TCCDM Pulls One Out..."The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas (1968)

"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas (1968)

Last month, I picked up a couple of new albums and as I was heading to the register, I saw a Mamas and Papas album in the used bin and grabbed that too.  I always wanted a copy...primarily for the gimmx cover and this one was in really nice shape but for a bb hole and was only a few bucks.  The front cover is horizontally split to allow for silly combinations of the band member's faces.  Meant to mess with your head while passing the pipe, I'm sure.  This particular album cover matches up the faces really well.  Better than most.  Often they get misaligned from being rough-handled, but this one was treated kindly.

I always thought of The Mamas and Papas as a singles band rather than an album band, but this square felt like a legit album.  I was hoping for some psychage and this one delivers a few.  The songs are a little darker with odd arrangements and beautiful vocals and harmonies.   The juxt between some of them is heady.  Nothing heavy, but enjoyable.

"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas (1968)
(back)

"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas
(inside gatefold)

Favorites include:
"Mansions" 
"Gemini Childe"
"Midnight Voyage"
"Rooms"

The album does have the chart hit single "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" which Cass slays, but the song just isn't my tea.  However, the last track on the album, "Midnight Voyage," might be my favorite Cass song ever.  With the cool album cover and dustings of psych, "The Papas & The Mamas" is a cheap square to add to any psych collection.  This was the band's fourth studio album and for all intents and purposes... their last.

"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas
(top-flip and bottom-flip)

"The Papas & The Mamas" - The Mamas & The Papas 
(Dunhill/ABC Records label)

Cat #
50031-S
SIDE A  DEADWAX
DS-50031-A-3  (MR in circle)  △11838
SIDE B  DEADWAX
DS-50021-B-3  X  (MR in circle)  △11838-X

"Mansions" - The Mamas & The Papas / "The Papas & The Mamas" (1968)

TRACKS:
A1  "The Right Somebody To Love" 0:34
A2  "Safe In My Garden" 3:10
A3  "Meditation Mama (Transcendental Women Travels)" 4:19
A4  "For The Love Of Ivy" 3:40
A5  "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" 3:14
A6  "Mansions" 3:43
B1  "Gemini Childe" 4:05
B2  "Nothing's Too Good For My Little Girl" 3:05
B3  "Too Late" 4:07
B4  "Twelve Thirty" 3:22
B5  "Rooms" 2:45
B6  "Midnight Voyage" 3:11

PERSONNEL:
Denny Doherty - vocals
Cass Elliot - vocals
John Phillips -vocals, guitar (A1-B4, B6)
Michelle Phillips - vocals
ADDITIONAL:
"Doctor" Eric Hord - guitar (A1-B4, B6)
Hal Blaine - drums, percussion
Larry Knechtel - keyboards
Joe Osborn - bass (A1-B4, B6)
Paul Downing - guitar (B5)
John York - bass (B5)
Lou Adler - producer

Good stuff.

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Comments

Charlie Ricci said…
This was the least impressive of their albums. It still was a good one, but it got a little weird in spots, too psychedelic. The best stuff was as good as ever. "Safe In My Garden" is a really good song.
January 26, 2024 at 12:20 PM
Charlie Ricci said…
This was a good record but not as strong as their earlier ones. It had too much hippie weirdness. The good stuff was still top notch but it had more filler than the other LPs.
January 26, 2024 at 12:22 PM
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