" (September 24, 1967) On The Ed Sullivan Show
Click to load video Although “California Dreamin’” was released as a single in late 1965, it wouldn’t break through on the charts until 1966, after gaining some traction off Boston radio play. At the opening of the song, some of McGuire’s vocals are even still slightly audible.
The Billions Club certification is the latest in a long list of accolades achieved by the song since its release. The track has been certified three-times Platinum by the RIAA, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. In Rolling Stone’s 2021 ranking of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” “California Dreamin’” came in at number 420.
Beyond the numbers, “California Dreamin’” has also left a notable cultural footprint. The song features as a prominent plot point in Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai’s 1994 film Chungking Express. A popular Beach Boys cover of the track also appears, more recently, in the Netflix series Stranger Things, the streaming platforms most-watched original series of all time. In addition to The Beach Boys, the song has also been covered by the band America, the German DJ Freischwimmer, and the Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano.
Some would say the lead singer of the Mamas and Papas was Denny Doherty - he certainly was on the song “California Dreamin.’”
I would say John Phillips fronted the band - he wrote most of the great songs, including “California Dreamin’”
Michelle Phillips said John Phillips didn’t want Cass in the group because of the way she looked, and often didn’t treat her well.
Some say that line is “The Preacher likes the coal.”
Stopped in to a church I passed along the way Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees) And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray) You know the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold) He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay).
John Phillips was a great vocal arranger and certainly the equal of Brian Wilson in that era.
I saw an interview of Michelle Phillips who said she hated “Monday, Monday” - it was so simple. But after a few years, she came to love it as one her favorites in large part to the vocal arrangements.
“California Dreamin’” was a catalyst for me to move to Hollywood and transfer from Cincinnati to UCLA in June,68...just as Manson was recruiting his family.
LoL.
#2 is Public Enemy, ‘Fight the Power’
1989
#3 is Sam Cooke, ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’
1964
#4 Bob Dylan, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’
1965
#5 Nirvana, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’
1991
Obviously a highly subjective list. FTR, I prefer Weird Al Yanovic’s rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to the original.
The babylon bee version “California fleein’” is the absolute best version bar none!
you cannot deny the total nuclear power of ‘ Teen Spirit’
It’s a great song but grossly overplayed
I was fortunate to have the 45 which got a lot of play.
Weird Al said Kurt Cobain (who'd given Weird Al permission) was able to see him perform the song - right before Cobain committed suicide. He said Cobain laughed so hard he fell off of his chair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FklUAoZ6KxY
I’m a huge Paul Simon fan - really great songwriter!
That said, the Bangles’ cover of Hazy Shade of Winter is a rare instance of a cover being better than the original.
“John Phillips was a great vocal arranger and certainly the equal of Brian Wilson in that era.”
JP was definitely a great songwriter and vocal arranger. Not the equal of Brian in terms of composition and production, though. Phillip could hash out a great song on guitar... and arrange his group’s vocals... but then he needed Lou Adler and the Wrecking Crew to turn it into a hit record. Brian didn’t need Lou. In the Wrecking Crew documentary that Tommy Tedesco’s son did, Leon Russell says that Brian was the greatest music genius that they worked with.
Beach Boys used the Wrecking Crew - the best of the best session players. BW was certainly a great arranger...but Tony Asher’s lyrics on Pet Sounds made that album special and far more adult/intellectual than Brian’s lyrics.
A friend is a Mastering Engineer who remastered “Pet Sounds” and gifted me a copy of that album and 28 of the BB’s hits - all sourced from the studio master tapes...and so many others incl Beatles, Who, Stones, etc...
Yes, Brian’s best productions 1965-67 were with the Wrecking Crew playing on the tracks.
I heard George Noory say he plays that song regularly (can’t remember how often he said) but at some point each month.
In the middle of the night.
In the dark.
On Coast to Coast between radio testimonials of out of body experiences and hauntings.
Why is Michelle Phillips singing with and eating a banana? It’s not like she couldn’t sing. And oh dear Lord, I’d forgotten what a knockout she was.
I’ve only met a few celebrities in my life but Michelle Philips is one of them. She was promoting a solo album of hers way back in the day and signing at a local record store. I brought in a Mamas and Papas greatest hits album and she was surprised by it but was quite nice and signed it for me. Her daughter Chynna Phillips Baldwin has a flaky Christian youtube channel called California Preaching and sometimes has her mom on. I pray for them all. The Lord moves in mysterious ways out there in la la land. :)
I discovered two really good Internet radio oldies stations. I think you can listen online on your iPhone iPad and on Alexa.
Kvkvi. And
Groovyradio.us.
Commercial free and both play songs that necessarily aren’t played on corporate radio oldies stations Google KVKVI to get access to both that make your selection KVKVI is 60s through 90s groovy radio is 60s and 70s which is my preference
Michelle Phillips contributed one line to the song, ‘I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray’. She got co-writing credit, and earned half the royalties, which have amounted to a fortune. She’s talked about how lucky she was when she was asked to help with the song.
For me, the timing was perfect. It was March, when winter wasn't quite over and spring had not begun, so the song got me dreaming about my home in the Southland.
Sognando la California (I'm dreaming of Calfornia)--The Dik Diks (1966)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.