California Nights
| "California Nights" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dutch release picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Lesley Gore | ||||
| from the album California Nights | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)" | |||
| Released | January 1967 | |||
| Recorded | November 1966 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:49 | |||
| Label | Mercury Records 72649 | |||
| Songwriters | Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling | |||
| Producer | Bob Crewe | |||
| Lesley Gore singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"California Nights" is a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Liebling and recorded by Lesley Gore. The song appeared on her 1967 album, California Nights.
Composition
The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie. The track features guitars and drum set in a 1960s pop fashion. The chorus includes multiples long tones over abnormal chords and the verses are noticeably accompanied by a soft electric piano. The lyrics speak of reminiscing about romantic evenings on the beach with a lover.[original research?]
Billboard described the song as a "production rhythm ballad with groovy dance beat and strong vocal work has the hit ingredients to put Miss Gore back up the Hot 100."
Commercial performance
The single peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1967 but stayed on the chart for a then-lengthy 14 weeks, ranking 61 in the year-end Top 100. It was Gore's final Top Forty hit.
Use in media
An edit of the song (removing the second verse and refrain) was lip-synced by Gore on the January 19, 1967 episode of the TV series Batman, "That Darn Catwoman". She played Pussycat, the Catwoman's protégé, who also wanted to be a singer.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 16 |
| US Cashbox Top 100 | 11 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1967) | Rank |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 61 |
Other versions
- Wes Montgomery released an instrumental version of the song on his 1967 album, A Day in the Life.
- Four King Cousins released a version of the song on their 1968 album, Introducing the Four King Cousins.
References
- ↑ Lesley Gore, California Nights Retrieved January 30, 2014
- ↑ Lesley Gore, "California Nights" single release Retrieved January 30, 2014
- ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 7, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
- ↑ Lesley Gore, "California Nights" Chart Positions Retrieved January 30, 2014
- ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1967". Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
- ↑ Downey, Pat (1994). Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited. p. 142. ISBN 1-56308-316-7. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ Wes Montgomery, A Day in the Life Retrieved January 30, 2014
- ↑ Four King Cousins, Introducing the Four King Cousins Retrieved January 30, 2014
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