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TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

#349 CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' The Mamas & The Papas
"California Dreamin'" was inspired by a wintry night in New York. The longing for the warmth of the West Coast emanates from every verse. John Phillips co-wrote the song with his wife Michelle. They became one half of The Mamas & The Papas in 1965. That year, Barry McGuire recorded the original version of the song. 
In November, the group recorded their interpretation of "California Dreamin'", with Lou Adler producing. It was included on their 1966 album 'If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears'. Released as a single, the disc peaked at #4 in the US and 23 in Britain.
Following such a stunning chart debut, the group scored more hits. Despite its success, the vocal group split in 1968. They enjoyed a brief re-union in 1971. By then, the Phillips had divorced. In 1974, Mama Cass Elliot died aged 32 from a heart attack. Michelle Phillips joined the cast of the long-running prime time drama series "Knots Landing" as Anne Matheson in 1986 and remained until the TV show's cancellation in 1993. John Phillips died in 2001 of heart failure. Their daughter Chynna Phillips is a member of the group Wilson Phillips. The female trio scored 3 US #1 singles in the early 1990s. 

This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
2 new songs are added each day (every 12 hours)  with a mid-week bonus every Wednesday.