The California Sound is a genre of popular music that originated and spread throughout Southern California in the 1960s and 1970s.
It is often associated with the hippie counterculture era and is considered a major influence on the development of today's modern popular music.
The California Sound was seen as a reflection of the laid-back lifestyle of the Golden State and the West Coast of the United States in general, and it provided a platform for messages of peace, love, and social justice.
The genre also helped bridge the gap between different musical categories and revolutionized how popular music was recorded and produced.
History
The California Sound is a combination of folk, rock, psychedelia, and surf music with roots in the folk music of the 1960s.
Its inspiration can be heard in the works of artists such as Dick Dale, Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez.
These artists combined the traditional folk of the previous era with the emerging rock sound, creating a new type of music that was more accessible and popular than either genre alone.
The California Sound continued to evolve in the late 1960s and 1970s, as artists such as The Beach Boys and The Eagles took it in a more commercial direction.
This new radio-friendly reverberation combined the folk and rock of the 1960s with elements of country, pop, and soft rock fueled by beach life, surfing, pretty girls, and car-related lyrics.
Some of the key songs of the 1960s SoCal movement include:
- "Surfin'" (The Beach Boys, 1961)
- "In My Room (The Beach Boys, 1963)
- "The Lonely Surfer" (Bernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche, 1963)
- "Surf City" (Jan and Dead, 1963)
- "Tell 'Em I'm Surfin'" (The Fantastic Baggys, 1964)
- "The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" (Jan and Dean, 1964)
- "Move Out Little Mustang" (Jan and Dean, 1964)
- "I Get Around" (The Beach Boys, 1964)
- "Don't Worry Baby" (The Beach Boys, 1964)
- "Mr. Tambourine Man" (The Byrds, 1965)
The Beach Boys, in particular, are widely credited with helping to popularize the California Sound and its signature vocal harmonies, thanks to work developed by Brian Wilson, his friends Jan and Dean, and Gary Usher.
Several historians consider "Surfin'" the kick-off song that defined SoCal's ultimate musical category.
But the sonic movement also included other artists and bands like The Mamas & the Papas, The Doors, and Arthur Lee & Love.
The California Sound has been a major influence on other genres of music - punk, indie rock, and alternative rock have all been influenced by it.
Punk bands such as The Ramones and the Sex Pistols were heavily influenced by the surf rock sound of The Beach Boys, while indie and alternative rock bands such as Pavement and Sonic Youth were inspired by the folk-rock of The Byrds.
The California Sound has also had an influence on modern hip-hop and rap, with contemporary artists such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg incorporating elements of the genre.
Associated Genres
As we've seen, the Golden State musical genre is a mix of rock, pop, and folk influences, often featuring tight harmonies and catchy melodies.
It is often described as a "sun-drenched" sound and is characterized by its upbeat, carefree vibe. It often features vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar-driven melodies.
The sound of California is often seen as a precursor to another sub-genre - the West Coast Sound - which emerged in the 1970s.
The West Coast Sound was the result of the merging of the California Sound with the burgeoning British Invasion.
It featured the use of electric guitars and synthesizers and was characterized by its heavier, more aggressive sound.
The Bear Flag State's music aesthetic has also been credited with influencing the musical styles of the 1970s and 1980s, including punk, new wave, and indie rock.
Its influence can be seen in the work of artists such as The Clash, Blondie, The Go-Go's, and R.E.M.
Regional Variations
The California Sound is characterized by its sunny and relaxed atmosphere, as well as its focus on the Southern California lifestyle.
There are several regional variations, though.
Los Angeles was a hub for the California Sound, and its style was characterized by its use of bright melodies, soulful vocals, and prominent electric guitars.
The surf sound of the 1960s was closely associated with the California coast and was defined by its uptempo rhythms and use of reverb-laden guitars.
The Bay Area developed its own variation that was heavily influenced by the psychedelic rock scene. It often featured heavy doses of distortion, feedback, and improvisation.
San Francisco also developed a unique folk-rock style that was heavily inspired by the folk revival.
In the 1970s, Southern California developed a sound that was heavily informed by funk and disco. It was characterized by its use of synthesizers and its focus on layers of sound.
Finally, Northern California developed its own variation of the California Sound that was heavily influenced by classic rock. This variation was characterized by its heavy use of electric guitars and its focus on the blues.
Impact on Music
The California Sound had a major impact on popular music throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
It influenced later bands, such as Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, and The Doobie Brothers.
The genre also helped to popularize the use of electric instruments, such as the electric guitar and electric bass, as well as the use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments.
It also contributed to the development of genres such as country rock, folk rock, and soft rock.
It also was a relevant influence on the growth of the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s, and it had a major impact on the development of the punk and new-wave genres of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Innovative Recording Techniques
Recording techniques used to create the California Sound were typically based on the approach of overdubbing multiple audio tracks to create the desired sonic experience.
This included double-tracking vocals and instruments and layering multiple guitar and keyboard parts.
Reverb and delay effects were also used to enhance the sound, as well as artificial double tracking (ADT).
The California Sound also made use of multitracking to create a more complex sound.
This included recording multiple takes of the same instrument and then combining them to create a larger, more powerful sound.
In addition to the use of overdubbing and multitracking, the California Sound also employed the use of tape echo and phasing.
This was done to create a more spacious and dream-like sound.
The Golden State genre also relied heavily on the use of compression to even out the dynamics of the instruments used and create a more polished sound.
This included the use of compressor pedals and limiters to control the signal and bring out the nuances of the music.
Finally, it's important to note that California' trademark sound was often recorded in analog, which lent the recordings a warm, organic sound.
Social Significance
The California Sound was a reflection of the youth and hot-rod culture of the time, with its themes of freedom and optimism.
It gained mainstream popularity with acts like The Beach Boys and was integral in the development of genres like folk-rock, country-rock, power pop, and singer-songwriter music.
It had a significant impact on popular culture and was influential in the development of other genres like punk, new wave, and alternative rock.
SoCal music also had a major influence on the fashion and lifestyle of the 1960s, with its bright colors, beach-inspired style, and carefree attitude.
In addition, the California Sound had a significant social impact, as it helped to create a sense of identity and pride in the state's culture and its music.
Cultural Influences on the California Sound
The California Sound is an amalgam of musical styles heavily influenced by the hippie movement, which emphasized peace and love, as well as the cultural diversity of America's West Coast.
The musical influences include folk, rock, jazz, R&B, blues, country, and surf music.
Rock musicians such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and Buffalo Springfield helped to popularize the sound and merge the various musical styles into one.
Jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane also helped shape the sound.
The California Sound also has strong influences from the Latin and Latino communities in California, particularly the influence of Mexican culture.
Latin music styles such as Tejano and Latin jazz were fused with the rock, folk, and other styles of the California Sound.
In addition, it is heavily influenced by the surf culture of Southern California.
Surf music, which is a mixture of Hawaiian, Calypso, and rock, was popularized by musicians such as The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean.
Finally, the California Sound was heavily influenced by the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which emphasized peace and love as well as the cultural diversity of the Golden State.
Musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead popularized the sound with their unique blend of psychedelic rock and folk.
Current Trends
Today, the California Sound continues to evolve, incorporating elements of indie rock, alternative, and hip-hop.
Some current artists who are credited with bringing it into the modern era include Toro y Moi, Local Natives, and Mac DeMarco.
These artists often feature melodic, sun-drenched melodies, layered harmonies, and breezy rhythms.
Additionally, the use of synthesizers, samplers and other electronic elements has become more popular, creating a unique sound that blends traditional and modern elements.