The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mama's and the Papa's on the debut a… Read Full Bio ↴The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mama's and the Papa's on the debut album cover) was a leading vocal group of the 60s from New York. The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968, releasing five albums and charting ten hit singles that hold up as well today as they did back in the sunshine era. While spending relatively a short time in the realm of popular music, some group members have pointed to their short time in the spotlight as a reason why they still have loyal fans today.
Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, John Phillips, and Michelle Phillips formed the group in New York after previous folk groups (The Mugwumps, The New Journeymen) failed. The foursome hit it big immediately after forming The Mamas & the Papas with "California Dreamin'", still their most recognizable and enduring song (The group's early history is amusingly chronicled in the song "Creeque Alley").
The name of the band was inspired by a daytime television talk show. Before the group recorded their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, the band was known for a short time as The Magic Circle. Wanting an easier name to remember, they were sitting around their house (which all four band members initially shared) brainstorming on a new name. Someone switched on the TV and a talk show was on with a Hells Angel. The first thing they heard was: "Now hold on there, Hoss. Some people call our women cheap, but we just call them our Mamas." Cass jumped up and exclaimed, "Yeah! I want to be a Mama!" Michelle chimed in that she wanted to be a "Mama" too. John and Denny looked at each other and John said, "Papas? Okay, problem solved." And the band had a new name.
In interviews, former band members confide that their recording sessions (and lifestyles) were usually heavily drug-laden, with large reserves of marijuana and other popular 1960s drugs on hand. They even admit that their young children, also usually present at recording sessions, openly witnessed their drug activities. Said drug usage clearly contributed to inter-group tensions.
John Phillips had married Michelle Gilliam back on December 31, 1962, long before the formation of the band. Early on in the band's history, when they were still "The Magic Circle", Michelle and Doherty began an affair in 1965. They were able to keep it secret from the other two band members for quite some time. During a trip to Mexico, Doherty revealed his affair to Elliot, who was furious (since she was secretly in love with Doherty). Soon afterwards, John Phillips caught Michelle and Doherty in the act and moved out of the house.
John could not stand to live with Michelle afterwards and so moved back in with Doherty. At this point Michelle fled into the arms of Gene Clark of The Byrds (friends and rivals of The Mamas & the Papas). After one concert where Michelle blew kisses to front-row-seated Clark, John said he could not stand to perform with Michelle any longer. Consulting both their attorney Abe Somer as well as their label Dunhill Records, the band then drafted a formal statement kicking Michelle out of the group in June 1966.
At this point they hired a new band member to replace Michelle, Jill Gibson, girlfriend of their producer Lou Adler. Gibson was already a singer/songwriter who had performed on several Jan and Dean albums. In fact, she had once been involved with Jan Berry for seven years before becoming romantically linked to Adler. Gibson was however not known as a strong singer, but learned to sing Michelle's parts within three weeks while the band was in London, England. Jill Gibson's vocals are featured on the band's second album The Mamas & the Papas, except for two tracks that include Michelle. Gibson's most important asset, however, was that she was a good replacement for Michelle: long blond hair, slim figure, pretty face, good voice, etc. Shortly after recording and touring with Gibson, it became apparent that some fans were not happy with the substitution while others did not mind. Afterwards, largely due to John, the band reintroduced Michelle to the lineup in late August 1966. Gibson received an undisclosed lump sum for her part and later would admit to feeling betrayed by John Phillips.
Michelle and John reconciled and bought a home together in Bel Air, while the band tried to forge ahead. Things seemed fine for a while (at least they pretended they were). The group recorded their third album Deliver, which became a huge hit, and during this same time Denny was drinking heavily trying to forget Michelle. He still had a hard time seeing her back with John. Eventually the band closed the first ever Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967, but performed dismally. John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Lou Adler organized the festival, and according to interviews with the members of the group, they were all so caught up in the festival they never got around to rehearsing. That, combined with Denny Doherty's last minute arrival from Canada, created an unmemorable performance.
The band tried to work on another album (to which they were contractually bound). After making no progress, they decided to take a trip in October of 1967, to Europe to spark their creativity. While in England at a party thrown by Dunhill Records, their record label, Elliot was talking to Mick Jagger. John approached them and made an insulting remark about her in front of the guests. Disgusted and humiliated, she stormed out of the party and quit the band. Their record company released a Greatest Hits compilation as a stopgap measure. Cass was contractually bound for the band's next LP, and therefore appeared on The Papas & the Mamas, the group's fourth album.
The band broke up in July 1968. In a rare interview, after the group's break up, with Rolling Stone magazine, Cass admitted she wanted to go solo and that this is what had caused the official break up of the band.
Cass Elliot started a very successful solo career and toured the U.S. and Europe, becoming popular with hits such as "Make Your Own Kind of Music." In reviewing their contracts, the record company decided the band owed them one more album. After about a year apart, the band regrouped and released their final album People Like Us in 1971. They disbanded in 1972.
While on tour, Elliot died of a heart attack on July 29, 1974 (not from choking on a ham sandwich, as is sometimes reported). John Phillips died of heart failure on March 18, 2001. Michelle Phillips went on to a successful acting career, appearing in the 1973 movie Dillinger as well in the television drama Knots Landing, among others. Denny Doherty went on to host a popular variety show in Canada. Denny Doherty died on January 19, 2007. His sister Frances Arnold said the singer-songwriter died at his home in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, after a short illness. Michelle Phillips is now the only surviving member of the band.
John's eldest daughter from his first marriage, Mackenzie Phillips, had a moderately successful career as an actress in the mid-70s, having first appeared in George Lucas's hit film American Graffiti (1973) and then in the successful TV series One Day at a Time, but found her success so overshadowed by her problems with drug addiction—habits that she had shared personally with her father—that by 1979 her career had effectively ended due to her inability to work. She had been in the spotlight in recent days for her tell-all book in which she reveals that she has consensual sex with her father, John Phillips, for a period of over ten years, ending when she was around eighteen. John and Michelle's daughter, Chynna, would go on to form the band Wilson Phillips along with Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson (the daughters of Beach Boys' Brian Wilson), with whom she's been friends since infancy. John's youngest daughter, Bijou Phillips, is a successful actress and model.
The Mamas & the Papas were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
In recent years, entirely new, succeeding incarnations of The Mamas & the Papas have toured small cities nationwide—most notably featuring Spanky McFarlane and Scott McKenzie as part of the lineup—but none of them have the spirit and impact of the original group that John Phillips helped to build.
Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, John Phillips, and Michelle Phillips formed the group in New York after previous folk groups (The Mugwumps, The New Journeymen) failed. The foursome hit it big immediately after forming The Mamas & the Papas with "California Dreamin'", still their most recognizable and enduring song (The group's early history is amusingly chronicled in the song "Creeque Alley").
The name of the band was inspired by a daytime television talk show. Before the group recorded their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, the band was known for a short time as The Magic Circle. Wanting an easier name to remember, they were sitting around their house (which all four band members initially shared) brainstorming on a new name. Someone switched on the TV and a talk show was on with a Hells Angel. The first thing they heard was: "Now hold on there, Hoss. Some people call our women cheap, but we just call them our Mamas." Cass jumped up and exclaimed, "Yeah! I want to be a Mama!" Michelle chimed in that she wanted to be a "Mama" too. John and Denny looked at each other and John said, "Papas? Okay, problem solved." And the band had a new name.
In interviews, former band members confide that their recording sessions (and lifestyles) were usually heavily drug-laden, with large reserves of marijuana and other popular 1960s drugs on hand. They even admit that their young children, also usually present at recording sessions, openly witnessed their drug activities. Said drug usage clearly contributed to inter-group tensions.
John Phillips had married Michelle Gilliam back on December 31, 1962, long before the formation of the band. Early on in the band's history, when they were still "The Magic Circle", Michelle and Doherty began an affair in 1965. They were able to keep it secret from the other two band members for quite some time. During a trip to Mexico, Doherty revealed his affair to Elliot, who was furious (since she was secretly in love with Doherty). Soon afterwards, John Phillips caught Michelle and Doherty in the act and moved out of the house.
John could not stand to live with Michelle afterwards and so moved back in with Doherty. At this point Michelle fled into the arms of Gene Clark of The Byrds (friends and rivals of The Mamas & the Papas). After one concert where Michelle blew kisses to front-row-seated Clark, John said he could not stand to perform with Michelle any longer. Consulting both their attorney Abe Somer as well as their label Dunhill Records, the band then drafted a formal statement kicking Michelle out of the group in June 1966.
At this point they hired a new band member to replace Michelle, Jill Gibson, girlfriend of their producer Lou Adler. Gibson was already a singer/songwriter who had performed on several Jan and Dean albums. In fact, she had once been involved with Jan Berry for seven years before becoming romantically linked to Adler. Gibson was however not known as a strong singer, but learned to sing Michelle's parts within three weeks while the band was in London, England. Jill Gibson's vocals are featured on the band's second album The Mamas & the Papas, except for two tracks that include Michelle. Gibson's most important asset, however, was that she was a good replacement for Michelle: long blond hair, slim figure, pretty face, good voice, etc. Shortly after recording and touring with Gibson, it became apparent that some fans were not happy with the substitution while others did not mind. Afterwards, largely due to John, the band reintroduced Michelle to the lineup in late August 1966. Gibson received an undisclosed lump sum for her part and later would admit to feeling betrayed by John Phillips.
Michelle and John reconciled and bought a home together in Bel Air, while the band tried to forge ahead. Things seemed fine for a while (at least they pretended they were). The group recorded their third album Deliver, which became a huge hit, and during this same time Denny was drinking heavily trying to forget Michelle. He still had a hard time seeing her back with John. Eventually the band closed the first ever Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967, but performed dismally. John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Lou Adler organized the festival, and according to interviews with the members of the group, they were all so caught up in the festival they never got around to rehearsing. That, combined with Denny Doherty's last minute arrival from Canada, created an unmemorable performance.
The band tried to work on another album (to which they were contractually bound). After making no progress, they decided to take a trip in October of 1967, to Europe to spark their creativity. While in England at a party thrown by Dunhill Records, their record label, Elliot was talking to Mick Jagger. John approached them and made an insulting remark about her in front of the guests. Disgusted and humiliated, she stormed out of the party and quit the band. Their record company released a Greatest Hits compilation as a stopgap measure. Cass was contractually bound for the band's next LP, and therefore appeared on The Papas & the Mamas, the group's fourth album.
The band broke up in July 1968. In a rare interview, after the group's break up, with Rolling Stone magazine, Cass admitted she wanted to go solo and that this is what had caused the official break up of the band.
Cass Elliot started a very successful solo career and toured the U.S. and Europe, becoming popular with hits such as "Make Your Own Kind of Music." In reviewing their contracts, the record company decided the band owed them one more album. After about a year apart, the band regrouped and released their final album People Like Us in 1971. They disbanded in 1972.
While on tour, Elliot died of a heart attack on July 29, 1974 (not from choking on a ham sandwich, as is sometimes reported). John Phillips died of heart failure on March 18, 2001. Michelle Phillips went on to a successful acting career, appearing in the 1973 movie Dillinger as well in the television drama Knots Landing, among others. Denny Doherty went on to host a popular variety show in Canada. Denny Doherty died on January 19, 2007. His sister Frances Arnold said the singer-songwriter died at his home in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, after a short illness. Michelle Phillips is now the only surviving member of the band.
John's eldest daughter from his first marriage, Mackenzie Phillips, had a moderately successful career as an actress in the mid-70s, having first appeared in George Lucas's hit film American Graffiti (1973) and then in the successful TV series One Day at a Time, but found her success so overshadowed by her problems with drug addiction—habits that she had shared personally with her father—that by 1979 her career had effectively ended due to her inability to work. She had been in the spotlight in recent days for her tell-all book in which she reveals that she has consensual sex with her father, John Phillips, for a period of over ten years, ending when she was around eighteen. John and Michelle's daughter, Chynna, would go on to form the band Wilson Phillips along with Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson (the daughters of Beach Boys' Brian Wilson), with whom she's been friends since infancy. John's youngest daughter, Bijou Phillips, is a successful actress and model.
The Mamas & the Papas were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
In recent years, entirely new, succeeding incarnations of The Mamas & the Papas have toured small cities nationwide—most notably featuring Spanky McFarlane and Scott McKenzie as part of the lineup—but none of them have the spirit and impact of the original group that John Phillips helped to build.
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The Mamas & the Papas Lyrics
- California Dreamin' All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And…
02. dream a little dream of me (You keep pouring into one glass but you're never changing…
07. Dream A Little Dream Of Me Stars shining bright above you Night breezes seem to whisper…
08 European Blueboy Return your velvet suit to theatrical rent The streets of So…
11 You Baby From the time I fall asleep Till the morning comes I dream…
12 Midnight Voyage On a midnight voyage, One that has no ending; And it's sendi…
14_ Go Where You Wanna Go You gotta go where you want to go Do what…
Blueberries For Breakfast Blueberries for breakfast, Love in the afternoon, Butterfl…
Boys & Girls Together Boys and girls have a good time together Boys and girls,…
California Dreamin All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And…
California Dreaming All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've…
California Dreamings All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've…
California dreamin` All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And…
California Earthquake I heard they exploded the underground blast What they say's …
Californiadreamin All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And…
Creeque Alley John and Mitchy were gettin' kind of itchy Just to leave…
Dancing Bear I wouldn't want to be a chimney sweep All black from…
Dancing In The Street Callin' out around the world Are you ready for a brand…
Dedicated To The One I Love While I'm far away from you my baby I know it's…
Did You Ever Want to Cry Did you ever want to cry, But you didn't know just…
Different I done stayed down bitch Ian ball in a minute Turn…
Disney Girls Clearing skies and drying eyes Now I see your smile Darkness…
Do You Wanna Dance Do you want to dance under the moon light Squeeze me…
Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By Did you ever lie and listen to the rain fall…
Dream Little dream Of Me Stars shining bright above you Night breezes seem to whisper…
Dream a Little Deam of Me (You keep pouring into one glass but you're never changing…
Dream a Little Dream of Me (With Introduction) Stars shining bright above you Night breezes seem to whisper…
Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Album Version With Introduction Stars shining bright above you Night breezes seem to whispe…
Dream Little Dream Of Me (You keep pouring into one glass but you're never changing…
Easy Come Easy Go Takin' the shade out of the sun Whatever made me think…
European Blueboy Return your velvet suit to theatrical rent The streets of So…
Even If I Could Now I know just how you feel, it was real When…
For The Love Of Ivy Mama's & Papa's - For The Love Of Ivy I never…
Free Advice A bit of free advice (vice) We'll tell it to you…
Frustration Hey baby! I feel so frustrated today. You took all…
Gemini Childe Soft rhythms cover me [?] Oh, the long [?] styles tumbling d…
Glad to Be Happy Fools rush in, so here I am Awfully glad to be…
Go Where You Gonna Go You gotta go where you want to go Do what you…
Go Where You Wanna Go You gotta go where you want to go Do what…
Go Where You Want to Go You gotta go where you want to go Do what you…
Got A Feelin' Got a feelin' that I wasting time on you babe Got…
Got A Feeling Got a feelin' that I wasting time on you babe Got…
Grasshopper Grasshopper cannot stop her roaming, And her home and friend…
Hey Girl Hey, girl, I know he's put you down For every new…
I Call Your Name I call your name, but you're not there Was I to…
I Call Your Name-The Mamas & the Papas I call your name, but you're not there Was I to…
I Can I can't wait to say good-bye I can't wait to make…
I Don't Wanna Know Cry your eyes out over me Don't ya see, don't ya…
I Saw Her Again I saw her again last night And you know that I…
I Wanna Be A Star She wants to be onstage, front page I'll sign the dotted…
I'll Remember Tonight Here we stand hand in hand Watching the stars shine Watchi…
In Crowd I'm in with the in crowd I go where the in…
In The Middle (Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa) Sometimes I'm lost and feeling low Th…
It Once I believed that when love came to me It would…
It's geting better Once I believed that when love came to me It would…
It's Getting Better Once I believed that when love came to me It would…
Ivy Mama's & Papa's - For The Love Of Ivy I never…
John Phillips I call your name, but you're not there Was I to…
John's Music Box [Instrumental] (A wind up music box was recorded and release…
Lady Genevieve In a place far from here Circled by mountains Her skirts are…
Leaving On A Jet Plane All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go I'm standing…
Let It Be 아가야 기적처럼 선물같이 온 예쁜 아가야 너를 만났던 날을 떠올리면 어제의 일처럼…
live Hold onto me Lemme get it right I know that’s it’s gonna Be…
Look Through My Window And the rain beats on my roof And it does not…
Make Your Own Kind of Music Nobody can tell ya; There's only one song worth singin', T…
Mansions Sitting in our mansion, Guarded by expansion, Questioning ou…
Meditation Mama Transcendental mama travels Feet barely touch the ground Tim…
Midnight Voyage On a midnight voyage, One that has no ending; And it's sendi…
Mississippi Hit it, Hal Early in the mornin', she hitched a ride…
Monday Monday Bah-da bah-da-da-da Bah-da bah-da-da-da Bah-da bah-da-da-da …
Monday, Monday Monday, Monday So good to me Monday morning It was all I hop…
Monday, Monday - Single Version Monday, Monday, so good to me Monday mornin', it was all…
Move We try, we fight We fall, it's alright That's life, oh life …
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
My Girl. I've got sunshine on a cloudy day And when it's cold…
My Heart Stood Still I took one look at you That's all I meant to…
My Song My courageous and strong little warrior You're everything I …
New World Coming There's a new world comin'. and it's just around the…
No Dough No dough, no place to go We'll turn on the late…
No Dough - No dough, no place to go We'll turn on the late…
No Salt On Her Tail Not in my arms, but on my mind Yes, on my…
Nothing's Too Good for My Little Girl A Thursday night meeting To talk with your dad. He said that…
Nothing's Too Good For My Love A Thursday night meeting To talk with your dad. He said th…
Oh Mary Don't You Weep If I could I surely would, Stand on the…
Once There Was A Time I Thought Once was a time I thought that love could be…
One Way Ticket Call the village band out, bid me good bye Everybody stand…
Pacific Coast Highway Rollin' along Pacific Coast Highway Bummin' along to my radi…
Pearl First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish…
People Like Us Mama's and Papa's, People Like Us People like us, So much in…
Ride Ride Ride Everyday I see demons When I'm awake or while…
Rider [Lomax verse 1] I know my rider gonna miss me when…
River A RIVER RUNNING WILD Have you ever been under the thumb…
Rooms Rooms that we have lived in, The things that they have…
Safe In My Garden Safe in my garden An ancient flower blooms And the scent fro…
San Francisco I heard a story 'bout a sacred place Where…
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair) If you’re going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some…
Searchin Dead I ask for you in my head In my bed I was…
See In My Garden Safe in my garden An ancient flower blooms And the scent fro…
shine a light Shine a light, let's stand together We can make this world…
Shooting Star You were a shooting star, weren't you? Till moon dust came…
Shooting Star 1971 You were a shooting star, weren't you? Till moon dust came…
Sing For Your Supper Sing for your supper, and you'll get breakfast Songbirds alw…
Snowqueen Of Texas Snowqueen of Texas Left Paris in a cloud of smoke They say…
Somebody Groovy I need somebody groovy Someone who's able to move me, yeah…
Something To Make You Happy you are my shunshine my only sunshine you make me happy when…
Spanish Harlem There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up…
Step Out Hey, did somebody break your heart With a careless word? Did…
Straight Shooter Don't get me mad, don't tell no lie Don't make me…
Strange Young Girl Strange young girls Covered with sadness Eyes of innocence H…
String Man I fell in love with the string man Who played guitar…
Sun Go Down Let's go down to the town oasis Meet you there at…
That Kind Of Girl That kind of girl would let you down That kind…
The "In" Crowd I'm in with the in crowd I'll go where the in…
The 'In' Crowd I'm in with the in crowd I go where the in…
The Right Somebody To Love What makes life the sweetest, Bestest, and completest? Not a…
There She Goes Verse 1 Id stay home inside, each lonely night When out ther…
This Precious Time You've been keeping me lonely You've been keeping me down An…
To Claudia On Thursday Hit it, Hal Early in the mornin', she hitched a ride…
Too Late When it's too late for talking, But it's too early to…
Trip Stumble Fall You're gonna trip, stumble, and fall. And though I know you'…
Trip Stumble and Fall You're gonna trip, stumble, and fall. And though I know you…
Trip, Stumble & Fall You're gonna trip, stumble, and fall. And though I know you'…
Twelve Thirty I used to live in New York City Everything there was…
Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are I used to live in New York City Everything there was…
Twelvethirty I used to live in New York City Everything there was…
Twist & Shout Shake it up, baby Now twist and shout Shake it, shake it…
vI Saw Her Again I saw her again last night And you know that I…
When You Wish Upon A Star When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you…
Who's To Blame Everybody knows that you love me 'Cause it shows But still y…
Winken Blinken and Nod Wynken and Blynken and Nod one night Sailed off in a…
Words Of Love Words of love, so soft and tender Won't win a girls…
You Baby From the time I fall asleep Till the morning comes I dream…
Young Girls Lament I used to live in New York City Everything there was…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Mamas:
California Dreamin' All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And…
Dream A Little Dream (You keep pouring into one glass but you're never changing…
In The Middle (Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa) Sometimes I'm lost and feeling low Th…
Move We try, we fight We fall, it's alright That's life, oh life …
Shine A Light Shine a light, let's stand together We can make this world…
When You Wish Upon A Star When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you…