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.
Welcome to the World
Mama Cass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to the sunshine of a brand new day
You drifted on to the sea, you flowed in to a dream
A dream that never will fade away
Living in the world of love and laughter baby
We can find the secret tool of constant smile
The music no one can hear, will sound for us loud and clear
It's time to give our love a chance
The music is going, shall we dance
Welcome to the world of love and laughter baby
Welcome to the sunshine of a brand new day
You drifted on to the sea, you flowed in to a dream
A dream that never will fade away
Welcome to the world of love and laughter baby
Everywhere is a world of love and laughter baby
In "Welcome to the World," Mama Cass sings a joyful welcome to a newborn child. The lyrics describe the world as a place of love and laughter, a place where music plays constantly and where happiness is abundant. The song suggests that by embracing love and laughter, we can find a tool that keeps us smiling through life's ups and downs. The imagery of drifting on to the sea and flowing into a dream suggests a sense of ease and peace that comes with being welcomed into the world.
The chorus repeats the phrase "welcome to the world of love and laughter baby," serving as a comforting refrain for the child. The lyrics encourage the child to find joy in the world and to embrace the music that plays for them, even if others can't hear it. The final lines of the song, "Everywhere is a world of love and laughter baby," suggest that this sense of joy and wonder is available to everyone, regardless of who they are or where they find themselves.
Overall, "Welcome to the World" is a heartwarming tribute to the beauty of life and the joy that can be found when we embrace love and laughter. Mama Cass's warm and soulful voice captures perfectly the sense of wonder and delight that comes with a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the world of love and laughter baby
This is a joyous world that is filled with love and happiness, and you are now a part of it, my child.
Welcome to the sunshine of a brand new day
Every day is a new opportunity to embrace life and all its possibilities. The sun is shining on you and lighting your way.
You drifted on to the sea, you flowed in to a dream
Your journey to this world was like a peaceful drift on a calm sea, and you are now living a dream that will continue for your entire life.
A dream that never will fade away
This dream is one that will remain with you forever, and will never fade or disappear.
Living in the world of love and laughter baby
As you grow, you will come to know that this world is a place of love, joy and laughter, and you will soon be surrounded by it.
We can find the secret tool of constant smile
In this world, we have the power to find things that make us happy, and keep them with us always, so we always have a reason to smile.
The music no one can hear, will sound for us loud and clear
Sometimes, the most beautiful music is the one that only you can hear. It will be your own personal soundtrack that will fill your life with its melody.
You find forever it takes a while
Finding something that lasts forever can take some time, but if you are patient and persistent, you will find it.
It's time to give our love a chance
Now that you are here, it's time to let love in and allow it to guide you every step of the way.
The music is going, shall we dance
Life is a dance, and we should enjoy every moment of it, especially when the music starts to play. Let's dance through it all together.
Everywhere is a world of love and laughter baby
Remember, no matter where you go, you will always have the love and laughter of this world to guide you.
Writer(s): English, Scott English, Siegel, Laurence Weiss
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rick Kirchhoff
on A Song That Never Comes
This lady was one of a kind anid miss her . . .