1965 Top Ten Songs: California Dreamin’ (#6)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (74805)
United States
April 25, 2025 11:09am CST
Think about it. You may have heard this song today on an “oldies” station. It’s sixty years old now. You know something else? In 60 years people will still hear this song. It’s a true classic. Back to 1965 for today’s song.
#6: California Dreamin’ - The Mamas and the Papas
I love these instances where the songwriter wasn’t the first person to record a song. In this case, John and Michelle Phillips wrote this in 1963, and Barry McGuire (of “Eve of Destruction” fame) first recorded it!
In fact, according to Picky Wedia, the Mamas and the Papas sang backup on the McGuire version. When they recorded it, all they did was erase McGuire’s vocals and put Denny Doherty’s lead vocal in its place! (Lou Adler produced both the McGuire album and the first Mamas and Papas album, so there wasn’t an “issue” with that.)
Now, let me give you something to laugh your butt off about: the album cover (in the screen grab above) was BANNED because showing a toilet was considered “indecent.” 
Enjoy that chuckle, then enjoy one of the great folk-rock classics of the 60s.
California Dreamin’
Written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips
Recorded by the Mamas and the Papas
From If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1965
I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A.:
Enjoy that chuckle, then enjoy one of the great folk-rock classics of the 60s.
California Dreamin’
Written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips
Recorded by the Mamas and the Papas
From If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1965
I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A.:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
14 people like this
12 responses
@RasmaSandra (85156)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Apr
What's not to like? Great stuff.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
You can ignore the covers, but as for this version, there’s NOTHING not to like!!
3 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (109867)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
25 Apr
I love that song sung by The Mamas And The Papas.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
I can understand that. This is a grade-A, genuine CLASSIC!
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (43946)
•
26 Apr
@FourWalls
It truly is a classic. I do hear their music occasionally on the oldies station when I’m driving.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (174716)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Apr
This is a favorite and is always on my playlist. It's one I have to hear every spring. This and some Beach Boys.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
Glad you get to enjoy hearing it an extra time this year!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
I think it’s been a popular song everywhere.
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (1455)
•
25 Apr
I know this song.
Yay for me. Mind you I would think that 99% of people do know it.
Hard to believe that in my lifetime an album cover was banned for showing a toilet.
The Beech Boys did a good version of this as well but the best version I heard was from an album called Freischwimmer where it had been remixed into whatever the heck a tropical mix version is. Very fancy. Is that a word.
Anyway. The track reached Numero Uno on the Dance Chart and correct me if I am wrong but no previous version had reached the top of the charts.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
It’s pretty amazing how classic songs never hit #1 in their “classic” version. The only version of “Sweet Dreams (Of You),” generally considered a great Patsy Cline song, to hit #1 was Emmylou Harris’ version.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (7360)
• United Kingdom
26 Apr
Incredible to think this is 60 years old. It’s still played regularly on our radio stations, and seems so fresh. Great song! 
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (7360)
• United Kingdom
27 Apr
@FourWalls It does. I don’t know why we spell it “grey”, as your ‘way’, makes more sense: stray, may, day……
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
It starts off with such a captivating line (“all the leaves are brown and the sky is gray” [“grey” for you 
]) that you can’t turn it off!
]) that you can’t turn it off!1 person likes this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
I’m in complete agreement. Things like this and “Monday, Monday” (on the same album, no less!) are just amazing.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
You know this? On such a winter’s day??? 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
28 Apr
Yes, your toilet is SCANDALOUS.
That’s so funny. We all have them in our houses, so it’s not like we’d never seen one before it appeared on that album cover.
That’s so funny. We all have them in our houses, so it’s not like we’d never seen one before it appeared on that album cover. 1 person likes this
@grenery8 (16804)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
30 Apr
@FourWalls i agree. strange times back then, in this sense
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (74805)
• United States
26 Apr
Yes it is, and yet it’s still gaining new fans who weren’t even born when it came out!
