Uploaded March 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas, was released in 1965 Originally written in 1963, the song is based on a dream group member John Phillips had while living in New York with his wife Michelle who both later teamed up with Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot to form the Mamas and the Papas. The song peaked at #1 in 1966 and is listed at #89 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Mamas and the Papas were a major part of the Southern California pop scene of the mid to late 60's and typified the new breed of music artists that followed in the wake of the Beatles. They formulated their own response to the British Invasion by bombarding the Top Forty with superbly produced folk-pop songs delivered with lush harmonies. “California Dreamin’,” in particular, remains as an anthem of those heady times.
"California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas, was released in 1965 Originally written in 1963, the song is based on a dream group member John Phillips had while living in New York with his wife Michelle who both later teamed up with Denny Doherty and Cass Elliot to form the Mamas and the Papas. The song peaked at #1 in 1966 and is listed at #89 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Mamas and the Papas were a major part of the Southern California pop scene of the mid to late 60's and typified the new breed of music artists that followed in the wake of the Beatles. They formulated their own response to the British Invasion by bombarding the Top Forty with superbly produced folk-pop songs delivered with lush harmonies. “California Dreamin’,” in particular, remains as an anthem of those heady times.
