{{for|the albums|California Nights (Best Coast album)|California Nights (Lesley Gore album)}} {{Infobox song | name = California Nights | cover =California Nights.single.jpg |caption=Dutch release picture sleeve | alt = | type = single | artist = Lesley Gore | album = California Nights | B-side = I'm Going Out (The Same Way I Came In) | released = January 1967 | format = | recorded =November 1966 | studio = | venue = | genre = Pop | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=49}} | label = Mercury Records 72649 | writer = Marvin Hamlisch, Howard Liebling | producer = Bob Crewe | prev_title = Treat Me Like a Lady | prev_year = 1966 | next_title = Summer and Sandy | next_year = 1967 }}
"'''California Nights'''" is a song written by Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Liebling and recorded by Lesley Gore. The song appeared on her 1967 album, ''California Nights''.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Lesley-Gore-California-Nights/release/2479972 Lesley Gore, ''California Nights''] Retrieved January 30, 2014</ref>
==Composition== The song was produced by Bob Crewe and arranged by Hutch Davie.<ref>[http://www.45cat.com/record/72649 Lesley Gore, "California Nights" single release] Retrieved January 30, 2014</ref> The track features guitars and drum set in a 1960s pop fashion. The chorus includes multiples long tones over abnormal chords and the verses are noticeably accompanied by a soft electric piano. The lyrics speak of reminiscing about romantic evenings on the beach with a lover.{{Original research inline|date=March 2015}}
''Billboard'' described the song as a "production rhythm ballad with groovy dance beat and strong vocal work has the hit ingredients to put Miss Gore back up the Hot 100."<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-01|date=January 7, 1967|page=18|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1967/Billboard%201967-01-07.pdf}}</ref>
==Commercial performance== The single peaked at number 16 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in March 1967 but stayed on the chart for a then-lengthy 14 weeks,<ref>[http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=25577&artist=Lesley+Gore&title=California+Nights Lesley Gore, "California Nights" Chart Positions] Retrieved January 30, 2014</ref> ranking 61 in the year-end Top 100.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1967.php|title=Billboard Top 100 - 1967|accessdate=January 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102011046/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1967.php#|archive-date=2014-01-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was Gore's final Top Forty hit.
==Use in media== An edit of the song (removing the second verse and refrain) was lip-synced by Gore on the January 19, 1967 episode of the TV series ''Batman'', "That Darn Catwoman". She played Pussycat, the Catwoman's protégé, who also wanted to be a singer.
== Charts ==
=== Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable" !Chart (1967) !Peak position |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 |align="center"|16 |- |US ''Cashbox'' Top 100 |align="center"|11 |}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Chart (1967) !Rank |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 | align="center"| 61 |}
==Other versions== *Wes Montgomery released an instrumental version of the song on his 1967 album, ''A Day in the Life''.<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-day-in-the-life-mw0000199509 Wes Montgomery, ''A Day in the Life''] Retrieved January 30, 2014</ref> *Four King Cousins released a version of the song on their 1968 album, ''Introducing the Four King Cousins''.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Four-King-Cousins-Introducing/release/2799874 Four King Cousins, ''Introducing the Four King Cousins''] Retrieved January 30, 2014</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Lesley Gore}}
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Category:1960s ballads Category:1967 songs Category:1967 singles Category:1973 singles Category:Lesley Gore songs Category:Songs written by Marvin Hamlisch Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe Category:Mercury Records singles Category:Songs about California
{{1960s-pop-song-stub}}