California Dreaming has been one of my most anticipated albums of the year. The idea of two of Australia’s best voices – Rick Price and Jack Jones – coming together really excited me. The track listing was superb, featuring songs I’ve known and loved all my life. But could it possibly match my expectations? It’s a big yes from me.
This album sounds just like it should, with Rick and Jack’s beautiful voices front and centre, but ably supported by a tight band and superb backing vocals. The covers are delivered with such heart and reverence. They’re not cookie cutters of the originals, which I appreciate, but they don’t veer too far away from the source material. I haven’t felt a cover of “Light My Fire” did justice to The Doors classic until now. Their take on “Both Sides Now,” by Joni Mitchell, is so moving. I didn’t quite expect the emotional punch “Desperado” delivered either. Then there are the tracks that are just good fun, like “Take It Easy” and “Running on Empty.” These guys might not have written the songs, but goodness they tell the stories convincingly. They also get the balance right; there are some heartbreakers here but also those songs that are just so much fun to sing along with.
This is the kind of album that the grandparents of Australia are going to dig. It’s the music they grew up with executed perfectly. I just hope more young people take a listen to it over family BBQs, because it really deserves to be heard. I’ve listened to a lot of albums of covers recently, and California Dreaming is one of the best.