The Mamas & The Papas - Complete Anthology
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Free Music Notes for Complete Anthology
Free Music Review: The Ultimate Mamas and Papas Collection!
Hit: 5 Stars
Of all the compilations of the Mamas and the Papas that have been released, this is, without a doubt, the absolutely best collection of their music from beginning to end. All five of their studio albums are hear along with their live recordings from the Monterey Pop festival along with such rarities like their TV performances of "Nowhere Man" and "Here in My Arms". There are also selected solo material from all four members as well as the background vocals they recorded for Barry McGuire.
And, there are also outtakes from their studio rehearsals of songs like "Once Was a Time I Thought", "I Can't Wait" and "Do You Wanna Dance". There is a nice selection of pictures of the group along with it's history featuring a foreword by Mama Michelle Phillips.
I read through the reviews on here and one reviewer referred to the Mamas and Papas music as "a blip on the radar screen of rock and roll history". Not only is this statement insulting, it's totally inaccurate. Although the Mamas and the Papas were together for less than three years, they achieved more in that time period than most groups together for 10 years or more never could hope to achieve. The facts speak for themselves:
1. Between January, 1966 and June, 1967 the group sent 6 singles ("California Dreamin'", "Monday, Monday", I Saw Her Again", "Words of Love", "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Creeque Alley) to the Top 5. Additional singles like "Look Through My Window", "Glad To Be Unhappy", "Twelve Thirty" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me" all made the Top 40.
2. In fact, "Monday, Monday" which went all the way to Number 1 sold 160,000 copies on the first day it was released which for 1966 was amazing. They also won a Grammy Award for this song.
3. Their first 3 albums all went to the Top 5 and were certified gold. Their debut album, "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears" went to Number 1; their second album hit Number 4 and their third album, "Deliver" hit Number 2.
4. They appeared on every top rated variety show on televsion at the time including "American Bandstand", "Hullaballo", "The Hollywood Palace" and 3 appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show".
5. They performed sold out concerts in the top venues across the country - from the Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall.
6. They organized and were the headliners of the first outdoor rock festival in history - The Monterey Pop Festival in June, 1967.
7. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998) and the Vocal Hall of Fame (2001)
8. "California Dreamin'" is listed at Number 48 on the Billboard 100 Greatest Hits of Rock and Roll.
9. According to Michelle Phillips, a movie on the life of the group is currently in pre-production and is slated for the big screen in the upcoming future.
10. Any true fan of the group can easily name 10 songs that weren't considered "hits" but easily could have been, such as: "Go Where You Wanna Go", "Straight Shooter", "I Call Your Name", "Trip, Stumble and Fall", "My Heart Stood Still", "Dancing in the Street", "I Can't Wait", "Sing For Your Supper", "Free Advice" and "Did You Ever Want to Cry".
Not bad for being just a "blip on the radar screen of rock and roll" don't you think? In the final analysis, any true fan of rock and roll will admit that the Mamas and the Papas were perhaps the greatest vocal group of all time and, even though their time together was brief, they achieved a permanent place in the history of rock music and in the hearts of every true lover of great music.
Free Music Review: Everything, Leaving You Wanting More
Hit: 5 Stars
Great sound, rare material - and disc three is maybe the worst CD ever issued on a major group, grouping the extremely lame contractual obligation album "People Like Us" and the completely unrehearsed and almost entirely embarrassing Monterey concert (John Phillips was the co-producer and had no time to rehearse the group - it sounds like Michelle's microphone is either turned off or she's not singing into it, which did her reputation no good). Though this may be the final word, it still leaves you wanting more - surely there is a tape of a great live Mamas and Papas show or at least a few songs to issue. The complete performances from the Rodgers and Hart television special would have been interesting, if they weren't just the studio versions with applause dubbed in (the one track on the set sounds like it is). The box highlights the sad effect drugs can have on creativity - John Phillips was a genius close to Brian Wilson, but only produced a large handful of songs - nearly every one a gem - in this time, filling out the albums with wonderful covers and toss-offs, when he should have been writing and writing and writing. Enough kvetching - it's priceless. Shamefully, of course, no US issue is planned apparently. Less avid Mamas and Papas fans might look to the US double CD of the four great LPs, though you'll miss a handful of interesting cuts. You will get the rare alternate second album cover there with Michelle's short-lived replacement - Michelle was sleeping with everyone except Cass, which got her tossed. Her forward here is not a completely adequate replacement for that. One peculiarity - no doubt it was Lou Adler's fault, but the instrumental breaks on the first two albums are mostly just out of tune - particularly the flute solo on "California Dreaming", infamous in musician's circles. Perhaps it's just that the Mamas and the Papas are so dead on pitch for pop singers it sticks out by contrast. But with today's technology you could correct what should have been fixed with another take all those years ago.Free Music Review: VOICES LIKE THEIRS
Hit: 5 Stars
Once again, a reason to despair for the questionable state of affairs known as the American music industry of today and it's quest for youthful, talentless hacks who need to be filtered, edited, vocodered, sampled, sweetened, fixed. Why, oh why, did this unparalled, marvelous set have to be compiled & released in the U.K.? The British arm of Universal is even willing to give so much room & accuracy to the American chart & release histories, not only of the band in it's regrettably all too brief period of existence, but of the subsequent individual careers of Cass, Michelle, Denny & John. Many kudos to them.
The effortless, seemingly pure harmonies, let alone the individual talents have had an unrivalled, eternally lasting, effect on anyone who loves, or even remotely gives a hoot, about what vocal music can be. The beautiful remastering of EVERYTING included in the lavish set is beyond reproach. Yes, even "People Like Us." The long ridiculed, yet not at all out of step with the period it was recorded sounds exemplary in this set. Frankly, if anything is out of step with this collection it is the Barry McGuire tracks that finish off the forth disc, but with the unmistakable vocals that back him, it is easy to forgive their inclusion.
The book is equally incredible. Previously unseen photos & artwork abound, recording & release details. Unlike so many "so-called" anthologies of more than a decade, the "digipack/book" concept is meant to be accessed, read, poured over. No threat of the book falling apart over time from poor binding, or getting lost if not put back in a jewel case immediately.
As a personal recommendation, it would be well worth any effort to follow this with the recent releases of the respective solo works from Hip-O of both Cass & Michelle. Hopefully, someday, the same will happen for the long ignored solo works of Denny & John, not to mention the difficult to find RCA releases of Cass.
Free Music Review: Amazing Collection Not To Be Missed!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I wish all box set collections put out by other musicians and bands were as good as this one! This has my award for one of the most thought out collections ever released!! Fantastic song collection (All of the Mamas And Papas studio album releases are here, along with very rare bonus tracks, single releases, live performances from television and the Monterey Pop Festival, and then to top everything off...Solo recordings by each of the groups members after the band split up. My favorite being the incredible, late Cass Elliot. Miss you Cassie!) The packaging is probably the best I have ever seen! Strong cover and back, Perfect use of A cover photo and readable listings on the back cover (Very easy to look at and read!) Inside, it's very sturdy as well! Cd's hold great, and the incredible book is something every fan of this group should see and read! The set is also slim-lined. Meaning, that it's not bulky like some box sets I have. The sound is mastered perfectly!! Crisp, loud, and no noise. Overall, A hands down winner of one of the greatest collections ever made. This is A MUST HAVE for any fan of the Mamas And Papas!! And that goes for the casual fan as well! The band offered much more than "California Dreamin'", "Monday, Monday", or "I Saw Her Again". It's A real mystery why some of there lesser known tracks never made it into the charts, because some of them are just great! Do yourself A favor and pick up this perfect collection of songs and rare gems before it's long gone. They don't make them like this very often! A+Free Music Review: The Classic Box Set Of 2005!
Hit: 5 Stars
You need no other CD by the "Mamas and the Papas" if you own this 4 CD set of 101 songs. It is ALL inclusive. Not one song is missed in their history. Some of the studio clatter can be annoying, but the big fans won't mind it. It is the equivalent to the sixties type version of `ABBA's" box set, "Thanks You For The Music" in its inclusiveness.
Some of the highlights are the Beatles covers as well as the `live' versions on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and the "Monterrey Music Festival" (completely arranged and invented by John Phillips!).
Don't freak out - all songs have been digitally remastered and the sound is fantastic! Mind you, even in the sixties, their production team made an extra effort to accentuate the stereo sound (try listening to "California Dreamin'" with jus the left channel and then just the right channel). It's like two different songs, which should not be a surprise, as John Phillips was a master at vocal arraignments. I only wish they had recorded John Philips song "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)".
The 74-page booklet and 100 photos is a wonderful addition in a time when box sets can be terribly short on information. This is the box set of the year. Enjoy!