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They weren't the most important folk-rock group of the mid-'60s; the Byrds and others produced more enduring music. Yet the Mamas & the Papas were undoubtedly the most commercially successful folk-rock group of their time, racking up an astonishing nine Top 30 hits in little more than a year and a half. This 43-song double-CD is by far the most comprehensive document of their legacy. It draws most heavily from their two 1966 albums (nine songs originate from their debut album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, alone), when John Phillips' songwriting talent had yet to exhaust itself. Beyond the hits, the material is variable. Quite a few album tracks -- especially "Got a Feelin'," "Straight Shooter," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Once Was a Time I Thought," and their cover of Lennon/McCartney's "I Call Your Name" -- were strong enough to have been hits under their own steam. Their slowed-down, California-ized versions of rock oldies were more problematic. And there's no doubt that their later material is less spirited and memorable than their initial burst of glory. The set includes various late-'60s and '70s solo recordings by each of the group's members (including small hit singles by John Phillips and Cass Elliot). Perhaps the most intriguing rarities are from the members' pre-Mamas days. These include commercial folk by the Big Three (featuring Cass Elliot) and primitive pop-folk-rock by the Mugwumps (including Elliott, Denny Doherty, and future Lovin' Spoonful member Zal Yanovsky).
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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ROY SILVER, Producer - Cass Elliot, ComposerLyricist - The Big Three, MainArtist - Timothy Rose, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lucy Simon, ComposerLyricist - ROY SILVER, Producer - The Big Three, MainArtist
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc., Under license from Rhino Records Inc./By arrangement with Butterfly Entertainment Corp.
The Mugwumps, MainArtist - Chris Andrews, ComposerLyricist - Alan Lorber, Producer
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The Mugwumps, MainArtist - Alan Lorber, Producer - David Rowberry, ComposerLyricist - John Beecham, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - P.F. Sloan, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, Background Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Barri, ComposerLyricist - Barry McGuire, Producer, MainArtist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Phillips, MainArtist - Not Applicable, Author - Lee Young, Producer
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Michelle Phillips, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Phillips, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Denny Doherty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cass Elliot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Michelle Phillips, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - P.F. Sloan, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Philips, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Denny Doherty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cass Elliot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - P.F. Sloan, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Steve Barri, ComposerLyricist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Bobby Freeman, ComposerLyricist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Jerry Leiber, ComposerLyricist - PHIL SPECTOR, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - BONES HOWE, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dennis Doherty, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Dennis Doherty, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - William Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Ivy Joe Hunter, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lee Young, Producer - Mama Cass, MainArtist
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Lou Adler, Producer - Michelle Phillips, ComposerLyricist - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 Geffen Records
Lou Adler, Producer - John Phillips, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1966 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Michelle Phillips, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Phillips, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Denny Doherty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cass Elliot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Lowman Pauling, ComposerLyricist - RALPH BASS, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Michelle Phillips, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Phillips, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Denny Doherty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cass Elliot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - Ronald White, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - BERT BERNS, ComposerLyricist - Phil Medley, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Lennon, ComposerLyricist - Paul Mccartney, ComposerLyricist - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Phillips, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Peter Pilafian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Author
℗ 1967 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Phillips, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Peter Pilafian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dennis Doherty, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lou Adler, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Phillips, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Peter Pilafian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 Geffen Records
Lou Adler, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Phillips, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Peter Pilafian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 Geffen Records
Lou Adler, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michelle Phillips, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - John Phillips, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist - Gus Kahn, ComposerLyricist - Denny Doherty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cass Elliot, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Pilafian, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Wilbur Schwandt, ComposerLyricist - Fabian Andre, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
JOHN SIMON, Producer - John Hartford, ComposerLyricist - Mama Cass, MainArtist
℗ 1968 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmie Haskell, Conductor, Accordion, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Mann, ComposerLyricist - Cynthia Weil, ComposerLyricist - Joe Osborn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hal Blaine, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Deasy, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Benay, Guitar, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Barri, Producer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - RED RHODES, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Phil Kaye, Engineer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Mama Cass, MainArtist - Larry Knectel, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Jimmie Haskell, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Barry Mann, ComposerLyricist - Cynthia Weil, ComposerLyricist - Steve Barri, Producer - Mama Cass, MainArtist
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Denny Doherty, MainArtist - Bill Szymczyk, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dennis Doherty, ComposerLyricist - Linda Woodward, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1971 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lee Young, Producer - Mama Cass, MainArtist
℗ 1970 UMG Recordings, Inc.
John Phillips, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dave Hassinger, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Mamas & The Papas, MainArtist
℗ 1971 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Michelle Phillips, MainArtist - John David Martin, ComposerLyricist - Jack Nitzsche, Producer
℗ 1977 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
They weren't the most important folk-rock group of the mid-'60s; the Byrds and others produced more enduring music. Yet the Mamas & the Papas were undoubtedly the most commercially successful folk-rock group of their time, racking up an astonishing nine Top 30 hits in little more than a year and a half. This 43-song double-CD is by far the most comprehensive document of their legacy. It draws most heavily from their two 1966 albums (nine songs originate from their debut album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, alone), when John Phillips' songwriting talent had yet to exhaust itself. Beyond the hits, the material is variable. Quite a few album tracks -- especially "Got a Feelin'," "Straight Shooter," "Go Where You Wanna Go," "Once Was a Time I Thought," and their cover of Lennon/McCartney's "I Call Your Name" -- were strong enough to have been hits under their own steam. Their slowed-down, California-ized versions of rock oldies were more problematic. And there's no doubt that their later material is less spirited and memorable than their initial burst of glory. The set includes various late-'60s and '70s solo recordings by each of the group's members (including small hit singles by John Phillips and Cass Elliot). Perhaps the most intriguing rarities are from the members' pre-Mamas days. These include commercial folk by the Big Three (featuring Cass Elliot) and primitive pop-folk-rock by the Mugwumps (including Elliott, Denny Doherty, and future Lovin' Spoonful member Zal Yanovsky).
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 43 track(s)
- Total length: 02:01:38
- Main artists: The Mamas & The Papas
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1991 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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