Song 9 - 'California Dreamin', River City People

[philmophlegm]

I'm going to submit this song as an example of a cover version that is better than the original. (The original in this case being by The Mamas and the Papas.) This was a minor hit (Top of the Pops appearance!) in 1990 when the band were bright young things. The river city in the band's name was Liverpool. I actually saw them perform this song live at Maine Road (Manchester City's old ground) when they were supporting Fleetwood Mac. No, actually that's not quite right - they were on first, then Hall & Oates, then Fleetwood Mac. They were way better than Hall & Oates. The first album, which this song is taken from, is fab. There was a second album, which I bought but very few other people did, and the band split up. The lead singer then formed a duo with one of the less famous Bangles and according to wikipedia relased a later solo album. I should try and get those someday.

Comments

[jane-somebody.livejournal.com]

Well, I like the original, but this is a really nicely done interpretation which I hadn't heard before. I like the lead singer's voice a lot. Like the video too, very much of it's time :-) Thanks very much for sharing this one.