Any Mamas and Papas fans here?

[PartyPooper]

I'm a big fan from the 1960's. I loved their music. I still do.

Poor Mama Cass died eating a sandwich. :-(

But, they were a great group.

And, one of the singers was later an actress on Knotts Landing.
I remember one scene where their music was played. It was such a hoot!

:D

:hi:

[Bluebear]

1. The sandwich didn't kill her.....

I am a HUGE fan of the Mamas and Papas!



http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/mamacass.htm

'Cass Elliot's death was initially misreported as having been caused by her choking on a ham sandwich. The true cause of death, a heart attack, was not determined until an autopsy was performed a week later, but by that time the "ham sandwich" story had become entrenched in the public's mind.'

[Floogeldy]

2. Big fan here

The dude that arranged their vocals was extremely talented.

[Bridget Burke]

30. John Phillips did the arranging....

His biggest musical heroes were groups like the Four Freshmen, purveyors of slick, jazzy vocal harmonies. His first folk group, The Journeymen, were part of the movement that included the Limeliters & the Kingston Trio; groups who sang beautifully even if the purists scoffed at "inauthenticity". Then he began the journey into folk rock--but his influences were still evident.

You can learn so much from a VH1 history if you catch the first half of the show. The last half is always about how drugs took their toll. How dull. Anybody can become a junkie and/or coke head; musical creativity is much more interesting.

Brian Wilson was another fan of the Four Freshmen.

[Bluebear]

32. Terrific arrangements. nt

[Deja Q]

3. I am! I am! I'm chronologically 32 though. Is that OK? Oh, Mama Cass

didn't die from eating a ham sandich or whatever the rumor was. It was a heart attack or related coronary condition... A great loss. :cry:

But, in today's market where it's all image, she wouldn't get a chance. I recall, even in 1991, Martha Wash had a difficult time because she was larger. :-( Awesome voice, one of the best in modern day times...

Image is one thing (good production values in tv special effects or set design). But people are people. What's been happening since the 1980s is wrong. Pure and simple wrong.

[Hand]

4. Denny Doherty returned home, btw

He's been back in Halifax, NS, for many years. His most recent steady gig was as the Harbour Master in the Theodore Tugboat kids' program. He did a little intro and closing bit, very nicely. He seems to be fine, although he's sure as hell put on a few pounds.



:hi:

[Bluebear]

8. What a sweet voice he has!

Always liked Denny!

[Hand]

33. Nice guy, too.

He was sort of the innocent of the group--just a guy from Nova Scotia who fell in with sophisticates.

He's done some acting and so forth in the past few years and has been a generally popular figure around Halifax. He's probably semi-retired by now--he's in his sixties. Holy Moses! If you can believe that.

[Bluebear]

39. Ay yi yi

Where did the time go? Like the turn of a page.

[mike_c]

5. me....

There was a very good documentary on John Phillips several years ago, which naturally included lots of info on that part of his career.

[CO Liberal]

6. I Have Always Loved Mama Cass Eliot's Voice

Her re-make of Kate Smith's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" is one of my all-time favorites.

[PartyPooper]

14. That song is one of my all-time favourites, too.

I would want it sung at my own memorial service.

:cry:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

38. lol! Mine too! She sang it exquisitely. :) n/t

[Dr Fate]

7. Yeah...

...seek out the mono recordings- ten times better...

[Longgrain]

9. Big Mamas and Papas fan here

I wrote several stories based on the song "Twelve-thirty (Young Girls are coming to the Canyons)...

:hi:

[welshTerrier2]

11. i love that song ...

play it all the time ...

[Longgrain]

13. I've written an entire novel...

As well as several short stories around it...

:hi:

[welshTerrier2]

15. what were they about ??

was this about young people moving to California in the sixties ??

[sundog]

16. see below post

It's on that compilation. Their last album was the most psychedelic.

[welshTerrier2]

18. oops ...

sorry ... wrong post in the wrong place ...

i'll check out your post below ...

[alexisfree]

10. California dreaming...

[sundog]

12. hell yeah

The "All the Leaves are Brown" collection is great - their 4 main studio albums remastered on 2 discs.

I like some of the lesser known tunes: "Boys & Girls," "Did You Ever Want to Cry," "Meditation Mama," "Strange Young Girls."

[HeyManThatsCool]

17. Sadly since Denny & Michelle are the only surviving members

There will be no reunion.

[elperromagico]

21. Well, what could you do without Papa John's great songs

and Mama Cass's great vocals?

Denny - great voice. Michelle - good voice. But without John and Cass, you've got nothing. :(

[HeyManThatsCool]

22. I heartily agree

[welshTerrier2]

19. Midnight Voyage

i think this was one of their less popular songs but it really has some great stuff in it ...

Mama Cass sang lead ... but then there was a conversational break in the middle with a little goofing around ... and then, near the end of the song, you could really hear the incredible power of the full group's harmony ...

interesting song if you can find it ... i know it's on one of their greatest hits albums ...

[elperromagico]

20. Love them. Even "I Saw Her Again," with its dreadfully out-of-tune

vocals... The arrangements - vocal and instrumental - are brilliant.

[sundog]

23. I think the arrangements are the main strength...

really, that's the bottom line.

I got inspired - listening to "Safe in My Garden" now. :7

[elperromagico]

24. That's a good, lesser-known tune.

I like the counterpoint near the end when the two central melodies intermingle.

[Bluebear]

26. You would never see that kind of arranging today

I would say they were ahead of their time but arranging has so sadly deingrated today!

[Bluebear]

25. 'dreadfully out of tune'

I am a M&P maniac but Lordy they had some clams...the flute solo in California Dreaming is like a quarter tone off!

[Bluebear]

27. "Look Through My Window"

And the rain beats on my roof
and it does not ask for proof....

It's not that lovers are unkind.
She always said there'd come a time
when one would leave and one stay behind.

We both knew people sometimes change,
and lovers sometimes rearrange -
and nothing's quite as sure as change.

And the rain beats on my roof....

Look through my window to the street below.
See the people hurryin' by
with someone to meet, some place to go
and I know I should let go!

She always said "I'm not like you!"
"When love is dead for me it's through,
and I will find and love someone new."

Look through my window, yeah, to the street below.
See the people hurryin' by
with someone to meet, some place to go,
and I know I should let go.

I must admit, she knew her mind,
And it will not take her long to find
another place where the sun will shine.

And the rain beats on my roof
If I still require proof.....

[Whoa_Nelly]

28. Had a real "California Dreaming" experience

Was on a weekend date with a guy I met. Turned out he was a real jerk. We had been staying at a B&B in Monterey...anyway...it was in October, and I went walking to get away from the idiot...a 5 hour walk..all the leaves were brown..and the sky was grey...and stepped into a church along the way...yes, I got down on my knees...and I pretended to pray...o the preacher WOMAN asked me to stay (and talk) but I went on my way...California Dreamin'

True Story!

[newyawker99]

29. I love them.

In a coffeehouse Sebastian sat........

[DancingBear]

31. They were brought to Lou Adler (Dunhill Records) by Barry McGuire

of "Eve Of Destruction" fame - I believe Adler was working with McGuire at the time.

[Maine-ah]

34. california dreamin'

I taught my self the flute solo by listening to it on record, one of my favorites!

[Bluebear]

35. Very cool! Good ear!

It was wicked out of tune, I am betting it was laid down on the last pass.

[Ernesto]

36. Pot and the Mamas & Papas tapes

were the only things that kept me & my platoon half way sane in Nam
back in '67-'68.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. The whole being more than the sum of the parts was not personified

any better by any group then by them. Cass's voice was incredible by itself...but as a group they were beyond description.

[SarahB]

40. My favorite

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me

Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me