# Please list songs with a connection to California **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 20, 2002, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652 "2002-04-20T08:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/21 "2002-04-20T15:01:07Z")
“California SUn” - The Rivieras ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/22 "2002-04-20T15:01:37Z")
More: **Say Goodbye to Hollywood** – Billy Joel **Gone Hollywood** – Bob James ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/23 "2002-04-20T15:09:03Z")
_why you’d want to live here_ - death cab for cutie (i’m in los angeles today… and i can’t see why you’d want to live here) _cali to new york_ - black eyed peas _i remember california_ - r.e.m. _california love_ - 2pac and dr dre _around the world_ - red hot chili peppers (i don’t wanna whine/ but i gotta warn ya/ bout the girls/ from california\* _parallel universe_ - red hot chili peppers (christ i’m a sidewinder/ i’m a california king) _purple stain_ - red hot chili peppers (knock on wood/ we all stay good/ cause we all live in hollywood) _under the bridge_ - red hot chili peppers (sometimes i feel/ like my only friend/is the city i live in/ the city of angels/ lonely as i am/ together we cry) _i don’t like it_ - pauline pantsdown (i like the disco/ cause i left my heart/ in san francisco) _dixie flyer_ - randy newman _new orleans won the war_ - randy newman _masterman and baby j_ - randy newman _red bandana_ - randy newman ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/24 "2002-04-20T15:44:14Z")
**Surfin’ USA** - Beach boys mentions a variety of California locations. **Surfin’ Surfari** - (See **Surfin’ USA** ) **Little Old Lady from Pasadena** - Jan and Dean, California town. **Ride the Wild Surf** - Jan and Dean, mentions California surfing sites **In Old California** - Gene Autry. I believe it was the title song of a film of his, but I am not certain, but I do remember my father listening to the record. **Pipeline** - The Chantays. The Pipeline was a popular surfing spot back in the early '60s. **Surfer Joe** - The Surfaris. Obscure song here, I’m not sure it charted outside Southern California, but it mentions it takes place in a costal community in Southern California. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/25 "2002-04-20T15:48:19Z")
**Southern California** - Wax It’s a pretty good song, although it’s probably better known for the video in which a guy runs down the street while he’s on fire. **Goin’ Back To Cali** LL Cool J. No I don’t think so… ---
**Author:** ![Fibonacci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/26 "2002-04-20T15:49:47Z")
Here’s a few to start: California - John Mayall (excellent!) California - Joni Mitchell Ridgetop - Jesse Colin Young Hotel California - Gipsy Kings (interesting cover of the Eagles) Home In Pasadena - Pasadena Roof Orchestra San Francisco Nights - Chris Isaak California Here I Come - Al Jolson California Man - The Move ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/27 "2002-04-20T15:54:02Z")
“Moon Over Marin” - Dead Kennedys ---
**Author:** ![c-of-cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@c-of-cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c-of-cyn)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/28 "2002-04-20T16:57:51Z")
These are by French singers, therefore in French: California - Mylene Farmer San Francisco - Maxime Leforestier ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/29 "2002-04-20T17:18:21Z")
_Still in Hollywood_ / _It’ll Chew You Up & Spit You Out_ - Concrete Blonde ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/30 "2002-04-20T17:27:35Z")
“Folsom Prison Blues,” Johnny Cash ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/31 "2002-04-20T17:30:35Z")
Crap, you know I’d think of three more as soon as I hit “Submit Reply.” “All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun,” Cheryl Crow “Sunset Strip,” Don Henley ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/32 "2002-04-20T17:32:16Z")
Three, two. Whatever. And it’s Sheryl. I’m quitting while I’m behind. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/33 "2002-04-20T17:32:21Z")
_Route 66_ by the Rolling Stones (Kingston, Barstow, San Bernadino…It’s all about going west to California) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/34 "2002-04-20T17:51:23Z")
The title song from the musical “Sunset Boulevard.” AND you can find it in German if you are interested. ---
**Author:** ![Wordy\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d2c977/32.png) [@Wordy\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wordy_One)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/35 "2002-04-20T18:27:00Z")
“California”–Semisonic Several songs by Michael Penn mention L.A., especially “Bunker Hill” and “I Can Tell.” “La Cienega Just Smiled” and “Goodnight Hollywood Boulevard”–Ryan Adams “Los Angeles”–X “Walkin’ in L.A.”–Missing Persons Wordy One ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/36 "2002-04-20T18:37:35Z")
California Gold by Dada ---
**Author:** ![JubilationTCornpone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@JubilationTCornpone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JubilationTCornpone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/37 "2002-04-20T18:40:45Z")
_Do You Know The Way To San Jose?_, performed by not-so-psychic friend D. Warwick. ---
**Author:** ![Hosayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@Hosayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hosayf)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/38 "2002-04-20T19:00:41Z")
_West LA Fadeaway_- The Grateful Dead _Estimated Prophet_- The Grateful Dead I’m pretty sure there’s one by Chuck Berry, but I can’t think of it off-hand. ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/39 "2002-04-20T19:53:52Z")
“Gold” by Stevie Nicks and somebody else (not sure who). “When the lights go down in the California town…” Sheri ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652/40 "2002-04-20T20:01:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*Sausalito Summer Nights - Diesel > \*\* I don’t think I’ve heard that song since the 80s. That is a fantastic song, and just thinking about it brings back great memories from my early teens. I’d love to be able to find a copy of it, and I’ve never seen it on any 80s compilation CDs. Sheri [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-list-songs-with-a-connection-to-california/104652.md?page=3)