"California Sun" is a
rock song first recorded by American
rhythm and blues singer
Joe Jones.
Henry Glover is credited on the original
45 rpm single as the songwriter, although
Roulette Records owner
Morris Levy's name sometimes incorrectly appears on re-issues. In 1961, Roulette issued the song with "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" as the B-side. The single reached number 89 on
Billboard'sHot 100.[1]
The most successful version of the song was released by
the Rivieras in 1963 and became the group's biggest hit in their short career. This song was the result of their first recording session at Chicago's Columbia Recording Studios in 1963 (purchased by manager Bill Dobslaw). The lineup for this session included Marty Fortson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Joe Pennell on lead guitar, Doug Gean on bass guitar, Otto Nuss on
Vox Continental organ, and Paul Dennert on drums. The original single cut from this session included the song "Played On" as the A-side, with "California Sun" as the B-side and was released on Dobslaw's Riviera label in 1963. DJ Art Roberts ensured that the "California Sun" side saw significant airplay on
WLS. In response to the growing success, Dobslaw got the band a national distribution deal with
USA Records, and the song was adequately distributed with "H.B. Goose Step" as the B-side.
The song entered the charts on January 25, 1964, peaking at number five on the US
Billboard Hot 100 chart. It remained on the charts for 10 weeks.[3] The song was further hailed as the last American rock and roll hit before the
British Invasion. Shortly after the song's release, the band experienced internal problems as Fortson and Pennell enlisted in the Marines, in addition to various lineup changes afterwards. A re-recording of the song with new lyrics, titled "Arizona Sun" was recorded in 1964, but not released until 2000 on the compilation Let's Stomp with The Rivieras! Unissued 1964 Recordings. "California Sun" was eventually featured on the band's debut album Let's Have a Party. A later version was released later that year as "California Sun '65" on their second and final album, Campus Party.
The Ramones cover was also used in Jackass: The Movie (and on the soundtrack album) and in The X-Filesseason 11 episode This; while the Rivieras' version was used in Oliver Stone's The Doors, when Jim Morrison (played by
Val Kilmer) arrives in Venice Beach.