California Nights

"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.[1]

For the albums, see California Nights (Best Coast album) and California Nights (Lesley Gore album).
"California Nights"
Single by Lesley Gore
from the album California Nights
B-side"I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In)"
ReleasedJanuary 1967
RecordedNovember 1966
GenrePop
Length2:49
LabelMercury Records 72649
Songwriter(s)Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling
Producer(s)Bob Crewe
Lesley Gore singles chronology
"Treat Me Like a Lady"
(1966)		 "California Nights"
(1967)		 "Summer and Sandy"
(1967)

Composition

The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie.[2] 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.

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."[3]

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,[4] ranking 61 in the year-end Top 100.[5]

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) Position
US Billboard Hot 100 61

Other versions

References
  1. Lesley Gore, California Nights Retrieved January 30, 2014
  2. Lesley Gore, "California Nights" single release Retrieved January 30, 2014
  3. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 7, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  4. Lesley Gore, "California Nights" Chart Positions Retrieved January 30, 2014
  5. "Billboard Top 100 - 1967". Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  6. Wes Montgomery, A Day in the Life Retrieved January 30, 2014
  7. Four King Cousins, Introducing the Four King Cousins Retrieved January 30, 2014


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