“California SUn” - The Rivieras
More:
Say Goodbye to Hollywood – Billy Joel
Gone Hollywood – Bob James
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
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.
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…
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
“Moon Over Marin” - Dead Kennedys
These are by French singers, therefore in French:
California - Mylene Farmer
San Francisco - Maxime Leforestier
Still in Hollywood / It’ll Chew You Up & Spit You Out - Concrete Blonde
“Folsom Prison Blues,” Johnny Cash
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
Three, two. Whatever.
And it’s Sheryl.
I’m quitting while I’m behind.
Route 66 by the Rolling Stones (Kingston, Barstow, San Bernadino…It’s all about going west to California)
The title song from the musical “Sunset Boulevard.” AND you can find it in German if you are interested.
“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
California Gold by Dada
Do You Know The Way To San Jose?, performed by not-so-psychic friend D. Warwick.
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.
“Gold” by Stevie Nicks and somebody else (not sure who).
“When the lights go down in the California town…”
Sheri
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