Mamas and the Papas- Page 2

[orion59]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 10:20am

Poor Cass Elliott has been the subject of the eating herself to death joke for so many years. It's a shame that her weight overshadows her talent. She had a beautiful voice that was full, rich and crystal clear.

She didn't choke on anything. The casue of her death was a heart problem. It was contributed to by her weight. I don't remember what exactly this is called, there is a specific name for it and I'm sure someone here will know. What happened was her heart, which was weaked from overweight gave out while she was asleep because the weight on it, while lying down, was too much to take. I once saw her daughter in an interview talking about how much she hates the ham sandwhich myth because she feels it makes a joke of her mothers death and of the early loss of a great talent.

There were quite a few singers during that epriod of time who I enjoy listening to. Joni Mitchell is another of my favorites from that decade and she is probably teh only singer ever to rival the talent of Cass Elliott

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 10:34am

Cass and Joni both had beautiful voices, but my favorite female vocalist of that era was Sandy Denny. Sandy sang with the English group Fairport Convention, and then with a splinter-group called Fotheringay. She died in her twenties following a brain hemorrhage caused by hitting her head in a fall down some stairs. I was fortunate to catch her solo concert shortly before her death. It was double-billed with Genesis and Peter Gabriel. Technically, I suppose she was the opening act, but not to me. Thirty-some years later, I still listen to her regularly.

Updated On: 5/31/04 at 10:34 AM

[orion59]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 11:01am

I've never heard of Sandy Denny. I'll have to check out her music. What I always loved about both Cass Elliott and Joni Mitchell was the ability that both had to create imagery with their voices. When you listen to them sing, it's like reading a well written novel that makes you envision the scene. The way the lyrics are presented makes you actually feel and see the scene they are singing about. They both create a mood that fits whatever song they are singing.

[mominator]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 1:54pm

Lets also not forget Joan Baez. Another glorious voice of the same time. Her rendition of Amazing Grace is still one of my favorites. I sometimes think I was born 10 years to late. Any other favorites?
B

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 2:01pm

Um, hello? Karen Carpenter?

[mominator]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 2:11pm

Yes Ms. Carpenter had a glorious alto. But she was in the 70's. A decade not remembered for its music.
B

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 2:47pm

Well there you are right.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/31/04 at 3:44pm

I have no affection for The Carpenters. Not even retrospectively, when nostalgia allows me to tolerate more than I did the first time around.

[orion59]

Posted: 6/1/04 at 8:12am

The music of The Carpenters was hideous but, a product of the pop muisc phase of the time. Karen did have a beautiful voice and I wonder what her music would have been like had she lived to grow away from that phase.

The only singer worth listening to in the 70's was Janice. She was the only one who was doing anything unique and the only one who actually had something to say with her music. The rest of it seemed to be drug induced hallucinations set to music or pretentiuos gimmicks

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 10:37pm

They tell me the fault line runs right through here...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 11:09pm

Considering the group was only together for three years, they were remarkable.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 11:11pm

The recent PBS documentary about them was really good.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 11:24pm

Since this old thread has been revived, I'll repeat what I just posted omn a totally different thread:

Michelle Phillips was, and at age 60 still is, one of the most beautiful women in history.

[kjklo]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 11:35pm

And John Phillips was one of the craziest...but sometimes that's what it takes.

[cturtle]

Posted: 9/17/05 at 11:53pm

oh! oh! BEAUTIFUL THING! oh! i love this scene ...

Leah walks in the traffic in a drunken stupor.
Tony yells, "Leah! Leah!"
No reaction from Leah.
"Mama Cass!"
Leah reacts immediately.

HA!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 12:29am

"All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray"

[Kringas]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:12am

Almost frightfully prolific, The Mamas and the Papas are my favorite music group of all time. With the exception of their last album, People Like Us (which was recorded after their break up to fulfill a contractual obligation and avoid a lawsuit), almost every song they recorded is pure listening pleasure.

The "All The Leaves Are Brown" collection contains their first four albums, and is pretty much all anyone needs to complete their M&P collection. You get their hits ("Creeque Alley," "Dedicated to the One I Love," the near perfect pop song "I Saw Her Again" to name a few) as well as some possibly forgotten gems, including the chilling "Mansions," the poignant "Safe in My Garden" and (Michelle Phillips's personal favorite) "My Heart Stood Still," which in barely a minute builds to such a majestic and joyous climax that it often brings tears to my eyes.

Updated On: 9/18/05 at 01:12 AM

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:17am

They were one of the very few 'popular' music acts that I was raised with, so it's not really so much that I like them, as much as it is that they are a part of me. All things being equal, I think my favorite song they recorded was "Spanish Harlem" - although, Cass's recording of "Dream a Little Dream" speaks to my heart.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:19am

Thanks for the tip, Kringas.

I may pick up a set on Amazon.com.

I got the Broadway CD of Titanic on there for $2.49 used in perfect condition and shipping was only $2.49 as well.

"While I'm far away from you, my baby
Say a little prayer for me, my baby"

[Kringas]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:27am

"When you go out in the street
So many hassles with the heat
No one there can fill your desire

Cops out with the megaphones
Telling people stay inside their homes
Man, can't they see the world's on fire?"

Updated On: 9/18/05 at 01:27 AM

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:33am

Just adding that I also think Michelle Phillips is absolutely gorgeous..Do you remember her on "Knots Landing"? They even played "Dedicated To The One I Love" (one of the few M&P songs fronted by her) during one of her scenes!

I listen to the M&P all the time - they're amazing, and their sound is still unique today.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 9:38am

Of those harmonizing 60's groups, I prefer The 5th Dimension, but there's no denying the greatness of The Ms and Ps!

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 12:59pm

I love the Mamas and The Papas. 5th Dimension are great too. I grew up with their music around the house. My mother was a big fan of both.

[Kringas]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:18pm

They even played "Dedicated To The One I Love" (one of the few M&P songs fronted by her) during one of her scenes!

I do remember that! Michelle Phillips is generally a pretty atrocious actress, but I always watch anything I can find her in. She was actually pretty funny when she guest-starred on Popular a few years ago.

She was overshadowed by Cass for the most part during her years in the group, but the few songs she fronted are quite lovely. Time magazine said she had "the purest soprano in popdom."

Her out of print 1977 solo album "Victim of Romance" is something of a curiosity, but it's notable for a few tracks, including the plaintive "The Aching Kind."

She and John Phillips also each wrote books detailing their lives with the group. Hers, "California Dreaming," and his, "Papa John," tend to contradict each other, but they both make for a fascinating account of their tumultuous years as The Mamas and the Papas. Both books are out of print, but they are worth getting your hands on if you can find them.

[Marquise]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 1:22pm

Read both of those auto-bios. They're both nuts. Doesn't negate their contributions to one of the greatest pop groups ever but still in all they're both a brick short of a load.
R.I.P. Papa John...

Updated On: 9/18/05 at 01:22 PM