CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ {CAPO 4} by The Mamas & The Papas (Intermediate Guitar Chord & Strum Play-Along)

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Guitar Play-Along

This easy to follow, beginner level, play-along video for guitar and vocals is in the key of C#. minor and requires a capo on the 4th fret. Scrolling chord chart format. If necessary, slow the tempo in the settings menu for practice purposes.

“California Dreamin'” is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips and first recorded by Barry McGuire. The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who sang backup on the original version and released it as a single in 1965. The lyrics express the narrator’s longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor.

“California Dreamin'” became a signpost of the California sound, heralding the arrival of the nascent counterculture era. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in June 1966 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2021, Rolling Stone placed the song at number 420 in its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.

The song was written in 1963 while John Phillips and Michelle Phillips were living in New York City during a particularly cold winter, and she was missing sunny California. He would work on compositions late at night and one morning brought her the first verse. At the time, John and Michelle Phillips were members of the folk group the New Journeymen, which evolved into the Mamas and the Papas.

They earned their first record contract after being introduced to Lou Adler, the head of Dunhill Records, by Barry McGuire. In thanks to Adler, they sang the backing vocals to “California Dreamin'” with members of the session band The Wrecking Crew on McGuire’s album This Precious Time. Adler, impressed with the Mamas and the Papas, then had the lead vocal track re-recorded with Denny Doherty singing and paired with the same instrumental and backing vocal tracks and an alto flute solo by Bud Shank, reportedly improvised. The guitar introduction was performed by P. F. Sloan. McGuire’s original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased.

The single was released in late 1965 but was not an immediate breakthrough. After gaining little attention in Los Angeles upon its release, a radio station in Boston was the catalyst to break the song nationwide. After making its chart debut in January 1966, the song peaked at No. 4 in March on both the Billboard Hot 100, lasting 17 weeks, and Cashbox, lasting 20 weeks. “California Dreamin'” and SSgt. Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Green Berets” tied for #1 on the Cashbox end-of-the-year survey for 1966. “California Dreamin'” also reached number 23 on the UK charts upon its original release, and re-charted after its use in a Carling Premier commercial in 1997, peaking at number nine there. Billboard described the song as having “a fascinating new sound with well written commercial material” and praised Lou Adler’s production.” Cash Box described it as a “medium-paced, rhythmic shufflin’ romantic woeser with a plaintive, lyrical undercurrent.”

Lyrics

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)

I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)

You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)

If I didn’t tell her (if I didn’t tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

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#CALIFORNIA #DREAMIN #CAPO #Mamas #Papas #Intermediate #Guitar #Chord #Strum #PlayAlong

Originally posted by UC4WhOqN5b8Gwz9HS2gmRPzQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoqiRVbAd9Y