B-side "Funky Pretty" Format Vinyl Genre Rock | Released April 16, 1973 Recorded 1972 Length 3:21 | |
"California Saga: California" is a song written by Al Jardine for American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1973 album Holland. The version released as a single is a different mix than the album track and contains additional vocals from Brian Wilson not heard on the album version, as well as other differences, including an alternate title, "California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)". This version was released on the compilation album The Warmth of the Sun.
Contents
Performed in a loping country-shuffle beat, It is musically reminiscent of their earlier hit "California Girls"; the songs have nearly identical basslines, though "California Saga" is a country song and "California Girls" is a rocker featuring the Wrecking Crew. The song was inspired by and makes mention of the Big Sur Folk Festival in which the band played in 1970.
Reception
The song reached #84 in Billboard, but performed better in the UK (#37 in the BBC chart) and New Zealand (#15 in the official NZ Listener top 20).