"California Dreamin'" was written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1965. It was originally recorded for an album, never released as a single, by Barry McGuire (best known for the even more depressive "Eve of Destruction"). John and Michelle sang backup on McGuire's cut, with P.F. Sloan (who wrote "Eve of Destruction") on guitar. They so impressed producer Lou Adler that he recorded over McGuire's vocal track, substituting the Phillips's vocals (and Denny Doherty's), which became their original 1965 release as the Mamas and the Papas.
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UPDATE: Diana Krall, audio only (h/t Cory Franklin)
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