but San Francisco Bay Blues from Eric Claptons unplugged album is always good to put a spring in your step. AND it's got a kazoo solo. What more do you want?

But the version by the Ramones, please.
Try, album wise, Dave Alvins West of the West, dedicated to and featuring nothing but songs by California writers. It's very good.

What else - post-Beach Boys - is there?

Going To California is worth a listen. Big Steve wrote it just as the band were relocating there from Camden.

Babylon Sisters
"Drive west on sunset, to the sea
turn that jungle music down
just until we're out of town"

Magic. One day I will actually drive west on sunset (I may play some DJ Krust quietly until we hit the freeway)

Aside from the wonderful and the obvious

"Ventura Highway"-America (not the greatest band, "Horse With No Name" lamely springs to mind) but this is a cracking tune with a sparkling little acoustic guitar riff)

"Traction In The Rain" David Crosby-always reminds me of that great California singer-songwriter period, all stoned out blissful harmonies.

"12.30 Young Girls Are Coming to The Canyon"-Scott McKenzie. the whole album "San Francisco" is a long overlooked gem.

"Topanga Canyon"-John Phillips,going to the farmers market to score from the man, from the "Wolf King "album.

"On The Beach"-Neil Young ruminations on his marriage, life and Charlie Manson, perhaps his best album.

and other fine tunes from Jimmy La Fave, was our soundtrack, year before last, driving north up the valley on Highway 395. Highly recommended.

by Steve Wynn.

But, i moved to LA two years ago. Last year i finally gave in a listened to the Silversun Pickups LP. I have to say it opitimises what LA is about. They are from here and it shows in their music. It defined last summer for me.

The Promised Land/Chuck Berry
California Sun/The Rivieras
California Dreamin'/The Mamas & The Papas
Coming Into Los Angeles/Arlo Guthrie
In My Room/The Beach Boys
Sin City/The Flying Burrito Brothers
La Cienega Just Smiled/Ryan Adams
Take It Easy/Jackson Browne
L.A./Neil Young
Join Me In L.A./Warren Zevon
Studebaker/Jordan Zevon
Save Me/Aimee Mann
Something Fine/Jackson Browne
Revolution Blues/Neil Young
Down In Hollywood/Ry Cooder
Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd./Ryan Adams
On The Beach/Neil Young
Desperados Under The Eaves/Warren Zevon
I Love L.A./Randy Newman
Going To California/The Arlenes
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues/Eels
My California /Lightnin' Hopkins

Another swift and inclusive list, Lucas. Should we set you a challenge?
Howsabout songs for a Bar-Mitzvah in the far east?
Is the Rivieras the original California Sun? And is the Jordan Zevon CD any good? Always wary of sons of famous fathers, despite having 2 Teddies and a Martha (OK, dters, as well)

But I had a California playlist ready and waiting, too: got family in LA so always feel like hearing certain songs when we're there.

I think The Rivieras' is the best known version:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=107738660&...

but Bob Dylan played an earlier version - I think - by Joe Jones on the first ever episode of his radio show two years ago.

I don't have the Jordan Zevon album, but got it off Enjoy Every Sandwich. I think it's one of the best on the album, but he's made a real point of assembling all his Dad's regulars around him and doing a really good, till then unfinished, song.

There's a couple of tracks from his album, here:

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2008/04/15/jordan-zevon-inside-out/

but I reckon Studebaker's the real thing.

Yet another good MP3 supplying site.
Have to say I am increasingly drawn to these. Have you found the Hype Blog, which brings in together all the music blogs with MP3s on an hour by hour basis? Somewhat addictive, if not currently a wee bit overloaded with Radiobloodyhead re-mixes. It is also, lawyers please note, increasingly the case that MP3s are put up with the permission and approval of artists concerned, on many of the sites, so my conscience is much clearer than with, say, Limescale, or the other F2F "sharing" sites.

I think I checked it every day for a while. Then I realised I had to stop.

I am beginning to know that feeling: I can't afford (thinking about only, obviously) all the blank CD back-up discs........

so you need:
Mamas and Papas - California earthquake
Natalie Merchant - San Andreas fault
Not that I'm trying to worry you or anything.
Someone mentioned EC above and you could go for
Mean old 'Frisco

Ned Doheny - Postcards from Hollywood. If the sun's out and you open the car window you can pretend you're just driving down from the canyon - rather than the ring road to the garden centre.

Snow in San Anselmo (Hard Nose the Highway) - hadn't happened in over 30 years, apparently, but it was laying on the ground, according to his waitress.

Almost Independence Day (St Dominic's Preview)- he could hear the fireworks up and down the San Francisco Bay.

Redwood Tree (St Dominic's Preview) - boy and his father went looking for the lost dog. Couldn't find it, though.

Inspiration Information is a great psychedelic California Soul album. Well worth a listen.

and Marlena Shaw - California Soul always does it for me (just try to forget the kfc advert...)

I also have a great little memory from a time I was working in California few years ago. I was driving back into San Francisco on a baking hot day, there's a point where you reach a high point on the Turnpike and you get a fabulous view of the whole city and sea in front of you. Just then Green Onions came on the radio...It just seemed the perfect accompaniment at the time.

put Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Riviera Paradise' on your i-pod.
it just couldn't get any better.....

Not a name normally associated with California, but years ago in concert he related his story about composing One Man Rock 'n Roll Band. He wrote it on Big Sur and also got busted for trespassing there.
His song Twelve Hours Of Sunset is about flying from Manchester to L.A.

It ain't why, it just is.