California Dreamin´ The Mamas & The Papas Acoustic Cover w/ 12-String Fender Villager 1969

(c)1966 Words & Music John Philips, Michelle Philips/M. Gilliam
From the album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 dreamin´ on such a winter´s day

Stopped into a church, I passed along the way
WelI, I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
You know the preacher like the cold, he knows I´m gonna stay

California dreamin´ on such a winter´s day [break]

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

Californa dreamin´ on such a winter´s day
On such a winter´s day
On such a winter´s day..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gitter tuned down half step.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a 2002 interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Michelle Phillips explained how this song came about. It was 1963, and she was newly married to John Phillips. They were living in New York City, which was having a particularly cold winter, at least by Michelle's standards as she was from sunny California. John would walk around the apartment at night working out tunes, and one morning brought the first verse of the song to Michelle. It was a song about longing to be in another place, and it was inspired by Michelle's homesickness.
Michelle enjoyed visiting churches, and a few days before, she and John visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, which inspired the second verse.
When the group was just starting out in 1965, their friend Barry McGuire helped them get a contract with his record label, Dunhill Records. McGuire recorded the first version of the song with The Mamas & The Papas as his backing band and a harmonica solo instead of a flute. It was going to be used as the follow up single to his hit, "Eve Of Destruction."

The Mamas & The Papas then decided to record it on their own, with Denny Doherty (the other Papa) singing lead. The results were impressive, and Dunhill Records agreed to use it as their first single, holding off on McGuire's version so there wouldn't be competition from an established artist.
At the same time, The Mamas & The Papas' version of their song "Go Where You Wanna Go" was pulled to focus on "California Dreamin'," allowing The Fifth Dimension to score their first chart it with the song a few months later.
The Beach Boys released a cover of this in 1986. Other popular covers are from America, George Benson and Guster.

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[hjw488]

Klingt super.

[Sunambra]

Another perfect cover.

[MartinRaetzJr]

I came from Threelegsoman's channel to your video. I agree with him. Really great and very good for play along.

[threelegsoman]

Great interpretation. Much better than mine. Thumbs up.

[kajwilhelm]

Great sound, both you & that guitar! Very clear sound. I'm so gonna buy me a 12-stringer some day...would you recomend a Fender, or? Not the one you are playing here, I no you ain't gonna sell it because of the Mozart thing ; )