1970
CALIFORNIA DREAMING * WINSTON FRANCIS * BAMBOO 48 * UK
Originally written and sung by The Mamas and Papas, this slightly faster, early Reggae beat, comes out a somewhat different song. In the original lyrics a key verse is the one where the Mamas and Papas sing; "I stepped into a church I passed along the way well, I got down on my knees and I pretended to pray, you know the preacher likes the cold he knows I'm gonna stay". Winston Francis in his version doesn't pretend to pray, but makes a positive effort to pray, causing the preacher to "call out" to him and no mention that he 'likes the cold'. Notwithstanding all those anomalies, par for the genre, this is a electrifying version of what is already a great song.
Known only as a Studio 1 Promo issue only in Jamaica with Old Cow Horn by Jackie Mittoo on the B side, makes me think that the UK Bamboo release of this cut could be the first official release. It was reissued in October 1974 on the Ashanti label (see below).
CALIFORNIA DREAMING * WINSTON FRANCIS * ASHANTI 415 * UK