The Papas & The Mamas
Encyclopedia
The Papas & The Mamas is a 1968 album
by The Mamas & the Papas
. It was their final album together before the group temporarily broke up before a brief 1971 reunion.
Unlike previous studio-recorded albums, The Papas and The Mamas was recorded at the home of John Phillips
and Michelle Phillips
, although with the same production team as on previous albums.
With the exception of the very successful cover version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (which is not representative of the rest of the album), the album's subject matter is often downbeat and world-weary, most notably in the lyrical content of "Safe in My Garden", "Mansions", "Too Late" and "Rooms".
There are few love songs, and it is also more experimental, the Hendrix-like guitar textures of "Gemini Childe" being one example.
All the material was new upon release with the exception of "Twelve Thirty", which had been released as a single the previous year, 1967.
The track "Meditation Mama" featured the first vocal lead ever on a Mamas and Papas track by John Phillips. All four members of the band contribute lead as well as backing vocals on this album.
The vocals for "For the Love of Ivy" reportedly took one month to record.
Although it was the first album from the group not to peak in the top ten, it was a commercial success upon its release, becoming the band's fourth and last top twenty album in America and producing two hit singles (One of which, "Dream a Little Dream of Me", would begin Cass Elliot
's solo career).
This album is included in its entirety on All the Leaves are Brown
, a retrospective compilation of the band's first four albums and various singles.
Side one:
Side two:
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
. It was their final album together before the group temporarily broke up before a brief 1971 reunion.
Unlike previous studio-recorded albums, The Papas and The Mamas was recorded at the home of John Phillips
John Phillips (musician)
John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
and Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
, although with the same production team as on previous albums.
With the exception of the very successful cover version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (which is not representative of the rest of the album), the album's subject matter is often downbeat and world-weary, most notably in the lyrical content of "Safe in My Garden", "Mansions", "Too Late" and "Rooms".
There are few love songs, and it is also more experimental, the Hendrix-like guitar textures of "Gemini Childe" being one example.
All the material was new upon release with the exception of "Twelve Thirty", which had been released as a single the previous year, 1967.
The track "Meditation Mama" featured the first vocal lead ever on a Mamas and Papas track by John Phillips. All four members of the band contribute lead as well as backing vocals on this album.
The vocals for "For the Love of Ivy" reportedly took one month to record.
Although it was the first album from the group not to peak in the top ten, it was a commercial success upon its release, becoming the band's fourth and last top twenty album in America and producing two hit singles (One of which, "Dream a Little Dream of Me", would begin Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
's solo career).
This album is included in its entirety on All the Leaves are Brown
All the Leaves are Brown
All the Leaves are Brown: The Golden Era Collection is a 2001 release compiling the first four albums by The Mamas & the Papas in their entirety, with some single-exclusive mono versions and one non-album track...
, a retrospective compilation of the band's first four albums and various singles.
Original track listing
All songs by John Phillips unless otherwise noted.Side one:
- "The Right Somebody to Love" (Jack YellenJack YellenJack Selig Yellen was an American lyricist and screenwriter.-Life and career:Born in Poland, Yellen emigrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old. The oldest of seven children, he was raised in Buffalo, New York and began writing songs in high school...
, Lew PollackLew PollackLew Pollack was a song composer active during the 1920s and the 1930s.Pollack was born in New York. Among his best known songs are "Charmaine" and "Diane" with Ernö Rapée, "Miss Annabelle Lee", "Two Cigarettes in the Dark", "At the Codfish Ball" , and Go In and Out The Window, now a...
; originally performed by Shirley TempleShirley TempleShirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
in the film Captain JanuaryCaptain January (1936 film)Captain January is a 1936 American comedy drama film directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Sam Hellman, Gladys Lehman, and Harry Tugend is based on the story The Lighthouse at Cape Tempest by Laura E. Richards. The film stars Shirley Temple, Guy Kibbee, and Sara Haden in a story about a...
) - "Safe in My Garden"
- "Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels)" (John PhillipsJohn Phillips (musician)John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
, Lou AdlerLou AdlerLou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
) - "For the Love of Ivy" (John PhillipsJohn Phillips (musician)John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
, Denny DohertyDenny DohertyDennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty was a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was most widely known as a founding member of the 1960s musical group The Mamas & the Papas.-Early career:...
) - "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (Fabian AndreFabian AndreFabian Andre was an American composer, best known for cowriting the music of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" with Wilbur Schwandt in 1931. Popular in its time, the song was revived when covered by The Mamas & the Papas after Andre's death in Mexico City in 1960.-External links:*...
, Wilbur SchwandtWilbur SchwandtWilbur Schwandt is credited for the music to the song "Dream a Little Dream of Me" with Fabian Andre.He frequently went by the stage name of "Don Swan."...
, Gus KahnGus KahnGustav Gerson Kahn was a musician, songwriter and lyricist.-Biography:Kahn was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1886. The family emigrated from there to the United States and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1890...
) - "Mansions"
Side two:
- "Gemini Childe"
- "Nothing's Too Good for My Little Girl" (Ned Wynn)
- "Too Late"
- "Twelve ThirtyTwelve Thirty"Twelve Thirty" a.k.a. "Twelve-thirty ", the song's main refrain, is a song by The Mamas & the Papas, which was the lead single from the album The Papas & The Mamas. The song peaked at number 20 in the US, but failed to chart in the UK.The song was written by John Phillips shortly after the band...
(Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)" - "Rooms"
- "Midnight Voyage"
Personnel
- Denny DohertyDenny DohertyDennis Gerrard Stephen Doherty was a Canadian singer and songwriter. He was most widely known as a founding member of the 1960s musical group The Mamas & the Papas.-Early career:...
– vocals - Cass ElliotCass ElliotCass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
– vocals - John PhillipsJohn Phillips (musician)John Edmund Andrew Phillips , was an American singer, guitarist, songwriter and promoter . Known as Papa John, Phillips was a member and leader of the singing group The Mamas & the Papas...
– vocals and guitar - Michelle PhillipsMichelle PhillipsMichelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
– vocals - "Doctor" Eric Hord - guitar
- Hal BlaineHal BlaineHal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
– percussion - Larry KnechtelLarry KnechtelLawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
– keyboards - Joe OsbornJoe OsbornJoe Osborn is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit...
– bass - Paul Downing - guitar on "Rooms"
- John YorkJohn York (musician)John Foley York is an American bassist and guitarist, born in White Plains, New York on August 3, 1946. He is best known for his work with The Byrds, who he joined in September 1968 as a replacement for the band's original bass player Chris Hillman. He remained with the group until September...
- bass on "Rooms"
- Peter Pilafian - engineer
- Lou AdlerLou AdlerLou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
- producer
- Tad Diltz - album photos
- Gary BurdenGary BurdenGary Burden is an American artist specializing in the field of album covers. He is considered as one of the pioneers of the concept of album cover art. In the 1960s and '70s he designed covers for many rock stars, such as Mama Cass, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, The Doors, The Eagles...
- art direction and package design
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Billboard Pop Albums | 15 |