Mamas & Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
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Free Music Notes for If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
Free Music Review: Their Debut Is Still the One To Own
Hit: 5 Stars
Of the four studio albums this highly influential group recorded during their all too brief career (1966-68), their debut is still the most thoroughly satisfying. It contains their two signature songs and biggest hits--"California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday"--and both sold over a million copies. Almost every song on this album would have succeeded as a single, but by the time "Monday, Monday" was dropping off the charts "I Saw Her Again" (from their soon-to-be released sophomore album) was already climbing the charts. [In fact, their first three albums were released during an astonishing 12-month period!]
Whether doing covers like "I Call Your Name," "Do You Wanna Dance" and "Spanish Harlem" or John Phillips originals like "Straight Shooter" and "Go Where You Wanna Go," the group's folk-pop sensibilities and lush vocal harmonies make this album a real treasure.
While internal friction caused the breakup of the group by mid-1968, they left behind a body of work which rightfully earned them a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Free Music Review: I'M A BELIEVER !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
To me, great debut albums are few and far between. These days, there's just too much hype made about this group and that group; and, even if they are good, so much media overkill and overplay gets done that you're sick of hearing about someone before they've really had a chance? "IF YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR EYES AND EARS" is one of those great debut albums--almost a "sleeper," if you will--that can't be beat! From start to finish, you want to hear more; and usually do wind up playing it a second (and maybe even a third) time around before walking away and saying, "Wow," to yourself over and over again. I can only compare that to, say, the first Beatles album (take your pick between the first UK or US release), Boston's debut LP, Skynyrd's "PRONOUNCED," or (another "sleeper") "LISTEN UP... IT'S THE ECHOES"--the latter, in some ways, reminding me of The Mamas & The Papas magic and honesty? This group's definitely earned itself a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I only wish there were more like them!Free Music Review: Easily one of the greatest pop-rock albums of the 60's
Hit: 5 Stars
Coming at a time prior to the '67 Summer of Love, but riding the crest of folk music's metamorphosis into electric psychedelia, this stunning debut is packed with gorgeous pop melodies enhanced by The Mamas & The Papas soon-to-be trademark harmonizations. All of the classic singles are here: "Monday, Monday" , "Go Where You Wanna Go" and "California Dreamin'", and even when they are covering other songs, they create fascinating interpretations that stand on their own. Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance" is a good example: The Mamas & The Papas take this classic rollicking dance-hall number and strip it down to a beautiful, almost melancholy love song. Elsewhere, they do a vaudevillian send-up of The Beatles' "I Call Your Name", with Mama Cass on lead. And I still like their version of "You Baby" better than the better-known Turtles version. This is easily their masterpiece in a short and turbulent career.Free Music Review: A sixties MUST HAVE ALBUM
Hit: 5 Stars
This was the bands first and possibly best album. Released in 1966 this was considered a landmark effort. The harmonies swept over you like breath of fresh ocean air. They are still to be marvelled at to this day for those that appreciate beautiful vocal arrangements !All the cuts are great. The biggies are here with Monday Monday and California Dreamin.However don't overlook Straight Shooter or Got a Feelin. These are lesser known but still wonderful tunes.
John Phillips was a music industry journeyman (literally!) and knew that they would have have to make an impact right away to be noticed. Phillips pushed himself, his wife Michelle, Cass Elliot, and Denny Doherty to sing like angels -he succeeded! This is a must have for have for everyone from the casual fan to the biggest devotee's. Timeless majesty !
You'll play this CD countless times and still look forward to another go round.
5 plus stars !
Free Music Review: If You Were Around
Hit: 5 Stars
If you were around during the sixties, this is an important album/CD to have. On a comparative basis, the Mamas and Papas were not the most inventive or talented of the top bands back in those days,they had several super hits that really became benchmark identity songs of the era, California Dreamin being the biggest. If you were a kid back in those days these tunes seem to be very important and give you a feeling that transports you to those better times. You can feel the sixties in the air when this music is played. When I hear this album, I think of the summer of love, the culture change that occured, Gene Clark having "the affair" with Michelle which served to create "I Saw Her Again Last Night", and of course the smell of incense and weed burning. This album is a time machine. Personally, I feel the cover on the original album is worth the price of the trip.