California Dreamin'
"California Dreamin'" is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and first recorded by Barry McGuire. 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. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor.
| "California Dreamin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
West German picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by the Mamas & the Papas | ||||
| from the album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears | ||||
| B-side | "Somebody Groovy" | |||
| Released | December 8, 1965 | |||
| Recorded | November 4, 1965 | |||
| Studio | United Western, Hollywood | |||
| Genre |
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| Length | 2:42 | |||
| Label | Dunhill • RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | John Phillips, Michelle Phillips | |||
| Producer(s) | Lou Adler | |||
| The Mamas & the Papas singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio | ||||
| "California Dreamin'" on YouTube | ||||
"California Dreamin'" became a signpost of the California sound, heralding the arrival of the nascent counterculture era. It was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 2023 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 420 in its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.