California Dreamin' - Mamas & The Papas (The) > Reviews > The Mamas and The Papas California Dreamin'

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Fantastic DVD
Disadvantages:	There ARE no disadvantages !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

California Dreamin' by the Mammas and the Papas. This is … what? Exactly? Just a music DVD from the 1960s? A seminal masterwork by some of the world's best ever musical geniuses?

Having listened to this DVD and viewed it, all I can say is yes, I think it is probably a seminal masterwork by some of the world's best ever musicial geniuses..

I am in my late 40s, so I can remember the 1960s and I can remember the fantastic influence that the Mamas and the Papas had on music and on society in general. There songs are a combination of pathos, of love, of joy, are happiness of melancholy of… of life itself, I suppose.

All the hits of the Mamas and the Papas are on this DVD.

I Call Your Name,
Dancing in the Street,
Do You Believe in Magic
Somebody Groovy
Words of Love
Creeque Alley
Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)
I Saw Her Again
Dancing Bear
Once Was A Time I Thought
Dedicated To The One I Love
Monday, Monday
Straight Shooter
My Heart Stood Still
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
California Dreamin'

There are also several bonus songs on the DVD, Sing for Your Supper, Here in My Arms and Make Your Own Kind Music.

The DVD is produced by Universal Music Videos and Hippo Records.

There's also a special feature, an interview with Lou Adler.

When the DVD starts, the menu page comes up with a moody, atmospheric photograph of The Mamas and the Papas and the title song of the DVD, California Dreamin'.

You can choose play all, song select, bonus footage and subtitles. The bonus features include the bonus songs listed above and also the interview with Lou Alder, described as a legendary music producer who was certainly one of the most influential producers of the era.

Adler describes his first meeting with The Mamas and the Papas when he was producing Barry McGuire at the Western Recorders. Adler described how he immediately and perhaps instinctively knew that The Mamas and The Papas were something very special. In fact in the interview Lou Adler said: "the fact that there were two female vocalists in there, Cass and Michelle, hadn't seen or heard anything like that in a very long time, and certainly not in the rock and role idiom. And the quality was above anything that I had heard since those days of listening to the Freshmen and the Hi-Los." (Groups of the 1940s, popular when Lou Adler was growing up.)

Adler is still intrigued by the wide appeal that the Mamas and Papas were able to cater to. Apparently everyone loved them, rock and roll fans and pop music fans, all took The Mamas and The Papas to their hearts.

This interview with Adler taught me a good deal about the story behind The Mamas and The Papas that I had not known before, so even without the songs of The Mamas and The Papas, this DVD would have been great value just for the Lou Adler interview. Adler describes exactly how the group stumbled on the idea of calling themselves The Mamas and The Papas.

I must comment on how Adler looked for his interview. He looked the part, dressing like an extremely him and very well-presented beatnik. He wore a neat beard, tinted (not dark) glasses and a rather funky beret.

Adler expressed regret that John Philips had "destructed his life" in the way that he had, but philosophically took comfort that John would live forever through his music and songs.

He pointed out that, despite it seemingly being a cliché, Cass Elliot really was "larger than life."

Michelle Phillips (known to John and Lou as Trixie) was described by Lou Adler as a "quintessential California gir"l, who was a "rock and roll baby" and who was, if she needed to be, "tough, really, really tough."

He also praised the "almost Western-style singing of Denny Doherty". It was clear that from the at times emotional interview that Lou Adler really loved all of the band, as the band and as the individuals who made it up, and missed those who were no longer alive. He clearly still felt the death of John Phillips very keenly. Though it was clear that he still has a very big soft spot for Michelle, the "quintessential California girl"!

There were also interviews with Denny Doherty and Michelle Philips. Even today, 30 years later, whilst watching the interview with Michelle it is possible to say: "Yeah, Lou. You are right. Michelle is a "quintessential California girl" and a "rock and roll baby."

I can recommend this DVD to anyone, even if you have (by some weird stroke of misfortune) never heard even one song by The Mamas and The Papas.

The video was originally seen on Pubic TV in the USA, although for DVD release has been extended with 30 minutes of new material, including some extra songs and the Lou Alder interview.