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| The Mamas & The Papas |
| Mama Cass Elliot ♦ John Phillips ♦ Denny Doherty |
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| Where it all began
Denny Doherty was a member of a Canadian folk group The Halifax Three (3 45s/2 LPs) They played Carnegie Hall (with Zal Yanovsky on guitar). Meanwhile in Los Angeles, John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, and Dick Weisman formed The Journeymen (6 45s/3 LPs). About the same time in New York City, there was a group called The Big Three which consisted of Cass Elliot, Tim Rose, and Jim Hendricks (4 45s/2 LPs). Tim Rose went solo and Cass and Jim joined up with Canadians Zal and Denny to form The Mugwumps (1 45/1 LP of studio scraps released in 1967). After getting nowhere, Cass and Denny joined up with John and his wife Michelle to form The Mamas & The Papas. Zally would hook up with part-time Mugwump and session harmonica player John Sebastian to form The Lovin' Spoonful. Jim Hendricks formed The Lamp Of Childhood and wrote hit songs (Summer Rain). For a musical version of this story, listen to Creeque Alley. For a detailed history of the Villlage folk scene in the 60s, see Pete Frame's More Rock Family Trees book for a four-page chart (with a few more branches). Below are representative singles by these four groups, along with links to their other recordings. |
Gotta Start Somewhere...
The Halifax Three
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The Man Who Wouldn't Sing Along With Mitch / Come Down The Mountain Katie Daly Grean-Hertz (2:09) / O'Shea (2:51) Epic 5-9572, 2/63 |
The Journeymen
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Rag Mama / I Never Will Marry McKenzie-Phillips-Traum-Weissman (1:50) / Hellerman (2:47) Capitol 4943, 3/63 |
The Big Three
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The Banjo Song / Winkin' Blinkin' And Nod Rose (1:56) / Field-Simon (2:55) FM FM-3003, 9/63 |
The Mugwumps
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I Don't Wanna Know / I'll Remember Tonight Beecham-Rowberry (2:07) / Andrews (2:06) Warner Bros 5471, 9/64 |
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California Dreamin' / Somebody Groovy Phillips-M Phillips (2:37) / Phillips (3:06) Dunhill 4020, 11/65 T20 UK |
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Monday, Monday / Got A Feelin' Phillips (3:09) / Doherty-Phillips (2:44) Dunhill 4026, 1/66 #1 T20 |
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears |
| Dunhill DS-50006 | |
| 2/66 #1 RS500 [UK: 6/66] T20 | |
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 Side One | ||
| Monday, Monday | Phillips | 3:03 |
| Straight Shooter | Phillips | 2:55 |
| Got A Feelin' | Doherty-Phillips | 2:44 |
| I Call Your Name | Lennon-McCartney | 2:32 |
| Do You Wanna Dance? | Freeman | 2:58 |
| Go Where You Wanna Go | Phillips | 2:32 |
| Side Two | ||
| California Dreamin' | Phillips-M Phillips | 2:32 |
| Spanish Harlem | Leiber-Spector | 3:22 |
| Somebody Groovy | Phillips | 3:06 |
| Hey Girl | Phillips-M Phillips | 2:21 |
| You Baby | Barri-Sloan | 2:15 |
| The "In" Crowd | Page | 3:10 |
| No Salt On Mama Jill's Tail For years, M&P fans have argued over whether temporary Mama Jill Gibson's vocals are on their second album (below) Using this SHMF thread as a starting point, here's what's what with that. Michelle was fired in June because of having an affair with Byrd Gene Clark (4th or 28th). Lou Adler then hired Jill Gibson (a singer he'd worked with) as a full-time replacement and went about recording their next album to be called Crashon Screamon All Fall Down. Tracks for the album were recorded on 4-track recorders at Western Studios. Following a brief tour, Lou decided that Michelle should be brought back (in late August—strictly a biz move). And Mama Jill was no more. They even re-shot their appearance on the Sept 17 The Hollywood Palace TV show (was with Jill). The original cover (with Michelle in the lower right corner) was first altered to have a similarily posed Jill replace her. Didn't work out, so a new cover was shot (see note 2 below). Some advanced pressings were issued, but nobody seems to have ever seen a real copy since 1966. Because of the recording techniques used back in the dark ages, they could not simply replace Jill's vocals (not to mention the cost). From what the SHMF detectives have sussed out, she appears on six tracks (plus one held over for Deliver). Michelle did overdubs on two of those (Strange Young Girls and That Kind Of Girl). |
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I Saw Her Again³ / Even If I Could Doherty-Phillips (2:50) / Phillips (2:40) Dunhill 4031, 6/66 T20 T20 |
Michelle fired in Jun
Jill hired |
The Mamas And The Papas |
| Dunhill DS-50010 | |
| 8/66 T20 [UK: 1/67] UK | |
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| Side One | ||
| No Salt On Her Tail | Phillips | 2:35 |
| Trip, Stumble And Fall† | Gilliam-Phillips | 2:35 |
| Dancing Bear† | Phillips | 4:08 |
| Words Of Love | Phillips | 2:13 |
| My Heart Stood Still | Rodgers-Hart | 1:43 |
| Dancing In The Street | Gaye-Hunter-Stevenson | 3:00 |
| Side Two | ||
| I Saw Her Again | Doherty-Phillips | 2:50 |
| Strange Young Girls† | Phillips | 2:45 |
| I Can't Wait† | Phillips | 2:40 |
| Even If I Could† | Phillips | 2:40 |
| That Kind Of Girl† | Phillips | 2:20 |
| Once Was A Time I Thought | Phillips | :58 |
Note: New text box esplains ev'ryting
Jill fired in late Aug
Michelle re-hired |
Look Through My Window / Once Was A Time I Thought Phillips (3:05) / Phillips (1:01) Dunhill 4050, 9/66 BB |
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Words Of Love / Dancing In The Street³ Phillips (2:13) / Gaye-Stevenson (2:59) Dunhill 4057, 11/66 T20 UK / BB |
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The Ed Sullivan Show: 12/11/66, Monday, Monday, California Dreamin', Words of Love |
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Dedicated To The One I Love / Free Advice Bass-Pauling (2:56) / Phillips-Phillips (3:15) Dunhill 4077, 2/67 T20 T20 |
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Deliver |
| Dunhill DS-50014 | |
| 2/67 T20 [UK: 6/67] T20 | |
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| Side One | ||
| Dedicated To The One I Love | Bass-Pauling | 2:56 |
| My Girl | Robinson-White | 2:35 |
| Creeque Alley | Phillips-M Phillips [as M Gillian] | 3:45 |
| Sing For Your Supper | Rodgers-Hart | 2:46 |
| Twist And Shout | Medley-Russell | 2:45 |
| Free Advice | Phillips-M Phillips [as M Gillian] | 3:15 |
| Side Two | ||
| Look Through My Window | Phillips | 3:05 |
| Boys And Girls Together | Phillips | 3:15 |
| String Man | Phillips-M Phillips [as M Gillian] | 2:59 |
| Frustration | Phillips | 2:50 |
| Did You Ever Want To Cry† | Phillips | 2:53 |
| John's Music Box | Phillips | 1:00 |
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ABC Stage 67: "Rodgers & Hart Today" 3/2/67, ABC With Bobby Darin, Pet Clark & Count Basie. John loved stage musicals (see below) |
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Creeque Alley¹ / Did You Ever Wanna Cry Phillips-M Phillips (3:49) / Phillips (2:53) Dunhill 4083, 4/67 T20 T20 This mix of Creeque Alley has horns |
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The Ed Sullivan Show: 6/11/67, Dedicated To The One I Love, Creeque Alley |
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Monterey International Pop Festival(6/18/67) |
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Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon) / Straight Shooter Phillips (3:20) / Phillips (2:55) Dunhill 4099, 8/67 T20 |
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The Ed Sullivan Show: 9/24/67, Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon), medley: Monday, Monday/I Call Your Name/California Dreamin' |
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Farewell To The First Golden Era Dunhill DS-50025, 10/67 BB [UK: 12/67] no unique tracks |
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Glad To Be Unhappy / Hey Girl Rodgers-Hart (1:40) / Phillips-M Phillips (2:21) Dunhill 4107, 10/67 BB |
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Concert was cancelled—NME and MM report po'd fans |
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Dancing Bear / John's Music Box Phillips (3:07) / Phillips (1:00) Dunhill 4113, 11/67 BB |
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Present The Papas And The Mamas |
| Dunhill DS-50031 | |
| 4/68 T20 [UK: 9/68] | |
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| Side One | ||
| The Right Somebody To Love | Temple | :34 |
| Safe In My Garden | Phillips | 3:10 |
| Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels) | Adler-Phillips | 4:19 |
| For The Love Of Ivy | Doherty-Phillips | 3:40 |
| Dream A Little Dream Of Me | Andre-Kahn-Schwendt | 3:14 |
| Mansions | Phillips | 3:43 |
| Side Two | ||
| Gemini Childe | Phillips | 4:05 |
| Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl | Wynn | 3:05 |
| Too Late | Phillips | 4:07 |
| Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon) | Phillips | 3:22 |
| Rooms | Phillips | 2:45 |
| Midnight Voyage | Phillips | 3:11 |
Note: Came with a split front gatefold cover. See note to view.
The Right Somebody To Love is credited to Shirley Temple, who debuted the song in the 1936 film Captain January.
It was written by Lew Pollack and Jack Yellen. The second verse (unlisted) leads off side two.
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Safe In My Garden / Too Late Phillips (3:10) / Phillips (4:07) Dunhill 4125, 5/68 BB |
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Dream A Little Dream Of Me / Midnight Voyage Andre-Kahn-Schwant (3:14) / Philips (3:11) Dunhill 4145, 6/68 T20 T20 as by Mama Cass with The Mamas & The Papas |
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For The Love Of Ivy / Strange Young Girls Doherty-Phillips (3:40) / Phillips (2:45) ABC-Dunhill 4150, 7/68 BB |
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Everybody goes their separate ways (with one contract-required album to go...) |
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Golden Era Vol 2 Dunhill DS-50038, 9/68 BB [UK: 12/68] includes non-Lp 45 track Glad To Be Unhappy |
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Dream A Little Dream |
| Dunhill/ABC DS-50040 | |
| 9/68 BB [UK: 12/68] | |
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| Side One | ||
| Dream A Little Dream Of Me | Andre-Kahn-Schwant | 3:24 |
| California Earthquake | Hartford | 2:42 |
| The Room Nobody Lives In | Sebastian | 2:38 |
| Talkin' To Your Toothbrush | Simon | 2:19 |
| Blues For Breakfast | Manuel | 2:56 |
| You Know Who I Am* | Cohen | 3:57 |
| Side Two | ||
| Rubber Band | Faryar | 3:17 |
| Long Time Loving You | Scharf | 1:59 |
| Jane, The Insane Dog Lady | Simon | 2:00 |
| What Was I Thinking Of | Cohen | 3:50 |
| Burn Your Hatred | Nash | 2:25 |
| Sweet Believer | Faryar | 4:55 |
Note: Dream A Little Dream (the song) is The Mamas & The Papas recording
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Do You Wanna Dance? / My Girl Freeman (2:58) / Robinson (3:35) ABC-Dunhill 4171, 10/68 BB |
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California Earthquake / Talkin' To Your Toothbrush Hartford (2:40) / Simon (2:19) ABC-Dunhill 4166, 10/68 BB |
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Monterey Pop(12/26/68) |
| First and best rockumentary on festivals |
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Move In A Little Closer, Baby / All For Me¹ Capitanelli-O'Conner (2:37) / Price-Wright (1:50) ABC-Dunhill 4184, 2/69 BB |
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Crosby (from The Byrds), Stills (from Buffalo Springfield) and Nash from The Hollies meet at Mama Cass' house in Laurel Canyon and start singin'... |
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It's Getting Better / Who's To Blame Mann-Weill (2:56) / Kunkel (2:55) ABC-Dunhill 4195, 5/69 BB T20 |
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"The Mama Cass Television Program": I Shall Be Released," 6/26/69, Mama Cass, Mary Travers, and Joni Mitchel in a beautiful live rendition. |
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Bubblegum, Lemonade And.. Something For Mama |
| Dunhill/ABC DS-50055 | |
| 6/69 BB [UK: 11/69] | |
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| Side One | ||
| It's Getting Better | Mann-Weil | 3:01 |
| Move In A Little Closer, Baby | Capitanelli-O'Conner | 2:39 |
| Easy Come, Easy Go | Hildebrand-Keller | 2:45 |
| Blow Me A Kiss | Carone | 2:50 |
| He's A Runner | Nyro | 3:38 |
| Welcome To The World | English-Segal | 2:19 |
| Side Two | ||
| I Can Dream, Can't I | Fain-Kahal | 2:34 |
| Sour Grapes | Ghent | 2:31 |
| Lady Love | Bramlett | 3:03 |
| When I Just Wear My Smile | Lane-Puilcy | 2:22 |
| Who's To Blame | Kunkel | 2:59 |
Note: reissued as Make Your Own Kind Of Music (11/69), with hit song added, tracks rearranged
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Make Your Own Kind Of Music / Lady Love Mann-Weill (2:25) / Bramlett (3:04) ABC-Dunhill 4214, 10/69 BB |
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John, The Wolf King Of L A |
| Dunhill DS-50077 | |
| 1/25/70 BB [UK: 6/70] | |
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| Side One | ||
| April Anne | Phillips | 3:20 |
| Topanga Canyon | Phillips | 3:51 |
| Malibu People | Phillips | 3:39 |
| Someone's Sleeping | Phillips | 2:43 |
| Drum | Phillips | |
| Side Two | ||
| Captain | Phillips | 3:23 |
| Let It Bleed, Genevieve | Phillips | 2:52 |
| Down The Beach | Phillips | 2:51 |
| Mississippi | Phillips | 3:35 |
| Holland Tunnel | Phillips | 3:41 |
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New World Coming / Blow Me A Kiss Mann-Weill (2:12) / Carone (2:50) ABC-Dunhill 4225, 1/70 BB |
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A Gathering Of Flowers ABC/Dunhill DSY-50073, 3/70 [UK: ?/70] no unique tracks |
Note: A Gathering Of Flowers could be considered the first rock/folk retrospective box set. First issues came in a box, with a 16-page
booklet included (see it at 45worlds). John & Michelle discuss each song prior to listening. Lyric sheet included.
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Mississippi² / April Anne² Phillips (2:59) / Phillips (3:10) Dunhill 4236, 4/70 BB |
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A Song That Never Comes² / I Can Dream, Can't I Cashman-Pistilli-West (2:29) / Fain-Kahal (2:35) ABC-Dunhill 4244, 7/70 BB |
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7th Big Sur Folk Festival(10/3/70) John Phillips |
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The Good Times Are Coming / Welcome To The World English-Siegell (2:53) / Barry-David (2:18) ABC-Dunhill 4253, 10/70 A-side from the film Monte Walsh |
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Don't Let The Good Life Pass You By² / A Song That Never Comes Rucker (2:48) / Cashman-Pistilli-West (2:19) ABC-Dunhill 4264, 11/70 |
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The Ed Sullivan Show: 11/22/70, Cass takes part in several sections on the Richard Rodgers tribute show |
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Brewster McCloud(12/23/70) John Phillips |
| Several unique Wolf King songs on the soundtrack album |
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Watcha Gonna Do / Gathering The Words Doherty-Woodward (2:24) / Doherty-Woodward (4:10) Dunhill ABC 4270, 2/71 |
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Watcha Gonna Do |
| Dunhill ABC DS-50096 | |
| 2/71 [UK: ?/71] | |
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| Side One | ||
| Watcha Gonna Do | Doherty-Woodward | 2:21 |
| Neighbors | Lapano-Woodward | 3:49 |
| Gathering The Words | Doherty-Woodward | 4:09 |
| Don't You Be Fooled | Doherty | 2:46 |
| Got A Feelin' | Doherty-Phillips | 3:26 |
| Side Two | ||
| Tuesday Morning | Doherty-Fischer-McGuire-Woodward | 4:44 |
| Still Can't Hear The Music | Doherty-Woodward | 2:53 |
| Hey, Good Lookin' | Williams | 1:45 |
| The Drummer's Song | Fischer-Woodward | 3:17 |
| Here Comes The Sun/The Two Of Us | Harrison/Lennon-McCartney | 5:40 |
Note: some labels as Alone At Last
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Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival |
| Dunhill DSX-50100 | |
| 3/71 [UK: N/R] | |
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| Side One | ||
| Straight Shooter | Phillips | 3:10 |
| Got A Feelin' | Doherty-Phillips | 4:01 |
| California Dreamin' | Phillips-M Phillips | 2:47 |
| Spanish Harlem | Leiber-Spector | 3:26 |
| Side Two | ||
| Somebody Groovy | Phillips | 2:50 |
| I Call Your Name | Lennon-McCartney | 6:03 |
| Monday, Monday | Phillips | 3:12 |
| Dancing In The Street | Gaye-Hunter-Stevenson | 3:26 |
Note: Recorded at Monterey International Pop Music Festival, June 18, 1967
Cass Elliot to short partnership with Dave Mason
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People Like Us |
| Dunhill DSX-50106 | |
| 10/71 BB [UK: 11/71] | |
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| Side One | ||
| People Like Us | Phillips | 3:25 |
| Pacific Coast Highway | Phillips | 3:04 |
| Snowqueen Of Texas | Phillips | 2:37 |
| Shooting Star | Phillips | 2:54 |
| Step Out | Phillips | 3:03 |
| Lady Genevieve | Phillips | 3:48 |
| Side Two | ||
| No Dough | Phillips | 3:05 |
| European Blueboy | Phillips | 3:39 |
| Pearl | Phillips | 2:24 |
| I Wanna Be A Star | M Phillips | 2:17 |
| Grasshopper | Phillips | 2:57 |
| Blueberries For Breakfast | Phillips | 2:59 |
Note: Contractural obligation reunion, need we say more...
The Mamas & The Papas web site