The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mama's and the Papa's on the debut album cover) were a leading vocal group of the 1960s. They were one of the few American groups to maintain widespread success during the British Invasion (another being The Beach Boys). The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968; releasing five albums and charting ten hit singles; while 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.

History

[[Image:Phillipsgroup1.jpg|right|frame|The Mamas & the Papas, with (top to bottom)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Denny Doherty, John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot]]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Phillips, Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips formed the group after several previous folk groups failed. They hit it big immediately after forming the Mamas & the Papas with California Dreamin', still their most recognizable and enduring song.

Related Topics:
John Phillips - Cass Elliot - Denny Doherty - Michelle Phillips - Folk - California Dreamin'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 a name easier 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 Hell's 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.

Related Topics:
Television - Talk show - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears - Hell's Angel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 '60s drugs on hand. They even admit that their young children, also usually present at recording sessions, openly witnessed their drug activities.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The breakup of The Mamas & the Papas can be likened to that of Camelot: as infidelity destroyed King Arthur's kingdom, so did it tear apart the four members of the band. 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" with Cass Elliot, 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, Denny 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.

Related Topics:
Camelot - King Arthur - December 31 - 1962 - Affair - 1965 - Mexico

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John could not stand to live with Michelle afterwards and so moved back in with Doherty. They were both still in love with Michelle and one day confronted her and told her to decide between them. Initially she could not decide, but eventually went back with John before leaving him again. At this point she 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.

Related Topics:
Gene Clark - The Byrds - Dunhill Records - 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-writer 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, although she did sing well enough, and 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 and the Papas, except for only two tracks that include Michelle. Gibson's most important asset, however, was that she was a good replacement for Michelle: long blonde hair, slim figure, pretty face, good voice, etc. Shortly after they started touring and recording with Gibson, it became apparent that some fans were not happy with the substitution of Michelle while others did not seem to mind. At one concert, a male fan screamed out, "Where's Michelle?", "I want Mama Michelle!" Shortly afterwards, largely due to John, the band re-introduced Michelle to the lineup in late August of 1966 and ejected Jill, who was then given a lump sum for her efforts. Gibson would later admit to feeling betrayed by Cass, John, and Denny.

Related Topics:
Jill Gibson - Lou Adler - Jan and Dean - Jan Berry - London, England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Related Topics:
Bel Air - Monterey International Pop Festival - June - 1967

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Related Topics:
October - Europe - England - Dunhill Records - Mick Jagger

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Related Topics:
July - 1968 - Rolling Stone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cass Elliot started a very successful solo career and toured the U.S. and Europe. 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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While on tour, Cass Elliot died of a heart attack on July 29, 1974. Papa John Phillips died of heart failure on March 18, 2001. Michelle Phillips went on to a successful acting career and Denny Doherty a popular variety show in Canada.

Related Topics:
Heart attack - July 29 - 1974 - March 18 - 2001 - Acting

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~