The song was written in 1963 by John and Michelle Phillips while they were living in New York, inspired by Michelle's home sickness for California. At the time, the Phillipses were members of the folk group New Journeymen which evolved into The Mamas and 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 recorded their own version which was released in 1965. It never made it to number one, but stayed on the charts for 17 weeks.
"California Dreamin'" was the first single and first big hit for The Mamas & the Papas and is, in fact, their impetus for being. If not for the song, and the group's talent, they may have never emerged as the important band they became. It is often incorrectly considered to be a "summer" song, even though the lyrics unambiguously state that the events it describes occur "on such a winter's day".
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 recorded their own version which was released in 1965. It never made it to number one, but stayed on the charts for 17 weeks.
"California Dreamin'" was the first single and first big hit for The Mamas & the Papas and is, in fact, their impetus for being. If not for the song, and the group's talent, they may have never emerged as the important band they became. It is often incorrectly considered to be a "summer" song, even though the lyrics unambiguously state that the events it describes occur "on such a winter's day".
Scroll and Sing:
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreaming
On such a winter's day
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees
And I pretend to pray
You know the preacher likes the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreaming
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day
If I didn't tell her
I could leave today
California dreaming
On such a winter's day
On such a winter's day
On such a winter's day
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