The surf music of the Beach Boys made California a dream destination for youth in the 1960s. But not all music was produced on the West Coast. One of the iconic songs of the era, “California Sun,” was first recorded in 1961 by New Orleans R&B singer Joe Jones, known for his Top Ten hit “You Talk Too Much.”
Written by Henry Glover (with Roulette Records president Morris Levy credited as co-writer), “California Sun” was recorded by Jones in a New Orleans R&B style backed by a horn section. “California Sun” was unsuccessful as a follow-up to “You Talk Too Much”, only reaching number 89 on the charts. But the song achieved some popularity in South Bend, Indiana, where high school classmates performed it with their group, the Playmates.
The Playmates were bassist Doug Gean, singer/guitarist Marty “Bo” Fortson, guitarist Joe Pennell, drummer Paul Dennert, and Otto Nuss on organ. When they learned that the Playmates name had already been taken by a 1950s group that had found success with “Beep Beep,” they became the Rivieras. Instead of the French coast, they were named after the elegant Buick Riviera.
The Rivieras went to Chicago’s Columbia Recording Studios in 1963 and recorded “California Sun” in three takes, replacing Jones’ horn section with swapping guitar and organ riffs. The track was supposed to be the B-side to “Played On”, which was also recorded at the session.
But WLS DJ Art Roberts recognized the potential of “California Sun” and it became the A-side. Roberts’ exposure of the song gained national attention, reaching No. 5 on the chart. Billboard charts in 1964.
However, Fortson and Pennell never enjoyed the fruits of the song’s success; they left the group to join the Marine Corps shortly after the recording session.
The song was rarely out of the public consciousness; A staple of vintage radio, it was used in California tourism commercials and movies like good morning Vietnam and Oliver Stone The doors.
But in the mid-seventies the song took on new life. Enter the Ramones, the group considered by many to be the first punk rock band. The group would record surf rock songs like “Surfin’ Bird” and “Rockaway Beach” and in 1977 covered “California Sun” for their LP. Leaving home.
The Ramones took “California Sun” to another dimension; although the lyrics stayed the same, distortion was added and the song’s tempo sped up to become a warp drive. As exciting as the punk rockers made the song, the Rivieras version remains the best known and best loved.
