Song:California Sun
Album:Rock & Roll: The First 50 Years: The Mid-'60s
This 1964 top ten hit is considered one of the ultimate California songs and one of the most enduring surf rock songs not recorded by The Beach Boys. But The Rivieras weren't from California and I don't think they ever saw the Pacific Ocean. And the song is a cover of a New Orleans R & B classic. I hate to break your bubble but The Rivieras were South Bend, IN high school students. They were originally called The Playmates but there was already a group with that name so they named themselves after the Buick Riviera. Marty "Bo" Fortson was lead singer and guitarist, Joe Pennell played guitar, Otto Nuss played organ, Doug Gean played bass and Paul Dennert played drums. Bill Dobslaw became their manager and producer after watching them play at high schools. The Rivieras hit the jackpot when their first single California Sun reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. California Sun was written by producer Henry Glover and originally recorded by New Orleans R & B singer Joe Jones. He's best known for his 1960 hit You Talk Too Much. California Sun is also interesting because it was the last big hit before the British Invasion took hold in the US. The Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand bumped it off the charts. The Rivieras recorded an album but Fortson & Pennell joined The Marines. Dobslaw took over as lead singer and kept The Rivieras together for a second album but then they split up and the various members got real jobs. Though The Rivieras version of California Sun is now an oldies radio staple, a lot of folks probably first heard the song when The Ramones performed it in the 1978 film Rock & Roll High School. You can get California Sun on this various artist comp from Varese. Here's a video for California Sun by The Rivieras.
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