Battle of the Bands – California Dreamin’

It’s time for another Battle of the Bands and today I’m featuring covers of The Mamas and the Papas famous song California Dreamin’. Give a listen to the two contenders and vote which one you like best. I’ll post the results in 6 days!

“California Dreamin'” is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips and was first recorded by Barry McGuire. However, 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 song is #89 in Rolling Stone‍‍ ’​‍s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The lyrics of the song express the narrator’s longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter.

The song became a signpost of the arrival of the nascent counterculture era.

“California Dreamin’ ” was certified as a Gold Record (single) by the RIAA in June 1966 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001. (Source: Wikipedia)

Here is California Dreamin’, performed by the Mamas and the Papas. For your enjoyment only: they are not part of the battle. For more Mamas and Papas, check out my A-Z Musical Tour of My Life post featuring the band.

 

Contenders in my battle feature Bobby Womack and The Seekers.

Bobby Womack – Robert Dwayne “Bobby” Womack (March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014) was an American singer-songwriter and musician, and producer. Since the early 1960s, when he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke’s backing guitarist, Womack’s career spanned more than 50 years, during which he played in the styles of R&B, soul, rock and roll, doo-wop, gospel, and country. (Source: Wikipedia).

Here is his cover version of California Dreamin’:

 

My other contender is The Seekers. The Seekers are an Australian folk-influenced pop quartet, originally formed in Melbourne in 1962. They were the first Australian pop music group to achieve major chart and sales success in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were popular during the 1960s. Here is their version of California Dreamin’:

TIME TO VOTE! Which version do you like better and why?

And when you’re done voting, please visit these other BOTB participants and check out their cool battles:

• Far Away Series
• Stephen T. McCarthy’s Battle of the Bands Blog
• Tossing it Out
• This Belle Rocks
• Mike’s Ramblings
• Curious as a Cathy 
• Book Lover
• The Sound of One Hand Typing
• dcrelief ~ Battle of the Bands 
• Shady Dell Music & Memories
• Cherdo on the Flipside 
• THE DOGLADY’S DEN 
• Jingle Jangle Jungle 
• WOMEN: We Shall Overcome
• J.A. Scott
• Novel Brews
• Holli’s Hoots and Hollers
• Quiet Laughter
• Your Daily Dose