California Soul
Encyclopedia
"California Soul" is a pop
-soul
tune written by Ashford & Simpson
, issued originally as a single by American
pop quintet The 5th Dimension in late 1968. It was also covered by Motown vocal duo Marvin Gaye
and Tammi Terrell
and Marlena Shaw
the next year and was Marvin's and Tammi's last single together when released in early 1970.
The first version was released as a "B" side of Messengers single, "Window Shopping," released 1967 under the Motown group of labels. Messengers' sound was Monkees-based pop. See Complete Motown Singles, Volume 7.
Both the 5th Dimension's version and the Gaye/Terrell version were modest charted hits. The original performed better reaching number twenty-five on the pop singles chart, while Marvin and Tammi's cover reached number fifty-six pop but never charted R&B. The duet was released after Terrell's death from a brain tumor in March 1970.
In 1969 Marlena Shaw
covered the song on the album The Spice of Life
. This version has appeared in commercials for Dockers and Kentucky Fried Chicken. A Diplo remix appears on Volume 4 of the Verve Remixed
compilation series; this version was used in a late summer 2011 commercial for Target in the US and was featured in the video game Driver: San Francisco
.
The song is also featured in The Italian Job
(2003) and The Lincoln Lawyer
(2011).
The song is sampled by Gang Starr
in their song "Check the Technique".
The Gerald Wilson
Orchestra version of the song is sampled by Pete Rock
in the A.D.O.R.
song "Let it All Hang Out".
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
tune written by Ashford & Simpson
Ashford & Simpson
Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
, issued originally as a single by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop quintet The 5th Dimension in late 1968. It was also covered by Motown vocal duo Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
and Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw is an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.-Biography:She was first introduced to music by her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a jazz trumpet player...
the next year and was Marvin's and Tammi's last single together when released in early 1970.
The first version was released as a "B" side of Messengers single, "Window Shopping," released 1967 under the Motown group of labels. Messengers' sound was Monkees-based pop. See Complete Motown Singles, Volume 7.
Both the 5th Dimension's version and the Gaye/Terrell version were modest charted hits. The original performed better reaching number twenty-five on the pop singles chart, while Marvin and Tammi's cover reached number fifty-six pop but never charted R&B. The duet was released after Terrell's death from a brain tumor in March 1970.
In 1969 Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw
Marlena Shaw is an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.-Biography:She was first introduced to music by her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a jazz trumpet player...
covered the song on the album The Spice of Life
The Spice of Life (Marlena Shaw album)
The Spice of Life is the second album by Marlena Shaw. It was her last studio album with Cadet Records and contains her famous version of the Ashford & Simpson song: California Soul.-Track listing:# Woman Of The Ghetto 6:02# Call it Stormy Monday 3:01...
. This version has appeared in commercials for Dockers and Kentucky Fried Chicken. A Diplo remix appears on Volume 4 of the Verve Remixed
Verve Remixed
Verve Remixed is a series of albums released by Verve Records centered on the concept of classic Verve tracks, remixed by contemporary electronic music producers and DJs...
compilation series; this version was used in a late summer 2011 commercial for Target in the US and was featured in the video game Driver: San Francisco
Driver: San Francisco
Driver: San Francisco is a sandbox-style action driving video game developed by Ubisoft Reflections and published by Ubisoft. The game formally was unveiled at E3 2010 and was released in Australia on September 1, 2011, Europe on September 2, 2011 and North America on September 6, 2011 on...
.
The song is also featured in The Italian Job
The Italian Job (2003 film)
The Italian Job is a 2003 heist film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. It is an American remake of a 1969 British film of the same name, and is about a team of thieves who plan to steal...
(2003) and The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer (film)
The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 American thriller film adapted from the novel of the same name by Michael Connelly, starring Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, William H. Macy and Marisa Tomei...
(2011).
The song is sampled by Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
in their song "Check the Technique".
The Gerald Wilson
Gerald Wilson
Gerald Stanley Wilson is an American jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer/arranger, 8 time Grammy nominee, and educator. He has been based in Los Angeles since the early 1940s....
Orchestra version of the song is sampled by Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
in the A.D.O.R.
A.D.O.R.
A.D.O.R., born Eddie Castellanos, is a U.S. hip hop artist whose work includes the Pete Rock-produced hit "Let It All Hang Out" , and "One for the Trouble" , produced by Marley Marl...
song "Let it All Hang Out".
The 5th Dimension version
- All vocals by The 5th Dimension: Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr.Billy Davis, Jr. is an American musician, best known as a member of The 5th Dimension. Along with his wife, Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star "...
, Marilyn McCooMarilyn McCooMarilyn McCoo is an American singer, actress, and television presenter, who is best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group The 5th Dimension, as well as hosting the 1980s music countdown series Solid Gold...
, Florence LaRueFlorence LaRueFlorence LaRue is an American actress, humanitarian, and Grammy award-winning singer. She is best known as the original female lead singer of The 5th Dimension.-Early life:...
, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron TownsonRon TownsonRonald "Ron" Townson was an American vocalist. He was an original member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late '60s and early '70s.... - Written by Ashford & SimpsonAshford & SimpsonNickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
- Produced by Bones HoweBones HoweDayton Burr "Bones" Howe is a Grammy-award-winning record producer and recording engineer associated with 1960s and 1970s hits, mostly of the sunshine pop genre, including most of the hits of The 5th Dimension and The Association, as well as music supervision of several films...
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell version
- All vocals by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
& Tammi TerrellTammi TerrellThomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
/Valerie Simpson - Written and produced by Ashford & SimpsonAshford & SimpsonNickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...