We’re still stuck in the mid-Sixties for this week’s FCH. Groovy, baby.

The featured image is a variation on the cover of The Mamas and The Papas album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. It was featured on Album Cover Art Wednesday in 2018.

California Dreamin’ was written in 1963 by John and Michelle Phillips. It was first recorded by Barry McGuire but who gives a shit about that version? Not me.

We begin with the glorious harmonies of The Mamas and The Papas:

This Bobby Womack album was featured on Album Cover Art Wednesday last year. He put the Womack touch on it; an inside joke for New Orleanians.

It’s time for George to put the Benson touch on John and Michelle’s song.

It was inevitable that The Beach Boys would record California Dreamin’. It was not inevitable that Roger McGuinn would play on it and John Phillips would appear as a priest in the video. That was just cool.

Smithereens frontman Pat DiNizio recorded a low key version in 2006.

Finally, let’s rock with Missing Persons featuring Dale Bozzio. Does this mean we’re all bozzios on this bus? Beats the hell outta me.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, The Ventures followed by South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela.

That’s it for this week. Let’s toast the Southern California sound pioneered by Papa John and Mama Michelle. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want even if the latter disliked hippies. Never argue with them.