Does anyone have any solo albums by former members of the Mamas and Papas that they would especially recommend ? Most of the original Cass solo recordings are very expensive now sold by third party dealers.

I did consider this on Hip O Select.

I got on a big The Mamas and The Papas kick this year and picked up the Michelle Phillips, among others. I ordered it from Hip-O Select but they couldn't fulfill the order at the time (might have been during their transition to a new fulfillment house). I got it from an Amazon seller, new for the same price as HOS was offering. And I like it. It's not The Mamas and The Papas by any means but good for the period it represents and, naturallly, showcases everything good about Michelle's singing.

Denny's Waiting For A Song includes both Cass and Michelle on almost all the tracks. The Varese version of that is the one to get it. I think it's still out there for pretty reasonable prices.

I believe all of John Phillips solo work (with the exception of the Broadway show he did) have been made available. Wolf King of LA is very good and is still reasonably priced as well.

I've been thinking about getting the Cass set on Hip-O Select but have been content with the MCA Comp "Dream A Little Dream." Her record with Dave Mason was recently re-released and while it's more Dave's show, it's quite good.

Also, the European Mamas and Papas box set contains a lot of solo work from each one as well. Might be a nice way to test the water.

Yes, I bought Michelle's set and Cass's set when they were first released, being a fan of the Momsies and the Popsies since I was a teenager. Michelle's album is produced by Jack "Specs" Nitzsche, a name you MAY have heard of. You may even have bought "The Lonely Surfer" reissue on Collectors' Choice.

I need to buy this cover, I mean this CD. :}

Actually, I have many of the CD's noted above by Murdog. I just recently found a used copy of John Phillip's "Pussycat" which was much better than expected.

Rick A.

I too have always been a fan of the group and my interest has been revived recently after watching a BBC 4 documentary that was aired on the group last week,which was fantastic,showing a wealth of recorded performances and even home cine footage of them in the Virgin Islands.It was very informative and filled in the story of the groups evolution from other folk units, had interviews with Lou Adler and others involved, and the members themselves-the latest perhaps being with Denny and Michelle from the 90s.

I particularly liked an old film they used to back the song "I Saw Her Again Last Night",when the group arrived at a clothing store and then created havoc within trying on different hats with the four of them all eventually ending up on the floor !!

There was lots of interesting trivia I'd heard of before but forgot.One story goes John didn't want Cass in the group as her voice was too low,then a fortunate accident ( ? ) occurred in the Virgin Isles, after she hit her head on a pipe,with the result that it raised her voice a tone higher.Perhaps an urban myth huh ?

I can't tell you how sad I feel at the thought that three of them are now gone.

I'll get the Michelle set now on Hip O select.



Thanks, and this too.There is another version but it doesn't have the original cover that the Varese does.
I also have John,Wolfking Of LA on Varese which has great sound and about five or six bones tracks.A fine album- which I listened to this week.I also picked up The Dave Mason album featuring Cass Elliot a couple of years back on MCA,it's a very good "west coast" sounding album,not something that you'd naturally expect from a former Traffic man.Then again, I've also got his "Alone Together" which is another nice surprise.



You mean the Hip O Select collection, and not the collection of her individual OP albums ?
That would really make me jealous.
You're right, I have got the Jack Nitsche "Lonely Surfer",but I didn't know he produced the Michelle album above.

Lastly, I also picked up The Mugwumps album that had Denny,Cass,and Zally Yanovksy all as members.(Collector's Choice)
A nice folk rock album from 1964, and historic.The fourth guy Jim Hendricks ?? forgotten his name right now.You will know the name of the band for being immortalised in the song "Creeque Alley".

I've got both the Hip-O, various comps, and a couple of original albums on MCA plaidback. I'm missing the "motorcycle and T-bird" cover on MCA plaidback, and I think I'm also missing the RCA Tin Pan Alley album. And "Puff'n'Stuff".

I didn't know there was another Cass Elliot album collection, what label is that on?

BTW I got drunk and cried when Denny died. We had a Denny memorial thread here.

BTW I got drunk and cried when Denny died. We had a Denny memorial thread here.

I hear you Goog, played their group output and his solo comp when I heard the news that evening as tribute.

Rick A.

She's done these you might have :

Bubblegum,Lemonade and Something For Mama (1969)


Cass Elliot (self titled1972)


I know the motorcycle and T-bird cover (Dream a Little Dream 1968) and also the tin pan alley/Broadway one Don't Call Me Mama Anymore from 1973 where she's dressed all in pink and holding an umberella.

I regret I don't have any of these, and wish they would reissue all these albums and one that was only out on vinyl as far as I'm aware called The Road Is No Place For a Lady from 1972.

There were a number of other comps out incluging the original "greatest hits" that came out in 1971 called Mamas Big Ones and a couple of other recent ones that don't cover any new ground and with probably less impressive sound quality.I think the Hip O Select Solo Sessions 68-71 looks the best overview,but it doesn't catch those album tunes after 71 !!

There was also that early folk group she was in called The Big Three that was originally out on Sequel in the UK that I remember coming out in the mid-90's.A bit too folky perhaps,but a vital part of the story.





Yeah,come to mention it,I'm missing that too.

Nor exactly solo, but Dave Mason & Mama Cass is worth picking up if you can find it.

I regret selling my copy of The Big 3, which I bought in '95 or '96.

You can still get it, there's a newer version out on Collectables.

I've ordered Denny Doherty's album "Waiting For A Song" the one with the original cover put out by Varese Saraband which is OP but copies are still available if you look.There's another version of the same album but with a non-original cover that also has a silly quote on the front belonging to Michelle Phillips dubbing him "the psychedelic Frank Sinatra".

Speaking of whom, I also ordered her "Victim Of Romance and rarities" on Hip O Select, sold to me also by having Jack Nitzsche as produced.(Go on tell me I can't spell his name).

The last in the run I ordered was John Phillip's "Pay Pack and Follow",which was basically an album recorded with The Stones, plus some other extras that got lost or shelved back in the 70s shortly after completion.Two sources of interest on that one.

It's dirt cheap too.I ordered mine new and sealed from Amazon (uk) for £1.24 !!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005BIL6/?tag=imwan-21

Master Hare, there are two CD versions of Pay Pack and Follow. The second edition is the original mix tapes that were discovered later. I think there might be another title for that one.

"Master Hare, there are two CD versions of Pay Pack and Follow. The second edition is the original mix tapes that were discovered later. I think there might be another title for that one."

Googa's correct. Pay Pack & Follow came out in 2001. Pussycat which was released last year contains the original mix plus six cuts not on PP&F (one is Susan Susan which according to the title listing appears to be part of the original mix plus five bonus tracks. Pussycat is on Varese while PP&F is on Eagle Records. The mixes are a little different so if you're a completist, there's no harm in having both.

Thanks for pointing that out.I'll probably just stick the "Pay Pack and Follow" from 2001,as I probably don't need the second as much as I like original mixes and Varese Saraband.

Btw. you're right Geoff,The Dave Mason featuring Cass is a great west coast album.I bought the MCA "plaidback" second-hand some years ago.Rev-Ola have put it out again.

Eventually I'll give in and get the box, there's a whole CD's worth of rarities. Compression be damned!

Good news!!!!!

This twofer is coming from Collectors Choice on July 14:

"Cass Elliot / The Road Is No Place For A Lady " (her two RCA albums).

No listing on Amazon yet but it's in the latest CC mail catalog and on the Collectors Choice web site.

Fantastic! What a way to get into summer!

Thanks for the heads up Murdog, I'll get that for sure,and not long to wait either

As well as the Varese Saraband version of Denny Doherty's Waiting For a Song", I've also been listening to The Michelle Phillips album as noted at the beginning of the thread and have been really enjoying it.I've got over that Hip O Select has chosen to put this out in card format (limited edition) and consider it a strong set.The lyrics of one bonus tracks did make me smile though (see worst lyrics thread)

Outstanding! Thanks for the heads up, David.

Jay

Second that!

Rick A.