[2016-01-08] The Mamas And The Papas "The Complete Singles: 50th Anniversary Collection" 2CD set (Real Gone)

Linda · **Posted:** Mon Oct 26, 2015 7:30 pm

Description
With the debut of their first hit, “California Dreamin’,” on the charts, The Mamas and the Papas proclaimed themselves to be a potent new force in the burgeoning West Coast folk-rock movement, announcing to the world that something special and beautiful was happening in California. Now, 50 years to the day after “California Dreamin’” entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 8, 1966, Real Gone Music is celebrating this very special anniversary by releasing The Mamas and the Papas: The Complete Singles—The 50th Anniversary Collection, a two-CD, 53-track set that includes for the first time ever the A and B side of every single the group released, all in their impossible-to-find-on-CD original mono single mixes. But this one-of-a-kind collection—which is remastered by Aaron Kannowski, the engineer responsible for Real Gone’s acclaimed collections of singles by fellow Dunhill label acts The Grass Roots and Steppenwolf—doesn’t stop with The Mamas and the Papas’ singles; it also includes the solo single sides that group members Mama Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty and John Phillips cut for the Dunhill and ABC labels, again in their rare, original single mixes. Co-Producer Ed Osborne’s notes feature quotes drawn from extended interviews with Mama Michelle Phillips and Dunhill label head and producer Lou Adler, while the package also includes a number of rarely-seen images of this eminently photographable band. Many of the solo singles and B-sides have never been on CD, let alone in their single mixes; plus, over the course of listening to this set (which clocks in at over 150 minutes) you’re going to hear such legendary songs as “Monday, Monday,” “California Dreamin’,” “Creeque Alley,” “I Saw Her Again,” “Words of Love,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Glad to Be Unhappy,” “Dedicated to the One I Love,” and “It’s Getting Better” exactly as folks heard them over the radio back in those halcyon days. Due to the unfortunate situation with the Dunhill single master tape reels (supposedly thrown out at the behest of one of the label’s owners), Mamas and Papas fans had despaired of ever hearing the group’s original singles on CD. Now, after countless hours spent tracking down sources, Real Gone Music is proud to release the most significant addition to The Mamas and the Papas discography in years!

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Go Where You Wanna Go
2. Somebody Groovy
3. California Dreamin’
4. Monday, Monday
5. Got a Feelin’
6. I Saw Her Again
7. Even If I Could
8. Look Through My Window
9. Once Was a Time I Thought
10. Words of Love
11. Dancing in the Street
12. Dedicated to the One I Love
13. Free Advice
14. Creeque Alley
15. Did You Ever Want to Cry
16. Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming)
17. Straight Shooter
18. Glad to Be Unhappy
19. Hey Girl
20. Dancing Bear
21. John’s Music Box
22. Safe in My Garden
23. Too Late
24. Dream a Little Dream of Me
25. Midnight Voyage
26. For the Love of Ivy
27. Strange Young Girls

[CD2]
1. Do You Wanna Dance
2. My Girl
3. Step Out
4. Shooting Star
5. California Earthquake (Mama Cass)
6. Talkin’ to Your Toothbrush (Mama Cass)
7. Move In a Little Closer, Baby (Mama Cass)
8. All for Me (Mama Cass)
9. It’s Getting Better (Mama Cass)
10. Who’s to Blame (Mama Cass)
11. Make Your Own Kind of Music (Mama Cass Elliot)
12. Lady Love (Mama Cass Elliot)
13. New World Coming (Mama Cass Elliot)
14. Blow Me a Kiss (Mama Cass Elliott)
15. A Song That Never Comes (Mama Cass Elliot)
16. I Can Dream, Can’t I (Mama Cass Elliot)
17. The Good Times Are Coming (Mama Cass Elliot)
18. Welcome to the World (Mama Cass)
19. Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By (Mama Cass Elliot)
20. The Costume Ball (Mama Cass Elliot)
21. Watcha Gonna Do (Denny Doherty)
22. Gathering the Words (Denny Doherty)
23. To Claudia on Thursday (Denny Doherty)
24. Tuesday Morning (Denny Doherty)
25. Mississippi (John Phillips)
26. April Anne (John Phillips)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0176TW0AK/?tag=imwan-20

Jay · 12 Jul 2006

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Does this mean someone finally found a decent source for the single mix of "I Saw Her Again" (i.e., a less crackly one)?

BTW, this is THE forgotten gem of the solo singles:

23. To Claudia on Thursday (Denny Doherty)

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Why does this collection look so familiar? Wasn't this released earlier in the year?

Rick A.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Though, on second thought, spending $32 on the hope that some mono single needledrops will sound better this time is probably not the best use of my money...

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

Rick A wrote:

Why does this collection look so familiar? Wasn't this released earlier in the year?

All of the Mamas and Papas compilations start to look familiar after a while - Creeque Alley, All the Leaves are Brown, the Complete Anthology, etc. Unlike their contemporaries the Beatles or the Beach Boys or the Who, the Mamas and the Papas vaults/rarities appear to have been picked clean long ago.

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2015 6:05 pm

Bump: Added the cover image to the first post.

The description states:

Quote:

Due to the unfortunate situation with the Dunhill single master tape reels (supposedly thrown out at the behest of one of the label's owners), Mamas and Papas fans had despaired of ever hearing the group's original singles on CD. Now, after countless hours spent tracking down sources, Real Gone Music is proud to release the most significant addition to The Mamas and the Papas discography in years!

I hope the other sources they're referring to are safety copies of the masters, like Sundazed unearthed to do the Lovin' Spooful mono CDs earlier this year, rather than needledrops.

Actorman · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2010 **Posts:** 192

Not digging the cover art. I like that they used a rare picture of the group, but the layout and lettering look amateurish. Still excited about it though.

PeterJ · 16 May 2007

Actorman wrote:

Not digging the cover art. I like that they used a rare picture of the group, but the layout and lettering look amateurish. Still excited about it though.

What's kind of depressing about the photograph is realizing that only one of them is still alive and she's the one with the least talent in the group.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

PeterJ wrote:

What's kind of depressing about the photograph is realizing that only one of them is still alive and she's the one with the least talent in the group.

True for a long time, too. Not a group blessed with longevity.

(Here's a related thought: All of the original Ramones are dead. All of the original Sex Pistols are alive).

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

I think I have enough Mamas And The Pappas to last a lifetime, and I'm 55.

PeterJ · 16 May 2007

JohnG wrote:

I think I have enough Mamas And The Pappas to last a lifetime, and I'm 55.

I have a best-of collection that I think Rhino put out a bunch of years ago, which is probably enough for me. (I'm four years older than you are.) This one looks kind of interesting because of the solo singles by Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty, and John Phillips. Not a must-purchase for me, but something I'll think about.

This group doesn't come up for discussion very often, so I have to say that "Creeque Alley"' is one of my favorite songs because it's such an enjoyable story song and they clearly had a lot of fun making the record. Nothing profound, just fun.

Actorman · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2010 **Posts:** 192

PeterJ wrote:

This group doesn't come up for discussion very often, so I have to say that "Creeque Alley"' is one of my favorite songs because it's such an enjoyable story song and they clearly had a lot of fun making the record. Nothing profound, just fun.

The lyrics of "Creeque Alley" are absolutely brilliant. One of my all-time favorite songs, too.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

FWIW, the Mamas and the Papas are a band where a single comp is usually enough. The solo singles are sort of hit-n-miss.

I absolutely love John Phillips' WOLFKING OF LA debut -- "Mississippi" is a good single but far from the best track on that set.

skantor · **Joined:** 30 Jan 2010 **Posts:** 10

Somewhat related - one of my favorite albums from that era is the collaboration between Dave Mason and Cass Elliot. It really is a gem. I think all of the available versions are straight reissues but if one of the reissue labels could unearth some unreleased tracks from those sessions I jump in a heartbeat.

Actorman · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2010 **Posts:** 192

Where is the b-side of "Mississippi" ("April Anne")?

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

skantor wrote:

Somewhat related - one of my favorite albums from that era is the collaboration between Dave Mason and Cass Elliot. It really is a gem. I think all of the available versions are straight reissues but if one of the reissue labels could unearth some unreleased tracks from those sessions I jump in a heartbeat.

That Dave Mason / Cass Elliot album is a killer. It took me a long time to find a CD of this but do I treasure it. I agree Skantor, would love to see this be reissued as a Deluxe edition.

Rick A.

Actorman · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2010 **Posts:** 192

Actorman wrote:

Where is the b-side of "Mississippi" ("April Anne")?

Looks like my question was answered. Real Gone just posted the tracklist on its Facebook page and "April Anne" is track 26 on disc 2.

JoeP · **Joined:** 20 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 542

If the solo tracks are decent, I would consider getting this even though I have the group hits already.

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

This is out now. Sounds real good to me. Nice to have those solo singles.

Momo · 22 Jun 2007

I've been listening to the first disc of this in the car this past week or so. I like it, too, and am looking forward to the second disc.

[2016-01-08] The Mamas And The Papas "The Complete Singles: 50th Anniversary Collection" 2CD set (Real Gone)

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