Elliot was widely considered the most charismatic member of the Mamas & the Papas due to her sense of humor and optimism, in part because of her large size and weight. She was one of the most beloved members of the group, and her warm, distinctive voice was a large factor in their success. She is best remembered for her vocals on the group's Billboard hits "California Dreamin", "Monday, Monday", and "Words of Love", as well as her first hit as an independent act, "Dream a Little Dream Of Me".
Cass was in love with fellow Mamas & Papas band member Denny Doherty. His affair with another married band member, Michelle Phillips, was one of the causes of the break-up of the band. Elliot resented Michelle's perceived betrayal of their friendship and helped to support the band's decision to fire Michelle in June 1966, when it became clear that John Phillips could no longer work with her. The band quickly replaced Michelle with Jill Gibson, girlfriend to their producer Lou Adler. However, by late August of 1966, Michelle was let back into the group, while Jill received a lump sum for her efforts. Gibson would later admit to feeling betrayed by the band.
Cass gave birth to a daughter named Owen Vanessa Elliot, on 26 April 1967, without naming the father.
Elliot guest-starred three times on Julie Andrews's 1973 television series, The Julie Andrews Hour. Cass's voice blended surprisingly well with that of Andrews, given their stylistic differences, and they created a pleasing onscreen chemistry. Cass also made guest appearances on The Carol Burnett Show.
Elliot was a close friend and neighbor of coffee heiress Abigail Folger, who was a victim of the Charles Manson murders. She was also close to actress Sharon Tate, writer Wojciech Frykowski, and international hairdresser Jay Sebring, all victims of the Manson madness in the summer of 1969. Singer and performer Sammy Davis, Jr. was also a good friend of Elliot and this group, and Davis has been quoted as saying that they had all been together days before the tragedy, and were it not for he and Cass each flying off to other gigs that week, they too could have been victims of the Manson Family.
After the breakup of The Mamas & the Papas in July 1968, Elliot went on to have a successful solo career, even headlining briefly in Las Vegas, for the whopping contract at that time of USD$40,000 per week. Though her Vegas gig ended badly, she was a regular on TV talk shows and variety shows in the 1970s. Her most successful recording during this period was Dream a Little Dream of Me from her solo album of the same name, released by Dunhill Records. At the height of her career in 1974, having just finished performing at the London Palladium theatre, she died of a heart attack. The coroner surmised her heart had weakened to the point of failure due to Elliot's weight and the effects of several crash diets over the years.
Elliot was married twice. In 1963 she wed James Hendricks; they divorced in 1968 (Hendricks had been a member of "Cass Elliot and the Big Three," later named "The Mugwumps"). In 1971 she married Baron Donald von Wiedenman, a journalist.
It should be noted, that Mama Cass died in the exact same bed, in the exact same room, (although a few years prior), as manic drummer of The Who, Keith Moon, in an apartment owned by singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.
An urban legend holds that Elliot died while choking on a sandwich, sometimes specified as a "ham" sandwich. Shortly after her death, but before her autopsy, The Times published an article that quoted her doctor as speculating that she "probably... died as a result of choking on a sandwich while lying in bed". However, the coroner found no food in her trachea, and reported the cause of death as heart failure. Nevertheless, the rumor spread, with the popular imagination adding that the sandwich contained ham (it possibly originated as an unkind remark about Elliot's weight). Another version of the story holds that the doctor found a sandwich or partially eaten sandwich in her room, causing him to speculate about the cause of death. Apparently, that version of the story has no corroboration either.
Another popular myth circulated about Elliot. While the Mamas & the Papas were touring as The Magic Circle (their name before changing it to The Mamas & the Papas), Elliot begged friend Denny Doherty to let her join the band. Though she had a great voice, the band's leader, John Phillips, didn't feel her voice blended well with the band's other female vocalist, his wife Michelle Phillips. But Elliot followed the band wherever they appeared, even to an engagement in the Virgin Islands. Here, she was finally accepted into the band. The myth purports that while in VI, a piece of copper tubing fell on her head and miraculously changed her voice. Though untrue, the myth has been repeated by such music professionals as Casey Kasem. Elliot was hit on the head with a copper pipe during a nightclub renovation, but it had no effect on her voice. The myth was apparently started by band member John Phillips as a justification for letting her into the band after initially refusing to allow her to join. He tells the story himself on the PBS special California Dreamin': The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas, insisting it's true.
Both rumors were mentioned in the Filmfour-produced film Beautiful Thing, of which Mama Cass' music is a big feature.
The E! True Hollywood Story biography about Elliot reports (and revives) the completely unfounded and baseless rumor that singer/songwriter John Lennon of The Beatles may have been the father of Elliot's daughter, Owen. This rumor most likely originated from Cass's fantasies due to her obsession with the Beatle -- demonstrated in the Mamas and the Papas rendition of the song "I Call Your Name," written by Lennon/McCartney, in which Cass literally calls out John's (Lennon) name. Many, many years later after the death of Mama Cass, bandmate Michelle Phillips helped Owen find her real biological father.
The song "Make Your Own Kind of Music" was featured in the ABC television show LOST, during the opening of season 2. It was played by Desmond to distract the survivors entering the Hatch.
It's Getting Better
Mama Cass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It would come with rockets, bells and poetry
But with me and you it just started quietly and grew
And believe it or not
Now there's something groovy and good
Bout whatever we got
And it's getting better
Growing stronger warm and wilder
I don't feel all turned on and starry eyed
I just feel a sweet contentment deep inside
Holding you at night just seems kind of natural and right
And it's not hard to see
That it isn't half of what it's going to turn out to be
Cause it's getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday
And just like a flower that takes time to bloom
This love of ours is taking time to grow
Ba da da da da da da da da da da da
And I don't mind waitin', don't mind waitin'
Cause no matter how long it takes
The two of us know
That it's getting better
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
Getting better everyday, better everyday.
In this song, Mama Cass sings about a love that didn't come to her with all the bells and whistles that she may have expected. Instead, it started quietly and grew slowly. Even without the intense initial passion, there is still something good and groovy about their love. She emphasizes that it's strong, warm, and wilder every day, and that she feels a deep contentment inside her. Holding her partner at night feels natural and right as they continue to grow stronger together.
The lyrics suggest that even though the love may not have started in a dramatic way, it's still worth waiting for it to fully bloom. Cass compares their love story to a flower that takes time to bloom. She doesn't mind waiting because she knows that the love they have is getting better every day, even if it may take time to fully develop. The chorus repeats the idea that their love is growing stronger and better every day.
Overall, the song promotes the idea that love doesn't always have to start with a big bang. Sometimes it can start quietly, but it can still grow and develop into something strong and beautiful. Love can take time to grow, but it's worth waiting for the love to become strong and wild.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I believed that when love came to me
I used to believe that love would come to me in an extravagant and striking way
It would come with rockets, bells and poetry
I imagined love would be grand and symbolized by fireworks, music, and art
But with me and you it just started quietly and grew
However, our love started in a calm and peaceful manner, and has since blossomed
And believe it or not
Whether you believe it or not
Now there's something groovy and good
Our love is now fun and fulfilling
Bout whatever we got
With what we have together
And it's getting better
It's improving all the time
Growing stronger warm and wilder
Our love is becoming more powerful, passionate, and intense
Getting better everyday, better everyday
It's improving every day
I don't feel all turned on and starry eyed
I don't feel overwhelming passion or infatuation
I just feel a sweet contentment deep inside
But rather a deep sense of satisfaction and peace
Holding you at night just seems kind of natural and right
Being with you at night seems like the simplest and most natural thing
And it's not hard to see
It's easy to see
That it isn't half of what it's going to turn out to be
That what we have now is only a fraction of what it will someday become
Cause it's getting better
Because our love is constantly improving
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
It's becoming more intense, passionate, and powerful
Getting better everyday, better everyday
It's improving day by day
And just like a flower that takes time to bloom
Similar to how a flower takes time to fully grow and blossom
This love of ours is taking time to grow
Our love is also taking time to fully grow
Ba da da da da da da da da da da da
And I don't mind waitin', don't mind waitin'
And I don't mind waiting for it, so don't worry or rush
Cause no matter how long it takes
Because no matter how long it takes
The two of us know
We both know
That it's getting better
That our love is improving
Growing stronger, warm and wilder
It's becoming more intense, passionate, and powerful
Getting better everyday, better everyday.
It's getting better and better each day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY MANN, CYNTHIA WEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vothtrucks
At 67 my life is lately not so great.... not whining but after about 40 years of not hearing this song I ran across it tonight... at 4 AM. couldnt sleep. Here I sit... overwhelmed and with tears rolling down my cheeks.... from the feelings and memories from better days.... long ago........still grateful !
@patriciahayes722
As a 67 year old woman this song still gives me goosebumps
@bevcoatham6462
I'm 67 and I know exactly what you mean, I play it over and over again
@supergran1000
Another 67 year old here! Love this song!
@lollypopdrop3961
OMG SAME !!!!!!!!!! I'M 65 !!!!!!!!!!
@patriciahayes722
@@lollypopdrop3961 it's strange how we feel about different music.
@billmumbo2697
Hi another 67 year old musician this song always gives me a lift still waiting for the rocket and bells the poetry is in the songs I adore like this sung by a class vocalist ❤Cass Elliott 🎉
@Rose06091
I loved cass if you did put your thumb up
@carlstark6857
Lovely
@tubian323
She had a beautiful voice.