Review by Nico Low
Les Fradkin's "God Bless California (Ooh L.A.)" immediately captured me with its catchy vocal hook, happy horn line, and shining vibrant sound. As a California native, it's the perfect dedication to the Golden State! The shuffle feel of the piece brought my mind to a summer music festival where I could clap along and dance. The band is locked together in a fun groove bringing images of the sprawling landscapes of beaches down south, the mountains in the north, and the great cities of Cali. And the keyboard solo is playful and leads so well into the chorus!
Lyrically the song has so many good hooks! The vocal hook blasting out the gate at the beginning, "Ooh L.A," will be stuck in my head for the rest of the week. Other states can be cold and unforgiving, but California's reputation for being all sunshine rings through in the lyrics. The music and lyrics support this shimmering vibe that evokes being in California on a warm day.
"God Bless California
With you sun & shining sea
You're the only state
Where peace of mind
Washes over me."
The song is an all-around bop, and as a fellow Californian, I appreciate the love my home state is getting! Fradkin, who also produced the music, made excellent sonic choices in the production process. Everything from the guitars to the keys to the tambourine to the catchy lyrics and melody will have you dancing wherever you may be. You'll wish to hop on that plane and take a trip to Malibu.
About Les Fradkin
Les Fradkin is a Producer and Composer / 12 String Bassist, Multi Instrumentalist, Vocalist and One Man Band. He creates Progressive and Pop Rock for One Man Band from the Pioneer of MIDI Guitar.
Les is a successful songwriter/composer from the 1970's, lead guitarist, and one of the original members of the hit Broadway show "Beatlemania". He was a Guitar Synthesizer and Tapeless Recording pioneer of the 1980's, a neoclassical guitar trendsetter in the 1990's and is now a 21st Century innovator as a virtuoso MIDI Guitarist. A classically trained musician as well as being a rock guitarist, he has found success as a recording artist, composer and producer with MGM Sunflower, ESP-Disk, Bell, Arista, RCA, and Laurie Records. Les has written the well known hit "La Chansons Des Souvenirs" ("Song Of A Thousand Voices") for the famous French songstress Mireille Mathieu on the Philips label and this tune has also been recorded in a hit version on RCA Victor (now Sony/BMG) by the Latin Pop icon Roberto Jordan ("Donde"). He was originally discovered and signed by John Hammond Sr. at Columbia back in 1969.
Learn more at his website: http://www.lesfradkin.com
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