The Mama's & the Papa's - California Dreamin'

I'd be safe and warm if I was in LA.

Album: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (debut album)
Recorded: Los Angeles, California
Genre: Pop, Sunshine Pop, California Sound
Album Release: February 28th 1966
Single Release: December 8th 1965 (2nd single)
Length: 2:37
Producer: Lou Adler
Vocalist: Denny Doherty
Label: Dunhill Records

Official Audio


Live [miming]

Charts, Streams & Sales

Canada (singles): #3
France (singles): certified gold
Germany (singles): certified gold
UK (singles): 3x platinum
USA (singles): #4 [3x platinum]
Spotify: Over 900 million
YouTube Music: Over 700 million
Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2021): #420

Credits

Acoustic guitar [x2], bass, drums, flute, keyboards, percussion

Details

• California girl Michelle Phillips was homesick living in a cold, autumnal New York when her husband glanced upon her misery and became inspired to write 'California Dreamin'. The song is about wanting to return home, to be in the sun on the other side of the country.
  
  
• Notable acts to cover the 'California Dreamin'' include The Beach Boys, Bobby Womack, Nancy Sinatra, & The Carpenters. Although John and Michelle Phillips, both members of The Mama's and the Papa's, are credited as songwriters, their version is also a cover. Barry McGuire sang the original in 1963.
  
  
• The flute solo came from the bands reluctance to use a more traditional guitar and was stumbled upon largely by chance. Jazz musician Bud Shank happened to be in the same studio while The Mama's & the Papa's were making 'California Dreamin''. He heard the solo gap, improvised his part, and recorded it perfectly in just one take.
  
  

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