California Saga: California

"California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Holland
B-side "Funky Pretty"
Released April 16, 1973
Format Vinyl
Recorded 1972
Genre Rock
Length 3:21
Label Brother
Songwriter(s) Al Jardine
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Sail On, Sailor"
(1973)		 "California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)"
(1973)		 "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)"
(1974)

"Sail On, Sailor"
(1973)		 "California Saga: California"
(1973)		 "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)"
(1974)
Portuguese artwork

"California Saga: California" is a song written by Al Jardine for American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1973 album Holland. The version released as a single is a different mix than the album track and contains additional vocals from Brian Wilson not heard on the album version, as well as other differences, including an alternate title, "California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)".

Performed in a loping country-shuffle beat, it is musically reminiscent of their earlier hit "California Girls"; the songs have nearly identical basslines, though "California Saga" is a country song and "California Girls" is a rocker featuring the Wrecking Crew. The song was inspired by and makes mention of the Big Sur Folk Festival in which the band played in 1970.

Reception

The song reached #84 in Billboard, but performed better in the UK (#29 in Melody Maker, #37 in Record Retailer) and New Zealand (#15 in the official NZ Listener top 20).

Cover versions

  • Jan & Dean covered "California Saga: California" on their album Live In Concert: Surf City and retitled the song "Cool Clear Water".

Personnel

The Beach Boys
Additional musicians

References

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