Let's Go To San Francisco: Sunshine Pop & Sixties Soul

- October 21, 2021

This time I mainly tried to capture the “summer of love” and beyond feeling, roughly the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s. One of the sounds that dominated the radio waves back then was the so-called psychedelic pop that had its origins in California. Because the lyrics were overall optimistic and to avoid confusion with psychedelic rock, the genre became later known as sunshine pop. Main influences were the rich harmony vocals of the Beach Boys and The Mamas & The Papas. They set a very high standard for vocal groups in the late 1960s. In the beginning of the next decade, people seemed to have heard enough of it and the genre faded out.

The 5th Dimension are featured in the very cool Disney+ documentary Summer Of Soul about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival aka ‘Black Woodstock’.

The brand new sunshine pop track by Swedish pop princess Robyn and Smile will appear on Smile’s upcoming album, Phantom Island, out on November 19th.

Tracklist:

Smile Feat. Robyn – Call My Name (2021)
John Andrews & The Yawns ‎– New California Blue (2021)
Triste Janero ‎– Rene De Marie (1969)
Maddog – My Morning Sun (1975)
The 5th Dimension – (Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All (1972)
Wilson Pickett – Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You (1971)
Dee Dee Warwick – Only The One That You Love (1970)
Peggy March ‎– If You Loved Me (1968)
Nirvana ‎– Rainbow Chaser (1968)
Blue Mink ‎– Good Morning Freedom (1970)
The Eighth Day – Brandy (Doesn’t Love Here Anymore) (1968)
Lesley Gore – 98.6/Lazy Day (1969)
The Love Generation – Let The Good Times In (1967)
The Flower Pot Men – Let's Go To San Francisco (1967)
Barbara Lewis – How Can I Tell You (1970)
Wes Montgomery – California Dreamin’ (1966)
Pinkerton's 'Assort' Colours – Mirror Mirror (1966)
Del Shannon ‎– What's A Matter Baby (1968)
The Zombies – Time Of The Season (1968)
Ray Chafin – Life Is A Winner (1967)
Eternity's Children – Rumors (1967)
The Cuff Links ‎– Tracy (1969)
The Mamas & The Papas – Shooting Star (1971)
Gerald Wilson – California Soul (1968)