By Jim Fusco:
Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the Laptop Sessions with Jim Fusco! Today I go back to my ol’ stomping grounds to give you another Beach Boys cover song.
“California Calling” is from their self-titled album from 1985. It’s the only track on the whole album that features real drums…and as an added bonus, they’re played by Ringo Starr! Of course, Dennis Wilson, the band’s drummer since they began, passed away in 1983. I think Ringo is just about the only drummer fitting enough to be the first person to play drums on a Beach Boys song after Dennis’ passing. And the drumming on “California Calling” is very similar to what Dennis would’ve played. I like to think they did that as a tribute to Dennis. Supposedly, the sequenced drum track on the hit “Getcha Back” was done in the style of Dennis Wilson as a tribute. I hope that’s true because it would be a great tribute.
To be honest, this really wasn’t one of my favorite songs on the album for many years. I think I was just irked by the fact that it’s another Love/Jardine “Don’t F with the formula” song that didn’t fit in with the rest of the album. But I’ve changed my mind on that recently. I mean, when you’re looking for a Beach Boys song, you’re looking for a song just like “California Calling”! Plus, it’s a good tune and I’m a sucker for that classic Beach Boys sound.
Onto some personal business: “The Easy Ways”, my new album, is coming out very, very soon- on September 20th, in fact! It’s an album full of 16 original songs that are assembled into a true “album” instead of just a collection of songs. You’ll just have to check back soon and grab a copy of the album on CD or digitally to hear what I mean! I’ve been practicing non-stop for my album release party, so I hope everyone in the Connecticut area will come check it out! It’s at 5:30 on Saturday, September 20th at Silver City Restaurant in Meriden, CT.
I’ll be back next week with another original song in anticipation of my new album’s release. I hope everyone enjoys tonight’s Laptop Sessions cover song music video of The Beach Boys’ “California Calling”!