Why is The Mamas & The Papas' California Dreamin' a classic? (Reaction!)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
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I clicked on because...IT'S THE MAMAS AND PAPAS....the harmony is impeccable and I couldn't resist the memories it is flooding my mind and heart...thanks Seb 💖💖💖
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".
I have easily heard this song a thousand times in my lifetime, and it never gets old.
❤❤❤
The song was a metaphor. Californian represented a utopia for the counter culture movement, San Francisco and the summer of love.
true...but your for damn sure not safe in LA anymore
@ Um, I live here. It’s still amazing. Don’t believe everything you here
John Phillip was quoted as saying it was about his and Michelle's experience of being homesick while living in New York in the cold winter of 1963.
Everyone wanted to move to California, you know, with flowers in our hair.
@@pvank1799 🌻San Francisco, Golden Gate Park . . . yes, hippy girls really did wear flowers in their hair. Either a basic small wreath of flowers in the hair or basic single daisy tucked into small hair braid. Back in the day, the Bay Area, Golden Gate Park, was more laid back.
As an old broad who grew up in the 60s and 70s, I love seeing you discover the great music that was the foundation of my youth.
You're not kidding this is a classic! It's an awesome song!!!!!!! Everything about it is awesome!!! I was in junior high when this was out.
"Dream a Little Dream" by Cass is a must
Definitely. She had such a glorious voice. RIP, Cass. ❤
I've always loved her voice - clear as a bell.
In the 60's songs in order to be played on radio were kept to 3 minutes length. Wasn't until FM came on board in the 70's that long jams and longer songs were birthed on the radio. Grew up in the 60's carrying a radio (my parent's GOOD radio) everywhere I went, listening to some of the richest music ever....60's and 70's were the decades of FABULOUS music. None of this auto tune, computer generated noise. Sad how low music has fallen. Saw some REALLY great bands back in the day......😎
actually that changed a little bit with 1967 recording of the Jimmy Webb song MacArthur Park by the British actor Richard Harris and it was 7:21 long....turns out DJ's loved it cause they could actually take a longer break when it played.....the Beatles took notice and went back into the studio to add 2 minutes to their song Hey Jude to make it 7:20 long.....
Even Michelle Phillips said in an interview (much later) that Cass's voice made The Mamas and The Papas. Her voice could be soft and sweet and in the next moment be powerful and dynamic.
Love the harmonies! Monday Monday is another song of theirs that comes to mind. There is also a video on TH-cam of Mama Cass (Cass Elliot) singing Leavin' on a Jet Plane with John Denver that is really good.
Always loved Cass's voice ...it was so unique ❤
Love her singing with John Denver ❤️
I'm one of the many who find it amusing to have such a young man listening to our music from the dark ages!
I came for the song, I love the Mama's and Papa's. I think they were counter culture because the hippies listened to a lot of folk music, and hippies were counter culture. I was a child at the time but I loved their music and still do.
Im here cause I love your reaction to my generations music. 60's & 70's rock groups at their best! Now they are musical legends, and my generation is history! 👍✌
You asked…I’m here because I love watching first reactions to the songs from my youth, the 60’s and 70’s
When they were in the studio recording, at some point when they had the vocal tracks arranged just right, a phantom voice would show up. They called that voice Harvey. That was when they knew they had it right. ❤❤❤
John and Michelle Phillips are the parents of Chynna Phillips Baldwin. She was the lead singer of the girl group Wilson Phillips and she married Billy Baldwin of the Baldwin family. She has a very successful TH-cam channel called California Preachin’ named after her parents biggest song California Dreamin’. Sometimes she’ll have her mom on. It’s cool. Michelle Phillips did have a successful acting career into her latter years.
They are also the parents of actress Makenzie Philips.
@@keith6485 Susan Adams is the mother of Makenzie Phillips. She was the first of John Phillips 4 wives.
Phenomenal song. I’m here for your first reaction to one of the greatest songs ever recorded
Most songs of the sixties will be around 2:30. The Top 40 format required it. It wasn't until FM stations started giving the AM stations some competition that AM started playing longer songs. Around this time rock started recording in stereo and folks got a little carried away with it. Remember the only engineering effects at the time were the Wah-Wah pedal and echo; if a new tool appeared, people wanted to play with it.
It seems it was around 1974 or so with album oriented rock stations on FM that started playing full length songs instead of the short AM Top 40 format and playing music those stations would never play.
Singer Denny Doherty is a Canadian from Nova Scotia Canada, great reaction
Last week, here in Houston we got 4.5 inches of snow during a cold snap! I’m from upstate NY, so I was loving it just for nostalgia. ❄️☃️ Made a snow angel and everything! As I walked through our neighborhood, this is the song that rang in my ears: “all the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray; I went for a walk on a winter’s day…” Just gorgeous. Nice reaction, Seb! 🙋♀️👍
It's winter in the Northeast, and I always listen to this song in the winter, just waiting for spring. I remember living in California, so it brings back so many memories. I love their harmonies and Cass Elliott was classy all the way. She was the glue that held the group together.
They had a unique sound, among other things that made them crazy popular. I saw them in person in San Diego, when I was about 13. I'm now 71 !!! My first concert ever...way up in nose-bleed seats, but it was great! Folk Rock probably says it best, "Monday, Monday" and "Dedicated" and more, were also big hits on radio,
They even sounded great live to my own ears on the Monterey Festival (that i've watched on utube) despite Michelle's broken mic.How did they sound in San Diego?Can u tell more?As far as i'm aware there isn't any other filmed concert footage from their live tours.What a shame.What a loss.I love their discography so much.
@alexioverdo5225 They were very friendly with a sold out crowd in a huge venue. They sounded perfect, and very thankful for responses from the audience. The crowd was SILENT during every song, and reactions were long and thrilling. Standing ovations and whistles!! I do remember Mama Cass was a stand-out. Already a stand out on radio, she was amazing live, and went on to a solo career, cut too short. We all lost alot when she passed away. Mama Michelle's daughter (who is also a singer , and has her own podcast) is close friends with Mama Cass's daughter. DO check out Chy (Chyna) Phillips Baldwin and her Mom Michelle Phillips podcast, as Mom and daughter check out online reactions to "The Mama's and the Papas" California Dreamin" Chy''s podcast is. "California Preachin"
I'm enjoying so much watching your reactions to the songs that are the soundtrack of my life. Creeque Alley is another favorite of mine that they did.
I enjoy your reactions. I am 78 and these are songs of my life. Many wonderful memories. Spent a lot of time in calif in the 70’s. Was married in the glass chapel you see in the Pantonics video of Amazing Grace. This has always been a favorite.❤
This is one of my all time favorites and takes me back to 7th grade. The Mamas and the Papas were an awesome group and a major part of my teen years.
This song is SO a part of my life. I grew up in SoCal and then went to college in Nashville. The first semester, it snowed like crazy right before Christmas break. I remember going into my dorm room, turning on the TV, and seeing in the bottom corner that it was 2 degrees outside. I stomped around trying to get the feeling back in my feet. I then turned on the radio and this song came on. I just laid on my little twin bed and cried.
This song was quintessential 60’s California vibe and they were the best. Mama Cass makes this song so great with her confident pitch perfect vocals. Their personal lives were counter culture , drugs, sex, etc. Free spirits
This is one of a very few songs where I remember the exact time and circumstances when I heard it on the radio for the first time. It hit me like a ton of bricks, because apart from the wonderful harmonies, it was somehow so DIFFERENT from any song I'd heard before...a perfect blend of folk and rock. I think the fact that the song was unique in its time was a factor in why it became a counterculture anthem; in addition, the four members of the group moved to California not long after this song and made friends with other early hippies who, together, transformed both music and the youth culture. The song is still an all-time top 10 favorite of mine!
This song and The Mamas and The Papas created the folk-rock California sound, and invited all the young people to come out to California, specifically the San Francisco bay area. They also produced the first big music festival, The Monterey Pop Festival and promoted it with the song "San Francisco" sung by Scott McKenzie and written by John Phillips just in time for the Summer of Love in the Haight-Ashbury area; and "Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair".
"Monday, Monday" has some interesting vocal timings.
I believe that was the Hollywood Palace variety show they’re on. Michelle Phillips went to an acting career. Her daughter Chyna, was part of the group Wilson Phillips.
Grew up with the Mamas and Papa's. Love their songs, harmonies, messages. Mama Cass vocals are my favorite. Her song There's a New world coming is great, meaningful, hopeful. Billy Boy
When lived in Indiana in 1980's this was played over and over again in the fall. I looked forward to it every fall!!
Great song and awesome group of that era!! Creeque Alley is another great song
There was musical genre in the late 60s now called "Sunshine Pop". It was characterized by 3 & 4 part harmonies and lyrics about love and sunny days. It was inspired by the Beach Boys & the Mamas and Papas.
Thanks for posting this Sebs.
One of my favourite songs.
🙏 from North Tyneside, England.
My mom had the album in the 1970's, Love the band! The Harmony with them was great, and Mama Cass had such a beautiful voice, listen the Dedicated to the One I Love song. You will love it!
John and Michelle Phillips each wrote autobiographies. John Phillips was the principal songwriter. He wrote a lot about their experiences and that's what the books were about, as well as their partner changes, their drug use, the breakups, etc. Cautionary tales for certain.
Monterey, California Beach Girl, 72 now. My stepfather said, "🧐No! Too young!" when I wanted to go to The Monterey Pop Festival. The documentary is on TH-cam. I left CA when I joined the US Women's Army Corps in 1970. This song plays in my head and heart every cold winters day in Washington State, like today. Bruce Lee, another icon who loved life.
I’m listening to your reaction of this song because it is your reaction. I enjoy watching the younger generation turn on to the music of my era. But the reactor must be intelligent, empathetic, and presentable. They must also respect the music and the singers and have a modicum of interest in the song they’re listening to. You fit the bill amazingly good, plus I love the music you react to. Growing up in the sixties, I listened to the music my older siblings listened to, which was the entire gamut of rock. California dreamin’ was in the easy listening part of the mix. Summer days in Chicago, and laying in front of the fan on those hot nights with the AM radio stations playing softly so as not to wake my dad. The song was popular because it expresses the escapism thinking of the counterculture of the mid to late sixties. He’s trapped in a relationship dreaming of being both safe and warm in LA. And if he didn’t tell her, he could leave that very day. So the dream is actually more than just leaving the cold of New York, it’s also about leaving the past and a cold relationship behind him.
Sang this song as a small special group at a Jr high school concert. Great great memories of my friends and Ms Larson ( beat teacher ever) and rehearsal after rehearsal. We nailed it. I can still sing the harmonies! ❤️
They were a large part of the California sound. A group of folk and rock musicians in the 60s and early 70s who migrated to California and many settled in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles. To get a really great fell for the times you should check out a documentary called Echos of The Canyon. It chronicles that time and the amazing music from the likes of Mommas and Poppas, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and later Crosby Still and Nash, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne. Michelle Phillips who I believe is the lone surviving momma or Poppa is interviewed extensively in the film. Two more great songs to react to are Creeque Alley and I Saw Her Again. Keep up the great work I love your channel!
I'm here for The Mamas & Papas. Love this song. Oh yeah, also like watching your reactions....heh.
74 yrs OLD my generation had THE BEST MUSIC NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. MOVING TO NEVADA IN MARCH SOON TO BE NEIGHBORS. HOPE ALI IS DOING WELL CARRYING YOUR SON.
I also discovered that Scott McKenzie who sang the great anthem 'San Francisco' tried out for this band but was turned down in favor of Denny Doherty (who sings the lead on this song). I suggest you react to the song San Fransico soon. It is a cultural classic and really shows off Scott's vocals! You will love it!
John Phillips wrote it.
I don’t know how to request a song so I’m hoping you will see this … I have watched almost every reaction you have made and I know your new to country and I also admire your true heartfelt reactions to songs. I don’t know how far back in country your comfortable listening to but Red Sovine sings quite a few heart pulling songs and one of my dads favorite and quickly became mine is Billy’s Christmas Wish and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind listening to it. I would give everything I had in donations to your channel but I don’t anything to offer and I’m sorry for that. God bless you and your family and thank you for all that you do. My name is Stephane and it’s nice to meet you
Denny Doherty, the lead singer on this one is from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, close to where I am. Great vocalist. They all are.
Denny Doherty from Halifax Nova Scotia Canada 🇨🇦...a "velvet fog" voice, quoting JohnP
John must have been a Mel Torme fan.
I got cold chills listening to this again. It’s a great song. I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s.
I'm here because this song is a freaking classic.
The song ‘Creeque Alley’ depicts the story of how the Mamas and Papas formed and name checks many folk rock friends and bands, such as John Sebastian from the Lovin’ Spoonful, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds. The bass player in The Monkees, Peter Tork, himself a folk-rock performer & friend of Stephen Stills from Crosby, Stills & Nash, dated the sister of ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot and was another friend of the band.
I've loved the Mama's and Papa's for all my life. Such great music and ABBA mirrored them. If you look into both groups, there were an awful lot of similarities. They're two of my most favorite groups.
The best voice of them is Cass Elliott. She’s the louder female. Followed by Denny Doherty the guy in the vest.
Check out her rendition of Dream A Little Dream. Beautiful
The thin blond is Michelle Phillips. She is the mother of Chynna Phillips, who was part of Wilson Phillips, in the late 80's, early 90's
The Folk scene blended with the back-to-nature element of the new counterculture, and John Philips was one of the organizers of the Monterey Pops Festival in 1967, widely thought to be the root of the psychedelic rock culture. It was at this festival that Janis Joplin performed the song you refer to. A movie was produced in 1968 showcasing many of the acts, well worth watching if you can find the time. I don't remember the first time I heard this song, it was everywhere for years!
One of the greatest singing groups of all time
I grew up in the 60's and 70's in Canada and this is the kind of music I grew up listening to, and to this day it is still one of my favorite songs. This is their most famous song; another is Monday Monday is another good song.
Beautiful harmonies. Dagmar's suggestions below are excellent. There are some fabulous songs there, well worth listening to.
I’m here because I love the Mamas and Papas, and your channel. I was 3 when this song came out, so I don’t remember the release. But I have a brother who is 14 years older than me, so I used to listen to all of his albums and 45’s as I got a little older. Great song.
Love their voices and harmonies ❤
My parents listened to them lot and so they were part of my childhood in the 80s 👍🏻
Sang this song as a small special group attached Jr high school concert. Great great memories of my friends and Ms Larson ( beat teacher ever) . I can still sing the harmonies! ❤️
Mackenzie Phillips was the daughter of John Phillips, the guitar player. She acted in the movie American Graffiti at the age of 12 and later in the sitcom One Day At a Time with Valerie Bertinelli who later married Eddie vanHalen. For what it's worth.
Mama Cass... the queen!
They were in New York in the winter when they wrote this song about missing California!
I was looking for this.
This group and the Beach Boys were my introduction to California. I live up in the Cold NW Washington and always dreamed of living in California as a kid. At 69, I still do, but can't afford it, family, etc gets in the way.
It was a different world back then... no internet, no cell phones, not everyone had a TV, and the lucky ones had color TV but we had to wait to see these groups on weekly shows like Ed Sullivan and American Bandstand... you had to find magazine articles to learn about your favorite stars... now everything is at your fingertips 24-7 ! Younger generations are so spoiled aren't ya? 👍 for yer cool channel #Sebs
Fifties and Sixties music was vital to my sanity in a severely traumatic childhood. I love watching people discover and appreciate it now.
I just found your channel and am enjoying your selections. Just wondering if you have ever heard of Duane Eddy one of the old old time rock and roll(1950s to early 60s) icons.He and Elvis are what made me love R&R.
An interesting fact…..Denny was a Canadian, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and moved to LA as a young man and eventually became a founding member of the Mamas and Papas. Eventually he moved back home to Canada and had something to do with a Canadian television show, for kids called, Theodore Tug Boat.
This song is an anthem...Timeless!!!
Cass Elliot had an impact on the music of that era that is often overlooked. Her work as a producer, arranger, song writer, and promoter reached far and wide into the counterculture movement in music. For instance, it was she who introduced a young and largely unknown Neil Young to her good friend, David Crosby.
I love all the music from that time period. If you remember the trio girl group “ Wilson Phillips” they are the children of Brian Wilson ( The Beach Boys) and John and Michelle from the (Mamas & the Papas). They had the hit song HOLD ON. ❤
Came for your sparkling personality and the song. In the 1960’s, every kid wanted to be a Caifornian. That is where musical genres were born. Care free surf music, California folk scene rventually spawning country rock, psychedelia,, protest music. Read up on Laurel Canyon. Everyone from the Beach Boys to the Byrds, Monkees, Doors, and, Linda Rondstadt, Jackson Brown, and even Frank Zappa living in one small area as next door neighbors.
One of the greatest misheard lyrics is in the verse. "You know the preacher lights the coals. He knows I'm going to stay." ☮💚🎶
Or is it 'likes the cold'..?. One of the great unsolved riddles of the 20th century... 😀
@@papercup2517 Michelle Phillips says it's "lights the coals". Good enough for me.
@@keithcarper8809 Oh, OK... great unsolved riddle of the 20th century solved - thanks!..
It's a shame though, I kind of like 'likes the cold' better.
It's a gorgeous song, with a haunting melody. It was written by John Phillips, but it's the Wrecking Crew's musicianship that carries the vocals over into hit territory.
A great song, I remember listening to it on my cheap Japanese transistor radio
California was the center of the 60’s movement. Summer of Love.
I can't say I remember the first time I heard this song because I was 4yrs old the year it was released. I just know the Mamas and Papas sound as part of my personal history.
As a young rural Hoosier during this time California was more than just a state. I had a fantasy about sneaking off and going to San Francisco, because that was one of the places the times were a changin. That's the message I took from this song.
this song was written by Michelle and John Phillips when they lived in New York before the M&Ps.....they gave it to Barry McGuire (Eve of Destruction fame) to record for introducing them to Lou Adler and Dunhill Records where they signed contracts the next day and the start of The Mamas and Papas.....all the music was by the famous Wrecking Crew....the guy that wrote Eve of Destruction....PF Sloan....wrote the guitar intro on this.....the McGuire version had the backing vocals of the other four and instead of an alto flute solo it had a harmonica solo....Lou Adler decided he wanted the M&P to record it for their first single....all they did was overdub McGuire's voice with Denny's voice and Bud Shank was brought in to overdub the harmonica with the alto flute which he did in just one take because PF Sloan played the guitar part sitting next to him so he could follow along.....I will drop McGuire's version right here..... th-cam.com/video/5W2se8MMqwo/w-d-xo.html
They were of the hippy culture. Love all their stuff
Check out "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Twelve Thirty." So many great songs from this group. John and Michelle Phillips's daughter Chynna is also a singer. She is 1/3 of the group Wilson Phillips. The other 2 singers are Carnie and Wendy Wilson. Their father is Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. They occasionally still perform together. I hope you are feeling better.
Favorite of mine since it came out! I love their harmonies…❤
Those two ladies had gorgeous voices.
Beautiful song, beautiful harmonies. I can’t remember the first time I heard this song, but I would have been quite young. Maybe Erin nine years old.
I loved the Mamas and Papas! One of their most beautiful songs is "Twelve-Thirty", written by Papa John Phillips. He wrote many of their songs. He wrote one of my favorite all-time songs, "San Francisco - Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair", by Scott McKenzie. Perfectly described the hippie scene in San Francisco in 1967.
I love the original, but I can't help but love Bobby Womack's version even better. I'd love to see your reaction to his cover of this song. Both are amazing in their own ways.
First heard when was 11. We listened to vinyl on stereo..it sounded so much more alive that way.
No way I can remember the first time I heard it, but it definitely takes me back to my childhood
A masterpiece! Those harmonies!
Their voices blended gorgeously. Like they were meant to do this. Anyone can sing harmony together. But it won't sound like this.
A lot of the beauty of this song is in cass elliot's voice
Loved the Mamas and Papas back in the day! Ahhhh the memories
I enjoy watch people discover the music I grew up on - a friend of the Mama's and Papa's was Scott McKenzie, so for more of that California sound check out his San Francisco
Great song🎶🎶🎶🎶
I watched that on TV the night they were on. Great memories. Ah, the 60s!
I had a rather surreal experience with this song a few years ago -- it was a very hot summer day, around 30°C, and I had some business downtown. So I was in my car, radio on, and the person in the studio was also moaning about the heat and relentless sunshine ... then announced that they'd play a song about summer regardless. And on came "California Dreamin' -- all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey ...". Riiiiiiiight. Someone obviously stopped reading/listening at "California" and never got to the actual lyrics. 😳🙄😵💫
Didn't need to hear the song, know it by heart...grew up listening to this. I was curious to see your reaction. There is a lot of great music from the 60's and 70's that is still being listened to today and being recorded by newer artists.
Some more ancient history for ya, Monterey Pop was arguably the first real major American multi day rock festival and it was put on by John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas & a record producer Lou Adler. It was professionally filmed by the great D.A. Pennebaker and if you have not seen that movie / documentary it is a must see just like the Woodstock movie is a must see to understand this musical era. The film captured some of the greatest performance ever put on film and catapulted many rock groups in addition to Janis to superstardom Just some of the acts there were Jimi Hendricks, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Simon & Garfunkel, Mamas & Papas, The Who, Byrds, Animals and more. One of my favorite songs that Eric Burden & the Animals wrote was Monterey, it describes the show and absolutely rocks.
Catchy tune/good harmonies. Gives me an ABBA vibe.
Check out Mama Cass singing solo if you want to be blown away. Such a talent!