DU Album of the Day: "Papas and Mamas" The Mamas and the Papas

[gratuitous]

In 1968, the Summer of Love had given way to a year of violence, and the bloom had fallen off the brief flowering of hope. The Mamas and the Papas, who had contributed to the soundtrack of the era with "California Dreamin'" and "Dedicated to the One I Love" were staggering toward their inevitable breakup a couple of years down the line.

But the songwriting of Papa John Phillips endured, as did the amazing vocal harmonies of one of pop's greatest quartets. "Papas and Mamas," the group's penultimate album, showed they could still bring the noise and even the funk in a pinch. In a foreshadow of post-group years, Cass Elliott's rendition of "Dream A Little Dream of Me" revealed a budding torch singer who perhaps needed a touch more seasoning to achieve the proper blend of talent and experience. As with many things in the 1960s, it wasn't so much the years as the mileage that finally told on the Mamas and the Papas, and the group would be finished after a mere five years of making their mark in the music world.

1) The Right Somebody To Love
2) Safe In My Garden
3) Meditation Mama (Transcendental Women Travels)
4) For The Love Of Ivy
5) Dream A Little Dream Of Me
6) Mansions
7) Gemini Childe
8) Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl
9) Too Late
10) Twelve Thirty
11) Rooms
12) Midnight Voyage

Remember: Trivia question to follow Friday's entry!

[hifiguy]

1. "Twelve Thirty" is such a great song.

Those soaring harmonies.... Wonderful stuff.