Released January 1967 Length 2:49 | Genre Pop Label Mercury Records 72649 | |
B-side "I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)" Writer(s) Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling | ||
"California Nights" is a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Liebling and recorded by Lesley Gore. The single reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1967 and stayed on the charts for a then-lengthy 14 weeks. The song appeared on her 1967 album, California Nights.
The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie. The track features guitars and drum set in a 60's pop fashion. The chorus includes multiples long tones over abnormal chords and the verses are noticeably accompanied by a soft electric piano. The lyrics speak of reminiscing about romantic evenings on the beach with a lover.
The song was ranked number 61 on Billboard magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1967.
An edit of the song (removing the second verse and refrain) was lip-synced by Gore on the January 19, 1967 episode of the TV series Batman, "That Darn Catwoman". She played Pussycat, the Catwoman's protégé, who also wanted to be a singer.