music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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]

"California Nights"
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
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.^{[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."[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

• Wes Montgomery released an instrumental version of the song on his 1967 album, A Day in the Life.[6]
• Four King Cousins released a version of the song on their 1968 album, Introducing the Four King Cousins.[7]

References

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