California dreamin’ On such a winter’s day . . . “He had the lyrics for those first eight bars that night,” said Michelle Phillips, the only surviving member of the Mamas & the Papas.

"California Dreamin'" had intrigued Diana Krall for years—more than a decade, in fact—before the jazz singer got around to recording the Mamas & the Papas' 1965 hit for her new album "Wallflower." ...

But "California Dreamin'" put the Mamas and the Papas on the map, and although it stalled at number four on the charts, the group's next single, "Monday, Monday," made it to number one.

When the Mamas & the Papas first sang their iconic song " California Dreamin '" in 1965, the whole country sang along. California was the Gold Rush, Hollywood, Disneyland and the Summer of Love.