Thursday, June 12, 2014

Four Pop Tunes That You Should Not Take For Granted



And yes, they are all by the Mamas & The Papas.







There is so much going on here, from the chord changes on the third line of each verse in "Twelve Thirty," to the backing vocal arrangement on "I Saw Her Again," to the harmonies on "Dedicated To The One I Love" and the heartbreak melody of "Look Through My Window." This was not just another pop group from the 60's.






Why do I bring this up now? Because I've been listening to them for a few weeks now and what I've been hearing and discovering has at times left me breathless.

We hear this music so often--oldies stations, commercials, movies about the 60s, Starbucks--it's easy to sock it all away and just be comfortable knowing the Mamas & The Papas existed, without ever once thinking they belong on a list with the obvious big names from that era.

I think they do.

My friend often cites "Aretha's Gold" and "Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy" as two of his favorite records of all time. They may be hits compilations, but pound for pound make up two of the most solid listening events you will experience. I'd like to add "Farewell To The First Golden Era" to that short list.


19 comments:

Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY Sal!!!! When I'm asked what are my favorite songs "I Saw Her Again" is high on a very short list. That and "Twelve Thirty" are absolutely thrilling. Vocals supreme. I remember as a kid how I thought a transistor radio could barely contain the power out of that sound. Hahahaha. To this day I still blast those songs out of the car stereo and I think "How wonderful is this...." Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the reminders!!!

kevinpat

soundsource said...

Not to sound all "I'm an old guy and you kids today"but i grew up with the Mamas & Papas and so maybe I just took for granted how great they were and assumed everybody knew that. I just kinda thought that they're a part of the greats of R&R. They are in the RRHoF right (not that that confers greatness just assumed they would be). And also not too mention with all their great music (and you did pick out four great tunes) they were the brains behind the Monterey Festival which as we know introduced America to Hendrix, The Who, Big Brother, the debut of Electric Flag (I think) and the list goes on, oh yeah and white America to The Big O. ok where did I start....oh yeah I just assumed everybody loves the Mamas & Papas and knows how great they are.

soundsource said...

just an addendum I think that Look Through My Window might be my favorite Mamas & Papas song so thanks for that too. And if you just change one word in the title you get a really great Hollies song Look Through Any Window. Is that gonna be your next weekend mix great rock songs about windows?

dogbreath said...

Funnily enough I've been giving the solo album "Cass Elliot" a spin lately. Anyhow, yes, you are so right: fabulous stuff from the M&P's and just about pitch perfect pop (try saying that with a mouthful of pistachio)for this glorious sun up, top down, hair blowing in the breeze kind of weather. Guess I know what I'm gonna be listening to later. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

"Can You Please Crawl Out Your WINDOW", Bob Youknowwho, "She Came In Through the Bathroom WINDOW", "WINDOW Shopping" ~ Hank Williams, "WINDOW" ~ Fiona "LooseCannon" Apple, "WINDOWS of the World" ~ Dionne Warwick/The Pretenders........?????????

kevinpat

Shriner said...

Awesome post.

Those 4 -- along with "Go Where You Wanna Go" and "Words Of Love" comprise some of the best produced/arranged pop songs of the 60s. Lew Adler was a genius.

I fully agree that these songs never get the push that they really should. Sure, everybody knows/hears "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'" (which they *should* -- they are also awesome songs!) but their catalog was so much deeper.

That said, their covers of "Dancing In The Street" , "My Girl", "Twist And Shout", "I Call Your Name", etc -- I could do without. And "Creeque Alley" never did anything for me.


But, man, Denny's false start near the end of "I Saw Her Again"? That's gold, Jerry! Gold!

buzzbabyjesus said...

Just re-read Shriner's comment and pretend I said it.

FD13NYC said...

Of course!! I'm in full agreement with this, always loved them. When I hear most of their songs, even today, I still get goosebumps, especially with Monday Monday. The writing, singing and arrangements all outstanding. John Phillips may have been an egotistical taskmaster, along with being a crazy junkie bastard, but the talent was undeniable. He got the songs out there. Great insightful pull Sal, thanks!

Anonymous said...

There was so much sublime white pop that came out of the SoCal scene then -- 'Never My Love' by the Association, 'Live' by your 'Song of the Day' featured band, the Merry-Go-Round, any number of hits by Grass Roots, 'Happy Together' by the Turtles....and even non-Calis like Left Banke. Proof that pop can equal the grace of any other art form.
C in California

Shriner said...

("Lou Adler" I meant, of course...I forgot that he produced "Tapestry" and all those Cheech and Chong records, too...)

steve simels said...

Four words. Safe. In. My. Garden.

steve simels said...

Although I think some of their hits haven't aged well.

whattawino said...

Yes, sirs! All ears in on this one. Listening to these great Mamas & Papas tunes lead me to thinking of The Lovin' Spoonful and the fact that these two bands were so intertwined and both featuring a John of rare and exceptional talent. We were damned lucky to get all that great music out of both of them. Sighin' for the 60's.

Anonymous said...

…and sometimes we are in total agreement!

Allan R.

A walk in the woods said...

dogbreath - do you mean the Mama Cass LP with "Talkin' To Your Toothbrush" on it? Dang, I love that one - haven't thought about it in a long time!

itsok2beright said...

Whoa! How'd you know? I had them on loop last week. I am partial to 'Words Of Love' and 'Go Where You Wanna Go'. I can't understand how they were 'forgotten', or got blended into the mass of similar sounding, yet much less talented 60's vocal groups.

Dave said...

I think Mamas and Papas were the beneficiaries of great songs and great production. The three originals you picked are stupendous songs and great records.

M&P's featured two great singers, Cass and Denny. But they couldn't reproduce their sound live, and when the material and production lagged, to me the M&P's were boring. In general, their hits were their best songs. (I'm counting 12:30 as a big hit -- it was huge in L.A. at the time).

When you have the Beach Boys, the Fifth Dimension (now there is a harmony group that could do everything in the studio live -- and I strongly prefer 5D's version of "Go Where You Wanna Go," strings and all), and the Association, you've got crazy competition in the same town.

This is in no way a put-down of M&P's. I spent an hour or two with Mama Cass at Nu-Pike amusement park in Long Beach, California in the mid-60s. She was there because she had a crush on a member of a one-hit wonder band (I can't for the life of me remember who) and they were taping an episode of "Where the Action Is." Everyone knew who she was, but it was a different time. She stood on the pavement of the park with teenagers (she was in her mid-20s) and at least during the time we were next to each other, nobody bothered her. She knew I knew who she was, but we talked about our music faves when we weren't hearing music (lip-synced) from the stage. She was a delight, a true fan, and humble beyond belief.

DF

Chris Collins said...

they're an incredible group. "I Saw Her Again" is one of the best pop songs ever recorded. I'm actually surprised at how little recognition they get these days.

cmealha said...

I remember leaving the stack arm set to continuously play Twelve Thirty one afternoon for 1,230 times. Beautiful melody and harmonies. Still feel the same way today. It has not gotten old