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The Mamas & the Papas — California Dreaming
Album: If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
Avg rating:
8.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1961









Released: 1966
Length: 2:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)

I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day

Stopped into 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)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)

If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Comments (128)add comment
 eyke wrote:

The album displayed is the alternate cover. The original showed the toilet bowl which was covered by the box of text. Typical 69's "morals" that you cannot show a toilet bowl....2 couples in a bath tub was OK, obviously. 


Aha, same as the Stones "Beggars Banquet".
However, I can't say I'm too concerned about not seeing a toilet on an album cover.   ; )
 jp33442 wrote:

The beach boys did a great version of this song




Yes they did. But, this is the BEST VERSION!!
 inozjeff wrote:

Never tire hearing this perfect record, sung perfectly.  John Phillips does not get the credit due him.



He used to bang his daughter.  
The beach boys did a great version of this song
I've hopped into my RP time machine and gone back to Clark NJ in 1966.  Wow.  Idyllic.  
 wallaby wrote:

Hey, brilliant...  great that you noticed;  after all these years, I never did!

p.s.  - if it was meant to be possessive, then the apostrophe before the "s" indicates a singular Mama and Papa, possesses...
        - if it was meant for all of the Mamas and the Papas, then the apostrophe would come after the "s", because it's used to make them plural...
        - if the "s" is part of the word's ending in the spelling of it, then only both an apostrophe And an "s", would make it possessive...  as in "Bridget Jones's Diary", or "The Beatles's White album".
        - for some reason, we're all afraid to do it correctly;  just ask yourself:  Is the "s" on the end of the word, added there to make it plural?
        - so, "people's choice", works, even though people is the plural of person...
        - and, "The Beatles's White album", works, because it's the name of a single group...

I learned from my Auntie, (a former British schoolteacher), only after I had become an older adult...



Thanks, I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't sure!
I know California wasn't perfect back then either but it sure feels like it now.
Try looking at Michelle through my fourteen year old eyes...
 freemusic wrote:

Sound engineers' question -- ?
Great or not, many recordings from the 1960's sound unnatural and unnecessarily odd.  They were mixed so the left and right channels sound as if the recording was done from two separate rooms.  Why?   Some early Beatles recordings did too.  It's almost like they were trying to demo what you could do with  "stereo" when it was new.  Granted, many of the stereos like the ubiquitous Magnavox consoles only separated speakers by five feet.  But it still seems odd to me.  I'm going to ask a friend that owns a recording studio that's been around a long time, but I'd like to hear from other studio recording experts. 


Recording, mixing & mastering has evolved a lot since the mid 60s. High fidelity, stereo headphones, such as Koss & Sennheiser were  a rarity, having been recently introduced.  Bruce Botnick, who recorded & mixed the Doors albums, was way ahead of his time & his work is comparable to the standards of today (unlike many 60s engineers)! And yes, many engineers exaggerated L&R separation (as a demo?!). Many Beatles albums sound horrible on headphones! The were mixed on studio monitor speakers, often not placed very far apart (with no reference listening on headphones)! ...We've come a long way!!   Even if you don't like The Doors, checkout the quality (fidelity) of the sound!  Also check out mid 60s Beach Boys for fidelity. Led Zeppelin 2 is poor quality (Great Music), LZ-1 is better quality, along with subsequent LZ albums. Hocus Pocus by Focus (1972) has an amazing drum sound, well recorded & mixed, it sounds like they used the iconic Sennheiser MD-421 mics on the drums, popular in Europe at the time, but NOT in the USA!
This song starts with the famous German mondegreen "Anneliese Braun".
 
From a random German website I pulled up: "The lyrics of "California Dreamin'" start with the line "All the leaves are brown". German listeners misinterpreted these words as "Anneliese Braun". The interrogator became a classic and, along with "Agathe Bauer" (from "I've got the Power" from "The Power" by Snap!), is one of the protagonists of the entire interrogator phenomenon."
 eyke wrote:

The album displayed is the alternate cover. The original showed the toilet bowl which was covered by the box of text. Typical 69's "morals" that you cannot show a toilet bowl....2 couples in a bath tub was OK, obviously. 



Sound engineers' question -- ?
Great or not, many recordings from the 1960's sound unnatural and unnecessarily odd.  They were mixed so the left and right channels sound as if the recording was done from two separate rooms.  Why?   Some early Beatles recordings did too.  It's almost like they were trying to demo what you could do with  "stereo" when it was new.  Granted, many of the stereos like the ubiquitous Magnavox consoles only separated speakers by five feet.  But it still seems odd to me.  I'm going to ask a friend that owns a recording studio that's been around a long time, but I'd like to hear from other studio recording experts. 
The album displayed is the alternate cover. The original showed the toilet bowl which was covered by the box of text. Typical 69's "morals" that you cannot show a toilet bowl....2 couples in a bath tub was OK, obviously. 

So cool to see Michelle Phillips in the great Jacob Dylan film, "Echo in the Canyon". As she says about herself in the days when she was married to John and fooled around with Denny, "I was a busy girl...", smiling a Cheshire Cat Grin.
 bruceandjenna wrote:

I agree.  I'm from the 60s, which mean I'm in my 70s
 

I'm from the '60's, and in my 60s. Is your math off? 
 wallaby wrote:

Hey, brilliant...  great that you noticed;  after all these years, I never did!

p.s.  - if it was meant to be possessive, then the apostrophe before the "s" indicates a singular Mama and Papa, possesses...
        - if it was meant for all of the Mamas and the Papas, then the apostrophe would come after the "s", because it's used to make them plural...
        - if the "s" is part of the word's ending in the spelling of it, then only both an apostrophe And an "s", would make it possessive...  as in "Bridget Jones's Diary", or "The Beatles's White album".
        - for some reason, we're all afraid to do it correctly;  just ask yourself:  Is the "s" on the end of the word, added there to make it plural?
        - so, "people's choice", works, even though people is the plural of person...
        - and, "The Beatles's White album", works, because it's the name of a single group...

I learned from my Auntie, (a former British schoolteacher), only after I had become an older adult...

 
  It is funny that the album cover has that all-too-familiar error of using apostrophes to denote plurals.  However (though there is no "right" answer), the possessive would be "The Beatles' White Album" if one were using the technique of writing as it is spoken.  "Bridget Jones's Diary" would be written that way because of how it is spoken ("joneses"), but Beatles wouldn't be pronounced "beatleses".  
 tonypf wrote:

I agree and I'm from the middle of the Pacific!
 
I agree.  I'm from the 60s, which mean I'm in my 70s
 ziakut wrote:
Love this tune. Upon a glance, I'm seeing that they misused the apostrophes in their band title. The way they use it...it's almost as a possesive. Well...they certainly were, so maybe it's correct. :)
 
Hey, brilliant...  great that you noticed;  after all these years, I never did!

p.s.  - if it was meant to be possessive, then the apostrophe before the "s" indicates a singular Mama and Papa, possesses...
        - if it was meant for all of the Mamas and the Papas, then the apostrophe would come after the "s", because it's used to make them plural...
        - if the "s" is part of the word's ending in the spelling of it, then only both an apostrophe And an "s", would make it possessive...  as in "Bridget Jones's Diary", or "The Beatles's White album".
        - for some reason, we're all afraid to do it correctly;  just ask yourself:  Is the "s" on the end of the word, added there to make it plural?
        - so, "people's choice", works, even though people is the plural of person...
        - and, "The Beatles's White album", works, because it's the name of a single group...

I learned from my Auntie, (a former British schoolteacher), only after I had become an older adult...

Love this tune. Upon a glance, I'm seeing that they misused the apostrophes in their band title. The way they use it...it's almost as a possesive. Well...they certainly were, so maybe it's correct. :)
 scott_bruce wrote:
I grew up in California, and never really "got" this song until I moved out to the Mid-Atlantic. The first winter out here was so cold that the Chesapeake Bay froze up so that no freighters could make it up to Baltimore and people were driving their cars out on the Bay. Ay-yep, then I REALLY understood the song!

 
Same here.  Moved to Philly from SoCal and the first winter there was truly a mutha.  Also moving gave a new meaning to Simon & Garfunkel as well.
A true classic. Always has been and will continue to be. Michelle was my teen age crush.  {#Clap}
Image result for california
 vanillagorilla wrote:
I always thought the blonde one is super hot

 
OMG...first I say I agree with you....Michelle Phillips WAS a super babe!  And 2nd, I hope you know her history, she has been around a bit, and I hope as a 70something she's happy and loving life still. And speaking of the 70s, check out the movie "Valentino" from 1977....you'll get to see a lot of Michelle in that one. 

Long Live RP!


I grew up in California, and never really "got" this song until I moved out to the Mid-Atlantic. The first winter out here was so cold that the Chesapeake Bay froze up so that no freighters could make it up to Baltimore and people were driving their cars out on the Bay. Ay-yep, then I REALLY understood the song!
I always thought the blonde one is super hot
Hey man,
It's June. Its summer. If you're going to play some CA music, play some Summer music...Pet Sounds.  
a true classic!
check Benny Benassi re-mix
 
Reminds me of counting crows live gigs. They played this just before they came on. great gigs! Especially when they started with the thrash version of angels of the silences!
 steveinmaine wrote:
The leaves are brown, the grass is brown, everything's brown. 
 

 
everything is cold and brown like Thanksgiving dinner
Carpool karaoke!
Never tire hearing this perfect record, sung perfectly.  John Phillips does not get the credit due him.
'All the trees are gone,
and there's a motorway,
can't go for a walk,
through that copse today'

The Battle Of Twyford Down -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6QilY51xFA
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/28/twyford-down-20years-m3-protest
The leaves are brown, the grass is brown, everything's brown. 

On the other hand, I certainly am dreaming about California.
 
{#Daisy}
 meloman_76 wrote:
I think, it's one of the greatest hits of all the times! I'm from Russia. 

 
I agree and I'm from the middle of the Pacific!
My father was 6 years old when they produced this song. He now is a grandpa. 3 generations listening to this song and we all are happy hearing it.
 
 LizK wrote:
In a Corvette drag-racing a Camaro, both going 90 - smashing into a pickup truck driven by an old black guy, music by M&P.  The music played on in the wreckage.

 
I'll bet he really appreciated the soundtrack to "Pardon My Deathwish, Old Black Guy." 
 treatment_bound wrote:

If you don't got Mojo Nixon, then your store could use some fixin'!
 
https://www.radioparadise.com/?name=Music&func=search&type=artist&search=Mojo+Nixon

BillG gets a pass from Beelzebubba.
I think, it's one of the greatest hits of all the times! I'm from Russia. 
I live in New Jersey.....This song is old.
{#Daisy} {#Daisy} {#Daisy} {#Daisy}{#Yes} {#Clap}
In a Corvette drag-racing a Camaro, both going 90 - smashing into a pickup truck driven by an old black guy, music by M&P.  The music played on in the wreckage.
Nothing like cruising through a sunny winter's day with this song cranked!! 
{#Sunny} 
As the temperature plummets -- it's due to go well below and stay there for some days -- and snow moves into the area, this sounds NICE
Nothing campy about this album cover. 
 
{#Wave}..... is G O D L I K E
 d48m02h1918 wrote:
Significant sound that will forever bring about thoughts, images and memories of the 1960's.

What a song!!  {#Cheers} 

 

Amen to that. 
Lived in California over 50 years, and the dream that lured so many here in that time has resulted in a reality that often resembles a nightmare
 Stingray wrote:


"Kuschel-Rock" CD`s are a very nasty and typicallyl German perversion!



 
{#Clap} Best definition ever!
Mamma Cass.....memories
Always a smile when this comes on...
My late brother's favorite song, I could hear him playing it over and over in his room across the hall when we were in high school.

Thinking about you, bro. 
Significant sound that will forever bring about thoughts, images and memories of the 1960's.

What a song!!  {#Cheers} 
this is great.

but clearly the Music from the 60ties were not mixed for head phones :-)
Tasty beyond compare.
ВелОкая песМя, я счОтаю... A great song, I think... 
 
 Stingray wrote:
10 - last word!

 
Definitely, although I have no idea what you were saying earlier about "Kuschel-Rock" (cuddle-rock? Do you mean make-out music? Ah, apparently it's closer to "soft rock." That's not an exclusively German thing). 

These guys had such a great sound and harmonies. Sherf is right: they'd chart today if they were around. 
 musickat wrote:
I actually have this album.....Got it in a record club that my parents belonged.   What a way to discover new music at the time.   Connecting a country girl to the world of music.   Such variety.....once a month 8-9 new albums just showed up.   Loved it.

 
My brother had this a album as well when I was a kid.  I used to stare at the cover, and notice that there seemed to be a whole bunch more "wackiness" going on elsewhere in the world vs. our little household in small town USA.  

Kind of sad that Michelle is the only one left from that fun group...
I actually have this album.....Got it in a record club that my parents belonged.   What a way to discover new music at the time.   Connecting a country girl to the world of music.   Such variety.....once a month 8-9 new albums just showed up.   Loved it.
 ick wrote:

Punk Rock Girl - The Dead Milkmen

 
If you don't got Mojo Nixon, then your store could use some fixin'!
Takes a smile from me every time I listen to it, positive energy!
This one would be on the charts if released today for the first time
 anotherlistener wrote:
This is just classic, and yes, it is soooo good for the ears.  10
 

Please-please-please - do not call this "A CLASSIC"

and, by doing so, use conservative meassures to rate it!

What you say feels as if you wanted this "song" to appear on

a "Kuschel-Rock" CD, if you know what I mean!

 

PS
"Kuschel-Rock" CD`s are a very nasty and typicallyl German perversion!


 ziggytrix wrote:
And someone played a Beach Boys song
On the juke box

It it was "California Dreamin"
So we started screamin'
On such a winter's day
 
Punk Rock Girl - The Dead Milkmen
 Stingray wrote:
10 - last word!
 
2nd that.
 
 shellbella wrote:
{#Daisy}
 

Dislike Smileys - still, your choice is the best one could "say"

about song and the times!

Smiling at you...!


This is just classic, and yes, it is soooo good for the ears.  10
10 - last word!
{#Daisy}
 ziggytrix wrote:
And someone played a Beach Boys song
On the juke box

It it was "California Dreamin"
So we started screamin'
On such a winter's day
 
That's funny, I never even noticed that! I wonder if they did this on purpose (probably yes...)
somehow this is just better driving down the road   not really headed anywhere   just drivin
And someone played a Beach Boys song
On the juke box

It it was "California Dreamin"
So we started screamin'
On such a winter's day
Bumped from an 8 to a 9 just because.....Play the Mama's and Papa's anytime!!

 zipper wrote:One of those songs that remind you of your happy childhood that wasn't so happy but would've been much more difficult without songs like this.

You got that right, cept I remember my California childhood as happy....(selective remembering?)
I LOVE this song!!  {#Cheers}
 zipper wrote:
One of those songs that remind you of your happy childhood that wasn't so happy but would've been much more difficult without songs like this.
 



Glad that you had music to ger you through it, and that you're still here.
not many pop hits with a flute solo
 zipper wrote:
One of those songs that remind you of your happy childhood that wasn't so happy but would've been much more difficult without songs like this.
 

I. LOVE. THIS. SONG.  {#Heartkiss}
Beautiful — I'm surprised they could stay away from their various proclivities and indulgences long enough to maintain these gorgeous harmonies. This and the Beach Boys "God Only Knows" still hold up after all this time... kinda nice and kinda sad all rolled into one. 
 zipper wrote:
One of those songs that remind you of your happy childhood that wasn't so happy but would've been much more difficult without songs like this.
 
Having grown up there and being there when it came out, it was just a great song.

Now it is so much more.
In another dimension, Mama Cass is having a sing-off with Adele.   {#High-five}
"If I didn´t tell her, I could leave today".
Genius.
One of the excuses we always have for not doing something.
Like "if it wasn´t for..., If only I...."
Absolutly great observation of human behavior.
What great memories this tune stirs in me. Papa John was a great tune smith and the harmonies are powerful.  I recommend Phillip's biography. Shows the creative genius within and demon of substance abuse.
One of those songs that remind you of your happy childhood that wasn't so happy but would've been much more difficult without songs like this.
I like this song so much I sing it out loud... That is NOT a good thing.....
No comments since 2005???    Well, it's about time for one.  Poor mammas and pappas.  {#Yes}

The first song I can remember hearing on the radio and loving. Never really liked another song by them, but this one is a very happy memory.
¡Y arriba el flower power!
Angloray wrote:
I'm with you on that one. Always makes me happy to be here in LaLa Land.
Funny, it always makes me happy to be in Boston. I love when the sky is gray and the leaves are brown, although it's a very small percentage of leaves in October that turn brown -- mostly it's orange, red, yellow, all the fire colors. I know the cathedral he's singing about, because I pass it every day. The word "California" just sort of fades from my mind when I hear this song. No offense!
Near perfect song from my high school days. You either get it or you don't - but still has a lot of energy.
Makes me want to rent a convertible, and head for the coast...
How could you not like these songs?
stevebeaver wrote:
Popular and over-played. Yet still a GREAT song. Cool.
I'm with you on that one. Always makes me happy to be here in LaLa Land. (Although of course there are always deeper M&P cuts to play in addition to this one...) I love how we all have opinions on when RP goes too far into the "Top 40s" world. My low point today was hearing James Brown's "I Feel Good," but it looks like a good many people were very happy to hear that one!
federico wrote:
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! What's next? ABBA? (god forbid)
Great tune, don't be such a snob, just let go and love it. And please, yes, some Abba too. Dancing queen would be just fine....
Ha! My mother used to sing this while cooking. It cracked us up! Thanks for the nostalgia trip.
nice segue way, bill! good tune.
The Biography Channel has a good episode on Cass Elliot. She certainly was the creative drive behind the M & P's. I did not really appreciate her incredible talent while she was alive.
Kurt_from_La_Qui wrote:
A HA!!! you played the mama's and papa's! i figured you rejected "twelve thirty (young girls are coming to the canyon)" because it wasn't fit for the format here. well i think it would fit even better than this one. it's a heck of a lot more unique and never played into the ground. come on bill, give it a spin!
i remember that one vaguely. it WAS cool! more quirky than this...
Skeletor wrote:
We're getting real top 40 here. I guess I could dig up an old Casey Kasem tape and find this one. Vocals are kind of nice, especially when listening in headphones, but really, this is hard-core top 40.
Right. you hear this one next to Xtina, Chingy, & Usher all the time.
Typesbad wrote:
Yes, well the Top 40 isn't always wrong you know. And this song is truely unique. It definatley sets a distinct mood. I can't really think of another pop song with such a structure. And I don't recall any song that used the "lyric echo" so effectively. Not since Row Your Boat, anyway.
Wonderful vocal harmonies to boot.
Typesbad wrote:
Yes, well the Top 40 isn't always wrong you know. And this song is truely unique. It definatley sets a distinct mood. I can't really think of another pop song with such a structure. And I don't recall any song that used the "lyric echo" so effectively. Not since Row Your Boat, anyway.
Word.
Popular and over-played. Yet still a GREAT song. Cool.
Skeletor wrote:
We're getting real top 40 here. I guess I could dig up an old Casey Kasem tape and find this one. Vocals are kind of nice, especially when listening in headphones, but really, this is hard-core top 40.
Yes, well the Top 40 isn't always wrong you know. And this song is truely unique. It definatley sets a distinct mood. I can't really think of another pop song with such a structure. And I don't recall any song that used the "lyric echo" so effectively. Not since Row Your Boat, anyway.
AC wrote:
God, this was a lifetime ago.
Um, er, ah, well, yes! Good to hear it again.
KevinM wrote:
Oh God, please Noooooooooooooooooo Sucko-Barfo is too good for this one.
Ha! you're funny.
federico wrote:
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! What's next? ABBA? (god forbid)
yeah!! that would be cool!! Well ... if you change your mind ... ... take a chance, take a chance, taka taka chan-chance
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! What's next? ABBA? (god forbid)
Skeletor wrote:
We're getting real top 40 here
Even the top 40 occasionally contains a good song. Especially, what, 35 years ago? Don't you want to educate us ignorant youngsters what groovy tunes our Mamas & Papas were playing back in the day? :-) I like it! :goodvibes: :goodvibes: :goodvibes: :goodvibes: :goodvibes:
Can't hear this without thinking of Faye Wong in "Chungking Express"...if you've seen the film you know what I mean.
We're getting real top 40 here. I guess I could dig up an old Casey Kasem tape and find this one. Vocals are kind of nice, especially when listening in headphones, but really, this is hard-core top 40.
Originally Posted by newwavegurly: This is one of those songs I NEVER get tired of hearing.
Ditto NWG. I find this song running through my head at times...and I don't mind it!
This is one of those songs I NEVER get tired of hearing.
I really like this song. It resonates with me for specific reasons that don\'t apply to everyone. It\'s my favorite on \"Made in USA\" Beach Boys CD I have. I didn\'t even know it was a Mamas and Papas song! Thanks!
originally posted by lbrc: no!, give it a rest.
i never will!!!
Great add to the play list...just don\'t play it very often
A HA!!! you played the mama\'s and papa\'s! i figured you rejected \"twelve thirty (young girls are coming to the canyon)\" because it wasn\'t fit for the format here. well i think it would fit even better than this one. it\'s a heck of a lot more unique and never played into the ground. come on bill, give it a spin!
Truly classic. Cass Elliot had the most magnificent voice! Music from an era when melodic form counted for something and lyrics that any \"foreigner\" in a big city could relate to. The variety and breadth of music played on RP are what keep me listening.
Ah, brings back memories. Especially since I lived all my life in CA & am now in VA. Thanks Bill.