Songs About California

Information about some of the best songs, worst songs, most remembered songs, and most iconic songs ever written about California.

Catalina Island

"26 Miles Across the Sea" (Four Preps)
"Twenty-six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance"
- Video at YouTube

"Avalon" (Al Jolson 1920's / Cab Calloway 1930's)
"I found my love in Avalon beside the bay.
I left my love in Avalon and I sailed away.
I dream of her in Avalon from dusk till dawn.
So I think I'll travel on to Avalon."
- Al Jolson Singing "Avalon" (YouTube)
- Cab Calloway Orchestra and Singing "Avalon" (YouTube)

Hollywood

- Busby Berkeley 1937 spectacular: "Hooray for Hollywood" (YouTube)
- Doris Day singing "Hooray for Hollywood" (YouTube)
- Doris Day's Album "Hooray for Hollywood" (Wikipedia)
- Article about the song (Wikipedia)

Los Angeles

"Born in East LA" (Cheech Marin)
- Cheech Marin Singing "Born in East LA" (YourTube)

"I Love LA" (Randy Newman)
- Randy Newman singing "I Love LA" (YourTube)
- Article about the song (Wikipedia)

"LA International Airport" (Susan Raye)
- Susan Raye singing "LA International Airport" (YourTube)

"Valley Girl" (Moon Unit and Frank Zappa)
- 1982 Recording: "Valley Girl" (YouTube)
- Article about the song (Wikipedia)

Mendocino

"Mendocino" (Sir Douglas Quintet)
- 1969 Performance on "Playboy After Dark" (YouTube)
- 1975 Performance in Austin Texas (YouTube)

Pasadena

"Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (Jan and Dean / Beach Boys)
- Jan and Dean "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (YourTube)
- Beachboys "Little Old Lady from Pasadena" (YourTube)

San Francisco

"San Francisco / Flowers in Your Hair" (Scott McKenzie)
Written by John Phillips of the Masmas and the Papas and recorded by Scott McKenzie.
"If You're goin to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If You're goin to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle poeple there"
- Scott McKenzie Singing "San Francisco" (YouTube)
- Wikipedia article about the song

h2>San Jose

"Do You Know The Way to San Jose" (Dionne Warwick)

California

"California Dreamin" (The Mamas and the Paas)

"California Girls" (Beach Boys)

"California Here I Come" (Sophie Hawkins, Al Jolson and others)

"Surf City" (Jan and Dean)
- Jan and Dean recording of "Surf City" (YouTube)

Central California

Deportee: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon
- "Deportee: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon” (Judy Collins)
- "Deportee: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon” (Arlo and Emmylou)
- "Deportee: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon” (Arlo and Pete)
- "Deportee: Plane Wreck at Los Gatos Canyon” (Joan Baez)

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