Reviews (page 9 of 14)
The singles on this album are absolute classic bangers. Everything else is a bit lack luster. 2.5 outta 5
i thought this was a very 'okay' album - wasn't exactly bad but also wasn't a very enjoyable listen. a lot of the tracks sounded like bad beatles songs so there was no surprise when i heard the beatles cover. obviously knew 'california dreamin'' before listening - most of the other tracks sounded pretty similar or at least fit the same vibe. there's definitely better options for folk/pop albums so can't see myself ever listening to it again.
Альбом одной песни. Не, вы не подумайте, так то весь альбом довольно неплох, но все же интересна, наверное, только California Dreamin. А в остальном - довольно стандартный хиппи-балладный рок середины 60х. Каких-то прям выдающихся идей не заметил, но хорошо что такая музыка есть. А еще тут опять хардпан то в одно, то в другое ухо, про существование наушников тогда люди не думали, вестимо...
Classic from the 60s. Strong pop/ folk songs with beautiful harmonies. Not 100% for me but hard to deny the classics such as Monday Monday and Californian Dreamin. Would recommend.
Great 60s record. The hits are classic, easy listening for the rest
Noen kule sanger, men ikke helt min sjanger
Monday, Monday var ganske stilig og passende California Dreamin er en banger, rart den kommer så langt ute i albumet Litt fin sound jevnt over, men ingen har den samme oppbygningen helt på samme måte Likte det likevel Litt langt
Obviously a lot of all-timer singles on here, but other than that it's a run-of-the mill 60-s cali album
I could’ve just put on any other Beatles album that I fw, or played the Beach Boys greatest hits and gotten more out of that experience. Not bad, but I don’t think I had to listen to this to really get much out of it. *Spanish Harlem kind of slaps
This is an interesting one - California Dreamin' is one of the all timers - but I think that the issue here is that the rest of the album just doesn't hold up to it in a consequential way. Quite frankly, I imagine that this is a product of its time - if I had the sensibilities of the a person living in the 60s, I might find this album to be more transformative. I'm sure that during the time period, this was quite revolutionary. In 2025 however, it feels a little middle of the road. Ultimately, I think some albums transcend time, but this ain't that.
I like the songs individually but felt like a whole album was more than I needed of this vibe.
Fun and light-hearted. This is totally the American version of ABBA. Fav song: Spanish Harlem
The singles are classics. It all feels so ... "of the time". An album I wouldn't turn off, but probably wouldn't otherwise sit down to listen to.
"California Dreamin'" is the only number that stands out on this album for me. The rest I can very much take or leave. It's a bit of a limp lettuce of an album, and as nice as the artist's voices are, I wouldn't rush to play it again, although, of course, it's very easy to listen to.
Good harmonies and tambourines, highlighted by California Dreamin.
The Mamas & The Papas are kind like the gay beach boys. That’s what I kept thinking. This is like that beach boys album but gay. It’s fine, easy to listen to. But it’s not very fun.
Good songs, good harmonies….kind of sounds like what I’d imagine The Beach Boys would sound like if they didn’t have Brian Wilson and had to rely on Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine for their musical direction; a little corny and dated but still strong harmonies and musicianship. Definitely some interesting covers on here, and I always loved “California Dreamin’ “. I’d like to spend more time with this one and let it grow on me… “Hey Girl” is a low point, a wet noodle of a song with dorky energy.
I like 60s music but nothing really stuck out to me as super interesting. On the other hand, I think I’ll enjoy it more as I listen to it more. I really liked Straight Shooter, Do You Wanna Dance, and Go Where You Wanna Go.
Listenable.
3.5
was straight shooter the inspiration for the countdown timer music?
It was fine
Another 3/5 album. Not bad, not great either. Pretty good, pretty solid. Any album with "California Dreamin'" on it can't reasonably be scored any lower. A couple album tracks are nice, too. The Mamas and the Papas are better than your stereotypical '60s folkpop hippie band, so they've got that going for them.
Old
The standout here is obviously "California Dreamin", which remains one of the best songs of the 60s. I also thought "Somebody Groovy" was great. But outside of that, I just didn't find much that was too interesting to latch onto. The harmonies are solid, the instrumentation polished, but ultimately it sounds just like a lot of the California pop of the time mixed in with some staples of British invasion. Of course The Mamas and the Papas were crucial to the counterculture movement, but I don't know if this album as whole is representative of that.
The last half of the album felt stronger than the first half. I don't know whether that was simply because California Dreamin' put me in a more receptive mood or what, but it felt that way. Who gave the okay for that album cover though? What the hell!
Love me some vocal harmonies. Fav tracks - Monday, Monday, Got a Feelin', California Dreaming
Algumas boas, mas a maioria chata
*1966. *Quintessential 1960s - total psychedelic California sound. *Monday Monday and California Dreamin'. *Not a big fan of the slower songs, but the up-tempo ones were fun. RATING - 7/10
Honestly, disappointed really. California Dreamin' is a top record and The M&Ps come with a reputation for being 60s influencers. Beyond California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday, there's not a lot on here. The kind of band for which a best of album does the trick. Extra rating on the strength of California Dreamin'
Not bad, makes sense california dreamin was the one that made it out, it’s the most distinct out of all the tracks here. I feel this sound has a weird survivorship bias where all the songs I recognize are the blueprint for this genre and everything else I don’t recognize is a weird offshoot of it - something about them just compositionally doesn’t click as well. Idk
The title track is a great song which I have actually been playing a lot in the last couple days as the leaves begin to turn. I'd never listened to the rest, and it was quite forgettable. I did kind of like their Do You Wanna Dance too, though it's no Beach Boys.
Played out and kinda stale now but hugely Influential and great use of vocal harmony accents (full but not overdone).
Everything you’d want from the Mamas and the Papas. Several good songs, and staples of their genre
This is an early sort of psych album, and overall, it’s pretty good! Most of these songs are pleasant, well made psych pop and folk rock songs, I just don’t have a ton to say about them. There are little highlights like Monday, Monday and Spanish Harlem dotted around, and especially for how early this hit the scene, I think it’s worth hearing. That being said, I think there is *one* song here that is really, *really* good, and that’s (of course) California Dreamin’. I honestly think this is one of the best songs of the ‘60s, *and* I think it’s one of the *most* psychedelic songs of the ‘60s too. Like the experience of listening to it just feels weird. It’s like a combination of the technicolor reverb, the *stubbornly* minor key, the droning vocal harmonies, and the kind of lo-fi, warm, 60’s fuzz that comes with less expensive recordings of the era. The effect of this all is a song that I really think could cause a hypnosis state or something. Like it reaches a little bit deeper into the brain than music is usually supposed to. I wouldn’t say it’s scary per-se, but if you told me this could activate sleeper agents, I’d believe you. It’s an irreplaceable song. The rest of the album isn’t really pushing it down, but I don’t think any other song here really keeps up. That being said, I’d say the full package is still worth hearing at least once.
Those apostrophes will never cease to irk me, but California Dreamin' lives in my head for about half of every year. The rest is filler.
3.5
Another perhaps not lasted the test of time it is an interesting listen and quite pleasent they compriment each other well and harmonise well. A good listen all around. However not really my bag overall
Quite pleasant to hear but nothing that caught me too much
pretty fine for me
Not particularly engaging for me though I like this style of music in general Fav song: Monday Monday prob
This group is like The Beach Boys meets ABBA. Their sound isn't totally generic though - there are some unique songs on the album too. My favourite song is California Dreamin', which seems to be the album's most popular track. I know a clip of that song was trending on reels (presumably also TikTok) for a while, so not surprising. This was a fun and light listen. 7/10.
As 3 as it gets. Did I hate it? No. Perfectly nice mostly. Would I turn it off of someone put it on? No. Would I actively listen out for any track they wasn't California Dreamin'? Probably not. The Do You Wanna Dance cover was alright.
Fun summer album with classic tracks. I can imagine grilling some hot dogs by the pool on a 100+ degree day. Or jamming to this on a CA roadtrip. Either way, very enjoyable.
Knew a lot of these songs and they were OK. Wouldn't be in my normal rotation because I am not a boomer or a filmmaker but acceptable.
I like this album, but there is nothing more to it. It had several changes in tones which I liked, but to be honest it was nothing special in my opinion. Of course I love Californa Dreamin', but other than that this album didn't feel that special to me. And because of that I feel a bit disappointed, because I like most of the Mamas & the Papas songs and albums I've listened to before, so I would rate this album a 3.4/5. Favourite song on the album of course is Californa Dreamin'.
Thought it would be another Beatles ripoff, but it turned out more original than I thought
"California Dreaming" is easily a 5 star song, but I have to say that the rest really didn't do much for me. It's a great example of 60s music and I can easily see why it would have been so popular back when it was released. Maybe I'm biased by the band's reputation, but I just didn't really find anything that special about the rest of the album. It's fine, but no where near the best music of the era. Still, it's got that one great song though.
Essentially a Classic rock version of The Beach Boys. Good, easy listen. Nothing to complain about but nothing to get excited about either.
Jam packed with pop classics. Very easy listen.
Quintessential oldies. “California Dreamin’” will live on forever. Not something I would want to listen to all the time but not horrible.
3 love the first track, bit hit and miss for the rest.
Lovely '60s record! Great vocal harmonies, great core band stuff. Obviously California Dreaming is a classic, it's worth checking out just for that!
Lovely little album, not really my thing for most of it but it's a nice time all the way, I didn't think much of California Dreamin though
I can appreciate that this was probably huge in the 60w but I'm not a huge fan. It reminds me of ABBA a little. I like California Dreamin' otherwise it wouldn't be on my rotation.
Easy listen but not groundbreaking
Not too bad
Songs I heard when I was a baby
7/10, Some real bangers on this album. Monday Monday, California Dreaming. Some songs get repetitive due to the vocal harmony style, impressive pipes and layering's though.
Gostei desse álbum! Alguma faixas são clássicas e amplamente conhecidas. QoA Vesper.
Good stuff, just not exactly my jam.
If you wanted to define the sounds of the 1960s and pulled up any album to help you explain it I think this would be a good shout. Obviously California Dreamin' is the stand out but the album bathes it's sometimes unhappy lyrics in pure sunshine pop, with a solid Beatles cover thrown in for good measure.
The harmonies were fun and the sound reminded me a bit of The Beatles. It does feel dated, but in a charming, sunshine-pop kind of way.
Yllättävän ok, 3/5
Zwei herausragende Titel: Monday, Monday und California Dreamin'. Sonst blieb nicht viel hängen.
This one is actually pretty cool
I really hate the song Monday, Monday. I like Straight Shooter. Didn't realize that the Ramones cover of Do You Wanna Dance was of these moms and dads. California Banananing. It's just so old sounding. I can appreciate that what it's doing at the time is really good. But like, I'm never gonna spin this on my own without a prompting. Listened to the whole thing, only 35 mins, but it felt longer.
Solid, but unremarkable besides the two big hits.
Bangers
Very sweet, very early 60s. The harmonies were nice, and it's layered enough to not give me the irrates. It was fine enough.
Of its time. Generic 60s pop hits apart from Monday Monday and California Dreamin, both of which are superb. The latter has a case for the best pop song of the decade in all fairness
the california dreaming album
Nice vocal harmonies, I was expecting more like California Dreamin’ with the late 60’s vibe. It’s more just poppy harmonies.
Quite enjoyed this. Lovely harmonies
The hits on this album are 60s classics, but the rest of the album kind of dragged it down.
Album was chill, I did enjoy altough not my vibe, enjoyed the two channel audio. Was exciting to listen to. Contains hit song "California Dreamin'".
John Phillips is allegedly a HUGE POS but his first solo album rips. Mama Cass died an ironic death at Harry Nilsonn's London gaff, 32 years old. As did Keith Moon, 4 years later, also 32. Spooky. Anyway, this is nice enough.
It's incredibly important to note that the lead vocalist, John Phillips, sexually assaulted his daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, for an entire decade. So these guys are The Beach Boys crossed with Fleetwood Mac. That's to say, shitty vocal group music combined with every band member getting into relationships with eachother, subsequently cheating, and then writing songs about it. Overall it isn't terrible, but there's a certain point where "Easy Listening" music gets too easy to listen to and it just fades into the background. That's this album.
Harmonies are wonderful, but the album started to feel a bit samey. Good album, overall, but the standouts are the songs you already know.
Felt like I was raiding my father's record collection. But then I listened closer and there's a song about swinging. In any case, love the harmonies on this and the whole 60's vibe, and "Monday, Monday" and California Dreaming" are all-time classics.
Mixed feelings on this one. Absolutely love California Dreamin, has to be one of the best 60s songs and spawned some great covers. Also like it when they get doo-woppy, like on Go Where you Wanna Go. I enjoy the vocals of Mama Cass and Michelle Phillips alot more than the guys, so i like the ones where they take the lead more. But, so much of this is so sanitized and clearly just churned out to make money on pop radio that it brings it down. Didn't go in expecting edge from the Mamas and Papas but they play it so safe that a lot of these tunes just utterly lack soul and are dull listens (looking at you, Spanish Harlem)
I felt fine about this.
Potverdikkie, dit is echt oud. Alsin, dit klinkt echt heel oud. Hele agressieve stereo panning, galmpje, zoetsappige harmonieën, tamboerijntjes dan wel een beatring (ik weet niet over er een velletje op zit). Oude Beach Boys met vrouwen erbij. Ik heb hier niet zo heel veel bij te melden. Ik vind dit voor een keer wel oké om te luisteren. Tussen een 2 en 3, veel meer is het niet. Ik hou het op een 3 omdat je er twee hitjes gratis bij krijgt en California Dreamin' vind ik wel echt een banger.
Iconic sixties sound. Although I dig my sixties rock a little less poppy and a little more bluesy and hard rocking. Still, it's a good album.
Another album from the sixties that I've enjoyed. In the end most of the songs sounded the same.
solid but they really feel like a superb singles band more than anything to me
High 3 Not as good as my first listen
I'm pretty meh on this. "Hippie doo-wop" would be the most apt description of the album. California Dreamin' is good. Not a bad listen, but not something I'm likely to ever listen to again. 3/5
Dece
Liked it ! I know I won’t listen to it from start to finish anytime soon BUT I’ll definitely listen to some of the songs from that album.
"Monday, Monday" is a classic and "California Dreamin'" has to be considered among the best rock songs ever written. Most of the album is skippable. Without those two song, this would be 2 stars. They can only bump it up to 3 stars.
Fun and poppy and has all the hits.
This feels completely okay to me. Maybe even generic.
7/10
It was a bit meh, the classic songs on it brought the score up to 3
Impressive how immediately recognizable the hits are on this album. Easy to listen through at a brisk 34 minute run-time, and a sound that never overstays its welcome between tracks. Not exactly my cup of tea stylistically, but worth a 3 for a genuine “I liked it”.
You should count the number of times they say the word "yeah" on this album, that'd be a fun project too! Have to ignore the incredibly over-dramatic stereo mix, which is very distracting, to get to the good music. Ethos-wise, the pop world is still living in the hedonistic religion that these guys are espousing. "califonia dreamin" is a banger obviously, but some of the non-singles are a slog.
Everyone knows California dreaming. I did not previously know Monday Monday and it’s a good song. The rest of the album was pretty expected. Nice and inoffensive.
60s folk/soft rock. Not much special here other than the singles. What to pick as best..? Best track - You Baby 2 stars? Or 3?'
Crazy, I was just singing Monday Monday to my kid yesterday! Because today is Monday! It's nice when art can enter your life with subjects like Days of The Week. Anyway, Monday Monday and California Dreamin' are great tunes that rise above but are still the same as the rest of this general 60s hippie folk/pop type thing. It's good, but the hits are hits for a reason and the others are not for basically the same reason. Pleasant.
Pleasant, but dated.
Nice harmonies, melodic flourishes, but lacking in the kind of consistent creativity and sophistication that would make it consistently compelling listening.
fun enough i suppose! in addition to the usual suspects, i found spanish harlem and somebody groovy to be pretty good.
This album has California Dreamin' and Monday Monday, which I was already familiar with. These two also happen to be the strongest songs on the album. The remainder of the album is overall pretty forgettable. There are some covers which in my opinion don't add anything over other versions. I would listen again because I didn't mind it, but would probably prefer to just listen to California Dreamin'.
All the leaves are brown And the sky is brown We're all wearing brown And the cover's brown Lets add some brown text And all get in the bath A very beige album for such a Summer's day
Monday, Monday a classic jam. California Dreamin' is delightful. Classic summer of love sounding pop jam with beautiful harmonies. Love Spanish Harlem. Ran through this quickly. Fine album, but not something that is lingering with me. Going with a middle of the pack 3 here.
Some 60s folk. The switching from male to female singing though was a nice change up. Pretty standard album.
Nice.
California dreamin and others are fine but its some folk rock
It's fine for 60's pop-rock. No surprise but California Dreamin' was the best song IMO. I could see this growing on me over time
Beautiful singing and calming lyrics. A nice chill listening experience. Songs that are easy to sing along too.
Good pop from the 60s. Although I can't help but thinking that all of these pop bands from this era are all a year or so behind the trends set by the Beatles. This album sounds like something from Beatles For Sale, which was like 2 years before this. That's not a bad thing though, there was a lot more room for pop like this, and the Beatles move on very quick from styles that they seemingly invent.
pretty cool but repetitive!!! obviously california dreamin is one of the best songs ever but the rest of the album didn’t hit too hard
I enjoyed what it was. I think that what came after (and some of the same time) was so much better. I’ll never listen to this again, but it was good. I’d rather listen to The Beach Boys or CSNY. I almost dropped it a whole lot because of “The ‘in’ crowd”. What a stupid song. It’s like what someone would say if they weren’t cool. I promise!! People want to know where we are! We are the in crowd! We know what’s cool!
I’ve heard the singles. Never heard an entire album. Really amazed how good it was.
Remember in the 60s when everyone was really into panning everything hard right or hard left? Yep, that. Sigh. Such a classic, clean sound. I’ve grown up listening to Boomers playing California Dreaming, so it’s hard to get excited about that one (again). Doesn’t resonate with me in the same way, but these are good songs, beautifully done.
They ite...
Chill, oldie album.
3 Monday Monday - It's true, you can't trust that day. Surprised by the short length of the songs, but I like it! Doesn't overstay. Great tracks, held up really well. Don't think I would listen again but great music!
It is good for a rock album but not my style I would listen to it but never pick it 3/5
i knew more songs than i thought thanks to GAP & GUFs wedding party. overall enjoyed listening to it but probably wouldnt optionally choose to listen to it unless someone else put it on. my favourite songs were california dreamin, you baby and monday, monday
Prime hippie time. Such a lo-fi sound, but the emotion is still captured. Really nice record with some pleasant tunes. The vocal harmonies add to it a lot along with the backing instrumentation - really captures the era of the music. Very nice and simple record.
Some classic pop songs. Cass Elliot was great. The Philipses seemed terrible, though, so I dunno how to feel about this band overall. The general sound of this album is very pleasant, if unremarkable.
It was good.
Veldig ålreit
I was only exposed to the bangers on this album, being “Monday, Monday” and “California Dreamin’”. However, the album does have some duds. 3/5
schon älter, aber ganz nette Sachen dabei
Very nice sound. Some cover versions to fill it out
Good wholesome 1960s vibes
++*: Straight Shooter ++: I Call Your Name, Do You Wanna Dance, California Dreamin', Somebody Groovy, You Baby, The 'In' Crowd +: Monday, Monday, Got a Feelin', Spanish Harlem, Hey Girl +-: Go Where You Wanna Go 7,7/10
It was fine. Nothing special and you can kind of hear how much they all hate each other
California Dreamin’ is absolute mastery, rest of the album is a showcase of good close harmony tracks. Very enjoyable
it's pleasant in the background
zZz
Fun and the harmonizing is vocally impressive, but with the exception of california dreamin, it doesn't really reach any great heights. Best: California Dreamin' Worst: I Call Your Name
favorite track: california dreaming. Overall score: 6,5/10
You gotta love the Mama’s and the Papa’s. One of the best vocal groups of their time.
that's the song from TikTok
Started off strong but fell short on the second half. Not something I expected to enjoy but I did kinda like it
This was nice enough. I’ve always liked California Dreamin’. For such a wholesome-sounding band, they sure did a lot of drugs and had some insane controversies (incest allegations?!).
Classic but California Dreaming is really the only standout song
Loved the harmonies.
Not inherently offensive, but nothing special either, this album feels like a window to another time - and I’m sure, in that time, it was much more special. Now it just feels dated, despite the unique sound of “California Dreamin’” - which is all that saves it from a 2 star.
Actually not mad at this
Refreshing harmonies. Melodic, sometimes catchy, and a tad overwrought. Still listenable after decades. "Straight Shooter" intro sounds like a Monkees tune. Or is it the other way 'round? Rampant apostrophe abuse on the album cover removes a star.
I gasped when I got this I’m so happy to have this album since I LOVE California Dreaming. It really is the highlight on this album. The other songs kinda blended together whilst I was listening. I didn’t love it, nor did I hate it. The In Crowd was pretty good too. This was my second album to feature female voices on it which is a shame how few they are. Overall: 3/5
Great singing voices, but apart from the singles it’s all a bit forgettable. The covers are nothing special compared to the originals.
It's fine, very background, very gender-diverse-Beatles at points, but nothing that stands out as particularly worth it. Meh.
Lots of iconic moments on here. Feels more like a collection of nice covers and movie soundtrack options than an album I’d necessarily pursue again, but happy to have listened while walking the pupper on his 7th birthday.
It is hard not to love The Mamas & The Papas! There is just a certain charm to their combined voices that makes you smile at the much more innocent side of the sixties.
Great harmonies, iconic songs and back when albums left you wanting a bit more with a short run time - but it also left me wanting a little more from the depth in the songs. Dunno, I enjoyed it just not *that* much.
I liked it, but I don’t believe I’ll ever seek it out again. The style doesn’t quite gel with me. Even at its brisk 34 minute runtime, I was ready to move on with three tracks left.
bom disco, mas nao é pra mim
3.5?
Not really my cup of tea but like All the leaves are brown.
1. Monday, Monday: the vocals are dreamy, the layers are cool, but the backing on only one side of my ears vs the lead on the other is not super smooth sounding - it feels empty in a weird way. Lyrics are schoolboy kinda love/how terrible Monday feels post weekend happiness. Nothing super notable. 2. Straight Shooter: the bass and guitar on this reminds me of a love story western kinda vibe. The vocals are immaculate, a constant throughout their work. I am taking the lyrics to be more about a drug addict looking for another fix. 3. Got a Feelin': the clock ticking along with lyrics of wasting time with an unfaithful lover. The vocals are so dreamy and soft. The drums/clock and synth put the intuitive heart-dropping feeling into sound. 4. I Call Your Name: this is a Beatles cover. I don't know what the original sounds like, so I cannot compare. I liked the tempo switch, swingy energy, along with gorgeous vocals. Whispering "John" during the cover as a nod to John Lennon, who wrote this one. I enjoy the ending of this song a lot, it kinda reminds me of a happy ending in a movie. 5. Do You Wanna Dance: very 60s sweet love song. I imagine that this was played at every school dance/wedding/etc. The strings add such romance and tenderness to the already cute lyrics. Again, the split mix in headphones is throwing me off. It doesn't blend. 6. Go Where You Wanna Go: TEA on this song, it's written by John Phillips (vocals/writer) about Michelle Phillips cheating on her husband with Denny (both part of the group). Kinda really strange lyrics and overall vibe - feels like a sarcastic song. 7. California Dreamin': I think everyone has heard this one; it's incredible. The vocals from Denny are so strong. LOVE the flute. I think this may be about the impending doom of Michelle and John, due to her affair. 8. Spanish Harlem: the background vocals are very angelic, super nostalgic track - feels like a flashback to a beautiful time. The violins, along with this imagery, are stunning. "It is a special one; it's never seen the sun. It only comes out when the moon is on the run." 9. Somebody Groovy: fun lil track, I can envision people dancing and swinging around. The rhythm backing is great, I feel groovy and easy listening to this. 10. Hey Girl: very bluesy, I enjoy the piano. Yearning for someone who has been hurt by a player, waiting around for her. The conversation lyrics that go back and forth through this album gets more of a story across, giving both sides which I love. 11. You Baby: very wholesome love song, in typical 60s feel and lyrics. This is exactly how it feels to be head over heels for someone. "Greatest thing since rock and roll" -- such a time in music and culture. Vocals paired with clapping reminds me of a heart pounding with admiration. Cute to follow Hey Girl, maybe the story follows through or I'd like to imagine so. 12. The "In" Crowd: Cass' voice is so strong and takes this song to another level, it's striking. I wish the vocals were mixed on both sides rather than just the left. "If it's square, we ain't there." Being the cool guys here, they know what is in and what's not. The lyrics kinda don't land great but it has a mesmorizing energy/beat. This whole album flows nice, most of the songs are super strong and their vocals are just unmatched altogether. The drums and synths add to the dreaminess of the layered vocals. I am super disappointed in the mixing of this album as most of the vocals were on the left side, not both and I think it would hit super hard if they were equally balanced. Who knows, could be a decade thing.. This album is huge and highly respected, it has aged pretty decently for a '66 record.
A bit boring. Not particularly bad nor not particularly good. Is boring a 3* or a 2*?
Somewhat dated. There's some good ones in here, but some that haven't stood the test of time as well.
nice whimsy fun
It's a little sugary, but there are some good tunes, good album
California Dreamin still hits. Album gets old after a couple spins
Fav: California Dreamin' Notes: Lots of nostalgia on this one. Good but not great. Vinyl: Yes, but not the cover actually showing the toilet. Those are rare and worth hundreds; it was apparently a big scandal at the time to show a toilet on an album cover. After the first run, the subsequent releases had it covered up.
Iconic sound, some great tunes here, a little Boomer-y for my tastes, but keeps me listening nonetheless. Undeniable talent, well arranged. California Dreamin' is as known as it is for good reason. Gets a bit redundant on repeated listens.
Mono is not made for headsets... Having the vocals and instruments in one ear and the chorus in the other can be a bit annoying. "California dreaming" is great, of course. 3,5/5
Have heard the big ones from this, but never knew this was who it was by or explored more.
Mouerf
É um álbum legalzinho sim.. Bem fácil de ouvir. Além de California Dreamin', eu gostei de Got A Feelin' e Spanish Harlem
Mama Cass deserved the world. The other three? Varying levels of "not so much."
Everything besides california dreamin was mid
Not a huge fan
Monday, Monday and California Dreamin' are absolute classics but the rest of this album didn't do it for me unfortuantely. Somebody Groovy was also a great song but the rest just didn't hit. I'll definitely listen again later to rerate but for now its a 3/5
Another one I'm filing in "cool, glad I heard it, probably will never listen to it again"
California dreaming lifts a lot of the weight on this album, why is there a WC in the album cover? The Mamas and the Papas do know how to harmonize. Do not read about their personal relationships 😳 https://youtu.be/tNlwimUxUME they were forced to mime, so here's Michelle eating a banana in the middle of their performance. 3/5
I like the feeling of this album and hearing where California Dreamin came from.
This album was such a vibe, it really transports you back into the late 60s era. If I had to use one word to describe it, I'd probably say 'quintessential'. The compositions are just beautiful and, I mean... California Dreamin'? Need I say more?I'm generally not a huge fan of the 60s sound, but any album with California Dreamin' is an automatic high score for me. Some may call it overplayed or even overrated, but imagine writing a song so iconic it's known and used by generations after.
echte musik mit viel gesanglicher harmonie. mit klassikern die man kennt.
Wenn Musik aus dieser Zeit, dann diese Platte.
Was ok
I can believe my eyes and ears, this album is derivative and tepid. Nothing unbelievable here. Talented but unenthused by invention, this group is mothers and fathers of nothing. They are the child of greater groups and the brothers of the forgotten. California Dreamin does hold up.
Pleasant but ultimately uninteresting.
It’s good, but not great.
Good
Oozes mid-60s California pop, with lush harmonies, jangly guitars, a touch of folk, a bit of rock, and an undercurrent of melancholy beneath all the sunshine. California Dreamin' is still a haunting classic. Not sure about that album cover though, hah.
Intresting to hear some new songs from these guys. Not a big fan but it was an ok listening experience.
some all-timers on here, some duds. The highs are so much better than the lows though
I can believe my ears and ears. This is a good psychedelic folk/rock album full of lovely harmonies and some exceptional bangers. ‘Monday, Monday’, ‘Do You Wanna Dance’, ‘California Dreamin’, ‘Somebody Groovy’ and ‘You Baby’ are the go-to tracks here.
Perfectly pleasant folky poppy Flower Power. But California Dreaming and (to a lesser extent) Monday, Monday stand out for me. The rest is a bit same'ish - great vocal harmonies and all that, but no "wow" factor. Some songs are very Beatles like. No great art (or grammar) has been lost on the cover.
Great harmonies and arrangements but, with the exception of the singles and perhaps a couple of other tracks, the material is fairly average. “California Dreamin’” and “Monday, Monday” are perhaps the only Mamas and Papas I need.
Pretty good, bland in places. Shocked that the In Crowd is one of the least played songs on the album, to me its probably the funkiest
Good, but not my favorite at the moment
This was a great album with lots of great tracks but nothing that stood out as interesting or novel.
3.5 rounded down to 3 because of a bad album cover, worse album name and the grammar in the band name.
i enjoyed
Enjoyable but a little repetitive for my taste.
Not bad, but not my cup of tea. While listening to it it felt like listening to all the generic 60/70s song that later on got used as a soundtrack background in a movie in those scenes where they show the main character living his serene life before adventure awaits
Some good hits but not every track was a winner.
For det meste roligt, men alligevel varierende stemning og tempo
Fun 70s vibe
A good and easy listen though sounds somewhat dated in terms of the sound. A laid back Californian west coast sixteen vibe. The two singles are stand out tracks - Monday Monday and California dreaming. I think I owned a vinyl copy of this once.
Ok. Just a bit old sounding.
It’s really just not my favorite style of music. The vocal arrangements were good but the panning and production really did not let these songs shrine. Album tracks do equal the singles though
i did like it but nothing really stuck out to me unfortunately. it seems like music i would put on in the background and forget it’s there until it was off. that is actually what happened. good album though! worth a listen i think
I know far more of these songs that I thought I would. I laughed when this came up in my rotation, yet now I'm going, how do I know these? Because it's a solid album, dated sure, but the songs still work. It makes me think of how far music has moved since they were considered counter culture. It also is interesting that they are now the sound of the late sixties. After thinking about it and listening to the album I swear that's why I know there catalog.
7/1001 Not a bad album, but nothing special either. I try to put myself in someone’s shoes who would’ve heard this for the first time in 1966 - it probably would have made big impact. The harmonies are what has kept TMATP a part pop culture for 6 decades. Most prose have heard California Dreamin’ and maybe even Monday, Monday - so they do stand the test of time. Those songs are iconic, but the rest of the album kind of sounds like a watered down version of The Beatles. I didn’t hate the album, and the times that’s California Dreamin’ and Monday, Monday show up in a commercial or movie or in a grocery store will be more than enough for me.
Not even California Dreamin' could save this one
Beyond the novelty and laughter that may surge from the fact that you HAVE to listen with both earphones... it's just fine. Maybe it is a product of its time. I enjoyed 3, 4 songs the rest didn't make me complain or anything, just made me feel "it's playing, may just as well listen to it". No negatives of the top of my head, but I don't know if I'll revisit it. A 5.
Pretty basic album besides California Dreamin'. Their take on Do You Wanna Dance was also good, and the rest of the album was definitely worth having on in a vibe, but so clear that one song is head and shoulders above the rest.
Monday, Monday is underrated compared to California Dreaming. I feel like that song was around more when I was young. Some good songs to start the album. Then, some duds up to California Dreaming. End well. There's some good sunshine pop on this but I am glad I own the 7" with the two big hits on it. There no reason to own the whole album.
Ist okay
I enjoyed this although probably wouldn't put it among my elite/top albums. Saved a few songs from it!
Beautiful boring music from your mamas and papas. The type of album you just don't enjoy but can't claim it's not good. Got many classic tunes that I never noticed are from them, especially "California Dreamin'". Maybe 3/5, I'm not yet old enough to like their music.
Folk Pop, 1966 -> 3
60's groove with some HOF hits. Varying levels of composition and degrees of difficulty, but overall worthy of your time.
Folk rock with gorgeous vocal harmonies. Quite a short listen clocking at under 40 minutes which makes for a pleasant listen. Fun fact: Cass Eliot was a member of the band until they broke up in 68'
Mostly quite forgettable and 400% too much stereo. A couple of cool tunes tho. 3 stars because of the hot girl on the cover.
1. California dreamin 2. Monday, Monday 3. Somebody groovy
Yeah. Chill.
Classic bangers, really enjoyed it from beginning to end - some kinda boring tunes that blend into the background of this era, but overall not bad!
Solid sunshine pop.
I'm always amazed when I hear something from this era that sounds like the Beatles. Not because I view this band as a massive rip-off or something like that, but rather just how far superior The Beatles were tonall the other groups from this time period who have a similar sound. Why do I say this? The Mamas & the Papas in 1966 sound very much like early Beatles. By contrast, The Beatles around the same time were releasing Revolver, and very shortly after this, arguably one of the greatest albums of all time, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. When you hear such quintessential 60s hits like "California Dreamin," you think of how representative of the era that song is. You don't think about how innovative it is. I'm not saying this Mama's and Papa's album is bad. Actually I think it's quite good, but it's nothing new under the sun. It's nice melodies, with some excellent harmonies, and some catchy, poppy tunes in the mix. Is The Mamas and the Papas debut album worthy of being on this list? Probably. I'm guessing it was pretty influential, and like I said it is good. But, man, if this 1001 album challenge has taught me anything it's that the Beatles are worthy of all the accolades they have, and I've also learned that if something is coming out in the sixties, it needs to not sound like this to truly impress me.
sounds pretty good. doesn't age as well as other music from this era.
Great singles and covers
They have catchy jams but I predict a 3. I don't skip past it, but I also don't feel like for me it was a "must hear".
Good classic songs of the era. California dreaming is a great song. Album overall was good, I’ll come back to it when I’m in the mood for this typical 60s era music.
- paar Banger sind definitiv dabei, aaaber zwischendurch ist es dann auch echt mal zäh und etwas viel Geleier 2,75 / 5
3 - I'd rate this more a 3.5 if I could. Classic California folk rock from the 60s. Album includes some of their most recognized songs.
Why so much panning from left to right, its like they just discovered stereo.
Nostalgic Laurel Canyon comp. Doesn’t evoke an album feel, but it was kind of before that time. The hits are undeniable and defining of a sound, place, and generation. Its drawbacks are of the era. I don’t need them singing Spanish Harlem. Leave that to Phil Spector’s stable. These throw away knocked it down a couple for me. But fun nonetheless.
Not going to compete with the top comment here!
Álbum clásico sesentero, que contiene el archiconocido tema "California Dreamin’". Musicalmente es muy bueno, transporta directamente a la atmósfera hippie de su época. Las armonías vocales, aunque excelentes, acaban por hacerse algo irritantes. Además, todos los temas suenan un poco igual y el álbum incluye varias versiones de otros grupos. Merece estar en esta lista por su relevancia histórica, pero no me termina de convencer.
I love how this sunshine pop / psych follows a soul structure in both compositions and in how almost every song is a cover
I like music.
I feel like sound quality really affected my enjoyment of this.
1) ez a borító HOGYAN történt? 2) all the leaves are broooooooooown and the sky is graaaaaaaaaay (igen, ezért meg a monday mondayért kap hármast, amúgy kevesebb lenne)
There are the two mega-hits "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin" on the album. But in total it sounds a bit too aged to me.
All the leaves are brown ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN
The big hits are timeless classics that you know well. The rest seems a bit more stuck in a time capsule for me. Very mid-60s pop.
well... this shit was sonically pleasing, but it wasnt very interesting. best songs: california dreamin,monday monday
Whew, that was one big load of cheese
He laulavat hyvin kauniisti ja California dreamingista hyökyy 60-luvun nostalgia (vaikka silloin vielä sitä vuosikymmentä elettiinkin). Sanoitukset on muuten liian 50-lukua mulle, love me ja my baby jne. Vahva kaks puol.
I was ready to slam the SINGLES BAND stamp on this one, but to my surprise, a few of the deep cuts ("Straight Shooter," "Got A Feelin'") are actually pretty nice. Still, not sure this makes it out of the "Great 60s Albums" bracket and onto the "Greatest Albums of All Time" list.
хз , средненько, мне не оч нравки, 3/5
An album, more precisely a sound, synonymous with the time and place it was created, that's worthy of its place in history really only because of its two classic hits.
I have an old "Best of" on vinyl, but I don't think I've ever listened to an actual album of the Mama's and the Papa's (what's with the apostrophes by the way?). This is all firmly in classic territory - beautiful harmonies, some fabulous songwriting mixed with standards, but who would have guessed how many sexual shenanigans were going on behind the scenes with such a light, mainstream, radio-friendly sound?
I'm sorry this either needed more PCP or more black people. It's music like this that makes the exorcisms at Elvis shows make sense. Pleasent layered vocals and some catchy hooks, but if I'm going to listen to something white from this era, why not just throw on Rubber Soul or the Beach Boys. Like can you imagine watching Jimi Hendrix open for these jingle jangle, step side to side and snap mfers. Nothing bad about the music, but I'm just like this is what y'all listened to when you wanted to have a good time? Rating: 6/10
Not bad. Has some deservedly-famous songs on there.
60s folk rock
I feel like I've heard all these songs before even though I don't think I have. I did enjoy them and might give this another spin. 3.5/5
Two of the best 60s and a lot of iffy filler. I wanted to like this more as I am a huge fan of "California Dreamin" and "Monday Monday," but it wasn't there for me.
shrug
A lot of dirty laundry with these folks huh? 4 part harmonies are lovely but deceptive.
Easy listening but not very exciting.
It’s the Mamas and the Papas. It’s nice, it’s what you’d expect.
Solid, enjoyable harmonies. Standout songs: Monday monday California Dreamin
Avi really likes this one! Great harmonies, their voices are amazing. Definitely very 60s, the lovey-dovey vibe gets a little saccharine after a while, but some great songs overall. I liked “Do You Wanna Dance,” a song I always associated with the Ramones, and of course, California Dreaming.
great harmonies
decent album
Monday, Monday, etc
I think they were featured in some horror/thriller media I watched so now I only get sinister vibes when I listen to them. California Dreamin still a banger.
I never thought of them as a band appealing to adults but this album is a lot less child-like in content than I realized
A sonically powerful debut that showcased the mood shift of "family bands" from being all positive to grounding in reality of life at the times. Really puts you back in time
A couple of daytime radio classics, but does it really move you? Not quite poignent enough to avoid the feeling that it's just a great, beautifully executed example of light music of the time. But doesn't stir the hardened 21st century soul.
Great tracks. The challenge for me is a number of the tracks that I like, I prefer done by other artists.
A few very recognizable songs.
Lots of harmonies, takes a little while to get used to. They made a lot of songs feel floaty and dreamy. I didn't think I was going to recognize anything, but knew a few. I really liked the dynamic or like the mood changes throughout songs, it's not something I can think of other people doing. The mood changes along with the lyrics that don't always follow traditional rhyme schemes kept things interesting. I appreciate the experimental aspects of this album while still feeling a bit poppy.
California Dreaming cancels out how much I absolutely hate The “In” Crowd. I wish there was more of that sound, kind of dark and some mystery behind it. Staying at a 3 because the music isn’t bad and the harmonies are great but there’s just something that doesn’t connect with me here. Maybe it’s knowing too much about the John Phillips thing. I also heard this group compared to how the cast of Glee would sound singing folk music and I can see that too.
pretty great debut album. You're doing alright if you drop California Dreamin and Monday, Monday on your first record. I grew up on this music
21/1001 Getting the obvious out of the way, California Dreamin’ is one of the greatest folk rock songs ever and the rest of the album sadly doesn’t hold a candle to its quality and warmth. Now that’s not to say the rest is bad. Far from it Straighter Shooter is a wonderfully uptempo song with a great guitar riff, and in a similar vein is Somebody Groovy. Monday, Monday is another great song. Simple and mellow and it just works. Apart from a few other songs, there sadly isn’t much else to write home about. Some uninteresting attempts, leaving the rest a bit disappointing. 3,5/5
A few classic hits here.
A couple of hits but nothing else that is memorable.
This album was alright and was pretty good for its time. "California Dreamin'" is a classic as always. There's not a lot to the Mamas & the Papas other than "IYCBYE&E". Half of the songs were just generic '60s stuff. Next album please... 3 stars for "IYCBYE&E".
I appreciate this word being in this list. Monday Monday and California dreaming are classics - didn’t realize the ramones covered them with do ya wanna dance. Also many references to them in once upon a time in Hollywood. Great stuff. Also it should be noted that momma cass did not choke on a ham sandwich.
This is a pretty good album, but just not my taste. It is fine, and that's about it. High 3.
was ok. very much of the era
Not what I usually listen to but I enjoyed got a feeling and california dreamin'
Surpassingly good, but not my preferred genre
this album was pleasant and inoffensive but not really anything special for me. california dreamin is obviously well known but dare i say my least favourite song on the album?? maybe i've been overexposed to the 60s i need a break
Listening with my RØDEs and a dac/amp so this sound quality is incredible. Fuming I wasn't born a boomer who could've experienced the 60s in california as they happened. Copying the Beatles but everyone else was (listen to straight shooter again if you disagree with me) and it works because I quite enjoyed it! Straight Shooter and You Baby were personal favourites. Definitely not the most interesting the 60s had to offer by any means but it'll be a good relisten in the summer. Wish we could give half ratings on here bc I'd probably put it as a 3.5. Still hate John Phillips.
Can’t have the mamas without the papas just like you can’t have Houmous without Chutney! 2.6
After I heard this excessively mellow version of "Do You Wanna Dance" I had to stop the album and play the Ramones version just to make things right again before I proceeded. The musical equivalent of a dental spit and rinse. I want to dance with the Ramones, or even M+P's contemporary Beach Boys make me want to dance with Carl Wilson when he sings this, but I do not want to dance with these guys at all. But, M+P were incredibly rock n roll in their own way: The dichotomy between John Phillips' decades of unspeakable debauchery and the sweet tones of his band is staggering. Another huge one is how unhip they sound now and yet there was a time when they were the hippest band in the world, staging the Monterey Pop Festival, etc. But they were their own undoing because after Hendrix hit the stage at Monterey, these guys lost their cultural relevance like a switch flipped.
I'm really surprised that I'm more than a third of the way through this collection, and this is the first Mamas and Papas album, and even more shocked to discover that this is the *only* Mamas and Papas album. Nonetheless this seems like a good selection, as it has a few of their radio classics on it (although it *is* missing most of their singles, perhaps not surprisingly). I didn't grow up listening to them, and have never really found their style and sound all that compelling, so listening to this album didn't really do much for me, and a few of the tracks were a little grating (mainly the cover tunes, e.g. the Beach-Boys-esque take on "Do you wanna dance" or several of the final tracks on the album). But they have a place in the pantheon, I know, and I'm glad to have been exposed to a full album of their sometimes weirdly dark folksy tunes. I'm also struck that my favorite Mamas and Papas tunes are cover versions by later musicians (a bit like Bob Dylan, I suppose).
C sympa
Influential and iconic sound, harmonies are insane. Just not my particular taste most of the way through
I thought I would hate it based on Monday Monday but it's really nice I like it a lot. Lots of 60s pop vibes and I love the back and forth between the mamas and the papas. Side note: the solo on 'I call your name' is absolutely ridiculous and I love it. Fave song: I call your name Least fave song: Monday Monday Would I listen again: I might, but more likely I'll just pick a couple songs to listen to
Didn’t finish. Very one dimensional but good harmonies.
I liked it. I was really into this 60s style in high school and it's a lotta fun. I do think the songs start to blend together, but it is comforting. There are some fun instrumental parts here and the vocal harmonies are great. Actually a 3.5. Liked Songs: "Monday, Monday" , "Straight Shooter" , "I Call Your Name" , "Go Where You Wanna Go" , "California Dremin' " , "Somebody Groovy" , "You Baby" , "The 'In' Crowd"
liked songs: California Dreamin' ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN This album is so 60s. It's not bad, it's just very 60s. 3
Overall, this album is not too bad of a background listen as it is melodic and not invasive. Nothing too exciting though, apart from California Dreaming, which has over a billion listens on Spotify, whereas most of the other songs have a couple of million.
Not bad music at all. Very easygoing but a little boooooooooring…
This one’s a real treat. Again a pop album where I knew the hit singles (Monday Monday and California Dreaming), but was surprised by the strength of the album tracks. This is beatlesque/beach boysesque psych pop at its finest. Beautiful vocal harmonies, tasty guitar and keyboard licks. Very memorable melodies and great songwriting. My favorite is probably Got a Feelin’. I wanted to say that this album got very strong Rubber Soul influences, but I see it got released just a couple of months after Rubber Soul, so maybe it’s more of a parallel development kind of thing.
Classic 60's sound, feels very nostalgic.
Even if every song on the album sucked, except for California dreamin, it’d still be a 3 because that song is still great. Good album overall. Would listen again. 3.5⭐️
Very much of its time
Ik heb wat in te halen door de Tijdloze Countdown en de kerstvakantie, waar ik dit wat heb laten aanslepen. Dit is het eerste album en mijn god, wat is het typerend om met 'Monday, Monday' te starten op de eerste werkdag. Het klopt allemaal. Luisteren naar de deprimerende teksten over de meest sombere weekdag terwijl de verblindende kantoorlichten weer voor het eerst in twee weken op mijn gelaat schijnen. Ik heb welgeteld zes keer mijn muziek moeten pauzeren om 'beste wensen' te zeggen tegen mijn collega's met de bijhorende, licht geforceerde glimlach. Heerlijk. Gelukkig Nieuwjaar. 3.4
Okay but a little boring. Probably didn't age well
It’s hard to listen to the Mamas & the Papas’ debut with fresh ears; the music sounds like it was produced so many years ago (close to 60 to he precise). In total it If You Can Beliebe Your Eyes & Ears sounds like the house band for Laugh In - groovy music from a former time. It does however contain two of their strongest compositions- “Monday Monday” and “California Dreamin’” which make it worth the trip down memory lane.
A few standout tunes, beautiful harmonies and Cass Elliot's velvet voice are all worthy features but as a whole this album doesn't wow me.
It's pretty good, some good songs
Alright
This exceeded my expectations. I thought the harmonies were often beautiful and the melodies solid. I won’t seek it out, but new respect to them M&Ps