"California Sun", is a song credited to Henry Glover and Morris Levy. Originally recorded by 35-year-old New Orleans-born singer-songwriter Joe Jones, and released by EMI in the winter of 1961, it peaked at #89 on the charts.
Cover versions
The most successful version was by The Rivieras in 1964. It reached #5 in the main U.S. pop chart. New York rock band, The Dictators, performed the song on their debut album in 1975, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy. The song was also performed by The Ramones on their 1977 album, Leave Home. This song is also featured in the 1979 film, Rock 'n' Roll High School. This song is on various compilations, including All the Stuff (And More!) Volume 1, and Hey Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology. The Ramones' cover was also featured in Jackass: The Movie, while The Rivieras version was used in Oliver Stone's film, The Doors when Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer) arrives in Venice Beach.
The song has been often covered live by Chris Isaak and his band Silvertone with drummer Kenney Dale Johnson assuming lead vocals and Isaak taking a turn on the drums.
With lyrics in Swedish by Per Gessle, Swedish pop group Gyllene Tider covered the song as "Tylö Sun" and released as a one-track promo single on August 14 1981. A 2006 lyrics version, "Vitt & blått", was written by Svante Karlsson for Swedish soccer club Halmstads BK.
The song was covered on the influential proto-punk album Go Girl Crazy! by The Dictators in 1975.
In 1994, surf music pioneer Dick Dale covered the song on his album Unknown Territory.
The song was also covered by Frankie Avalon in the 1987 movie, Back to the Beach.
The song was used as a theme for advertising the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
External links
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