L.A. Songs: California Dreamin’

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Hey, look who’s back, and so soon after they were in the New York countdown! One thing you can say about these acts: they made equal opportunity big city references. Here’s another brilliant song from a brilliant act that probably already has you wondering just what’s in the top ten, if this isn’t. California Dreamin’ - Mamas and the Papas Yeah, see you tomorrow. Well, not totally: I always have to mention the album cover showing a toilet, and how that was so controversial when this album came out in 1965. In the Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl,” they put a reference to the Beach Boys’ version of this song (“someone played a Beach Boys song on the jukebox, it was ‘California Dreamin’”, so we started screamin’”). Probably in the late 80s kids didn’t know the original. That doesn’t mean they should NOT have known the original. When you hear a Mamas and Papas song on the radio, this is probably going to be it. It’s depressing, contrasting the cold of the big city (probably New York, but they didn’t say) with the warmth of home. And you know something? It doesn’t matter where you are, or where home is, that’s true. You can be “cold” in Miami and warm in Minneapolis if Minneapolis is your home. Kudos to the Phillips duo for such a great song. 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 L.A. LYRICS: I’d be safe and warm if I was in L.A.