If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears – The Mama’s & The Papa’s – What’s On The Table
California Dreamin’ on such a winter’s day…
How fitting that we’re posting this today as the weather app shows us it’s 24°C (75°F) in Los Angeles while we’ve had temperatures down to 10°C (50°F) this week 🙂
Whatever the weather is like where you are at right now, let’s take a virtual trip together to the USA’s West Coast to 1966 and enjoy the Mama’s and the Papa’s debut album “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears”.
It was the first of five studio albums they had recorded for Dunhill Records.
We hope you’ll enjoy our little video today and are looking forward to reading from you in the comments!
Stay groovy,
Mona & Lisa
Hi. I was too young in the Sixties to hear the Mamas and The Papas as they were happening, but have/had several older siblings that liked them so I got to know their music. And with Denny Doherty being Canadian and from Nova Scotia, (like me), that was a big deal as Nova Scotia is relatively small. Though, Ann Murray was from there and she had some international success in music, as well as actor Donald Sutherland is from near there and lived in NS too.
But, apart from that, I love many of their songs and the beautiful arrangements. And their story is an interesting and tragic one, which makes the music all that more amazing.
I was a little too young to get into the Mamas and the Papas; I turned 12 in November, following the Summer of Love in ‘67. I didn’t start listening to the radio until Simon and Garfunkel came out with “Mrs. Robinson”, and Bookends was the first album I ever bought. From there, I went down the Monkees rabbit hole, got into Creedence & Cream and finally started my lifelong love of the Fab Four when the White Album came out. I was so happy to see MLT working with John Sebastian; one of my all-time favorite albums is his live collection, “Cheapo Cheapo Productions presents Real Live John Sebastian.” If you haven’t heard it, I encourage you to look it up on Spotify or wherever. I could easily see the two of you covering his “Darling Be Home Soon.” Best wishes from the Left Coast! 🤩
More songs to sing on the school bus in those late ’60’s.
Some of my happiest childhood memories.
Imagine a tropical place hot and humid, busses with no windows (only curtains to keep rain out), and a mob of nice if unruly kids of three or four different races singing their collective hearts out to Monday Monday acapella complete with harmonies.
Include the driver and ticket collector/child controller for the low parts and you have the picture 🙂
The Mama’s and Papa’s just a grammatical error that had to be distressing to English instructors. Don’t know how that mistake got by the marketing department.
The group got off to a rousing start with 3 big hit 45s, the one not included on this album “I Saw Her Again”. Ultimately, I felt they were more of a singles than albums group.
“I Call Her Name” was a Top 20 hit in the Chicago area by local heroes the Buckinghams. I think it’s better than the M&P cover.
John & producer Lou Adler also remembered today for being the organizers of the Monterey Pop Festival. It featured key, early career defining performances by a number of artists – Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Who, Ravi Shankar……………..There’s a great moment in the film of an amazed Mama Cass in the audience, stunned as she watches Janis Joplin performing.
John’s first solo album “The Wolf King of L.A.” is definitely worth checking out (especially for country rock fans). As is his autobiography “Papa John”.
And, uh, of course, luv the ladies (actually just girls at the time) version of “California Dreaming”!
Great trip down memory lane with a group that was so very much part of the “in crowd” at the time. I remember the fallout due to the many infidelities, including the scandal with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
Monday, Monday is still my favorite cut from their debut album, and although I’ve never played the guitar on it, I have sung it many times live with a local DJ karaoke friend at various gigs.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Over here All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, though it’s not winter yet.
Another awesome WOTT! Always loved their harmonies, but MLT are the best! 😊
A spooky/creepy coincidence was that Mama Cass died at 32 in the same bed, same room, as Keith Moon also 32, in Harry Nielson’s “cursed” Curzon apartment, four years apart. That’s a story for Halloween.
I just noticed the Stephen Stills “Manassas” album on the shelf next to Lisa.
Good episode ladies! But hey girls check out The 5th dimension for similar harmonies. ” Up up and away” is another famous song you may like but maybe you heard it already.
https://youtu.be/UKkNlwpajNk
I was about 7 when they hit big. For some reason I always relate their music to summer and it brings me good vibes and happy memories. I read John Phillips book, he was pretty messed up from drugs and the stuff he took would kill most people. Denny and Cass had the true singing talent but all of them blended together quite well. Have you ever heard their version of Dedicated To The One I Love?
Yes, Dedicated to the one I Love is a sweet song. Great harmonies and a nice rendition.
Bobby S.
Dedicated To The One I Love is a gorgeous song and I never knew that it wasn’t an original! I just looked up the earliest version (I think!) by Johnny Preston and the Shirelles one. They’re cute as well! 🙂
Not yet time for a cup of hot beverage here in Idaho. Been staying in the mid 70’s so I grabbed a tall cool one instead.
Mama’s and Papa’s helped define the 60’s music big time for me. I loved their music. Their layered harmonies were so powerful! Until I heard your cover I would never of thought anybody could come close to their sound. But, how a couple of 14 year old Austrian girls did it still amazes me. Your cover of California Dreaming is every bit as captivating and powerful. Your ability to layer complex harmonies and create compellingly plush and robust sound, (also demonstrated for example on your cover of “Good Morning Starshine”), while also able to produce such intimate and evocative work such as “Vincent”, “Sugar Man” and “Still A Friend of Mine” shows a level of artistic depth and versatility second to no one -in the present or the past!
Thanks for spending some more of your precious time with us fans. Big hugs.
California Dreaming- one of my favorite songs of all time, your cover of this song was simply amazing.
At 14 your voices and guitar playing was astounding !!
I had a big crush on Michelle Phillips.
On the “hit by a pipe” thing, there’s actually a recognized medical condition called “Foreign Accent Syndrome” where head trauma has led to the victim speaking with some kind of accent. So I guess it could also lead to someone being able to hit notes that they were physically but not psychologically capable of hitting. Still, sounds like a pretty random way to improve one’s singing. For someone like Lisa who is already perfection, any alteration in her voice could only be for the worse. For someone like me with nothing to lose, I might give it a shot. If it doesn’t help my singing but gives me maybe an Irish accent, that would be cool, too.
And of course we all know from cartoons that you can reverse the changes by applying another bash to the head. So go ahead, knock yourself out!
Mona and Lisa, again a great choice for What’s on the Table! Mama and Papa’s were the 1960’s! Their sounds are incredible and music will live on forever. Your California Dreaming video and song is spot on with harmony’s and music. They were so talented and again a huge part of the 1960’s decade. When reading and learning about the high’s and lows of the band and how they still produced great music, it brings to mind Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors album, they had a bunch of high and lows in recording that album and such a huge album for Fleetwood Mac in 1977. Thank you so much for bringing this album by the mama and papa’s on this segment of what’s on the table, this music is so great and brings back great memories of the 1960’s for me as a kid growing up and hearing this music for the first time. Can’t wait till next weeks video and have a great weekend and love and hugs from me and Maddie
Bill and Maddie Isenberg Huge fans from Pittsburgh PA USA
This is a great album, which I also have on CD. It’s true, you can just imagine Lisa playing the intro to Straight Shooter (similar to some guitar on your debut album?). Only MLT can cover Beatles songs so they sound better, so not such a good effort here I think! However, California Dreaming is an amazing song and so well arranged and sung on this album and which made them famous. It’s always a song heard on documentaries of the 60’s so sort of defines the era for posterity. (P.S. Have you noticed people’s names have vanished from the comments posts?). Love from Allan.
I always loved the Mama’s and Papas. “Creeque Alley” was one of my favorites, but soooooo many great songs… “Dream a Little Dream of Me, Words of Love, Dancing in the Street”… and so many more! I just chalked the drama up to the times, drugs, money and fame, etc. I don’t remember being upset about anything, I just enjoyed their music. Never had the chance to see them in concert, wish that I had been able to see them live. They were an awesome group.
I love your MP3 “California Dreaming!” But, “San Francisco” is my favorite song of the three. I absolutely love the vocals on that cover!
I very much enjoyed this “What’s On The Table.”
All Groovy!! All Good!! ???????
?❤ Love you All‼️
Check out the song “I Dig Rock and Roll Music” by the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. In this song they do impressions of the Mamas and the Papas, a very Revolver-era Beatles and Donovan. Oh, in the version of the song “I call your name” Mama Cass sighs “John, John” but it wasn’t for John Phillips…it was for John Lennon cause she had a huge crush on him.
HI Mona & Lisa! and Hi! to the rest of the crew!
I had that album (it showed the toilet). So many great songs on it. Mama Cass had an awesome voice. The harmonies were spectacular, as are yours. It’s unfortunate that they had such problems. I had so many of the 60’s groups albums when they came out, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, The Beach Boys and so many more. I then got all the CD’s later. Unfortunately, on December 30,2021 my house and 1000+ others burned to the ground (240 in my town that was a coal mining town from the late 1800″s) so I no longer have any of them. I also lost all of yours that I had, but fortunately I could download them again. So, thank you for the privilege we have when we purchase them. Looking forward to getting ‘Why?’ Love watching all your WOTT and all your video’s.
Stay Goovy To You
Wow, William it is so sad to hear that your house burned down. I am so sorry. If you don’t mind me asking – where do you live? Was it in Colorado?
Bobby S.
When I was a kid in the 70’s I saw a TV commercial for an album of 60’s hits which began with an extended clip (about 15 seconds) of California Dreaming, and it absolutely mesmerized me. Ten years later I heard the whole song, and it’s been at the pinnacle of my favorites list ever since. There just isn’t any other song that moves me like that.
From what I’ve read, the songs on the Mamas and Papas’ first album were pretty much worked out in the group’s pre-fame days while they were bumming around in the Virgin Islands. When they moved from there to Los Angeles they contacted Barry McGuire, who hooked them up with Lou Adler, who immediately signed them to record for his label after hearing what they had come up with.
I remember loving the Mama’s and Papa’s music, especially Mama Cass’s great voice.
Your cover of “California Dreamin’” is still one of my favorites, both the song and the video. Papa Rudi really showed his genius bringing that one together, and you twins shined. The horse riding part of the video caught my eye from the first watch. You and the horses were one, even when the “kick out” occurred. That horse had some spirit, not your normal “kids ride” horse. You obviously had done lots of time in the saddle. Perhaps a future comment on your love of horses?
I always enjoy “What’s on the Table”.
Michelle could sing. There is some great documentary footage of her performing with John in Greenwich Village. But she had no illusions about who the real talent was between the Mamas. In a fairly recent interview I heard she modestly described her own voice as thin and lightweight. By contrast Cass was a natural ‘belter’ whose strong vocal style could be easily overpowering. Michelle thought her contribution was to keep Cass dialed back and under control so the harmonies were better balanced….especially in their live performances.
One place where you get to hear Michelle’s solo voice is in the intro to Dedicated to the One I Love.
I’m always ready to hear what you’ve got spinning on that Orange slip mat…when the email first came in I thought “oh boy” they’ve recorded another MAMA,s (oops with a comma LOL) and Papa’s song and my mind raced to another possible tune for Beatles and more vol 4…aaahhh but then I opened up the email and a pleasant surprise…I’ve always liked Monday Monday and California Dreaming…..I really enjoy when listening to the MLT JUKEBOX hearing those 3 songs from your EP…San Francisco…California Dreamin’ and Hotel California……Thank You for todays smile on my still youthful 26 yr old…uh…er..I mean 72 yr old mug..LOL..as always Thank You for the joy you give us old farts every Friday❤️?
Well, whenever I need somebody groovy (and that’s really quite often) I just tool on over to club MLT and indulge to my heart’s content! I have the same cover version with the toilet covered up. I’ve seen the visible toilet version offered for sale but it’s quite expensive. Maybe someday one might find it’s way into my LP collection, but I’m quite frugal(translated: cheap) and patient (translated: stubborn), so it’ll probably not be anytime soon! It’s so much fun watching you two enjoy another great album! Incredible music despite the dark aspects of the group dynamic. I’d really get a kick out of a WOTT “Tapestry” by Carole King.
Great selection! “The In-Crowd”, often covered as you remarked, is such a swingin’ melody! The version by Les McCann is the most popular one. The Mamas and the Papas (no apostrophes) greatest hits album was one of the first records I had. Mesmerizing harmonies 4 sure.
Hi again,
A few things about the M’s & P’s if I may.
Although California Dreaming was and is one of their most popular songs and it reached #4 on the charts, Monday, Monday was their biggest song hitting #1.
Besides Michelle messing around with Denny, she had an affair with Gene Clark of the Byrds(& others) and John fired her from the group. She was replaced by a singer named Jill Gibson.
The group did reunite in 1971 for a new album, but it did not do well.
The M’s & P’s continued performing for a number of years with some changes in the group.
Spanky McFarlane (who had mega hits with Spanky & Our Gang) replaced Mama Cass. Spanky had a big voice and sounded just as good, if not better, that Cass.
Scott McKenzie (who sang “San Francisco” written by John Phillips & covered by Mona & Lisa), replaced Denny.
And eventually Michelle would be replaced by Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of John Phillips. Mackenzie was an actress in the film American Graffiti and on TV’s “One Day at a Time”.
Speaking of the Phillips family – did anyone out there ever listen to a trio of ladies called Wilson Phillips?
They had a few big hits and sometimes sing some Beach Boys’ songs (notice the apostrophe lol)
They are Carrie Wilson, Wendy Wilson (2 daughters of Brian Wilson) and Chynna Phillips (daughter of John & Michelle Phillips – when they found a little time to be together and had a child).
As I mentioned in a reply to another member’s comments, Michelle Phillips is still alive at age 78. After the M’s & P’s she became a pretty good actress, appearing in movies and on TV programs, including a popular night-time soap opera called Knots Landing.
Lisa & Mona thank you for today’s WOTT, it brought back good memories.
I hope everyone has the best of weekends. Here in NY it is still fairly mild – tomorrow might hit 70 and the upper 60’s on Sunday.
Take Good Care,
Love & Peace,
Bobby S.
Thank you for another interesting and informative WOTT. Their version of California Dreamin’ was the standard, until the two of you, as Baby Mona and Baby Lisa, took the song to a whole different level. The finished product of the California videos were just the beginning of the video-making expertise that you enjoy today. Well-done ladies, well-done!
Hello,
One of my favorite albums from the ’60s. I would rather not say how old I was when it came out and I purchased it lol. However, I will say that when my older son was about two years old (in about 1983), we would sit on the floor in front of the bookcase that held all of my albums. He asked me to pull out one album at a time. He loved to look at the album covers and he asked me to read him the names of the songs from each album. Sometimes he would ask me to sing some of the songs for him. He could not read yet and was learning to talk – but he could tell me the names of many of the albums just by looking at the cover.
Especially Billy Joel albums. We bought a lot of them back in the ’80s.
I think the M’s & P’s if you can believe your eyes and ears was one of his favorites because they were in the bathtub.
About the Mama’s & the Papa’s with the apostrophe – I think they were trying to show “possession”?
My original album I bought in the 1960’s was on Dunhill Records and they did show the toliet hahaha.
Thank you Mona & Lisa for sharing today.
I will say more about the group in a different comment (I am trying not to make these too long lol).
Cheers,
Bobby S from the USA
Hi Mona and Lisa, amazing album when it came out and still to this day. However, your cover of the California album you released sounds so good, I could listen to it every day. Your over dubs were fantastic!!!! Those multiple harmonies made the 3-song album. Don’t get me wrong I loved their Music, but Mona and Lisa have it together, I wonder how you would sound if you replicated the same 3 songs today and how would it sound today?
Stay Groovy, as always!!! Love you both!
Thank you for sharing this album and your comments! I love Ther Mamas and the Papas – “California Dreaming” is among my top five favorite songs of all time. It’s so fun to watch you two engage with music from so far before you were born!
I was about 15 yrs old when the album came out. You did a good review of their history. What I know now that I did not know back in 1966 was that of the studio musicians. John Phillips was the only one playing guitar all others were vocals. The instruments were done by studio musicians who did not get credit on the albums.
The studio musicians known today as The Wrecking Crew. There is a documentary on DVD that has more than 6 hours of history. The bass player on the recordings was Joe Osborne who also was in Ricky Nelson’s band in the early days. Hal Blaine was the drummer, Tommy Tedesco did most of the riffs and guitar playing. The piano, keyboards player was Larry Knechtel and a few others. There is the recording echo and reverb sound that is unique in quality. Today that sound can come close but not like then. This is because of the recording studio in Los Angeles was Gold Star recording studio. I can tell just by the echo sound that a recording was done at Gold Star. The studio was built in 1950 by Stan Ross and David Gold. Combined name made Gold Star. The studio went out of business in early 1985 and later that year destroyed in a fire. The echo sound from Gold Star can be heard on groups like the Righteous Brothers, Sonny & Cher, The Crystals, The Ronettes and many others. The Beach Boys Pet Sound album is another. The history of the 60’s music is extremely fascinating. The Beatles wanted that Gold Star sound in the early 60’s to work with the Producer Phil Spector. Because of contracts did not get to work with Phil Spector until the Beatles broke up. All except Paul who distanced himself from Spector. Phil Spector is another drama history worse than the Mamas & Pappas in breeding ? I got into the 60’s music more than just it being in my youth. You will find my name in the album credits of The Wrecking Crew Soundtrack albums on double vinyl, a 4CD set and a 3 CDset to help produce those albums. Those cane be found at The Wrecking Crew film store web site. Along with the documentary DVD. Amazon sells the DVD documentary. The Mama’s & Pappas are among that history along with The Monkees, Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, Frank and Nancy Sinatra and the list goes endless. You did a very good over view of the album. I believe Michelle Phillips is the only, last living member of the group.
Yes Michelle is now 78 and is the last surviving member. Sorry, I do not know your name as they are not on the top of the comments anymore? I don’t know if the other club members know that she went on to be a pretty good actress in movies and TV programs. She was on Knots Landing for a number of years.
I don’t really know how good of a singer she was. I always thought that she was in the group mainly cause she was John’s wife & kind of cute.
Bobby S.
Tommy Tedesco…The pride of Niagara Falls, NY. One of the best studio guitarists of his era.
I enjoyed reading your comment, John… thanks for posting. 🙂 I thought that I might share that I occasionally listen to the ‘Beat of the Brass’ lp by Herb and the TJB, which starts with a cover of ‘Monday, Monday’. It never fails to blow my mind to think that I am listening to the same (many of them, at least) musicians that are playing on the original. 🙂
I just love your version of California Dreamin’. Your recording/video of that song was one of the first MLT video’s I came across. I was floored at the beautiful voices emanating from you and the fact you were essentially still children when you recorded that song. What amazing talent!!
Hi Mona and Lisa! Another extremely enjoyable and informative What’s On The Table, awesome! Thanks.
I love that it might be possible to improve my piano by getting hit on the head. HAHAHA! That’s so funny. While I haven’t owned any of the Mama’s and The Papa’s albums, their songs California Dreaming, and Monday Monday, would have to be some of my favourite 60s classics, and yeah love the harmonies. Your own California Dreaming EP trio of songs San Francisco, California Dreaming, and Hotel California are so superb, for the originals don’t stand chance! It is too bad and sad the way things turned out for the band, but they did create some of the best music from the 60s indeed.
I really enjoyed the back story around the making of your California Dreaming video. Your horseback riding adventure there looked like must have been a blast. First time seeing you really riding, and you look like confident pros on horseback. Yeah I love California, been down there many dozen times. Hope you get to visit there in the not too distant future again! Thanks again for another fabulous WOTT, it is always so much fun and enjoyable to watch, and I always learn a lot about the band and albums you review. Love your perspective on the music. ???❤
Have an awesome weekend!
Jung
Feeling nostalgic. I was 7 or 8 when this album came out. I don’t know if it was this one or not, but one of their albums was one of the first albums I owned. I loved their music, and loved singing along. Did that today too, of course.
I have to smile every time I watch WOTT because you ladies are so into the music! I heard that Cass fell out of bed and hit her head before she could hit the high notes! I think the pipe story is more interesting! I know Denny was having an affair with Michelle and John wrote the song “I saw her again last night” about it. Denny said he wasn’t real happy to sing it every night. It was amazing they lasted 3 years.
I remember watching them on Ed Sullivan, I think they sang “Crique Alley. After they broke up, Cass Elliot would be on all the variety shows that were the rage back in the day. I remember a running gag on one of the shows was “I brush my teeth 24 times a day…once after every meal.” Then she would jump up as there was a drum beat off camera. Very funny. I too love your version of California Dreamin.” Stay groovy. Peace be.
I think one of their best songs, and one of my favourites is Crique Alley. And a concise history lessons in the lyrics, as well. ” And California dreamin’ is becoming a reality…” cheers, Len
You ladies must have charisma or something. First you tell me to get a nice, hot beverage, so I do. Then you start reminiscing about the Mama’s and the Papa’s, and now my beverage is untouched and cold. Thanks for the smiles.
Great album loved Monday Monday and California Dreaming. Going to buy the cd. Like your choices. Ps waiting for your new cd to pop through letter box
I think it is interesting that the label on one side is RCA Victor and Dunhill on the other side. I always saw their music on Dunhill Records in the US. Maybe this is an anniversary copy.
Thanks for the reminder of just how great that album is. Haven’t listened to it for years. Hope you cover another of their songs in the future unless you are just too busy creating new music!!! Thx for what you both bring to the table.
Ah yes…. The peace and love from the 60’s. Of course, California Dreamin is one of my all time favorites.
You both look beautiful!!
My favorite part of this WOTT is hearing your California stories. Also, I had an identical dolphin/porpoise experience off the coast of Mexico. Can’t wait to dig into Why?
The album that led me to discover you on YouTube almost 15 years or maybe it is 15 yrs now, while searching for a decentvciver version that equaled or even better/parallel it, and MLT’s got me impressed and hooked on them from the Get Go… I have been a Mamas & Papas fan for a long time, Thankyou for doing this for this edition of WOTT… Denny was Canadian …Love all the albums that Mamas & Papas did and Cass & Denny’s Solo stuff post Mamas & Papas … Thoroughly enjoyed this quite ??????
I meant to add in…it was the ” California Dreamin” cover that I happily stumbled upon and was immediately #MLTBuzzLuvGroovified ….
Michelle….I must say ….that Acting was her true calling not singing …really….yes she could sing, but acting is more of a Forte for her, in my opinion…. I love Cass’s collaboration with Dave Mason , in which her younger sister , Leah Kunkel helped with backing vocals … Also Awesome was Denny’s solo album “Waiting For A Song ” which Cass wrote linear notes for and both her and Michelle did a few backing vocals on that solo album of Denny’s…kinda like a mini Mamas & Papas reunion of sorts …. Cass also sang with Crosby , Stills, Nash on an album of theirs ” Pre Road Dawgs” or something along that line in the song title she sang with, CSN ….??
I’ve watched your video of California Dreamin’ many times and still amazed how great your vocals are.