Neha Patil (Editor)

California Sun

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Published
  
1961

Written
  
Henry Glover Morris Levy

Writer(s)
  
Henry Glover Morris Levy

"California Sun" is a song written and originally recorded by Henry Glover and Morris Levy and performed by Joe Jones. It was then released by Roulette Records in the winter of 1961. It peaked at #89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

The Rivieras cover

The most successful version of the song was released by the Rivieras in 1964 and became the group's biggest hit in their short career. This song was the result of their first recording session at Chicago's Columbia Recording Studios in 1963 (purchased by manager Bill Dobslaw). The lineup for this session included Marty Fortson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Joe Pennell on lead guitar, Doug Gean on bass, Otto Nuss on organ, and Paul Dennert on drums. The original single cut from this session included the song "Played On" as the A-side, with "California Sun" as the B-side and was released on Dobslaw's Riviera label in 1963. DJ Art Roberts ensured that the "California Sun" side saw significant airplay on WLS. In response to the growing success, Dobslaw got the band a national distribution deal with USA Records, and the song was adequately distributed with "H.B. Goose Step" as the B-side.

The song entered the charts on January 25, 1964 and reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, staying on the chart for 10 weeks. The song was further hailed as the last American rock and roll hit before the British Invasion. Shortly after the song's release, the band experienced internal problems as Fortson and Pennell enlisted in the Marines, in addition to various lineup changes afterwards. A re-recording of the song with new lyrics, titled "Arizona Sun" was recorded in 1964, but not released until 2000 on the compilation Let's Stomp with The Rivieras! Unissued 1964 Recordings. "California Sun" was eventually featured on the band's debut album Let's Have A Party. A later version was released later that year as "California Sun '65" on their second and final album, Campus Party.

The song was used in the 1987 movie Good Morning, Vietnam, as well as on its soundtrack album.

This version was one of many California-related songs played throughout "Sunshine Plaza" in the original Disney California Adventure.

Other versions

  • Annette Funicello covered it in 1963.
  • A group called the Invaders recorded a cover in 1968, which sounds similar to the Rivieras version.
  • The Crickets recorded their version for their LP of the same name in 1964 (Liberty LRP 3351 / LST 7351).
  • The New York City rock band the Dictators included their own cover of the song on their 1975 Go Girl Crazy! debut album.
  • The song was performed by the Ramones on their 1977 Leave Home album and used in their 1979 Rock 'n' Roll High School motion picture. This version is on various compilations, including All the Stuff (And More!) Volume 1 and Hey Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology.
  • The Ramones' cover was also used in Jackass: The Movie, while the Rivieras's version was used in Oliver Stone's The Doors film, when Jim Morrison (played by Val Kilmer) arrives in Venice Beach.
  • Bobby Fuller recorded a cover of the song that can be found on El Paso Rock: Early Recordings Volume 3.
  • Tommy James & the Shondells recorded a cover of the song for their 1967 album, I Think We're Alone Now.
  • The song has often been played live by Chris Isaak and his band Silvertone, with the drummer Kenney Dale Johnson assuming lead vocals and Isaak playing the drums.
  • The song was covered by Frankie Avalon in the 1987 movie, Back to the Beach.
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk uses various versions in their radio and television advertisements, notably for their 100th anniversary in 2010.
  • The Offspring covered the song (in the style of the Ramones) on their Days Go By Tour in 2013.
  • English band Palma Violets covered it as the B-side of their single "We Found Love".
  • A Swedish version by Ola & the Janglers was released in 1970.
  • Portuguese rock band Peste & Sida released in 1989 a Portuguese version titled "Sol da Caparica" (referring to the famous beaches of Costa da Caparica).
  • Suzanne McDermott recorded her original song with the same title on her album Souvenir, released in 1995.

    • References

    California Sun Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA