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"THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS" (2nd release-1966)

10/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""This, the second album by the Mamas & the Papas, was recorded and released during the precise high point in their brief career, and, not surprisingly, one of their most tumultuous times. During the recording of the album, Michelle Phillips (temporarily estranged from husband John Phillips) was unceremoniously booted out of the band. Replacement Jill Gibson filled in for a brief period before Michelle was finally brought back into the band. (It's uncertain weather Gibson is on the album however.) The end result - while not quite as striking as a whole as their debut - is still magnificent. Aside from the hits "I Saw Her Again",which was possibly the hardest-rocking track the group ever recorded, and "Words of Love" (featuring Cass Elliot), the rest of the album has numerous highlights. Most notably, "My Heart Stood Still" (written by Rodgers and Hart) and "Once Was a Time I Thought" are perhaps the finest recordings that the group ever cut.""

Masterpiece!

Gary Morris | Portland, OR USA | 08/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why John Phillips is not considered in the first rank of songwriters is incomprehensible. This is a typically masterful effort with soaring harmonies, brilliant singing, heartbreaking lyrics (listen to "Even If I Could") that maintains the spell it conjured on first release. No major AM hits here except, I think, "I Saw Her Again" - which others have noted is probably their hardest rocker. But the bittersweet beauty of these songs, the longing, is simply without peer, from the eastern-mystical riffs of "Dancing Bear" to the towering blend of voices on "I Saw Her Again." Incomparable and indispensable."

As good as their first album!

Robert L. Frazier | Linden, NJ United States | 10/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I born the year this album was recorded - 1966 - my mom gave me this album along with their first album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears" and their third album "Deliver" which are still in my collection. This album is a stunning and magnificent follow-up to their debut album, "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". In fact I think this album is just as good as their first album and here's why:



1. I feel that the group really hit their stride with this album. 10 of the 12 tracks are original songs written by John Phillips with two outstanding covers - "Dancing in the Streets" and "My Heart Stood Still" - the former featuring Mama Cass Elliot giving one of her best vocal performances. The latter, which was featured on their appearance on the "Rodgers and Hart Today" TV special is Michelle Phillip's personal favorite of all of their recordings and it's obvious why - it's less than 2 minutes in length but it builds to an amazing crescendo and their vocals were never better than on this song.



2. Considering all the internal strife and drama that was going on inside the band which led to Michelle being fired for two months during the summer of 1966, the original compositions benefit from all of the drama that was going on at the time within the group. As John Phillips once said, "This is what we call turning tragedy into publishing".



3. The two hit singles from the album, the rocking "I Saw Her Again" and the honky tonk feel of "Words of Love" showcase not only the continued vocal prowess of the group but also a more diverse style.



4. "Dancing Bear" is perhaps Denny Doherty's best vocal performance and is his personal favorite song that he did with the group.



5. "Once Was a Time I Thought" is one of the best acapella performances ever done by a pop group and really displayed their four-part harmonies.



All in all, this album really showed that the group had grown and is a testament to their talent and versatility. It's a shame that the CD is no longer in circulation because it should be in every true Mamas and Papas fan's collection!"