The Papas & The Mamas
| The Papas & The Mamas | ||||
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| Studio album by The Mamas & the Papas | ||||
| Released | May 1968 | |||
| Recorded | 1967-68 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, rock, psychedelic rock | |||
| Length | 39:32 | |||
| Label | Dunhill | |||
| Producer | Lou Adler | |||
| The Mamas & the Papas chronology | ||||
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The Papas & The Mamas is a 1968 album by The Mamas & the Papas. It was their fourth and final album together before the group temporarily broke up before a brief 1971 reunion.
Unlike previous studio-recorded albums, The Papas & The Mamas was recorded at the home of John 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.
The track "Meditation Mama" featured the first lead vocal ever on a Mamas and the 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 20 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.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Rolling Stone | positive [2] |
Contents
Original track listing
All songs by John Phillips, unless otherwise noted.
Side one
- "The Right Somebody to Love" (Jack Yellen, Lew Pollack) (Originally performed by Shirley Temple in the film Captain January) - 0:43
- "Safe in My Garden" - 3:15
- "Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels)" (J. Phillips, Lou Adler) - 4:25
- "For the Love of Ivy" (J. Phillips, Denny Doherty) - 3:45
- "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt, Gus Kahn) - 3:17
- "Mansions" - 3:47
Side two
- "Gemini Childe" - 4:07
- "Nothing's Too Good for My Little Girl" (Ned Wynn) - 3:09
- "Too Late" - 4:10
- "Twelve Thirty" - 3:26
- "Rooms" - 2:52
- "Midnight Voyage" - 3:13
Personnel
- Denny Doherty - vocals
- Cass Elliot - vocals
- John Phillips - vocals, guitar
- Michelle Phillips - vocals
- "Doctor" Eric Hord - guitar
- Hal Blaine - percussion
- Larry Knechtel - keyboards
- Joe Osborn - bass guitar
- Paul Downing - guitar on "Rooms"
- John York - bass guitar on "Rooms"
- Peter Pilafian - engineer
- Lou Adler - producer
- Tad Diltz - album photos
- Gary Burden - art direction, package design
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Billboard Pop Albums | 15 |
