@@michaelwarren5646 I looked it up and Cass was 32 when she died. I also thought she was a founding member of the 27 club. That’s a rumor that still persists, like the rumor that she choked on a ham sandwich when in fact she died of heart failure. Gone too soon, that’s for sure.
The footage I believe was from the ground breaking Monteray Pop festival. The footage was put into the film named after the festival. You got to watch this film and see the amazing number of 60s legends who perform. Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin., etc, etc If you watch the film look at the audience to see the reactions of the other bands to who is playing on stage. Again the film was pretty famous. Still is. And yes the hippies were the 60s and continued into the early 70s.
@@jimwilcox2964 When I was a kid, I thought they sang "You know, the preacher lights the coals....he knows I'm going to stay", which does fit, but was completely incorrect. 🤣
Michelle wrote that part of the song. Going to private school, John felt uneasy discussing or being around churches. Michelle wrote the line, I Began to Pray. As she was a Cali-girl in New York and had gone into a church the previous day to escape the snow. Mama Cass misheard the lines, thinking they were more cynical when rehearsing and was singing I Pretend to Pray.
@@randyhanson9441That is so interesting! Even knowing that the lyric is “pretend” I still hear “began” in the lead vocal. I like “pretend” just because it is more provocative of a deeper personal history.
I was just a child in the 60s but the music from 65 to 71 was phenomenal-folk rock ,garage bands, proto- punk, psychedelic,r&b ,Motown ,and more; it was like no other decade ever-before or after. For me, the 70s were kind of a let-down, too much 'super soft 'rock and disco. Then the 80s came along and I finally felt alive again! I have to say that from 82 on it was awfully damn good-the new British invasion, punk ,synth, new wave, etc but all made possible by what was all started back in the 60s. Cheers.@@GoldenFingerPIcker
The video also had that vibe. I was a kid in the late 60's Hippy days, and in the early 70's we were into Jean Jackets, long hair (but not Hippy long) and Bell bottom jeans, Hard rock-Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and the softer but equally amazing Pink Floyd. Too much Booze and Drugs too, darn lucky to survive those years.
John Phillips (the tall guy wearing the hat) was married to former model Michelle. The song came to him in the middle of the night. He woke up Michelle and asked her to write down the lyrics. She said, I'm sleeping. He said I'll give you half the writing credits. She said, we're married, I already own half.
Interesting. I read something additional from Denny Doherty regarding the name of the group. He stated that (while they all shared a home) they were sitting around watching The Tonight Show. One of the guests that night was the leader of Hell's Angels (the biker gang). He stated something about how people sometimes call their women "cheap." He then said that, to them (the gang), they are all "Mamas." Cass Elliot then jumped up and said that she wanted to be a "Mama." Michelle quickly agreed. They wanted to be referred to as "the Mamas." John Phillips and Denny Doherty looked at one another and said, "Papas?" Boom. They were now "the Mamas and the Papas." At the time, "Mama" Cass Elliot was dating Denny Doherty. Michelle and John Phillips were recently married. However, Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips had an affair. When it became known, it created a huge rift in the group. As a result, Cass Elliot decided to go solo. Michelle Phillips later wrote in her autobiography, "Cass confronted me and said 'I don't get it. You could have any man you want. Why would you take mine?'" Cass and Denny broke up. Michelle and John eventually divorced. - Cass found immediate success in her solo career; however, she died of a heart attack just a few years later. - John's career fell apart. He was convicted of drug trafficking. He remarried a couple more times; however, before he died, his biological daughter (from his first marriage), Mackenzie, claimed that she and her father had engaged in a secret long-time sexual affair. - Denny and Cass made up before she died (and she even proposed to him for which he declined). He moved back to Canada, married and eventually found fame on TV (with acting and voiceover work) until his death. - Michelle, however, hit it big as a Hollywood actress. She's nearly 80-years-old.
The Mamas & the Papas were a great folk rock group in the 60's. I had their records. They were known for their smooth harmonies. They had lots of great hits such as "Monday, Monday", "Dedicated To The One I Love", "Words Of Love", "Dancing In The Street", "Look Through My Window", "Creeque Alley", "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)", "Safe In My Garden", "I Saw Her Again" etc. Mama Cass Elliot went solo & had a big hit with "Dream A Little Dream Of Me".
It was more than just the 'hippy era' ( mostly named by the 'media' ) but also 'The British Invasion ' -- the antidote to JFK dying . It WAS many things ! ( the 60's )
"Dream a Little Dream" and "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas are eternal classical hits. We loved them even on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Michelle in an interview a few years ago shared this. They were in NY in the winter because everyone said that is where the music industry was. John went out for an early morning walk in the COLD and RAIN and kept thinking about CA sunshine and warmth. When he returned to the hotel he woke Michelle up, they wrote the song and got on the next plain for CA. And the rest is history.
Definitely a 60’s anthem! All the reasons you mention, plus the use of minor chords give it a bit of haunting character to draw you in. BTW , the hippie era was most definitely the second half of the 60’s and first half of the 70’s. But the 60’s was more so.
Mama Cass is the larger of "background" singers. she is an icon of female singers and you should check out her work. Mama Cass and John Denver is a good example. "Leaving on a jetplane" on John Denvers television show
That is Jimi Hendrix WOW! This video is perfect. This is history. It’s nearly 50 years ago and the video quality is amazing. I have seen many videos of California Dreeming. Never saw this. Nice reaction. The video is 🔥
There is so much about them, not only as a group but as individuals. In the video, they are performing at the Monterey Pop Festival which they were very instrumental in organizing. It was one the first big multi-group concert, a year before Woodstock. One of the mis-heard lyrics was "went into the church and began to pray", or was it "pretend to pray"? 'Mama' Cass Elliot had the most prominent solo career afterward, but a sad ending with her death from heart failure.
This is a famous song that has been used in movies, and the sound really portrays the folk culture of the time. Another great song by them is "Monday Monday ".
Mama Cass (Elliot) and the other members were watching one of the members of the Hell’s Angels in an interview,the reporter told him that everybody refers to the female members as the B word. The Hell’s Angels member said we call them our mammas . That’s when Cass said that’s what we will call ourselves The Mammas and the Papas
Michelle Phillips was my heartthrob!!!! She is the only one surviving today. John wrote the first verse and Michelle added the second verse. "If I didn't tell her, I would leave today" set her off as it should have so she added "Stopped into a church.........."
This is taken from Monterrey festival. John and Michelle Philips coordinated and got all the acts to agree to perform. Jim I Hendricks and the Who also had very memorable performances at this festival.
the 60s was an incredible period for music. we were blessed. california dreamin is certainly one of the iconic songs of the period as far as i am concerned. decades later i still love the songs every bit as much as i did at the time
Believe it or not a Canadian was a member of this group,Maritimer Denny Doherty was a renowned Canadian singer, songwriter and musician. He is most widely known as a founding member of perhaps the most iconic folk group of the 1960s, The Mamas & the Papas. Born in Halifax, N.S., in 1940, Doherty formed his first folk trio at the age of 19.
Mama Cass (the large one) has one of the silkiest voices in all of rock and folk music. It's breathtaking. The songs of the Mamas and Papas are among the most legendary that will live forever. To consider that they might be a one-hit wonder is an insult!
Footage from Monterray Pop Festival, first of its kind before Woodstock happened. Hendrix in audience, Eric Clapton, Jefferson Airplane, Mama Cass was so famous she had her own variety show on TV, Michelle Phillips was a famous model and actress later. Dark stories about John Phillips the leader, look it up.
Yep, 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival. Jimi Hendrix`s jacket gave it away, plus you still see random guys with short hair in the opening scenes, something that was pretty rare by 1969. These two weren`t sure if it was Hendrix for real, yes it was, lol.
John and Michelle Phillips are the parents of Chynna Phillips of the group Wilson Phillips. The Wilson part are Carney and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys had great songs that evoked thoughts of fun in the sun on the beach, hanging out with friends and maybe playing some sand volleyball. The song California Dreamin' might be familiar if you've seen the movie Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks... it plays while Forrest is writing a letter to Jenny in a rainstorm. Hanks also starred in the movie Castaway that involves an accident in a storm, and his best friend on the island is a volleyball... named Wilson. 😂
This is an iconic song of the 1960’s. As noted the lyric was “I pretend to pray.” So it’s been played a bazillion times. It crossed your ears but didn’t register until, now. Two years later in 1967 Richard and Karen Carpenter (before “Carpenters”) recorded this song as a demo. It is on UA-cam as an audio. It’s an early recording of Karen’s voice and Richard messing with lyrics. He made it a little more religious with “I began to pray.” It was an early demo of the greatness that was yet to come. TMATP are not one hit wonders but didn’t go for that long because of strife among them. Cass Elliot has numerous solo hits, like Dream A Little Dream Of Me. Have fun on your journey of discovery.
I love this song. It's glorious. Did you notice that many of the lines consist of an odd number of syllables - usually five - with an occasional line with six. The practise of having an odd number of syllables in the line is also characteristic of gospel music. It gives a song a distinctive lilt and energy.
I'm glad that you liked this, the 'Hippy Movement' was big from late '66 through until around 1971. Other songs by them which I recommend are: "Monday, Monday", "Dream A Little Dream of Me", "Words of Love", "I Call Your Name", "Go Where You Wanna Go", "I Saw Her Again Last Night", "Twelve Thirty", "Creeque Alley", "Glad To Be Unhappy". There are many others but these are good ones to continue with.
@@elizabethsantersero9597 LOL! I was in high school around the same time as you and we called the hippies “Granolas”. They didn’t mind and, yes, they really did eat granola (which was rather new to most of us).
@@WBCRO I’m from Colorado and, for us, “granolas” came later and meant something very different! The hippies were the ones still into psychedelic clothing and music ;-)
@@elizabethsantersero9597 Thank you. Yes, there were for us too in the U.K. obviously other music and lifestyle trends were more popular then, but there were still a few groups of them around.
I was in my teens when this came out,hearing this again takes me back to an amazing era in music and life.The 60s and 70s was an amazing time and I'm tearing up just thinking about it,thanks for the reminder of a better time.
I was born in the 1960s in California and at that time it was the place everyone wanted to move to. It was growing so fast and and was probably one of the best places in the world to live. How times have changed in my lifetime. 😐 But yeah, Mamas and the Papas had a fairly short time as a group, but put out a lot of great music. John Phillips was a great writer and Cass Elliot was such and an amazing, powerhouse singer. Definitely do more!
@@kathybwell One year ahead of you - 1978 (Mariposa in the Sierra Gold Country) ! 😄 I lived in Monterey on the other side of the bay from you for over ten years. So beautiful in that area.
Great harmonies with just pure, natural talent. John Phillips (far right) and Michelle Phillips (far left) are the parents of Chynna Phillips, who is a member of the pop group Wilson Phillips. The Wilson sisters are the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
Creeque Alley - a wonderful "story" about the times and the band. "No one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass." Mama Cass is the larger of the two ladies in the group, so they're making fun of themselves.
"McGuin and McGuire just gettin' higher in LA, you know where that's at"... A reference to the lead musicians in The Byrds. There's also a nod to The Lovin Spoonful, another great band on that scene, and a few I probably didn't pick up.
@@jungatheart6359 : " ''McGuin and McGuire just gettin' higher in LA, you know where that's at' .. A reference to the lead musicians in The Byrds." Jim - Roger - McGuinn was in THE BYRDS, Barry McGuire never was, finding pop chart success as a solo act.
@@rocknroller77 I thought that line also referenced that Cass was getting work singing while the other three weren’t. Getting fat could mean earning money. But I’m sure the line also referenced her size. John wasn’t as kind as he could’ve been.
The instrumentation on most of these M & P's recordings were courtesy of the "Wrecking Crew" studio musicians. I think it was P. F. Sloan who created/played the brief guitar intro to this track. (Sloan also happened to be the composer of "Eve of Destruction" which was a No. 1 hit for Barry McGuire - who was the person that helped them to get their first recording congract). Bud Shank played the flute solo.
The scenes in the video are selected from the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967, which was the brain child of the Mamas & the Papas. It was the venue that introduced performers like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin to a national audience.
Released in 1965. this is performance in 1967, the record track has been placed over the live version. It's the Monterey Pop Festival. Can't believe you missed that fact that Jimi Hendrix was sitting in the audience in this clip, lol...that's an Alto Flute you are hearing, larger than your regular flute and play in a lower register...
The Hippie Era spanned from about the mid-Sixties and into the early Seventies. I’m thrilled to see people discovering the Mamas and the Papas! Their harmonies were incredible and they were definitely NOT one-hit wonders. Some of my favourites of theirs are: “Dedicated to the One I Love”, “Twelve Thirty”, “Dancing in the Streets” and, yes, “Monday, Monday”. Denny was a wonderful lead singer but Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) was my favourite. I was just a kid and loved to belt out her songs, especially “Sing for Your Supper” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me”.
The Mamas and Papas were together barely 4 years and toured for only 3. They changed the course of Rock & Roll forever. Their music echos in American music to this day.
Vastly overstating their very short career. Dylan, The Beatles, the Beach Boys, The Byrds changed pop/rock music. The Ms and Ps were a short lived blip on the radar.
We are 5th generation San Francisco family. This song is played regularly and very often on the radio all the way up until about 1980. Is my parents favorite song they would play the Full record album and then when once done, play it over again. I often listen to it on UA-cam "1 hour loop", California Dreaming, and Monday Monday. With the volume up high. Piercing harmonies and catchy melody. Very satisfying. Who needs medicine to feel better? We have music 🎶🎵🎤🎶🎵🎻🎸🎷🎺🎹
John was the father of Mackenzie Phillips (starred in One Day at a Time), Chyna Phillips (member of group Wilson Phillips), and Bijou Phillips (married to Danny Masterson). Michelle is the mother of Chyna Phillips.
You recognize this song because its in tons of commercials and movies. In general its played everywhere even in grocery stores, so you likely inadvertently have heard the song.
It's funny because I'll watch these first time video reactions on songs I already know and often within a week or two, I'll hear that song over the speaker system at the grocery store, mall, etc. I'm sure they've heard these songs before, just too focused on shopping to notice.
The concert footage is from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Their harmonies are impeccable. "Mama" Cass Eliot had an incredible voice, and died way too young. I'd suggest "Creque Alley" next. And yes, you saw Hendrix, as he played at the festival as well.
I'm learning lots of 60's cool pop songs on guitar. I love that this song is so simple, just 2 or 3 chords with a beautiful vocal melody. I miss those days of great music on the radio!
The Mamas and The Papas were phenomenally successful with a string of hits. They were certainly not one hit wonders. Ultimately the story of Mama Cass Elliot was a sad one but she had a great voice and is much missed by the teenagers of the 1960s such as myself.
I got chills hearing their great harmonising again for the first time in a long time. I put them right up with the Bee Gees, The Righteous Brothers and ABBA in their ability to harmonise beautifully.
One of my all-time favorite groups. Their harmonies are to die for. Their first four albums have NO BAD TRACKS!! The fifth was a contractual obligation.
Huge stars, huge song. You've definitely heard this song everywhere. There were a lot of hippies in this video since the Hippie movement started in the 60's and spilled into the early 70s. Dig into the depth of this era...things were very different. Corded phones, tambourines, flutes....Real Music. So deep, mysterious, and beautiful. Nice reaction ❤ It really is both mellow AND a groove.
Mama Cass had one of the purest, most beautiful voices in rock. Another one died too soon.
She was one of the ones who died at 27 years old. Great voice. Michelle great looks and a good voice.
@@michaelwarren5646 I looked it up and Cass was 32 when she died. I also thought she was a founding member of the 27 club. That’s a rumor that still persists, like the rumor that she choked on a ham sandwich when in fact she died of heart failure. Gone too soon, that’s for sure.
@terri2494 that was my first celebrity death. That rumour was all we talked about as kids.
That is Jimi Hendrix! Think this is Monterey in 1965!
The footage I believe was from the ground breaking Monteray Pop festival. The footage was put into the film named after the festival. You got to watch this film and see the amazing number of 60s legends who perform. Hendrix, the Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin., etc, etc If you watch the film look at the audience to see the reactions of the other bands to who is playing on stage. Again the film was pretty famous. Still is. And yes the hippies were the 60s and continued into the early 70s.
Small note, the lyric is "I pretend to pray". Because it is cold outside, so he can warm up in the church.
Cold New York day, open church to warm up in. Preacher likes it cold because it give him more chances/ time to convert or minister to people
@@jimwilcox2964Added bonus: a cold church keeps the congregates awake during boring sermons.😅
@@jimwilcox2964 When I was a kid, I thought they sang "You know, the preacher lights the coals....he knows I'm going to stay", which does fit, but was completely incorrect. 🤣
Michelle wrote that part of the song. Going to private school, John felt uneasy discussing or being around churches.
Michelle wrote the line, I Began to Pray. As she was a Cali-girl in New York and had gone into a church the previous day to escape the snow.
Mama Cass misheard the lines, thinking they were more cynical when rehearsing and was singing I Pretend to Pray.
@@randyhanson9441That is so interesting! Even knowing that the lyric is “pretend” I still hear “began” in the lead vocal. I like “pretend” just because it is more provocative of a deeper personal history.
Cass's version of Dream a Little Dream is phenomenal
Beautiful. Michelle of course had nothing like the same vocal proficiency but her opening verse in 'Dedicated To The One I Love' is also very sweet.
Oh yea love that song should check it out
I have that in one of my playlists. A beautiful rendition of that song.
FACTS!
In those days artists released albums - I had several.
This is why music from the 60's 70's is the best music ever
It is great era, but the 80s are tip top. lol
I was just a child in the 60s but the music from 65 to 71 was phenomenal-folk rock ,garage bands, proto- punk, psychedelic,r&b ,Motown ,and more; it was like no other decade ever-before or after. For me, the 70s were kind of a let-down, too much 'super soft 'rock and disco. Then the 80s came along and I finally felt alive again! I have to say that from 82 on it was awfully damn good-the new British invasion, punk ,synth, new wave, etc but all made possible by what was all started back in the 60s. Cheers.@@GoldenFingerPIcker
Oops, can't believe I forgot to list the first British Invasion in my 1960s music list! Oh well.
Get off my lawn
@@edwardmclaughlin719 Now that is funny You git jokes
This song is infused with the spirit of the 60’s. You feel yourself inexplicably pulled back in time.
The video also had that vibe. I was a kid in the late 60's Hippy days, and in the early 70's we were into Jean Jackets, long hair (but not Hippy long) and Bell bottom jeans, Hard rock-Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and the softer but equally amazing Pink Floyd. Too much Booze and Drugs too, darn lucky to survive those years.
Could not have described better
It makes me nostalgic for a place and time I've never been.
That flute solo became iconic of the decade.
they should bring back the flute solo 🤔
Lots of flute and sax solos in music (including rock bands) back in the late 60's & 70's
As did the one in "Nights in white satin".
@@Bekka_Noyb Strange Way (album version) by Firefall has a killer flute solo.
@@Rkbmomma Check out anything by Jethro Tull
Monday Monday is another great song. Shows their great harmonies.
John Phillips (the tall guy wearing the hat) was married to former model Michelle. The song came to him in the middle of the night. He woke up Michelle and asked her to write down the lyrics.
She said, I'm sleeping. He said I'll give you half the writing credits. She said, we're married, I already own half.
Great story - love it!
Papa was a pedo that gave drugs to their daughter. It ruins such a beautiful song for me.
Interesting. I read something additional from Denny Doherty regarding the name of the group. He stated that (while they all shared a home) they were sitting around watching The Tonight Show. One of the guests that night was the leader of Hell's Angels (the biker gang). He stated something about how people sometimes call their women "cheap." He then said that, to them (the gang), they are all "Mamas."
Cass Elliot then jumped up and said that she wanted to be a "Mama." Michelle quickly agreed. They wanted to be referred to as "the Mamas." John Phillips and Denny Doherty looked at one another and said, "Papas?" Boom. They were now "the Mamas and the Papas."
At the time, "Mama" Cass Elliot was dating Denny Doherty. Michelle and John Phillips were recently married. However, Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips had an affair. When it became known, it created a huge rift in the group. As a result, Cass Elliot decided to go solo. Michelle Phillips later wrote in her autobiography, "Cass confronted me and said 'I don't get it. You could have any man you want. Why would you take mine?'"
Cass and Denny broke up. Michelle and John eventually divorced.
- Cass found immediate success in her solo career; however, she died of a heart attack just a few years later.
- John's career fell apart. He was convicted of drug trafficking. He remarried a couple more times; however, before he died, his biological daughter (from his first marriage), Mackenzie, claimed that she and her father had engaged in a secret long-time sexual affair.
- Denny and Cass made up before she died (and she even proposed to him for which he declined). He moved back to Canada, married and eventually found fame on TV (with acting and voiceover work) until his death.
- Michelle, however, hit it big as a Hollywood actress. She's nearly 80-years-old.
Priceless 😂
Preach my friend!!!!
The Mamas & the Papas were a great folk rock group in the 60's. I had their records. They were known for their smooth harmonies. They had lots of great hits such as "Monday, Monday", "Dedicated To The One I Love", "Words Of Love", "Dancing In The Street", "Look Through My Window", "Creeque Alley", "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)", "Safe In My Garden", "I Saw Her Again" etc. Mama Cass Elliot went solo & had a big hit with "Dream A Little Dream Of Me".
Creeque Alley is such a awesome tune!
'Safe in my Garden"Aaahhh!
I want to hear all of these songs mentioned!!
66 to 70 was the Hippie era
66 to 70 and beyond 😉
@@kathybwellyes, it was still going strong in 72 when I was in high school.
Ehh 73...... I spent the summer of 71 with the Hippies and draft dodgers
It was more than just the 'hippy era' ( mostly named by the 'media' ) but also 'The British Invasion ' -- the antidote to JFK dying . It WAS many things ! ( the 60's )
The real Hippy era only lasted one Summer in 1967. It was replaced by the Yippies and the Druggies.
The bigger lady singing, has an incredible voice. Mama Cass Elliot.
Yes that was Jimmi
Likely at ‘67 Monterey Pop Festival.
Yes, Jimmi and many other famous people.
@@gsparkman was thinking the same thing.
It was Jimi Hendrix. He also played at that festival.
Jimi.
One of the greatest songs of all time.
"Dream a Little Dream" and "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas are eternal classical hits. We loved them even on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Isn't it amazing how musician years ago sounded so great without samples and auto tune.
Michelle in an interview a few years ago shared this. They were in NY in the winter because everyone said that is where the music industry was. John went out for an early morning walk in the COLD and RAIN and kept thinking about CA sunshine and warmth. When he returned to the hotel he woke Michelle up, they wrote the song and got on the next plain for CA. And the rest is history.
The autobiographical Creeque Alley followed by Monday Monday would be great 🙂
My favorite of their songs, but I doubt they would get all the references.
Absolutely!
@@JH-ii8xm That’s what the comments section is for. They’d learn a lot after doing the video.
@@terri2494they don't read the comments obviously.
Oh yes! Creque Alley is a bit autobiographical picture of the Mamas and Papas! ❤
Definitely a 60’s anthem! All the reasons you mention, plus the use of minor chords give it a bit of haunting character to draw you in. BTW , the hippie era was most definitely the second half of the 60’s and first half of the 70’s. But the 60’s was more so.
64- 74 is what I remember
Mama Cass is the larger of "background" singers. she is an icon of female singers and you should check out her work. Mama Cass and John Denver is a good example. "Leaving on a jetplane" on John Denvers television show
Yep.❤
That is Jimi Hendrix WOW! This video is perfect. This is history. It’s nearly 50 years ago and the video quality is amazing. I have seen many videos of California Dreeming. Never saw this. Nice reaction. The video is 🔥
Pretty sure that song is named “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”
@@vorlon1 do feel better now?
I'll second the Mana Cass and John Denver performance of "Leaving On A Jet Plane".
I miss real music.
Without auto tune and with real voices.
Listen metal
I miss real music as well.
I grew up on this kind of music. This is my teen years. Monday Monday, is a good one. 💯🔥
There is so much about them, not only as a group but as individuals. In the video, they are performing at the Monterey Pop Festival which they were very instrumental in organizing. It was one the first big multi-group concert, a year before Woodstock. One of the mis-heard lyrics was "went into the church and began to pray", or was it "pretend to pray"? 'Mama' Cass Elliot had the most prominent solo career afterward, but a sad ending with her death from heart failure.
This is a famous song that has been used in movies, and the sound really portrays the folk culture of the time. Another great song by them is "Monday Monday ".
As a group, they had a relatively short run....but the classics they made, are timeless!
Mama Cass (Elliot) and the other members were watching one of the members of the Hell’s Angels in an interview,the reporter told him that everybody refers to the female members as the B word. The Hell’s Angels member said we call them our mammas . That’s when Cass said that’s what we will call ourselves The Mammas and the Papas
Song has been on radio repeat for almost 60 years; yes, you have probably heard it before Sam!
Michelle Phillips was my heartthrob!!!! She is the only one surviving today. John wrote the first verse and Michelle added the second verse. "If I didn't tell her, I would leave today" set her off as it should have so she added "Stopped into a church.........."
She was supposedly a distant relation of mine, s second cousin or something (who I never met), but I don't claim to have any proof ;)
This is taken from Monterrey festival. John and Michelle Philips coordinated and got all the acts to agree to perform. Jim I Hendricks and the Who also had very memorable performances at this festival.
The young blonde woman playing tambourine is Michelle Phillips. She is the only member still living at age 80.
Phil and Sam this is my hippie music ✌❤
the 60s was an incredible period for music. we were blessed. california dreamin is certainly one of the iconic songs of the period as far as i am concerned. decades later i still love the songs every bit as much as i did at the time
Believe it or not a Canadian was a member of this group,Maritimer Denny Doherty was a renowned Canadian singer, songwriter and musician. He is most widely known as a founding member of perhaps the most iconic folk group of the 1960s, The Mamas & the Papas. Born in Halifax, N.S., in 1940, Doherty formed his first folk trio at the age of 19.
Heyy from Ontario Canada 😁
Mama Cass (the large one) has one of the silkiest voices in all of rock and folk music. It's breathtaking. The songs of the Mamas and Papas are among the most legendary that will live forever. To consider that they might be a one-hit wonder is an insult!
This song has been in a ton of movies. Heaps of covers one in once along a time in Hollywood
Footage from Monterray Pop Festival, first of its kind before Woodstock happened. Hendrix in audience, Eric Clapton, Jefferson
Airplane, Mama Cass was so famous she had her own variety show on TV, Michelle Phillips was a famous model and actress later.
Dark stories about John Phillips the leader, look it up.
Yep, 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival. Jimi Hendrix`s jacket gave it away, plus you still see random guys with short hair in the opening scenes, something that was pretty rare by 1969. These two weren`t sure if it was Hendrix for real, yes it was, lol.
One of the top groups of the 60s. Iconic songs! Michelle (the blonde) is the only surviving member. Good reactions as always guys
John and Michelle Phillips are the parents of Chynna Phillips of the group Wilson Phillips. The Wilson part are Carney and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys had great songs that evoked thoughts of fun in the sun on the beach, hanging out with friends and maybe playing some sand volleyball. The song California Dreamin' might be familiar if you've seen the movie Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks... it plays while Forrest is writing a letter to Jenny in a rainstorm. Hanks also starred in the movie Castaway that involves an accident in a storm, and his best friend on the island is a volleyball... named Wilson. 😂
The volleyball had nothing to do with the Wilsons. 🤪
California Dreamin was a big hit song. Was played everywhere.
This is an iconic song of the 1960’s. As noted the lyric was “I pretend to pray.” So it’s been played a bazillion times. It crossed your ears but didn’t register until, now. Two years later in 1967 Richard and Karen Carpenter (before “Carpenters”) recorded this song as a demo. It is on UA-cam as an audio. It’s an early recording of Karen’s voice and Richard messing with lyrics. He made it a little more religious with “I began to pray.” It was an early demo of the greatness that was yet to come.
TMATP are not one hit wonders but didn’t go for that long because of strife among them. Cass Elliot has numerous solo hits, like Dream A Little Dream Of Me.
Have fun on your journey of discovery.
One of the best songs ever. period.
I love this song. It's glorious. Did you notice that many of the lines consist of an odd number of syllables - usually five - with an occasional line with six. The practise of having an odd number of syllables in the line is also characteristic of gospel music. It gives a song a distinctive lilt and energy.
I'm glad that you liked this, the 'Hippy Movement' was big from late '66 through until around 1971. Other songs by them which I recommend are:
"Monday, Monday",
"Dream A Little Dream of Me",
"Words of Love",
"I Call Your Name",
"Go Where You Wanna Go",
"I Saw Her Again Last Night",
"Twelve Thirty",
"Creeque Alley",
"Glad To Be Unhappy".
There are many others but these are good ones to continue with.
Great suggestions! And we still had a few hippies when I started high school in 1980 😊
@@elizabethsantersero9597 LOL! I was in high school around the same time as you and we called the hippies “Granolas”. They didn’t mind and, yes, they really did eat granola (which was rather new to most of us).
@@WBCRO I’m from Colorado and, for us, “granolas” came later and meant something very different! The hippies were the ones still into psychedelic clothing and music ;-)
@@elizabethsantersero9597 Thank you.
Yes, there were for us too in the U.K. obviously other music and lifestyle trends were more popular then, but there were still a few groups of them around.
The song "Go Where You Wanna Go" by them is also worth hearing.
I was in my teens when this came out,hearing this again takes me back to an amazing era in music and life.The 60s and 70s was an amazing time and I'm tearing up just thinking about it,thanks for the reminder of a better time.
I was born in the 1960s in California and at that time it was the place everyone wanted to move to. It was growing so fast and and was probably one of the best places in the world to live. How times have changed in my lifetime. 😐 But yeah, Mamas and the Papas had a fairly short time as a group, but put out a lot of great music. John Phillips was a great writer and Cass Elliot was such and an amazing, powerhouse singer. Definitely do more!
Growing up in Cali during the 60-70s was the BEST! Born and raised Santa Cruz, class of '79
@@kathybwell One year ahead of you - 1978 (Mariposa in the Sierra Gold Country) ! 😄 I lived in Monterey on the other side of the bay from you for over ten years. So beautiful in that area.
Great harmonies with just pure, natural talent.
John Phillips (far right) and Michelle Phillips (far left) are the parents of Chynna Phillips, who is a member of the pop group Wilson Phillips. The Wilson sisters are the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
So happy you like this song. It is and was hugely popular.
All of their songs are good. Mama Cass has one of the purest female voices! Rip Mama Cass🙏
California Dreamin was like a movement people from other states and the world wanted to go there and experience California living.
Creeque Alley - a wonderful "story" about the times and the band. "No one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass." Mama Cass is the larger of the two ladies in the group, so they're making fun of themselves.
"McGuin and McGuire just gettin' higher in LA, you know where that's at"... A reference to the lead musicians in The Byrds. There's also a nod to The Lovin Spoonful, another great band on that scene, and a few I probably didn't pick up.
@@jungatheart6359 : " ''McGuin and McGuire just gettin' higher in LA, you know where that's at' .. A reference to the lead musicians in The Byrds."
Jim - Roger - McGuinn was in THE BYRDS, Barry McGuire never was, finding pop chart success as a solo act.
John wrote that and Cass was not happy to have that in there. Understandably so.
@@rocknroller77 I thought that line also referenced that Cass was getting work singing while the other three weren’t. Getting fat could mean earning money. But I’m sure the line also referenced her size. John wasn’t as kind as he could’ve been.
Thanks for that, I just assumed they were both Byrds as they were bracketed together in that line. @@meyerhave
Their harmonies were legendary. And they aren't backup singers. They were a brilliant choir.
The instrumentation on most of these M & P's recordings were courtesy of the "Wrecking Crew" studio musicians. I think it was P. F. Sloan who created/played the brief guitar intro to this track. (Sloan also happened to be the composer of "Eve of Destruction" which was a No. 1 hit for Barry McGuire - who was the person that helped them to get their first recording congract). Bud Shank played the flute solo.
The 60’s music is known for that sound it’s the hippie and psychedelic days great song great group.turbulent 60,s
As someone who bought this the week it came out on 45 it is interesting watching your amazement.
In music that's called "call and answer" when the chorus repeats the lead singer.
The scenes in the video are selected from the Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967, which was the brain child of the Mamas & the Papas. It was the venue that introduced performers like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin to a national audience.
Released in 1965. this is performance in 1967, the record track has been placed over the live version. It's the Monterey Pop Festival. Can't believe you missed that fact that Jimi Hendrix was sitting in the audience in this clip, lol...that's an Alto Flute you are hearing, larger than your regular flute and play in a lower register...
The Hippie Era spanned from about the mid-Sixties and into the early Seventies. I’m thrilled to see people discovering the Mamas and the Papas! Their harmonies were incredible and they were definitely NOT one-hit wonders. Some of my favourites of theirs are: “Dedicated to the One I Love”, “Twelve Thirty”, “Dancing in the Streets” and, yes, “Monday, Monday”. Denny was a wonderful lead singer but Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) was my favourite. I was just a kid and loved to belt out her songs, especially “Sing for Your Supper” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me”.
The Mamas and Papas were together barely 4 years and toured for only 3. They changed the course of Rock & Roll forever. Their music echos in American music to this day.
Vastly overstating their very short career. Dylan, The Beatles, the Beach Boys, The Byrds changed pop/rock music. The Ms and Ps were a short lived blip on the radar.
I grew up to music like this when music was music no manipulation no auto tune just pure talent
Denny Doherty lead vocals John Phillips wrote
What you need to keep in mind that this group and music was during the hippie movement of the 60s.
We are 5th generation San Francisco family. This song is played regularly and very often on the radio all the way up until about 1980. Is my parents favorite song they would play the Full record album and then when once done, play it over again. I often listen to it on UA-cam "1 hour loop", California Dreaming, and Monday Monday. With the volume up high. Piercing harmonies and catchy melody. Very satisfying. Who needs medicine to feel better? We have music 🎶🎵🎤🎶🎵🎻🎸🎷🎺🎹
1965. The great thing about that timeframe is fantastic music was recorded and released like that weekly!
This video was from Monterey Pop Festival 1967.
John was the father of Mackenzie Phillips (starred in One Day at a Time), Chyna Phillips (member of group Wilson Phillips), and Bijou Phillips (married to Danny Masterson). Michelle is the mother of Chyna Phillips.
Thank you for the California vibe on this winter’s day.
You recognize this song because its in tons of commercials and movies. In general its played everywhere even in grocery stores, so you likely inadvertently have heard the song.
It's funny because I'll watch these first time video reactions on songs I already know and often within a week or two, I'll hear that song over the speaker system at the grocery store, mall, etc. I'm sure they've heard these songs before, just too focused on shopping to notice.
This was such a great time for popular music, so many talented musicians and songwriters. Fine time to be a teenager.
The concert footage is from the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Their harmonies are impeccable. "Mama" Cass Eliot had an incredible voice, and died way too young. I'd suggest "Creque Alley" next. And yes, you saw Hendrix, as he played at the festival as well.
I believe that's the same concert where Janis Joplin performed and the video shows Mama Cass in the audience with her mouth hanging open in awe.
@@JamesLachowsky That is correct.
An absolute gem, one of the best ever....
Reacting to amazing songwriting and incredible singing - it just hits you! Bypasses the brain and straight into your soul! Music is the best.
I'm learning lots of 60's cool pop songs on guitar. I love that this song is so simple, just 2 or 3 chords with a beautiful vocal melody. I miss those days of great music on the radio!
This is the best song to do in the dead of winter. Funny this is Ground Hog Day.
Yup, Hendrix 🎸
I grew up in the best decade ever. The music will never be as good again. The harmonizing on this song is fantastic.
Lemme guess; Am radio with Dean, Frank, Mel, Bobby Vinton, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison, etc, BEFORE the British Invasion? Yeah a lot of oners back then.
The music f our Baby Boomer's time was just phenomenal.
I'm one of them and you are correct!
I am so old I can remember when California was a magical, mythically great place.
The Mamas and The Papas were phenomenally successful with a string of hits. They were certainly not one hit wonders.
Ultimately the story of Mama Cass Elliot was a sad one but she had a great voice and is much missed by the teenagers of the 1960s such as myself.
She is missed by a lot of millennials like me as well.
Michelle Phillips was something else in her day. just stunning.
Very Iconic 60s song. Used in a lot of movies and shows.
1966 CLASSIC !! Was the #1 song that year, one of the best years ever for pop/rock music. They kinda started the "hippie" movement
1965 the very best vocal harmonies
This is in my top 10 best songs of all time. I always feel uplifted when hearing it.
Denny Doherty is a Canadian from Nova Scotia, California Dreaming was released in 1965
Could have heard it anywhere. It has been one of the most played tunes from the 60's on the radio
HUGE song back in the day.
I have always loved this song. When I hear that song, I think about where I was in my life.
Mama Cass, Superb
They are the kings and queens of harmony
2 guys - 2 girls = mamas & papas. it's really not that complicated 😉
All time classic! ♥ Hendrix in the crowd! 😎
I got chills hearing their great harmonising again for the first time in a long time. I put them right up with the Bee Gees, The Righteous Brothers and ABBA in their ability to harmonise beautifully.
Talent back then, today everything alter digitally to make the music sound better.
1966 was pre-Hippie era.
A forever favorite. Never analyzed it though. Just went along with it. Sounded like California Sound to me.
Denny Doherty, the lead singer is Canadian. I think he is from Nova Scotia
One of my all-time favorite groups. Their harmonies are to die for. Their first four albums have NO BAD TRACKS!! The fifth was a contractual obligation.
Some of the film footage is from the 1967 Monterey Festival, which starred Hendrix, and also The Mamas & The Papas.
Just another great vibe from the 60's!!!
Such a great CLASSIC song!! Mama Cass. Gonna guess 1969?? 😊 Great first song ❤❤
Huge stars, huge song. You've definitely heard this song everywhere. There were a lot of hippies in this video since the Hippie movement started in the 60's and spilled into the early 70s. Dig into the depth of this era...things were very different. Corded phones, tambourines, flutes....Real Music. So deep, mysterious, and beautiful. Nice reaction ❤ It really is both mellow AND a groove.
60s is more hippy era than 70s. Definitely started in the 60s.