*To receive PRIORITY Requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* This group is incredible! What else should we check out from them?
I suggest Monday Monday. Years ago when I had chronic migraines, a lot of them happened on a Monday, so I started writing a song called Migraine Monday to the tune and melody of Monday Monday. I never finished it. I mostly was a poetand wrote a poem about migraines while having a migraine to enter into a poetry contest and thr deadline was that day. Despite the pain, I wrote it in an hour. I still have it somewhere!
I'm weird like that. One day walking around my block, I started composing a song about walking while I was walking. It also went to a tune and melody of another song. Of course I didn't write down the lyrics when I got home and forget what I had just composed. I don't remember the song of the tune I was singing it to. Memory isn't what it used to be. Getting old is no fun.
@@ajruther67 A lot of songs have been written about just ordinary stuff as you know. With a cool melody and a few catchy lyrics who knows how far an idea can go!
@@setonhillstudios I truly hope you enjoy your historical musical journey. Like a ride on The Bealtes Magical Mystery Tour. Yes, that is a Beatles song in case you didn't know. 🙂 If you stay on it, it will take you years to listen to all of the amazing music that is before your time. I hope you never stop because it's the journey a person can experience.
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 take it from you accent your American. I'm sorry if his offended you but for someone who has a studio , i cannot understand why you don't know who the band is tjb uk. Just joined😊
@@TjB1 Yeah no offense taken! It’s all good…honestly I grew up on just different bands like Rush, Van Halen, Zeppelin, Journey, etc. Always willing to learn more and expand my knowledge though! Thanks
The flute solo you are hearing is an “alto flute” solo by Bud Shank. The musicians of that era were amazing. The singers were phenomenal too, as there was no auto tune, so they had to have real singing talent. Now that you’ve played another song from the ‘60’s. I am keeping my promise and becoming a subscriber this early A.M. in Brooklyn, NY.
The Mammas and Pappas were huge in the sixties. I only wish they had stayed together longer. The lead vocalist is Denny Doherty, he was the only Canadian in the group. The other male was John Phillips and he was married to the smaller of the two girls, Michelle Phillips, The last lady was Cass Elliot, who went on to have a great solo career.
I was in Vietnam in '67-68 and this song was a staple of available music. I heard it daily and everyone knew the song intimately. I still love this song today for the memories it invokes. Monday, Monday was the other staple by this group. Excellent music. Thanks
Hey Milton! I absolutely loved this tune and cannot wait to hear more from them! Such a great hook and the melody was so memorable! Have a great day! 😁
The epic voice in the group was Mama Cass Elliot, especially in later songs. John Phillips was one of the great pop song writers of the 60s. This group had so many great hits and epitomizes the hippy era back then. Unfortunately after about 3 years together they broke up due to personal conflicts and drug use. Michelle Philips is the only one alive today.
@setonhillstudios Creeque Alley many musicians of 60's that they hung out with in Laurel Canyon CA. A lot of folk singers and hippies lived there in the 60's. Including Roger Maguire of The Byrds. David Crosby of The Byrds, Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of The Hollies were hanging out at Mama Cass' house and starting singing together. They loved how they harmonized so well the 3 men formed a group; Crosby Stills and Nash. Graham Nash used to date and live with a fellow folk singer Joni Mitchell. The Crosby Stills and Nash song "Our House" Graham wrote about their relationship and house.
@@setonhillstudios music historian I spent A LOT time alone in my bedroom listening to music. I didn't have much of a choice being raised in a VERY sheltered life not allowed to leave the house much. Music was my sanctuary. My escape. It took me to places I could never go. It took me to astral planes. The 1975 song Dream Weaver by Gary Wright explains it exactly. Add it to your list but do a lyric video and you will see what I mean.
@@ajruther67 Thanks for sharing! I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment and fill me in. I’m a musician but not much of music history buff sadly! It’s been so cool to check out all these amazing artists and to learn more about them! 😁
The song was written in 1963 while John Phillips and Michelle Phillips were living in New York City during a particularly cold winter, and the latter was missing sunny California.John would work on compositions late at night and brought Michelle the first verse one morning. John was the tall guy, Michelle is the blonde. HE WENT into the church to get warm ( winter's day.) He pretended to pray to get warm.
Story goes that during the session they got to the solo break and writer John Phillips had no idea how to fill it. He started looking around the studio and bumped into a flute player of note (can’t remember his name) doing his own recording. John said come on and the guy improvised the solo.
This was a The Wrecking Crew song, worthy of a deep dive on them. Beach Boys, The Raiders, The Monkees, The Partridge Family and so many more. Carpenters are referred this way but they were not. Joe Osborn a member discovered them and made demos with them and he enlisted Hal Blaine to help but he was too busy as the founding member of TWC, he later went on to be a main studio drummer for them. Other band members were Carpenters band members for studio and road. Now the M&P, this song was from 1965 and was a monster hit. John Philips did play guitar on the song with TWC. Monday Monday another huge hit. Lots of strife in the band they didn’t last that long. Mama Cass Elliot had a solo career until 1974 when she died of a heart attack. She was the heavy one. Now I mentioned Carpenters earlier. Well, before they were “Carpenters” and with Joe Osborn, they recorded California Dreamin’ in 1968. Richard modified the lyrics to make it a bit more religious. That church part went from “pretend to pray” to “began to pray.” Richard would play with lyrics again for Superstar when they were Carpenters. Not sure if you want to do this comparison but, Karen singing lead is special. This again is pre-Carpenters and a demo. Richard cleaned it up and released it after Karen had died, on a compilation disk. Link for you if you want to check it out. No video a slide show. Joe th-cam.com/video/pxpMkMmGkTE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=bZL3feB_wQpA7aHy .
Thanks so much for all the info! I definitely have to check out more and get familiar with this era of music! This song was absolutely incredible! Appreciate your insight!
@@setonhillstudios to clarify, this song was written by John and Michelle Phillips( tall guy and blond woman)in 1963. It’s their song. They were living in NY and Michelle wanted to go back to warm California. The Wrecking Crew were the session musicians.
Been listening to this fab song, an anthem of my generation, for over 60 years and it hasn’t lost its shine. Thanks for mentioning the awesome flute solo - surprisingly, you’re the first reactor of many I’ve listened to who has mentioned it.
The guy in the vest singing lead is Denny Doherty, a Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia. For many who were little kids at the start of the '90s, they probably know him better as the Harbour Master on Theodore Tugboat, a children's TV show airing from 1993 to 2001.
The Mamas & Papas were instrumental in starting the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 where a lot of rock groups performed live you should react to Janis Joplin ball and chain live 1967 Monterey Pop Festival also the who at the same concert smashed up their guitars and amps and drums on stage so react to the who at the Monterey Pop Festival
The lead male singer is Denny Doherty, the lone Canadian in the band. His vocal on California Dreaming is epic. It's an alto flute you hear, played by Bud Shank.
@@setonhillstudios YOU SO GET ME! I'm a Cancer, the guardian of all cool memories. I still live in the '60s and '70s. The 21st Century has turned out to be a complete BUMMER! 🤣
The thin female singer and the guitar player Michelle and John Phillips have a daughter Chynna Phillips who became part of Wilson Phillips singing group
@@setonhillstudios Wilson Phillips is composed of Chynna Phillips and Carnie and Wendy Wilson who are the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.
There is a TV Doc on this era.........Laurel Canyon.....and how all these super upcoming artist all lived and played together.these guys, Neil Young, CSN, Jackson Browne , The Byrds, Joni Mitchell.I think you get the picture.
It may have been a live performance at the time, but they’ve overdubbed the audio from the studio single. Still a great song and a classic! as for the extent of the band, this, like hundreds of other singles in the 60s and 70s, was recorded with the help of the phenomenal studio musicians in LA that became known as The Wrecking Crew. Rent the movie called The Wrecking Crew to learn more about them. Available to rent super cheap on TH-cam. Must-see stuff.
To answer your first question ... the group's name comes from the fact that the four of them consisted of two couples ... John and Michelle Phillips (the tall dude always wearing some weird hat [2nd from right] and the gorgeous blond [far left]) and (Canadian) Denny Doherty and "Mama" Cass Elliot. At the time, it was considered "cool" for men and women to refer to each other as "Old Man" or "Old Lady", so Mamas and Papas sort of came from that mentality ... i.e. 2 mamas and 2 papas. Anyway, the way the song was born out of the fact that, to record, the group all relocated to New York's Greenwich Village to record, and California Native, Michelle Phillips was homesick and hated the cold dreary days of the New York Winters. So, John, who usually stayed up late at night to write, wrote out the first verse and showed it to Michelle in the morning. They both finished the song and held onto it until The Mamas & the Papas formed. I believe this was their first hit (at least the first big one). BTW, there was a VERY popular group in the late 80'-early 90's called Wilson-Phillips. It is still around off and on today, but it kind of disappeared from the "pop" scene. The group consists of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas. They did two (2) big hits, Hold On (awesome !!!) and You're In Love (pretty sweet). Update: Forgot the song list. Their biggest hits were Monday Monday, This is Dedicated to the One I Love, Dream a Little Dream of Me (Mama Cass Solo ... AWESOME) and Creeque Alley.
The producer of this record ‘borrowed’ the ‘wall of sound’ technique from Phil Spector, who used it when recording the Beach Boys. The blonde, Michelle Phillips was married to John Phillips, the tall skinny guitar playing guy. Mama Cass Elliot was in love with the other male Denny Doherty. Their intertwined lives led to the destruction of the band eventually. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998, The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2009. Mama Cass died in 1974, John Phillips in 2001, and Denny Doherty in 2007. As far as I am aware, Michelle Phillips is still alive. She’s about 80 now. Her daughter with John was actress Mackenzie Phillips. She had a weird childhood, to say the least. Google her. It was written in snowy cold New York when Mama Cass was missing the California sunshine.
FYI, the shorter of the two women was named Cass Elliot. She had quite the good career on her own as a singer. The blonde, Michelle Williams, went into acting in the 70s and became very famous for her role on the late 80s to early 90s primetime soap Knots Landing.
Formed in New York City, circa 1965, the group consisted of Americans John Phillips, (on guitar in the video) Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips (long haired blond ), and Canadian Denny Doherty who was doing the lead singing in this video. The influence of John Phillips (and Michelle) in music was seen in the late 80s , early 90s when his daughter Chyna Phillips (who also did some acting as did her mother) was part of the band Wilson Phillips (along with two Wilson sisters, daughters of Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson)
There is so much lore behind 'California Dreamin' a mere TH-cam comment couldn't begin to do it justice :D Suffice to say, I was born way too late to do anything about it, but I'd marry Cass' voice today if I could. Lore tidbit (as I have understood the truth to be): During the recording of song, John Phillips decided a flute solo would be just the thing. There was a classical piece being recorded down the hall and John grabbed the flute player, hummed a few bars and gave him the beat, and recorded it on the spot- out of tune and all- and history was made. (This is how I remember the tale, but if anyone knows the truth keep it to yourself- I like my version :D )
It's a flute -- Bud Shank happened to be going by. The original version of this was by Barry McGuire, before the Ms&Ps had any hits or releases, although they did the background vocals on the McGuire record... actually if you listen closely at the beginning you can hear Barry's voice start to sing the word "All" that wasn't wiped out. So rather than redo the whole thing they took the same backing track, put together by what has come to be called the "Wrecking Crew", sang their own lead vocals and brought the background vocals forward. The original used a harmonica in the middle, which John Phillips didn't think was working, and then in walked Bud (see what I did there?), who was prevailed upon to lay down sixteen bars of solo (in one take I believe) and that, as they say, was that.
Cass and Denny were the major voices on this song. John and Michelle wrote the song while in Greenwich Village during the winter. They missed the warm weather and free wheeling of Cali.
If nobody else tells you a couple of them were also in a band called Lovin' Spoonful. They had hits under that iteration too. This is the updated version of of the protest/folk song music of just a few years earlier. Some of the great songwriters and singers came from this direction, such as Simon and Garfunkel. I think Nashville Cats by Spoonful will crack you up, and Mama Cass's solo Dream a Little Dream will make you melt.
@@setonhillstudiosYou'll want to pull up one of the lyric videos for Nashville Cats. It came out when I was about 6, but I couldn't catch all the words until the Internet came along.
Not live. A lip-synched TV performance. The whole audio part is identical to the studio version, and is, in fact, the studio version. This was how music was promoted on TV in the early to mid 60's. In the 70's, live TV performances on shows like The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, etc., became popular when bands started playing their own music. For most of the American bands in the mid-'60's, (Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys, Byrds, etc.) studio musicians performed the music while the band wrote the songs and sang. See comments below on The Wrecking Crew, as the studio musicians in LA were known at the time.
Barry McGuire released the song first and the backing track (and backing vocals) were the ones used on both versions. Only the lead vocal was changed (and the flute added).
Mr. "Seton Hill Studios" is about the same age as my youngest chi-dult (my made up word for an adult child). I grew up with this song and it's a fixture in my playlist. I chose to watch this video because I love this song. After all, why would I watch someone I don't know, and as far as I know has no qualifications for providing a meaningful reaction to such a classic song who is the same age as my youngest child, and presents himself to the "TH-cam public" wearing a t-shirt, sporting earrings, tattoos, and a shaved head. Don't take any of that as a judgement as I celebrate Mr. "Seton Hall Studios" freedom to express himself in any way he wishes, I just don't understand why I would care what he has to say about this amazing song, and for that matter--I don't.
No worries and no offense taken. If I were you, I wouldn’t be watching a “reaction video” then. I mean the title says “Musician Reacts.” Just some helpful advice. Have a great one! ✌🏻
@@setonhillstudios The tall one with the guitar, John Phillips, his oldest daughter MacKenzie starred on the 70's TV Show "One Day at a Time" Co starred with Valerie Bertinelli who was the former wife of late Eddie Van Halen.
@@setonhillstudios I'm 72yo and remember this from it's release. The sound is not right. It's probably because it's from a TV show. Try the studio one for your self at least.
*To receive PRIORITY Requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!*
This group is incredible! What else should we check out from them?
I suggest Monday Monday.
Years ago when I had chronic migraines, a lot of them happened on a Monday, so I started writing a song called Migraine Monday to the tune and melody of Monday Monday. I never finished it.
I mostly was a poetand wrote a poem about migraines while having a migraine to enter into a poetry contest and thr deadline was that day. Despite the pain, I wrote it in an hour. I still have it somewhere!
I'm weird like that. One day walking around my block, I started composing a song about walking while I was walking. It also went to a tune and melody of another song. Of course I didn't write down the lyrics when I got home and forget what I had just composed. I don't remember the song of the tune I was singing it to. Memory isn't what it used to be. Getting old is no fun.
@@ajruther67 Super cool! Gotta dig it up one day! 🤘🏻
@@ajruther67 A lot of songs have been written about just ordinary stuff as you know. With a cool melody and a few catchy lyrics who knows how far an idea can go!
@@setonhillstudios I truly hope you enjoy your historical musical journey. Like a ride on The Bealtes Magical Mystery Tour. Yes, that is a Beatles song in case you didn't know. 🙂
If you stay on it, it will take you years to listen to all of the amazing music that is before your time. I hope you never stop because it's the journey a person can experience.
No autotune, just talent.
No doubt about it! 💯
You youngsters missed soooo much...your parents anf grandparents were WAY cooler than you imagine!
They really were!
that is really true,. It is just lucky that they too can experience REAL music. All you have to do is search for it.
Haha youngsters.
@@spacecardinal Most of them have NO CLUE about the greatness they missed!
Yes, we were and still are.
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".
Appreciate all the info! Yeah I definitely have to check out more from them! Such an incredible sound! Thanks for sharing!
I take it from you accent your American. I'm sorry if his offended you but for someone who has a studio , i cannot understand why you don't know who the band is tjb uk. Just joined😊
@@TjB1 Yeah no offense taken! It’s all good…honestly I grew up on just different bands like Rush, Van Halen, Zeppelin, Journey, etc. Always willing to learn more and expand my knowledge though! Thanks
The flute solo you are hearing is an “alto flute” solo by Bud Shank. The musicians of that era were amazing. The singers were phenomenal too, as there was no auto tune, so they had to have real singing talent. Now that you’ve played another song from the ‘60’s. I am keeping my promise and becoming a subscriber this early A.M. in Brooklyn, NY.
Thanks so much for subscribing and for the info!
The Mammas and Pappas were huge in the sixties. I only wish they had stayed together longer. The lead vocalist is Denny Doherty, he was the only Canadian in the group. The other male was John Phillips and he was married to the smaller of the two girls, Michelle Phillips, The last lady was Cass Elliot, who went on to have a great solo career.
Appreciate the info and you swinging by the channel! They had such a great sound and can’t wait to hear more!
I was in Vietnam in '67-68 and this song was a staple of available music. I heard it daily and everyone knew the song intimately. I still love this song today for the memories it invokes. Monday, Monday was the other staple by this group. Excellent music. Thanks
Hey Milton! I absolutely loved this tune and cannot wait to hear more from them! Such a great hook and the melody was so memorable! Have a great day! 😁
From one Vietnam Vet `70-71 to another, welcome home brother.
The epic voice in the group was Mama Cass Elliot, especially in later songs. John Phillips was one of the great pop song writers of the 60s. This group had so many great hits and epitomizes the hippy era back then. Unfortunately after about 3 years together they broke up due to personal conflicts and drug use. Michelle Philips is the only one alive today.
Thanks for the info! What an incredible group!! I cannot wait to hear what else they have out there! The 60s seem to have some great music! 🎶
Denny Doherty ( the lead singer on this track) was no slouch in the vocalizing department.
"Creeque Alley" next
Appreciate the suggestion! 😁
@setonhillstudios
Creeque Alley many musicians of 60's that they hung out with in Laurel Canyon CA. A lot of folk singers and hippies lived there in the 60's. Including Roger Maguire of The Byrds.
David Crosby of The Byrds, Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of The Hollies were hanging out at Mama Cass' house and starting singing together. They loved how they harmonized so well the 3 men formed a group; Crosby Stills and Nash. Graham Nash used to date and live with a fellow folk singer Joni Mitchell. The Crosby Stills and Nash song "Our House" Graham wrote about their relationship and house.
@@ajruther67 You’re an endless well of knowledge! Thanks for filling me in!
@@setonhillstudios music historian
I spent A LOT time alone in my bedroom listening to music. I didn't have much of a choice being raised in a VERY sheltered life not allowed to leave the house much.
Music was my sanctuary. My escape.
It took me to places I could never go. It took me to astral planes.
The 1975 song Dream Weaver by Gary Wright explains it exactly. Add it to your list but do a lyric video and you will see what I mean.
@@ajruther67 Thanks for sharing! I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment and fill me in. I’m a musician but not much of music history buff sadly! It’s been so cool to check out all these amazing artists and to learn more about them! 😁
The song was written in 1963 while John Phillips and Michelle Phillips were living in New York City during a particularly cold winter, and the latter was missing sunny California.John would work on compositions late at night and brought Michelle the first verse one morning. John was the tall guy, Michelle is the blonde. HE WENT into the church to get warm ( winter's day.) He pretended to pray to get warm.
Wow! Thanks for sharing, that was not at all what I envisioned but that is so creative! Amazing!
The heavy set girl--Cass Elliot--has one of the finest voices of our times. Check out her solo DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME....
Loved the Mama's and Pappas! Real memories of my youth!❤❤ Thankyou😃
Always cool to walk down memory lane! Thank you for watching and glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
Story goes that during the session they got to the solo break and writer John Phillips had no idea how to fill it. He started looking around the studio and bumped into a flute player of note (can’t remember his name) doing his own recording. John said come on and the guy improvised the solo.
More Mama's and Papas PLEASE
Quintessential mid 60s!
the Moody blues used a flute often too
This was a The Wrecking Crew song, worthy of a deep dive on them. Beach Boys, The Raiders, The Monkees, The Partridge Family and so many more. Carpenters are referred this way but they were not. Joe Osborn a member discovered them and made demos with them and he enlisted Hal Blaine to help but he was too busy as the founding member of TWC, he later went on to be a main studio drummer for them. Other band members were Carpenters band members for studio and road.
Now the M&P, this song was from 1965 and was a monster hit. John Philips did play guitar on the song with TWC. Monday Monday another huge hit. Lots of strife in the band they didn’t last that long. Mama Cass Elliot had a solo career until 1974 when she died of a heart attack. She was the heavy one.
Now I mentioned Carpenters earlier. Well, before they were “Carpenters” and with Joe Osborn, they recorded California Dreamin’ in 1968. Richard modified the lyrics to make it a bit more religious. That church part went from “pretend to pray” to “began to pray.” Richard would play with lyrics again for Superstar when they were Carpenters.
Not sure if you want to do this comparison but, Karen singing lead is special. This again is pre-Carpenters and a demo. Richard cleaned it up and released it after Karen had died, on a compilation disk. Link for you if you want to check it out. No video a slide show.
Joe
th-cam.com/video/pxpMkMmGkTE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=bZL3feB_wQpA7aHy
.
Thanks so much for all the info! I definitely have to check out more and get familiar with this era of music! This song was absolutely incredible! Appreciate your insight!
@@setonhillstudios to clarify, this song was written by John and Michelle Phillips( tall guy and blond woman)in 1963. It’s their song. They were living in NY and Michelle wanted to go back to warm California. The Wrecking Crew were the session musicians.
@@leannmiller7153 Gotcha! Thanks so much for clearing that up! Have a great one!
Another hit featuring The Wrecking Crew!!
Thanks so much for swinging by the channel! Absolutely amazing!
Been listening to this fab song, an anthem of my generation, for over 60 years and it hasn’t lost its shine. Thanks for mentioning the awesome flute solo - surprisingly, you’re the first reactor of many I’ve listened to who has mentioned it.
Such a great tune! Thanks for hanging out and glad you enjoyed the video!
The guy in the vest singing lead is Denny Doherty, a Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
For many who were little kids at the start of the '90s, they probably know him better as the Harbour Master on Theodore Tugboat, a children's TV show airing from 1993 to 2001.
Oh wow, had no clue!
The flute solo was improvised by Bud Shank.
The Mamas & Papas were instrumental in starting the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 where a lot of rock groups performed live you should react to Janis Joplin ball and chain live 1967 Monterey Pop Festival also the who at the same concert smashed up their guitars and amps and drums on stage so react to the who at the Monterey Pop Festival
Oh cool! Appreciate the info! We definitely have to check that out! Thanks and have a great one!
Talk about memories! Thanks for this one! 🥰
So glad you enjoyed it! What an excellent song! Can’t wait to hear more from them!
one of the all time great songs! ♥
Such a great tune! Thanks for hanging out! 😄
I love this song so much and the cover done by Sia has really grown on me over the years
Such a great tune! Definitely makes you dream of brighter days! ☀️ Thanks for hanging out!
love this song.ty🥰
The lead male singer is Denny Doherty, the lone Canadian in the band. His vocal on California Dreaming is epic.
It's an alto flute you hear, played by Bud Shank.
Gotcha! Thanks for the info! Such an incredible sound! Cannot wait to hear more from them!
I saw them in Phoenix AZ. I’ll tell you I was so very lucky👼🏻💕
That sounds awesome! Definitely lucky
This song is a simple story of missing the California sunshine and dealing with the dreaded New York City bitter cold and snowy winters
Gotcha! Definitely gotta love that sunshine! ☀️ Love the feel and hook of the tune! So catchy!
This was the first LP I got from my parents for Christmas 😎.
P.S. I still have it. 😊
Such an awesome memory!
@@setonhillstudios YOU SO GET ME! I'm a Cancer, the guardian of all cool memories. I still live in the '60s and '70s. The 21st Century has turned out to be a complete BUMMER! 🤣
@@kaychristensen4394 I hear ya! Stay there I say! Seems to be one of the greatest eras especially in the music scene! 😁
Listen to their TWELVE THIRTY--it will put this song in perspective...
Sweet!
It's great to see someone born in the 1980s really digging the songs of my teenage years - the 1960s.
The thin female singer and the guitar player Michelle and John Phillips have a daughter Chynna Phillips who became part of Wilson Phillips singing group
Oh wow! That’s super cool! Thanks so much for sharing! Have a great one! 😁
@@setonhillstudios
Wilson Phillips is composed of Chynna Phillips and Carnie and Wendy Wilson who are the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.
There is a TV Doc on this era.........Laurel Canyon.....and how all these super upcoming artist all lived and played together.these guys, Neil Young, CSN, Jackson Browne , The Byrds, Joni Mitchell.I think you get the picture.
It may have been a live performance at the time, but they’ve overdubbed the audio from the studio single. Still a great song and a classic! as for the extent of the band, this, like hundreds of other singles in the 60s and 70s, was recorded with the help of the phenomenal studio musicians in LA that became known as The Wrecking Crew. Rent the movie called The Wrecking Crew to learn more about them. Available to rent super cheap on TH-cam. Must-see stuff.
Yep, this is on my play list....how did you know??? 😂😂
Haha 😂 Lucky guess! Yeah I absolutely loved this tune! Such a great melody and catchy hook!
To answer your first question ... the group's name comes from the fact that the four of them consisted of two couples ... John and Michelle Phillips (the tall dude always wearing some weird hat [2nd from right] and the gorgeous blond [far left]) and (Canadian) Denny Doherty and "Mama" Cass Elliot. At the time, it was considered "cool" for men and women to refer to each other as "Old Man" or "Old Lady", so Mamas and Papas sort of came from that mentality ... i.e. 2 mamas and 2 papas.
Anyway, the way the song was born out of the fact that, to record, the group all relocated to New York's Greenwich Village to record, and California Native, Michelle Phillips was homesick and hated the cold dreary days of the New York Winters. So, John, who usually stayed up late at night to write, wrote out the first verse and showed it to Michelle in the morning. They both finished the song and held onto it until The Mamas & the Papas formed. I believe this was their first hit (at least the first big one).
BTW, there was a VERY popular group in the late 80'-early 90's called Wilson-Phillips. It is still around off and on today, but it kind of disappeared from the "pop" scene. The group consists of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas. They did two (2) big hits, Hold On (awesome !!!) and You're In Love (pretty sweet).
Update: Forgot the song list. Their biggest hits were Monday Monday, This is Dedicated to the One I Love, Dream a Little Dream of Me (Mama Cass Solo ... AWESOME) and Creeque Alley.
The producer of this record ‘borrowed’ the ‘wall of sound’ technique from Phil Spector, who used it when recording the Beach Boys. The blonde, Michelle Phillips was married to John Phillips, the tall skinny guitar playing guy. Mama Cass Elliot was in love with the other male Denny Doherty. Their intertwined lives led to the destruction of the band eventually. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998, The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2009. Mama Cass died in 1974, John Phillips in 2001, and Denny Doherty in 2007. As far as I am aware, Michelle Phillips is still alive. She’s about 80 now. Her daughter with John was actress Mackenzie Phillips. She had a weird childhood, to say the least. Google her. It was written in snowy cold New York when Mama Cass was missing the California sunshine.
Thank you so much for the reaction ❤❤❤
FYI, the shorter of the two women was named Cass Elliot. She had quite the good career on her own as a singer. The blonde, Michelle Williams, went into acting in the 70s and became very famous for her role on the late 80s to early 90s primetime soap Knots Landing.
Ah ok, thanks for the info!
Karen carpenter and the mamas and the papas were tops those days 😊❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
Of all of them ther best voice belongs to Cass Elliot, ther heavy girl...listen to her do DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME...
Sweet, thanks for the recommendation!
Formed in New York City, circa 1965, the group consisted of Americans John Phillips, (on guitar in the video) Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips (long haired blond ), and Canadian Denny Doherty who was doing the lead singing in this video. The influence of John Phillips (and Michelle) in music was seen in the late 80s , early 90s when his daughter Chyna Phillips (who also did some acting as did her mother) was part of the band Wilson Phillips (along with two Wilson sisters, daughters of Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson)
Thanks for all the info and back story!
@@setonhillstudios... you are most welcome and keep those reviews coming. Thank you for helping to keep this "older" music alive.
Yes, flute--for another fantastic flute solo, check our Clannad's TURNING TIDE...
Awesome!
There is so much lore behind 'California Dreamin' a mere TH-cam comment couldn't begin to do it justice :D Suffice to say, I was born way too late to do anything about it, but I'd marry Cass' voice today if I could.
Lore tidbit (as I have understood the truth to be): During the recording of song, John Phillips decided a flute solo would be just the thing. There was a classical piece being recorded down the hall and John grabbed the flute player, hummed a few bars and gave him the beat, and recorded it on the spot- out of tune and all- and history was made. (This is how I remember the tale, but if anyone knows the truth keep it to yourself- I like my version :D )
That would be wild if that was how it went down!
It's a flute -- Bud Shank happened to be going by.
The original version of this was by Barry McGuire, before the Ms&Ps had any hits or releases, although they did the background vocals on the McGuire record... actually if you listen closely at the beginning you can hear Barry's voice start to sing the word "All" that wasn't wiped out.
So rather than redo the whole thing they took the same backing track, put together by what has come to be called the "Wrecking Crew", sang their own lead vocals and brought the background vocals forward. The original used a harmonica in the middle, which John Phillips didn't think was working, and then in walked Bud (see what I did there?), who was prevailed upon to lay down sixteen bars of solo (in one take I believe) and that, as they say, was that.
Oh snap! Thanks for the info! Love when happy accidents happen!
Great song!
✌✌😊😊
Thanks for watching! 😁
Cass and Denny were the major voices on this song. John and Michelle wrote the song while in Greenwich Village during the winter. They missed the warm weather and free wheeling of Cali.
If nobody else tells you a couple of them were also in a band called Lovin' Spoonful. They had hits under that iteration too. This is the updated version of of the protest/folk song music of just a few years earlier. Some of the great songwriters and singers came from this direction, such as Simon and Garfunkel.
I think Nashville Cats by Spoonful will crack you up, and Mama Cass's solo Dream a Little Dream will make you melt.
Thanks so much! 😁 I’m always up for a good laugh so I’ll have to check them out! Have a great one!
@@setonhillstudiosYou'll want to pull up one of the lyric videos for Nashville Cats. It came out when I was about 6, but I couldn't catch all the words until the Internet came along.
@@dionysiacosmos Thanks for the tip! 😁
You first flute solo
Not live. A lip-synched TV performance. The whole audio part is identical to the studio version, and is, in fact, the studio version. This was how music was promoted on TV in the early to mid 60's. In the 70's, live TV performances on shows like The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, etc., became popular when bands started playing their own music. For most of the American bands in the mid-'60's, (Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys, Byrds, etc.) studio musicians performed the music while the band wrote the songs and sang. See comments below on The Wrecking Crew, as the studio musicians in LA were known at the time.
Ah ok, good to know! Crazy that’s how it worked
Barry McGuire released the song first and the backing track (and backing vocals) were the ones used on both versions. Only the lead vocal was changed (and the flute added).
1966 MAMA'S AND PAPA'S
If you like grough singing style, you need to hear Janis Joplin doing Ball & Chain at the Monterey pop festival.
Appreciate the suggestion! Thanks for swinging by the channel!
Mr. "Seton Hill Studios" is about the same age as my youngest chi-dult (my made up word for an adult child). I grew up with this song and it's a fixture in my playlist. I chose to watch this video because I love this song. After all, why would I watch someone I don't know, and as far as I know has no qualifications for providing a meaningful reaction to such a classic song who is the same age as my youngest child, and presents himself to the "TH-cam public" wearing a t-shirt, sporting earrings, tattoos, and a shaved head. Don't take any of that as a judgement as I celebrate Mr. "Seton Hall Studios" freedom to express himself in any way he wishes, I just don't understand why I would care what he has to say about this amazing song, and for that matter--I don't.
No worries and no offense taken. If I were you, I wouldn’t be watching a “reaction video” then. I mean the title says “Musician Reacts.” Just some helpful advice. Have a great one! ✌🏻
try Al Green...
How Do You Mend a Broken Heart ...live from Soul
Sweet, thanks for the recommendation!
i think were in Scooby Doo
Gotcha! Maybe so! Thanks 😄
grit? you need some
Bob Seger and Kenny Rogers
True!
All dead now except the blonde lots of talent lots of not so good history and of course drugs RIP
So sad! 😞 The talent is undeniable and this was such an amazing song! Can’t wait to hear more from them!
@@setonhillstudios
The tall one with the guitar, John Phillips, his oldest daughter MacKenzie starred on the 70's TV Show "One Day at a Time"
Co starred with Valerie Bertinelli who was the former wife of late Eddie Van Halen.
@@ajruther67 Oh wow! So cool! Thanks for sharing!
Cass was the best of them. Done too soon.
The guy with the grit is Canadian ..just sayin'......:)
Sounds like your ballance is out of wack. Hard to hear the lady's parts much of the time.
@@DaneChristopher-qo3ug Yeah, that’s from the mix to the video they posted. I never adjusted their mix because it is from the original video.
@@setonhillstudios I'm 72yo and remember this from it's release. The sound is not right. It's probably because it's from a TV show. Try the studio one for your self at least.
@@DaneChristopher-qo3ug Appreciate it! I’ll definitely check that out! Thanks so much! 😁
Unfortunately this group is more popular with their drug use than their music……great group with so many personal problems…..
Yeah that is unfortunate! Such amazing talent! 😞
Not live, but lip synced.
Gotcha! Such a great tune though! Appreciate you swinging by the channel!