Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Solid album with some good songs but they’ve never been a group I’ve listened to a lot. They helped organize Monterey which brought Hendrix back to the US and I met Denny Doherty when he came to speak to my class at Dal so for that I’ll give them a 3.
There were some certified bangers on here but also a few duds. Overall enjoyable.
Eh
Dreamy, folky, beautiful harmonies. Very beach boys esquié, not in a bad way. It’s music I feel comfort in even though I wouldn’t revisit very often. Wish the mono was released and California dreaming is gold
Harmless. Pleasant enough, and, for the time, not that odd, but it’s very much a product of its time. A couple of odd bits - I call your name sits oddly, there’s some experimental stereo stuff going on, and those bloody apostrophes are ridiculous. Some OK bits as well - I enjoyed Straight Shooter and the hits are obviously well known enough to do the job. But it is all a bit harmless. And feels longer than it is as a result - it just sort of wallows in beige and, sixty years on doesn’t excite me really. I’ve heard worse from the sixties. A lot worse. This is perfectly pleasant, in a polite sort of way.
Not for me, but I get its historical place.
Beautiful voices and harmonies, half of the tracks I loved, half of them I would skip on a relisten.
I like the Beatles too
Most of this sounds dated, especially the schmaltzy instrumentation. That's not necessarily a criticism of them, just my own taste I guess. Still, other than California Dreaming, many of these songs sound like imitations of Beatles songs of the era that I like better (Straight shooter sounds just like Paperback writer to me) or Beach Boys songs that have stood the test of time better, for whatever reason, maybe just because they were more iconic. Maybe its because the lyrics to these songs tend more toward cliche. While the singing and harmonies are obviously well-executed, harmony for harmony's sake can have the effect of de-personalizing the tone, as it sounds like a crowd of people singing to you rather than the voice of one person telling you how they feel.
When I was a kid, California Dreaming and Dream a Little Dream of Me seemed like the most white bread, wholesome ditties from across the pond, and if you take them purely on their own merit, they are. But once you start to delve into the love triangles, and the drug addled, sex crazed, debauchery of the group, a dark shadow is cast over their otherwise whimsical pop legacy. Monday, Monday, California Dreaming, and In Crowd are all stand outs. Well written pop of the highest order. Got A Feelin’ is almost a lullaby with it's tiny bell chimes, and ticking clocks. You Baby has some great oohs and ahhs, it's Beach Boys-esque. But let's address the elephant in the room. Incest. We all know you did it John. A close friend said he'd like to drag John Phillips out of his crypt and kick the crap out of him. The story goes he desperately tried to stop his daughter's wedding the night before, and that's when they started their sickening 10 year union. The M’s and The P’s had a song called Young Girls are Coming to the Canyon, Michelle Phillips used to say “yeah and you've fucked them all John”. I'm sorry but it's all too horrible for this listener. If I want nice harmonies and whimsy, of this era, and in this rudimentary style, I'm picking The Monkees. Davy Jones and Mike Nesbitt would never defile their daughters.
didnt realise how weird that guy richard was
Good in places
It was pretty alright, nothing jumped out at me but it’s an enjoyable listen for sure. California Dreamin is an absolute all timer. Do you Wanna Dance beach boys cover??
A lot of good radio songs
Some classics for sure and great harmonies
The use of stereo is interesting but at risk of overdoing it in this. There's a couple of memorable tracks but nothing totally novel you'd be richer for hearing.
if I was getting kidnapped and tortured, I'd want this to be playing
This album serves as a bridge between Motown and the hazy psychedelic influence of the 60s. The production is what sets this apart from being just another sunshine pop album, integrating the reverb and swirls of psychedelia. 3.5 / 5
A few good tracks but not a huge fan of the 60s sound.
There's a couple of iconic songs on here (Monday, Monday... California Dreamin'), but otherwise I found the album pretty forgettable. Not bad, but I won't seek it out again.
22/11/24 It was an alright album.
Another one of those albums that I had heard the singles, but never heard the album, and honestly didn't even know who the artists were. I quite enjoyed it while riding my bike to and from work and will listen to it again
California Dreaming is a choon. You can’t not bop to that. Not much else really grabbing me. But a nice solid 34mins. So can’t complain too much. Simpsons: No
California Dreamin' is brilliant. The rest was OK, and a lot of covers I believe.
I enjoyed both singles and Mama Cassé letting rip on “The In Crowd” but the rest sounded pretty twee to my ears.
Está guay...
I'd never listened to an entire album by these guys but found myself enjoying it quite a bit!
Ah, the siren’s song of the hippie movement. Hard to hate this one. Mama Cass was a treasure. She’s the best thing here. What’s funny is that this record is essentially just a jazzed up Peter, Paul & Mary. It’s all super pretty harmonies, gentle orchestration and classic covers. Nothing even remotely radical. It’s lighter than liteFM. It’s what the parents of the hippies would have liked. It’s music by kids who grew up watching Lawrence Welk, and then smoked some reefer in high school. How this managed to inspire a generation to throw off the shackles of a nice, secure middle class life, I will never understand. But here we are. Thanks for ruining everything, ya filthy hippies. That said, this is fine. As per usual at the time, the guys sing too much.
Classic, good album. Didn't leap to my feet or anything but it was good
Simple, happy music, good harmonies but needed better engineering.
it is really pretty but does get a bit boring and repetitive
Fun. Nostalgic. But a little too old-school for me.
60’s
Not a bad album, but only a couple of songs I really got into
California Dreamin' is obviously great, but the ret was just okay.
One of the oldest sounding oldies groups for sure. I find their music mostly boring, but California Dreamin is really, really good. I also really enjoyed I Call Your Name, a song new to me.
jukebox bangers, nöd alltagstauglich though california dreamin aber en absolute banger
60s folk pop sounds of its time but still just as great. All beautifully written, very Beatles Esk twangy guitar lines and a cover of I Call Your Name. Stand out tracks: - Monday Monday - Straight Shooter - California Dreamin' - Somebody Groovy - The "In" Crowd
Enjoyable with the classics thrown in
CD är ju snorbra. Även den andra hiten, Monday monday är bra. Resten. Nej, som vanligt är det milsvida skillnad. Fattar inte.
California dreamin’ är verkligen svinbra och fanns en eller ett par till hyfsade dängor, men i övrigt var det inget som väckte särskilt mycket inom mig. Det är inte dåligt, men bara så slätstruket sextiotalstrist.
Yeah kind of nice but nothing stood out for me
I liked it. Mainly California dreaming
Not the kinks
милые и знакомые, впечатляет сколько из них хитов пошло. но надо намного больше слушать чтобы зацепило
3/5 Liked California Dreamin
California Dreaming and Monday Monday are definitely the standouts here. The rest of the songs I could kinda take or leave. Definitely not the most impressive or innovative 60s record
Fine, but a bit too clean. California Dreamin' is clearly the stand-out as expected. The rest of the tracks have some nice moments but really nothing special. 3.3/5
Nice pop rock sweetness
Some good classics
Giants of my youth. Gotta admit that I was fascinated with Cass’s size. She was perhaps the fattest famous person I’d ever seen. Why that bothered my 5 year old self is beyond me, but I’d stare at the album cover for hours. My dad was a big fan, and these stoners helped usher in his hippy days. We went from crew cuts to shoulder length overnight, and I was complaining. My dad loved to harmonize along to the music. It seemed to be some of his happiest moments. I’m not really a fan, but it’s always nice to trip down the old brain lane.
Some classic songs, but not to appealing overall.
2024-09-04...
Fun listen! Faves: Monday Monday, Go Where You Wanna Go, California Dreamin’, Spanish Harlem
Better than I expected
Lots of classic songs on this. Not bad at all.
Not my type of music.
"California Dreaming" is the best song on this album, and the rest are only ok. Beautiful harmonies but meh songs overall.
this was decent but i had absolutely zero nostalgia of this group to fall back on. california dreamin' is the best song on here by a country mile, but at least the others were fine and fairly short. also, this album cover is driving me crazy. why on earth would you pluralize mamas and papas with apostrophes???? favorites: monday monday, california dreamin
They're okay, but too sixties.
Pretty enjoyable. No notes
The hits are very good. They seem to be of two minds here. Some neat progressive modern harmonic songs intermixed with more dated sounded bubblegum hymnal type music
Otroliga vocals, men blev lite repetitivt efter ett tag. Bara California Dreamin som sticker ut
Classic.
It's okay
Can totally appreciate the writing and arrangements on this record. Just of a different time period and prob not much that would bring me back for a second listen. California Dreaming is going on the 1001 playlist though
POV: you're a hippie taking a roadtrip throughout the US in the late 60s/early 70s. Favorites: California Dreams and Spanish Harlem. Monday, monday is good too.
Sounded exactly like what I expected it would
Enjoyable.
If you had to demonstrate what the 60s sounded like to an alien you might choose this. Classic 60s vibes bottled up. But they sound great and they are the banner holder for a reason. Constantly toying with the R/L stereo kind of fucks me up. Calfornia Dreamin’ is my go to track for making sure my speakers are both working. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would though.
76% Best: Monday, Monday; Straight Shooter; California Dreamin'; The "In" Crowd Must-Hear? Not quite
Lots of album separation quite nice - just a mellow album. Not really very memorable.
One of the best album covers in existence
If you can believe your eyes and ears, The Mamas & The Papas are here to assuage your fears. People often forget how much of a groundbreaking group they were, in large part due to what happened to most of them afterward, damning or otherwise. But this debut record encapsulates what they were all about in the midway point of a decade of incredible change, when any and all things seemed possible. The Mamas and The Papas, regardless of how you may have felt before, would certainly make you believe in the sights and sounds. Favorites: Monday, Monday, Straight Shooter, Do You Wanna Dance, Spanish Harlem, Somebody Groovy, Hey Girl, The "In" Crowd.
This is decent, but John Phillips is probably a sex pest, so 2.5 stars for you!
Monday, Monday
The Mama's and the Papa's successfully blended folk and pop in an era that seemed to be dominated by either the Brit invasion sound of The Beatles, the surfer sound of The Beach Boys, or Motown. While there are a few tracks on here that are sleepy and boring, you can't deny their incredible harmonies and the absolute the genius of what is clearly their best song, California Dreamin'.
This is the stereotype for hippie flower child music. It was ok
It was a lovely throwback - unfortunately I was having an autistic meltdown while listening to it. That may have coloured my review slightly.
bad
A surprise for me: that the album that contains "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday" is otherwise pretty dull.
Fun oldies album
Some really great tunes and some “meh”. Great vocals all around though!
Incredibly dysfunctional as individuals incredibly harmonius as a group. Nice record probably 3.5 stars
2.5 Cass Elliott is better alone
Yea it was alright, some of those 60’d harmonies I’m not a fan of, but it was fine.
It was fine, but I didn't think there was anything special about it. I liked "Monday, Monday" but the rest was a blur.
Classic, but not my style
A lot of these songs still hold up
This is probably the least favourite of the quintessential 60s albums I’ve heard so far (ie. Jefferson/beach boys). Very monotonous.
Ok
This is important, foundational music that set the tone for so much other similar sounding music to be built upon. The classic hits still sound great today. I don't listen to this kinda music tho, so 3 stars
Groovy. It’s groovy, what else is there to say?
Of it’s time
..).
First off, fuck John Phillips. That guy sucked. It's a good thing he's dead so I can feel comfortable listening to this album on streaming. I mean, I could've said the same thing about Jerry Lee Lewis, but I didn't. Maybe it's because this is from a band with other living members that get the money instead as opposed to a solo live album where the shithead says his own name and puts his last name in one of the songs that makes it okay to me. Whatever, let's move on from that. Something something "separate the art from the artist," you get the idea. This album's alright. I like the vocals. The presence of a whopping FOUR vocalists really adds a variety in vocal sound that you don't get much with music like this. At most it's usually two singers. The instrumental sound takes a bit of a backseat in this one, but it's still solid. The songs themselves are alright too. The highlight of course is "California' Dreamin." That song's pretty great and was an easy add to my "Best of the Albums" playlist. The others are good too. I like this album. I don't love it, but it's good. High 3/5.
I feel like I knew the two best songs already - didn’t really need the rest.
This album will be the soundtrack of my autumn, I think
Underneath the thick layer of vocal-pop bubblegum, there is some subversion, a la the free love anthem "Go Where You Wanna Go". Some tracks haven't aged all that well ("Spanish Harlem" feels... creepy?), and Cass Elliot is the clear star here. Favorite tracks: "California Dreamin'", "Somebody Groovy"
#302. This album can't really decide if it wants to be hippie music, or pop music. It's not really bad, technically, but it's very of its time, and is somewhat hard to get into if you're not already o diehard of the genre. A bit uninteresting to the casual passerby. 3/5: acceptable
I love California Dreamin and Monday Monday. A couple of other tracks on the album are fairly good as well but others, well, not so good. The vocal harmonies are amazing throughout however. The overall sound is quite dated. A mixed bag for me and my score reflects that.
Lovely warm bath of a record.
predicting it now, im not gonna like this one track one - this sounds awful on streaming. i know the original vinyl version is probably better. the panning is so off and the vocal are way too loud reading up on their history as group is way more interesting than album itself. these mfs freaky asl. fuck you john nasty ass pos its alright i guess, however i will likely never return to this album
California Dreaming is one of my favourite songs from the 60s
I feel like such a hater every time I give something less than three stars because I could never create anything like this and it’s one of the top 1001 most influential albums of all time, and also I know nothing about music, but yeah I didn’t love it
Sounds like ABBA doing folk (or, more accurately, ABBA sounds like Mama’s & Papa’s doing disco). Lovely harmonies, hard to knock the talent.
It was fine. Probably good for its time. Simple rhymes and lots of 'em.
California Dreaming and Monday Monday are classics.
Tenía referencias de este álbum por la canción California Dreamin', soundtrack de la película Chungking Express. En general disfruté el sonido, pero sin duda mis favoritas son The "In" Crowd y por supuesto, California Dreamin', que es maravillosa.
Nice 60's band with a couple of huge hits. California Dreaming and Monday, Monday
Solid album. Definitely of my parent's age...but definitely nostalgia inducing as I spend many hours in the back seat listening to "the oldies" with the Mamas and Papas a stable...
Not bad.
Very close to two stars, but "California Dreamin'" pushed it over. It's an interesting story that this band had such a short window as music changed around them.
Pleasant.
Felt like I was listening to The Brady Bunch’s greatest hits album.
Was good not my cup of tea but musically I can appreciate it
Some Songs are milestones…but not the whole Album…5/10
The 2 singles off this album are great, peak 1960s pop music. The other songs are nice with varying levels of interest in them.
Surprisingly good.
There's a definite Mamas & Pappas sound. It's of its time but has a nice vocal breadth others don't. They had a Lennon and McCartney song, but it didn't deliver. I've heard the radio hits ad nauseum over the years, so it's a little hard coming to this with fresh ears. Sort of funny the cover was controversial for showing a toilet. 3.6
I like the unique feel and musicality of this band, unfortunately it felt a bit repetitive at times.
Perfectly fine. California Dreamin' and Monday Monday are clearly the standouts. Everything else is kinda filler.
Great group/ sound from the 60’s. Great harmony and some great songs, from them.
A classic
It's fine. Standard 60s music
I’ve always loved their harmonies and tone.
Was expecting some boomer nonsense just from the band's name. However, I was pleased with what I actually got. Some simple but fun pop tunes. Can't hate that.
Excellent harmonies and such a 1960s Laurel Canyon vibe - but except for some of the bigger songs, they kind of just blend together. Still good but not what I'd call great, though obviously groundbreaking. Also a shame that John Phillips is such a sick bastard.
Nice swingy easy to listen to . 6/10
Great harmonies. California Dreaming is as evocative as songs get. Probably not circling back to this any time soon, but it is was a good listen.
Fun tunes with some great vocal work, but unfortunately 'California Dreamin' ' is just an 11/10 song and nothing else on here can really come close to touching it's greatness. Everything else is good don't get me wrong, but they just hit a diamond mine on that one and it makes the rest look worse in comparison.
Good album, California dreaming a cracker 6/10
3.5/5
I was aware of these guys but not how many big ‘uns they had.
Wonderful harmonies - enjoyable. Not my fave but pretty good as they try to bridge folk n "rock" or at least, be more mainstream.
Enjoyable!
California Drearming is a huge song, and I like Spanish Harlem too. But the altogether the album falls just shy of a 4-star for me. If it also had Dream a Little Dream, it would push me over (that's an amazing track).
Agree with others in my group who make the Monkees/early Beach Boys comparison. Pretty throwaway songs for the most part, with a couple that land.
Bit too dated for my personal tastes, but it's nice easy listening that you can tell is well made. California Dreamin is still a banger though.
3 stars
Some solid/catchy songs- California dreamin, Monday Monday, Spanish harlem
Fine. That's about it. Milquetoast.
Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: yes Do I like it: yes
STANDOUTS: Monday, Monday Go Where You Wanna Go California Dreamin' OVERALL: 3.5/5; some classics in here. Another "dad album" vibe.
Of it's time. Kind of nice. a couple of tracks stand out.
Some classic tracks that are still great in "Monday, Monday" and "California dreamin". In those songs you can really hear the influence of popular sounds of the time that other bands like the beach boys or the Beatles were also using. Some really good voices help to really elevate some of these songs. Really strong for a debut album.
Iconic sound of the 60s and love the hits but overall not for me. Rating: 3.3
Pretty good
Fine. Not my thing
Another band where the less you know about the members (John in this case), the better. California Dreaming is so damn powerful though. Cass deserved better.
Well, I've already heard "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday" from this album. Aside from those two songs, "Go Where You Wanna Go" and "Somebody Groovy", there's not much here to write about. It's the debut album of a folk-pop group from the 1960s, complete with a couple of covers that don't add much to the overall product. The only other notable aspect of the Mamas and the Papas is what happened after their breakup, which you are free to check out and make of what you will. As for the album, take the singles and the rest can be skipped.
An incredible debut album that sounds like the group had figured out their sound years ago and was deep into their career. The standouts are obviously the singles, but the energy and harmonies carry the album in a way that is definitely pinpoint to the time period but still feels exciting. Standout Tracks: Monday Monday, Go Where You Wanna Go, California Dreamin'
I thought some of these tracks were the Beach Boys or the Cowsills and didn't realize it was The Mamas & Papas all these years. Huh. For as known as they are for harmonies, the off-pitchness on I've Got a feeling really bothered me. Other tracks felt like variety show theme songs. California Dreamin' holds the album together and solely drives the thrid star in my rating.
nice harmonies, i like this era of music
I adore the harmonies on this album, they are a major instrument of the iconic sound of the mamas & the papas. Nice listen, very good.
It is okay 60s music. California Dreamin is good, the rest is a bit boring/uninspired compared to the greats. Sort of derivative of Beatles + Beach Boys I think?
Some lovely singing and melodies on this one. I liked it.
Pretty good album! I enjoyed it, very chill. 3.5/5
California Dreamin house remix is one of the greatest electronic songs of all time
I can respect many of the songs on this album, from a songwriting perspective, and I think "California Dreaming" is a very good song. However, it's not really my thing, and I generally don't like the general vibe and approach and do not get excited about listening to this music.
The Mamas and the Papas knew their sound, and they did it well. Unfortunately, this album is really one note. It's basically the same song from beginning to end with very little variation. There are a couple pretty cool tracks. I think Straight Shooter probably hits harder than the rest of the album, and Spanish Harlem is a pretty cool track. But... it's just a pretty meh album.
I've only heard a few of these guys' songs. The first song on this album is Monday Monday. I'd heard this song before better didn't know it was them.
mondays amirite 😂 no actually why is this album so sad but sound so fun- got a feelin?? i call your name?? do u wanna dance makes me want to cry this album is what daisy jones & the six tried to be
Some good hits and really pretty harmonies, but ultimately I think a lot of the songs kind of blend together. Also don’t think this really stands out when compared to other albums from the 60s
Good album. California Dreaming is iconic.
A couple of absolute classics, great vocal harmonisations. This always sounded twee and is now showing its age. California Dreaming will remain in the psyche of mankind for a long time to come and for that reason I have given this album a 3
Good
Oldie but a goodie. I like most of it. CA Dreamin' is top with a few other well knowns that hit the mark. Good harmonies and having female/male vocals works nicely here. Doesn't stand out as epic but works for a nice drive though sunny CA.
Pretty good 60s pop album. A lot of quick catchy songs that still hold up today. Never listened to The Mamas and The Papas previously but I was glad to have a reason to sit down and listen. 3.00 stars
It’s a classic but not my jam
not really into psych anymorr
Kind of the same thing over and over. A few good songs strong a singles bit the album was too repetitive and kind of lame. Great harmonies though
great 60s pop. Basic lyrics, I could almost predict what they would say next
Too much of a good thing with the harmonies, make this album mostly sound dated and boring. California Dreamin’ is a fantastic song (take a moment to go listen to the Bobby Womack version) but there’s not much else here except a couple of other songs that sounded okay. Listening to this album made me want put on the Beach Boys or the early Beatles instead. I’m sure it was a little edgy for the time, but it seems very tame, repetitive, and milquetoast today. 2.5 stars
Feel good 60's music with nostalgic hits.
Ok singlovi ko album onako
Overall good. Some well known songs on here, but it never gets to a great place. 3/5 Might listen again
Pre-listen: This album cover looks like this isn't going to be something very enjoyable. (hey, future me here, i was sorta correct.) Actual listen: I think I'll just skim through this, 35 minutes of this is just gonna be excruciating. "Monday, Monday" is... eh, fine i guess. As far as I'm concerned this is "California Dreamin': The album". Some songs are catchy, the rest of the record is nothing to write home about, but not bad per se. The choir gets old.
I feel the same way about Mondays ... every other day is fine. But Mondays blow.
Pretty much what I expected an album by a band from this time to sound but it wasn't that bad ,Its just something I'll see coming back to often
This was ear candy. Amazing voice harmonies in service of a set of songs that brought me right into a time and space that captures imagination: the counterculture 1960s. The songs are far from easy - there is so much complexity and delicate craft in these arrangements. And at the end of the day, though it looks sunny on the outside when you pass by quickly, there is also deep melancholy and disenchantment inside. It made me think of this deep sadness that happens when you realize that as you are experiencing time, it has already passed and that the best is behind before you know it. A sense of grief for what is still here but will be gone soon. This said, though I can appreciate the atmosphere and the craft involved in these songs, I don't think I will come back here.
A couple big hits, but the rest is just ok
Not a bad listen, would not buy on vinyl but I like it. Gives me Beatles vibes
Inoffensive generic 60s jams. Look out for ham sandwiches!🥪
A nice chill album, very unexpected to see them being the original band of California Dreamin
Good not great. Some certified bangers here, but nothing too standout.
Many of these songs sound like The Beatles early work or The Beach Boys. California Dreamin’ is a straight up banger. Monday, Monday and Straight Shooter are pretty good too.
7/10 but not 4*
You know the preacher locked the door He knows I’m gonna stay. 3.5
Mama's and the Papa's aren't the most exciting 60s act, but they have their charm. The hits really bring it and Cass Elliot has a great voice.
I read something positively awful the other day, along the lines of successful 60s pop groups doing one of two illegal things – and at least one member of the M & the P doing both. This is a cool and laid back album and I'll never stop trying to figure out the dark side that most of us conceal from the world.
Lots of songs I've heard before. One new good one that stood out for me: Do You Wanna Dance. Spanish Harlem is an old favorite.
A couple classics then a bunch of standard 60’s fare. But hey, the fact that this albums has even two songs that are still playable 60 years later is pretty impressive.
Fine album, nothing more to it. Glad it only lasts 30 min and not any longer than that, I couldn't exactly do more than that amount of time in this style (ironic coming from the person who really liked the LTJ Bukem album)
Good stuff
meget catchy! fik mig til at tænke på Jens Lekman som har samplet I Call Your Name og Chungking Express som er 100% knyttet til California Dreamin' i min hjerne (positivt)
Fun, but nothing to revisit.
It's got California Dreaming on it. Which is just a beautiful, beautifual thing. It's all very pleasant, it brings back memories of being in the car with Mum and Dad. It's a classic for a reason.
Phew, what a band, I bet this bathtub could tell some stories. Now for the music. Eh. California Dreaming saves the record.
Thoughts before listening: Classic 60s poppy folk rock record. Assuming this has their hits on it this should be a fun listen. Review: The Mamas and the Papas' hits like "Monday Monday" and "California Dreamin'" are the sound of the 60s. It's pop music reminiscent of the early Beatles mixed with the sounds of the 60s folk movement that the band members were associated with. Perhaps it's the male/female communal group vocals, but there is a certain hippie idealism to their sound without being overly psychedelic. This is ultimately pleasant pop music with a handful of catchy singles surrounded by pretty forgettable filler songs. 3-stars mainly because "California Dreamin'" is such a great song.
Can't go wrong with an album cover like that really. California Dreamin' is a great song, pleasantly inoffensive otherwise
Didn't love it, didn't hate it
California dreaming is a banger but other than that theres not much to be found
It was fine! Maybe one to re-visit down the road
If You Can Believe Your Ears and Eyes Straight Shooter • Classic. Fine song. Got a Feelin' • Cool idea that the clock ticking pervades the song and reflects the lyric "wasting time...". I Call Your Name • I like the tempo changes, especially at the first minute. Nice keys in this one. Do You Wanna Dance • I like this one. Campy lyrics but the strings really move the track. Go Where You Wanna Go • Nice. Nothint crazy. California Dreamin' • Classic song. The flute from 1:30 on rips. Spanish Harlem • Annoying vocals, creepy lyrics. "La la la, la la la, la la la laaa". Bass is nice and simple: "Dun, dun-dun" Somebody Groovy • Great bass. Acoustic at 1:45 is excellent. Hey Girl • Annoying vocals and lyrics. Skip for that reason. Shame, the piano and bass are pretty good, especially at 1:25. You Baby • Bass at 1:30 has a tone reminiscent of The Garden. Pretty neat. The in Crowd
Harmonies for days. California dreamin' will always belong to Chungking Express. Now to take a read about this lil band as i take a big sip of coffee...
I enjoyed it :) don't really remember that many of the songs
This is my moms JAM. I feel like I'm 8 years old, driving to harmony house.
Really chill pop music, also nostalgic
A Solid pop album, nothing more.
I was hoping this was better after seeing the initial track listing. A really solid Side 1, and a much more lackluster Side 2. The covers weren’t as good as I expected (Do You Wanna Dance, Spanish Harlem, e.g.). Catch a clip of them on YouTube either at Monterey or on The Ed Sullivan Show. Pretty cool group.
I appreciate, but don’t love, their singing.
It's good, some bangers🔥🔥 I enjoy silly 60s songs ngl
Some classic songs, and amazing harmonizing. California Dreamin' is an all time great, but other tracks in the first half also have their share of good songwriting and better singing. The album ends on such a terrible note for me though, with 2 of my least favorite songs here ending the album, and the 2 before it being not very memorable
the panning on this music is interesting - guitar and drums on left, lead vocals are central, supporting vocals and strings are to the right - very loud vocals compared to the rest of the sound;
Goes alright. Not my scene, but can respect the impact this music had in its time.
typical hippie shit. 2.8
Good feeling oldie music
1 star rubbish/full 3 stars alright good back ground 5 stars it really caught me, a great experience
Pretty cozy, not hooked tho
Pretty cool. I have heard of this artist before, never listened to this album. I do respect them very much, enjoy some of the music.
My mom was born in the year this was released. The Mamas indeed.
Feels like California Dreamin’ single-handedly got this album on the list, which I can’t argue with - it’s a fantastic song. The rest of the album isn’t bad, but nothing stands out like California Dreamin’ does. It’s perfectly fine, but there’s nothing here that hasn’t been done better elsewhere, imo.
The harmonies are amazing. Very dated now, but it's hard to argue that this is poorly done, even if it's not my favorite thing.
Straight Shooter Got a Feeling’ Do You Wanna Dance California Dreamin’
i cant hear mama cass the same after the snl skit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2710NcijHY album was fine, i didnt particularly enjoy or dislike it
That's a fun 60's vibe right there. I'll go 3 stars with California Dreamin' doing a fair bit of lifting
Quality AM radio fodder. I appreciate quite a few of their songs, but never got around to formally adding them to my collection. Take a moment to enjoy the light and breezy vibe that comes with the times and try not to get distracted by all the behind-the-scenes weirdness. You'll be fine.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN
6.5/10 Impeccable 60s vibe Clearly influenced by Beatles and Beach Boys Excellent vocals throughout Musically quite split: either uptempo, propulsive, excellent, or somewhat dreary and maybe boring Best: Go Where You Wanna
Mellow album that you can enjoy during a road trip!
Low 3
Cult music vol. 1
Really just one good song. They do have great vocals.
3.5 I'm a sucker for a good harmony but 2.5 bangers out of 12 tracks does not a masterpiece make.
Pretty good!
💗
Greatest hits with cover filler. Sounds more dated than some of its 1966 peers
Stellar moment in pop history but too soft and too old for me to listen to it regularly
definition of "okay"
The very definition of a 3 – I think all the songs here sound really nice, but there’s only a few real standouts. I think it suffers from the general thing that ‘60s albums tend to do, which is really weird panning that kind of sacrifices the original vision of a song, but it doesn’t make them bad, necessarily. It’s a solid listen, but there’s just not enough to really warrant coming back to a lot of the tracks.
3/5
I love "California Dreaming" so so so much but I never want to hear "Rose in Spanish Harlem" again, so it's a tough one to rate. The singing is great. 3.5 rounded down to 3.
Spanish Harlem was incredibly unsettling to me as a child and I never really clocked why and yep as an adult it’s still a kinda creepy song. Everything else is great except The In Crowd
Fint album.
I can understand the importance of this album in music history, but to me it belongs to the past. It will not get a place on my playlist anymore.
This album answers the question “what if they still wrote doo wop music in the 60s”
Catchy as hell. Great harmonies. But knowing what I know about the group makes it difficult to fully enjoy this album
Not really something I'm gunna revisit, but it's not bad. 60's pop music kinda like the Monkees?
Apart from the two well-known singles, it's middle 60s pop, nothing to be excited by.
California Dreaming is sublime. Rest I could take or leave.
Best een leuke plaat. Immens vrolijk maar is dat wel echt zo?
An album with both Monday Monday and California Dreamin deserves a decent rating even if the other songs are rather forgettable.
Pretty good stuff though some of it didn't age as well as other bits.
It's okay
California Dreamin' is still great, but the rest I find tedious
There wasn't anything wrong with the individual songs, but as an album I didn't get it. I also don't feel like I have an idea of who they are as a band. One minute it feels like 1950's, then 1970's then almost country, and 1960's female blues ballads. But even the cover of the album confused (and made me laugh) me so I guess it all makes sense now...none of it is supposed to make sense!
This makes me think of the opening soundtrack to every beach blanket bingo style movie shot in a monochromatic sepia tone, with the band of carefree hippies driving along the PCH in their VW van and bouncing around the beach in the summer sun, playing guitar, throwing the frisbee and smoking weed, just days before the women are brutally slayed by an unknown serial killer who loves to leave calling cards with symbols or word play that the cops can’t figure out. I dig it. Groovy, man.
Unoffensive and..nice. That is not bad qualities for an album but in the end this is very timebound bubblegum pop. A few tracks like California dreamin has a haunting quality that is interesting.
Feel-good 60s hippie pop, a pleasant palette cleanser after a week of full-bodied flavors and textures.
Two very good songs: Monday Monday California Dreamin'
Probably would have been a 4 if I was in a different mood.
Not my favourite but good
Enjoyable 3.5
favorites: monday, monday, got a feelin', do you wanna dance, california dreamin', spanish harlem forever will associate this album with the memory that one of the guys my mom dated gave her this album to culture her with some classic music. i have heard this album more times than i can count
Voices and harmony front and center on this one.
Classic 60's sound. Love California Dreaming and recognized a few others, several being covers of other bands. I give it 3 stars.
Enjoyed 3.2
The hits still stand out. The grove is alluring. The harmony is joyful. The sound marks a particular moment in history. How can you not listen to this album and not think of the west coast idea of freedom?
Very produced. Know some of the songs because of the Ramones.
Horrible band name, terrible album cover-Is a motel bathroom toilet the best backdrop you got? But fantastic harmonies, great arrangements, great album
Hard to rate something this old and pre-rock with today’s ears. 2 really good songs, and another above-average one, great harmonies. Would probably lean to 2.5 if it was an option.
6/10 California dreamin still a 10/10 song
A bit creepy but had a few good songs
Unexpectedly fun.
I listened through three times, and this is the definition of easy listening music to me. That’s not a bad thing, it was great to have on while I worked, the music is solid and the vocals, especially the ladies in the group, were fantastic. Unfortunately it also suffered from not having anything that really stood out to me, while easy listening is a blessing it’s also a curse. The album eventually turned into clichéd 1960s prom music in the background of my activities. While enjoyable, not one of those albums I’d find myself reaching for out of random want.
Would it be fair to call this a pop album? Really catchy stuff, it hasn’t aged itself too much thankfully (for better or worse. 3.4
Classic. I’m still stuck on the three stars though
Enjoyed it. Felt like it epitomized the 60s. It was a “mood”.
Nice piece of history, doesn't hold up.
Songs about sad hippy relationships. It was weirdly enjoyable.
It was nothing astounding but it was a nice album to have on.
Fun listen
Fun listen, and some food tunes. Probably won't seek it out, but wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers.
I was excited when this popped up, thinking it would be a 4 or 5. But after listening to it, it turns out I only enjoy the radio hits and the rest is... Meh
Wonderful 60’s pop. A few tracks are a little dated but most of it is still charming and fun. I love the song “Do You Wanna Dance” and I love hearing ‘new’ versions of it that I didn’t know existed. The Mamas and the Papas do a lovely version. It’s slowed down a bit like the Bette Midler version, which is my personal favorite. “California Dreamin’” is a classic song. It’s an original here but it’s another one of those songs that’s been covered dozens of times. A few years back I got into the Jose Feliciano version. I also really liked “Somebody Groovy” and “The ‘In’ Crowd.”
AJ: harmonizing hippies!
Vond t eerste nummer (Monday, Monday) erg toepasselijk brak in de trein 1 januari op maandag ochtend haha. En California dreamin is natuurlijk een banger. Maar de scandal wtf…
I’m very underwhelmed, one song stands out. That’s it.
pretty good, standard 60s rock, not a bad listen
Good background music. Couple of standouts but the songs largely blend into each other
Sounds like the 60s, so nothing too crazy. One of the female singers on the cover looks kind of like Lindsay Lohan. Listening to California Dreamin reminded me of the California lottery ad that featured a version of the song with a choir. It was pretty good.
Solid but not super unique. I guess maybe they were the first to have this particular brand of shuffle-y folky sound, but idk if that’s true and even if so it was mid. 6/10
Didn’t like like half the songs, but California dreaming is good 6.5/10
Just sounds like exactly what I’d expect from 60s pop I guess. Not great, not bad. 5.5/10
I think I could really dig this if not for the way albums from this era were mixed. Such strange panning. It's kind of disorienting. I'm not sure if it's because they were original mono and then split into stereo later or what. Very easy listen with some catchy bits.
There are se timeless songs on here but then some very average 60s stuff. The band seemed to be a bunch of weirdos. Would not listen to this album again but maybe a greatest hits album.
Sounds just like the era which I really enjoy. A good, easy listening, catchy, and wholesome record. Listened to it while I waxed my skis the day after Christmas which felt very fitting.
Let's separate the art from the artist on this one. After hearing this album, my first thought is "Why the hell are they posing in a bathtub next to a dirty toilet." Then I realize it's a metaphor. This album has four good songs that wash over the listener, but the rest of the album is just shit. I enjoy songs on this album, but the rest isn't revelatory or terribly interesting. I have always enjoyed "Monday, Monday" but I also feel like the song goes on 30 seconds too log and it can drag. This album probably belongs in the book, but it doesn't mean it's a good album. Sometimes an album can be of its time and serve as an example to others on how music can improve over time.
Cass Elliot carried this band on her back.