The Mamas & The Papas

John Phillips

Denny Doherty

Michelle Phillips

Cass Elliot

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John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty performed in the New Journeymen, a temporary group put together to fulfill contractual obligations after the original trio’s breakup. In 1965, the three of them headed to St. Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands, to write and to rehearse. They were joined by the alto-voiced Cass Elliot. The foursome relocated to Los Angeles, where they signed to Lou Adler’s Dunhill label. After briefly calling themselves the Magic Circle, they took the name The Mamas and The Papas.

The Mamas and the Papas are one of the flowers in the musical bouquet of the bright time of the era "Make love, but make war..." , the era of passions, love, forbidden pleasures, rock festivals, the golden mean of rock music development.

You can easily find information about the group. The Mamas and the Papas are California Dreamers and an unfinished play..., the end or continuation of which could have been different, if not for a number of reasons depending on each of the band members...

But one way or another, having existed as a single unit in 1968, their paths diverged. They briefly reunited in 1971 to record People Like Us to fulfill contractual obligations, and then broke up to pursue solo careers. Cass was the most successful of them, although she suffered from health problems and died of a heart attack in 1974. John and Michelle divorced in 1970, and Michelle continued a successful acting career. John's descent into drug abuse was increasingly documented in his excellent autobiography, Papa John. After a high-profile drug bust, Phillips sobered up and reformed the Mamas and the Papas in 1982. The group included founder Denny Doherty and two new "Mamas": Mackenzie Phillips (John's daughter) and Elaine "Spanky" MacFarlane, an old friend who had sung with Spanky and Our Gang back in the Sixties. But it was a different band and different music, different from that onewhere there was a dense harmony and the melodies were sometimes joyful, sometimes sad. Their autobiographical music tells of their ups and downs, life and love, which is why we love them.

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 Before They Were The Mamas & the Papas... The Magic Circle (1999) @ Flac

Review by Richie Unterberger

Before the Mamas & the Papas formed, the four members were in various commercial folk-pop groups, including the Smoothies, the New Journeymen, the Halifax Three, the Big Three, and the Mugwumps. To make matters confusing for discographers (though more interesting for listeners), there are several unreleased studio tracks by ad hoc aggregations with members of the Mugwumps and Big 3. As for the music, this could be a more comprehensive overview of the Mamas & the Papas' roots, but it does illustrate the various forms of pop, folk, and rock that members were playing around with before the whole shebang coalesced with "California Dreamin'." There is Four Freshmen-influenced folk with choral vocals on the 1960 single by the Smoothies; lively pop-folk by the Big 3; and corny satire ("The Man Who Wouldn't Sing Along With Mitch") by the Halifax Three. "Oh Suzanna" and "Tom Dooley" by the temporary lineups mentioned above, come damn close to folk-rock, and serve as more evidence that various musicians were toying with the form a good year or so before the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man." Speaking of which, there are three previously unreleased 1965 demos by the New Journeymen that also have a tentative folk-rock sound, including a version of "Mr. Tambourine Man"; it was probably recorded after the Byrds' rendition, but it indicates that some folk-rockers could have been playing around with similar ideas before the form's commercial breakthrough. There are a couple of actual Mamas & Papas hits ("California Dreamin'" and "Creeque Alley") that almost everyone who picks up this compilation will have already, and the selection is sometimes questionable (the absence of the Mugwumps' "Here It Is Another Day," co-written by Elliot and perhaps their best song, is unfortunate). Still, it's a fascinating and at times musically fine document of the Mamas & Papas' tangled roots.

01. The Mamas & The Papas - Creeque Alley (Single Version)  (3:53)

02. The Smoothies (3) - Ride, Ride, Ride  (2:11)

03. The Smoothies (3) - Lonely Boy And Pretty Girl  (2:59)

04. The Halifax Three - Oh Mary, Don't You Weep  (2:47)

05. The Big 3 - Rider  (2:35)

06. The Halifax Three - The Man Who Wouldn't Sing Along With Mitch  (2:14)

07. The Big 3 - Come Along  (1:55)

08. The Big 3 - I May Be Right  (2:32)

09. Zal Yanovsky - Oh Suzanna (The Banjo Song)  (1:47)

10. The New Journeymen - Bound For Higher Ground (Demo)  (2:06)

11. Jerry Yester - Tom Dooley  (2:02)

12. The Mugwumps (3) - Searchin'  (3:03)

13. The New Journeymen - Mr. Tambourine Man (Demo)  (2:51)

14. The Mugwumps (3) - I'll Remember Tonight  (2:07)

15. The New Journeymen - The Last Thing On My Mind (Demo)  (2:48)

16. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin' (Single Version)  (2:40)

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The Mamas & The Papas - Complete Anthology (2004) @ Flac

CD 1 

01. The Mamas & The Papas - Monday, Monday (Single Version)  (3:28)

02. The Mamas & The Papas - Straight Shooter  (2:59)

03. The Mamas & The Papas - Got A Feelin'  (2:52)

04. The Mamas & The Papas - I Call Your Name  (2:38)

05. The Mamas & The Papas - Do You Wanna Dance  (2:59)

06. The Mamas & The Papas - Go Where You Wanna Go  (2:29)

07. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin' (Single Version)  (2:41)

08. The Mamas & The Papas - Spanish Harlem  (3:21)

09. The Mamas & The Papas - Somebody Groovy (Single/Album Version)  (3:16)

10. The Mamas & The Papas - Hey Girl  (2:29)

11. The Mamas & The Papas - You Baby  (2:21)

12. The Mamas & The Papas - The In Crowd  (3:17)

13. The Mamas & The Papas - No Salt On Her Tail  (2:44)

14. The Mamas & The Papas - Trip, Stumble & Fall  (2:41)

15. The Mamas & The Papas - Dancing Bear  (4:11)

16. The Mamas & The Papas - Words Of Love (Single Version (Stereo))  (2:16)

17. The Mamas & The Papas - My Heart Stood Still  (1:44)

18. The Mamas & The Papas - Dancing In The Street  (3:50)

19. The Mamas & The Papas - I Saw Her Again (Stereo)  (3:14)

20. The Mamas & The Papas - Strange Young Girls  (2:56)

21. The Mamas & The Papas - I Can't Wait  (2:45)

22. The Mamas & The Papas - Even If I Could  (2:44)

23. The Mamas & The Papas - That Kind Of Girl  (2:38)

24. The Mamas & The Papas - Once Was A Time I Thought (Edit)  (1:02)

25. The Mamas & The Papas - Glad To Be Unhappy (Single Version)  (1:45)

26. The Mamas & The Papas - Creeque Alley (Single Version (Stereo))  (3:45)

27. The Mamas & The Papas - Words Of Love (Mono Version)  (2:16)

CD 2 

01. The Mamas & The Papas - Dedicated To The One I Love (Single Version)  (2:59)

02. The Mamas & The Papas - My Girl  (3:34)

03. The Mamas & The Papas - Creeque Alley (Single Version (Stereo))  (3:49)

04. The Mamas & The Papas - Sing For Your Supper  (2:49)

05. The Mamas & The Papas - Twist And Shout  (2:54)

06. The Mamas & The Papas - Free Advice  (3:21)

07. The Mamas & The Papas - Look Through My Window (Single Version)  (3:08)

08. The Mamas & The Papas - Boys And Girls Together  (3:16)

09. The Mamas & The Papas - String Man  (3:02)

10. The Mamas & The Papas - Frustration  (2:58)

11. The Mamas & The Papas - Did You Ever Want To Cry  (2:55)

12. The Mamas & The Papas - John's Music Box  (1:07)

13. The Mamas & The Papas - The Right Somebody To Love  (0:41)

14. The Mamas & The Papas - Safe In My Garden  (3:14)

15. The Mamas & The Papas - Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels)  (4:23)

16. The Mamas & The Papas - For The Love Of Ivy  (3:44)

17. The Mamas & The Papas - Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Album Version With Introduction)  (3:16)

18. The Mamas & The Papas - Mansions  (3:47)

19. The Mamas & The Papas - Gemini Childe  (4:30)

20. The Mamas & The Papas - Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl  (3:09)

21. The Mamas & The Papas - Too Late  (4:11)

22. The Mamas & The Papas - Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon) (Single Version)  (3:26)

23. The Mamas & The Papas - Rooms  (2:49)

24. The Mamas & The Papas - Midnight Voyage  (3:13)

25. The Mamas & The Papas - Once Was A Time I Thought (With False Start & Studio Chatter)  (1:18)

26. The Mamas & The Papas - Studio Chatter (Do You Wanna Dance/Did You Ever Want To Cry)  (0:43)

27. The Mamas & The Papas - I Can't Wait (Studio Chatter & Rehearsal)  (1:16)

CD 3 

01. The Mamas & The Papas - People Like Us  (3:27)

02. The Mamas & The Papas - Pacific Coast Highway  (3:05)

03. The Mamas & The Papas - Snowqueen Of Texas  (2:38)

04. The Mamas & The Papas - Shooting Star  (2:55)

05. The Mamas & The Papas - Step Out  (3:01)

06. The Mamas & The Papas - Lady Genevieve  (3:48)

07. The Mamas & The Papas - No Dough  (3:08)

08. The Mamas & The Papas - European Blueboy  (3:39)

09. The Mamas & The Papas - Pearl  (2:24)

10. The Mamas & The Papas - I Wanna Be A Star  (2:18)

11. The Mamas & The Papas - Grasshopper  (2:58)

12. The Mamas & The Papas - Blueberries For Breakfast  (3:01)

13. The Mamas & The Papas - Straight Shooter (Live - Monterey)  (4:22)

14. The Mamas & The Papas - Got A Feelin' (Live - Monterey)  (4:15)

15. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin' (Live - Monterey)  (2:45)

16. The Mamas & The Papas - Spanish Harlem (Live - Monterey)  (4:07)

17. The Mamas & The Papas - Somebody Groovy (Live - Monterey)  (4:26)

18. The Mamas & The Papas - I Call Your Name (Live - Monterey)  (6:16)

19. The Mamas & The Papas - Monday, Monday (Live - Monterey)  (3:33)

20. The Mamas & The Papas - Dancing In The Street (Live - Monterey)  (5:03)

21. The Mamas & The Papas - John Phillips Dialogue  (2:30)

22. The Mamas & The Papas - Cass Elliot Dialogue  (3:15)

CD 4 

01. The Mamas & The Papas - Nowhere Man (From TV Show "Hullabaloo")  (1:22)

02. The Mamas & The Papas - Here In My Arms (From The TV Show "Hullabaloo")  (2:26)

03. Cass Elliot - It's Getting Better (Single Version)  (3:02)

04. Cass Elliot - Make Your Own Kind Of Music (Single Version)  (2:26)

05. Cass Elliot - New World Coming (1969 Version)  (2:12)

06. Cass Elliot - The Costume Ball (The Doctors' Wives/Soundtrack Version)  (2:38)

07. Cass Elliot And Dave Mason - Something To Make You Happy  (2:19)

08. John Philips - Mississippi  (3:38)

09. John Philips - Revolution On Vacation  (2:39)

10. John Philips - Cup Of Tea  (3:50)

11. Denny Doherty - Gathering The Words  (4:12)

12. Denny Doherty And Jimmie Haskell - To Claudia On Thursday  (3:10)

13. Denny Doherty - Indian Girl  (3:18)

14. Denny Doherty - Baby Catch The Moon  (2:50)

15. Michelle Phillips - Aloha Louie (Single Version)  (2:43)

16. Michelle Phillips - There She Goes (Single Version)  (3:56)

17. Michelle Phillips - No Love Today (Single Version)  (3:07)

18. Michelle Phillips - The Aching Kind  (3:19)

19. Barry McGuire - This Precious Time (Single Version)  (2:48)

20. Barry McGuire - Do You Believe In Magic  (2:17)

21. Barry McGuire - Yesterday  (2:53)

22. Barry McGuire - Hide Your Love Away  (2:47)

23. Barry McGuire - Let Me Be  (2:35)

24. Barry McGuire - Hang On Sloopy  (4:02)

25. Barry McGuire - California Dreamin'  (2:39)

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John Phillips – John Phillips: John The Wolfking Of L.A. (2006) @ Flac

Review by Matthew Greenwald

The first solo album of the architect of the Mamas & Papas sound, John Phillips, was certainly one of the more heralded events at the dawn of the 1970s. Phillips, the primary songwriter and vocal arranger for all of the group's great records, however, was not exactly a great lead vocalist. Phillips knew this, and, according to his book, Papa John, he purposely buried his voice in the mix. This proved to be a bit of tragedy, because underneath it all, this is an excellent album. Songs such as "April Anne," "Malibu People," and "Holland Tunnel" bear out what a fine songwriter he really was, and indeed, these are some of the finest songs of his career. The performances on this record are spectacular. Backed by an all-star group of musicians (most of Elvis Presley's band, including James Burton, as well as the Wrecking Crew, among others), the record's decidedly country feel is crafted to the extreme. Mamas co-founder Denny Doherty has always felt that had the Mamas & Papas recorded this album, it would have been one of their finest. There's no doubt.

1. John Phillips - April Anne  (3:20)

2. John Phillips - Topanga Canyon  (3:54)

3. John Phillips - Malibu People  (3:40)

4. John Phillips - Someone's Sleeping  (2:46)

5. John Phillips - Drum  (3:36)

6. John Phillips - Captain  (3:25)

7. John Phillips - Let It Bleed, Genevieve  (2:56)

8. John Phillips - Down the Beach  (2:52)

9. John Phillips - Mississippi  (3:37)

10. John Phillips - Holland Tunnel  (3:47)

11. John Phillips - Shady  (3:49)

12. John Phillips - Lonely Children  (3:45)

13. John Phillips - Lady Genevieve  (4:31)

14. John Phillips - Black Girl  (3:30)

15. John Phillips - The Frenchman  (4:04)

16. John Phillips - 16mm Baby  (2:42)

17. John Phillips - Larry, Joe, Hal And Me  (2:26)

18. John Phillips - Mississippi (Single Version)  (3:08)

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Denny Doherty - Waiting For A Song (1974) @ Flac

Doherty  released a few solo LPs and singles  two of note being 1971's Watcha Gonna Do? and 1974's Waiting for a Song, the latter of which went unreleased in the United States. Featuring both Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot on background vocals, the recordings would be Elliot's last, as she died of heart failure in her sleep on July 29, 1974, after a sold-out run in London a few months after the record was finished. Doherty was stunned and saddened and attended the funeral, along with John and Michelle Phillips.

In 1982, he joined a reconstituted Mamas & Papas, consisting of John, his daughter Mackenzie Phillips, and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, which toured and performed old standards and new tunes written by John. Doherty later produced an off-Broadway show called Dream a Little Dream, which was a narrative of his perspective of the story of the Mamas & the Papas. It was well received and garnered favourable reviews. The show was in part a response to John's PBS documentary Straight Shooter: The True Story of John Phillips and The Mamas and the Papas. It featured music from the group and focused on his relationship with Cass Elliot.

01. Denny Doherty - Simone  (3:16)

02. Denny Doherty - Children Of My Mind  (3:15)

03. Denny Doherty - You'll Never Know  (2:57)

04. Denny Doherty - Together  (3:18)

05. Denny Doherty - It Can Only Happen In America  (4:03)

06. Denny Doherty - Southern Comfort  (3:08)

07. Denny Doherty - You've Lost That Loving Feeling  (4:24)

08. Denny Doherty - Goodnight And Good Morning  (2:42)

09. Denny Doherty - Lay Me Down (Roll Me Out To Sea)  (4:14)

10. Denny Doherty - Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling  (2:32)

11. Denny Doherty - I'm Home Again  (3:04)

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Michelle Phillips - Victim of Romance (2005) @ 320

Victim of Romance is singer and songwriter Michelle Phillips's first and only solo album and was released in February 1977.

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music called the album "an unexpected triumph," writing that Moon Martin's contributions were "excellent." No Depression wrote that Phillips's "reported lack of confidence in her solo voice proved unfounded as she showed off a command of a spotlight that was previously diffused by her talented groupmates."[6] Billboard called Victim of Romance a "thoroughly delightful collection of Spectoresque rockers and ballads, dreamy blues, and melodic upbeat pop flavored tunes."

01. Michelle Phillips - Aching Kind  (3:20)

02. Michelle Phillips - Let The Music Begin  (3:57)

03. Michelle Phillips - Victim Of Romance  (3:44)

04. Michelle Phillips - Trashy Rumors  (4:05)

05. Michelle Phillips - There She Goes  (4:19)

06. Michelle Phillips - Paid The Price  (2:43)

07. Michelle Phillips - Baby As You Turn Away  (3:58)

08. Michelle Phillips - Lady Of Fantasy  (3:29)

09. Michelle Phillips - Just One Look  (2:45)

10. Michelle Phillips - Where's Mine?  (4:05)

11. Michelle Phillips - No Love Today  (3:08)

12. Michelle Phillips - Aloha Louie  (2:44)

13. Michelle Phillips - There She Goes  (3:58)

14. Michelle Phillips - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)  (3:24)

15. Michelle Phillips - Trashy Rumors  (3:06)

16. Michelle Phillips - Guerita  (3:10)

17. Michelle Phillips - Aces With You  (3:33)

18. Michelle Phillips - Champagne And Wine  (3:16)

19. Michelle Phillips - Having His Way  (4:40)

20. Michelle Phillips - You Give Good Phone  (3:08)

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Cass Elliot  - The Road Is No Place For A Lady (1972)

There was a reason the Mamas & the Papas were such a popular band, racking up ten Top 40 hits in two and a half years, The Road Is No Place For a Lady is evidence of just how important Mama Cass was to the hit mix. This album is an exquisite high, from the opening piano of the Albert Hammond classic that almost made it twice -- "(If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart" to the slick adult pop of Webb's "Saturday Suit." With legendary session guitarist Cris Spedding providing little touches of wah-wah on "Walk Beside Me" to Elton John percussion guy Ray Cooper adding his magic, this album is a work of art. Just play it next to David Cassidy's failed The Higher They Climb to feel the difference. Cass exudes real power from within, and the superb arrangements by Larry Fallon and Del Newman are what give Lewis Merenstein's production real depth. This is Elliot going deeper into her Judy Garland phase. Great album cover by photographer Ave Pildas has Elliot's living room spread out on railroad tracks, an owl in a glass case reflected in the mirror, Elliot's only company for afternoon tea. The final track on side one, "All My Life" contains all the loneliness depicted on the front and back cover photos. The tragedy of this album is that "(If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart" didn't destroy the charts upon release. It is total pop sophistication, Mama Cass' voice soaring over the strings, piano, and backing that is a Phil Spector hit without the wall of sound. Really brilliant pop to be studied and cherished. Her solo hits coming in 1969, this 1972 recording is the singer just two years before her passing. Say Hello has real pop magic that Bette Midler fully understood on her 1972 debut. This album is almost like the passing of the torch. "Who in the World" is exquisite, a real departure from the rest of the album; beautiful Larry Fallon strings help Elliot convey the sentiment. Fallon hit with "Brandy" by Looking Glass that same year, and Rolling Stones producer Jimmy Miller had Fallon add strings to an unreleased version of "Wild Horses." That so many talents in their prime help Mama Cass deliver on each song, the sweeping chorus of "Love Was Not a Word," the tremendous early version of Pink Floyd producer Hurricane Smith's "Oh Babe, What Would You Say" who would hit with it just a few months later, to the title track, emphasizes what a musical time the early '70s were, and how respected Mama Cass was in musical circles. An uplifting album by an underrated star.

 01. Cass Elliot - (If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart  (2:24)

 02. Cass Elliot - Saturday Suit  (2:58)

 03. Cass Elliot - Does Anybody Love You  (2:54)

 04. Cass Elliot - Walk Beside Me  (2:55)

 05. Cass Elliot - All My Life  (2:45)

 06. Cass Elliot - Say Hello  (3:12)

 07. Cass Elliot - Who In The World  (2:43)

 08. Cass Elliot - Love Was Not A Word  (3:00)

 09. Cass Elliot - Oh Babe, What Would You Say  (3:04)

 10. Cass Elliot - The Road Is No Place For A Lady  (3:13)

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AVI Movie - The Mamas & The Papas Straight Shooter

Memories of former members of the group

+ appearances in various TV shows..

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