The Breeze: California Soul & Sunshine Pop

Brooke Olimpieri @FilthyMouthCreative

Enjoy The Breeze, the ultimate sound of the West Coast!

While living in New York City during the cold winter of 1963, John and Michelle Phillips from The Mamas and the Papas were missing sunny California, which inspired them to write California Dreamin’. The song became a blueprint for the so-called California Sound, later renamed as Sunshine Pop. The 5th Dimension defined California Soul, when they released their version of the same titled Ashford & Simpson song in 1969 (a year before Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell did). 

Influenced by the surf sound of the Beach Boys and the Californian folk rock scene at the time, sunshine pop was a mid-sixties mainstream pop style, typified by rich harmony vocals, lush orchestrations, and a happy-go-lucky mood. It was often mildly influenced by psychedelia and its light tone became the trademark of the Californian yacht rock sound the next decade. Brandy by Looking Glass, for instance, is a song that fits both categories.

In 1971 Carole King already established herself as a songwriter, but with her LP Tapestry she made one of the most successful albums in pop music history as a singer. It was number 1 on the Billboard 200 for 15 consecutive weeks and remained on the Billboard charts for more than 300 weeks. The album turned 50 this year and has been re-released on vinyl recently.

“Wintertime is a razor blade
That the devil made, it's the price we pay
For the summertime” (Collage/The Three Degrees)

Tracklist:

Gabriela Terán – California Dreamin’ (2017)
Claudine Longet ‎– Who Needs You (1968)
Carole King – Home Again (1971)
TomTomTom – The Breeze (2021)
Albin – Chante Dans Ma Maison (1973)
The Cowsills ‎– We Can Fly (1968)
Julius Wechter & The Baja Marimba Band ‎– Flyin' High (1968)
The Young Rascals – Groovin’ (1967)
Brewer & Shipley – Dreamin’ In The Shade (1968)
The 5th Dimension – California Soul (1969)
The Cyrkle – The Visit (She Was Here) (1967)
Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) (1972)
The Parade – Sunshine Girl (1968)
The Zombies – Summertime (1965)
Odyssey – Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love (1972)
The Spiral Staircase – More Today Than Yesterday (1968)
Frankie Valli ‎– The Girl I'll Never Know (Angels Never Fly This Low) (1969)
The Three Degrees – Collage (1970)
Del Shannon – Runaway ’67 (1967)
Pearl Charles – Take Your Time (2020)
John Henry Kurtz – Drift Away (1972)
The Rogue Show ‎– Come Back Baby (1972)
The Alan Copeland Singers – You’re More Fun (1969)
Steve Leeds – Midsummer's Night (1968)
Dave Grusin – California Montage (1969)
Jackie DeShannon – When You Walk In The Room (1963)
Sonny & Cher – Just Like You (1965)
The Sunrise Highway ‎– Goin’ To California (1968)