The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'

Starring:The Mamas & The Papas
Studio: Hip-O Records
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
California Dreamin' reminds us that '60s pop paragons The Mamas & The Papas had an appealing new sound, made some terrific records, and left behind a legacy that lives on more than 35 years after they called it quits. This hour-long documentary, originally aired on PBS, has all the standard elements of the genre: interviews (including some from 2004 and '05 with surviving members Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty, as well as 1986 recollections by John Phillips, who died in '01, and a few brief words from Cass Elliot, who passed away in '74), photos, home movies, and a generous helping of music clips. The latter come from both television (Shindig!, Hollywood Palace, The Ed Sullivan Show) and concerts (Monterey Pop); some are totally lip-synced, some find the group singing to a pre-recorded track, and some are completely live. Almost all of the clips manage to convey the magic of a quartet that had a unique charm, both visually (the beautiful blonde Michelle, the corpulent Mama Cass) and musically (Doherty had perhaps the best singing voice, while John Phillips' songs and vocal arrangements were nearly the equal of, say, Brian Wilson's); and all highlight their remarkable vocal blend, described by Lou Adler, their producer and label owner, as the sound of the Four Freshmen or the Hi-Lo's updated with a rock beat. The hits keep on coming, not only the familiar "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday" but also "Creeque Alley," "Words of Love," their covers of the Beatles' "I Call Your Name" and the Shirelles' "Dedicated to the One I Love," and at least a dozen more, including three bonus tunes not part of the original broadcast. All in all, this has to be the definitive Mamas & Papas video collection. --Sam Graham
Description
TRACK LISTING:
I Call Your Name
Dancing In The Street
Do You Believe In Magic
Somebody Groovy
Words Of Love
Creeque Alley
Twelve Thirty
I Saw Her Again
Dancing Bear
Once Was A Time I Thought
Dedicated To The One I Love
Monday, Monday
Straight Shooter
My Heart Stood Still
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
California Dreamin'

Amazon.com

California Dreamin' reminds us that '60s pop paragons The Mamas & The Papas had an appealing new sound, made some terrific records, and left behind a legacy that lives on more than 35 years after they called it quits. This hour-long documentary, originally aired on PBS, has all the standard elements of the genre: interviews (including some from 2004 and '05 with surviving members Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty, as well as 1986 recollections by John Phillips, who died in '01, and a few brief words from Cass Elliot, who passed away in '74), photos, home movies, and a generous helping of music clips. The latter come from both television (Shindig!, Hollywood Palace, The Ed Sullivan Show) and concerts (Monterey Pop); some are totally lip-synced, some find the group singing to a pre-recorded track, and some are completely live. Almost all of the clips manage to convey the magic of a quartet that had a unique charm, both visually (the beautiful blonde Michelle, the corpulent Mama Cass) and musically (Doherty had perhaps the best singing voice, while John Phillips' songs and vocal arrangements were nearly the equal of, say, Brian Wilson's); and all highlight their remarkable vocal blend, described by Lou Adler, their producer and label owner, as the sound of the Four Freshmen or the Hi-Lo's updated with a rock beat. The hits keep on coming, not only the familiar "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday" but also "Creeque Alley," "Words of Love," their covers of the Beatles' "I Call Your Name" and the Shirelles' "Dedicated to the One I Love," and at least a dozen more, including three bonus tunes not part of the original broadcast. All in all, this has to be the definitive Mamas & Papas video collection. --Sam Graham

Description

TRACK LISTING:
I Call Your Name
Dancing In The Street
Do You Believe In Magic
Somebody Groovy
Words Of Love
Creeque Alley
Twelve Thirty
I Saw Her Again
Dancing Bear
Once Was A Time I Thought
Dedicated To The One I Love
Monday, Monday
Straight Shooter
My Heart Stood Still
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
California Dreamin'

Sing For Your Supper
Here In My Arms
Make Your Own Kind Of Music
Lou Adler

Customer Reviews:

Different interviews & performances.......2007-07-06

I have seen the old "Straight Shooter" documentary, and yes, that was more of a documentary than this DVD is. However, if you're like me and love this group, you need to see this DVD. There are interviews from '86 (mostly John & Michelle) that I've never seen before. However, most importantly, there are the performances! For years and years I have been seeing the same 4 or 5 (Ed Sullivan) performances that EVERY documentary and EVERY PBS special seems to use over and over again. Although I do like them, the group DID perform on at least 5 or 6 different televison shows. This DVD showcases some old black and white kinescope "Shindig" performences (w/ Barry McGuire) and many early video tape (dig that technicolor effect!) "Hollywood Palace" performances. I have NEVER seen ANY of these perfomances before! The history of the group is summarized, lacking a lot if relevant detail, but hey, its not bad. You actually get some of Lou Adler's perspective here. If you want more history and detail, try to procure a copy of "Straight Shooter" it was produced in '87 or '88 but its quite detailed (they even interview John's 1st wife, Susie). However, the best documentary that I have ever seen was VH1's installemnt of "Behind The Music" about the band. It was done in 2000 I believe, at which point John & Dennie were still with us. In my opinion, that has been the most detailed documentary about the group. Sadly, it will be the last with current interviews with 3/4 of the band. Want more performances? Several years ago, someone found a whole bunch of old kinescope copies of a limited amount of "Hullaballoo" shows. They were released on a series of 3 DVD's. One of the discs includes perfomances by The Mamas and The Papas. Most worthy is their LIVE accapella rendition of the Beatles "Nowhere Man." But yet again, this DVD's "bonus tracks" are AWESOME!!! They are 3 songs that the band performed (live over backing track) on a 1967 television special called "Rogers and Hart Today." It would be cool if someone actually put that out on DVD! Most remarkable of these is the bands perfomance of a song that they never even recorded for record release. The song is called "Here In My Arms" and Dennie's lead vocal is nothing short of amazing! Do note that John later "borrowed" the (exact same) backing track of this song, wrote new lyrics, retitled, recorded, and released the song as "No Salt On Her Tail" on their 2nd LP. Buy this DVD, you won't regret it!

The Best DvD on the Mama's & the Papa's TV Classics........2007-04-30

It's the only M & P's DVD that captures all the brillance of their television performances.It's simply the best to enjoy.The interesting PBS documentary,"Straight Shooter",was hastily done and unjustly portrays the band,by leaving out many supporting songs and skipping some events they had weathered through .It gives the media image and not the real story of what happened to the group.This DVD focuses mostly on the music and not much about their lives either.The last bit of Lou Adler is bitter-sweet to watch.Lou gambled on them,after John and the crew were rebuffed by other recording labels.John Phillips the Meliorist did his best to better the world through his natural gift of musical genius.Yet,he slowly drifted into the role of a tragic modern Don Quixote.He battled a decade long struggle against personal drug dependency.The 70s was a sporadic recording time for the pallid Phillips,still medicating and mourning over the loss of Mama Cass.The 80s was a regeneration of John's body,mind and musical spirit.John relumed his musical success,after some years of dark reclusion. -I was surprised Denny's favorite tune was 'Dancing Bear',a mellifluent ode of one man's quest to follow a different drum. The band surfed the crest-wave of the California 60s musical flow.This DVD is a charming montage of the several seperate TV spots, not to be missed by all fans of the band.

California Dreamin' is still a reality!.......2007-02-10

The Mamas and the Papas were one of the greatest pop groups of the 1960's and this collection does justice to them. What a lot of people don't realize is that they were together for less than three years and yet they achieved more in that small time frame than groups that were around for a lot longer. They had at least a dozen hit singles, 4 gold albums, won a Grammy award, appeared on almost every television variety show of the day and toured the country in memorable appearances from the Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall. Most importantly they earned their well-deserved place for posterity in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With the recent passing of singer Denny Doherty this collection becomes even more poignant. He was one of the greatest and yet most under-rated singers of all time. His smooth tenor is what carries their greatest hits like "California Dreamin" and their number 1 hit "Monday, Monday". The late Mama Cass Elliot, the vocal powerhouse of the group provides amazing lead vocals on songs like "Words of Love", "Dancing in the Streets" and the campy "Sing For Your Supper". The late John Phillips who was the leader and wrote many of the groups hits along with his beautiful then wife Michelle Phillips round out this award-winning quartet.

I think the best part of this documentary is the fun and sheer joy these four people display when they are onstage singing their hearts out. No other pop group has ever captured the amazing harmony that the Mamas and Papas had during their brief reign. If you are a fan this DVD is an absolute MUST for your collection!

Difinitive.......2007-01-10

If you're a fan of John Phillips and the Mamas And Papas,or rock documentaries in general, this will not disappoint.
Dispels rumors and reminds us of a more pure day in the annals of rock history.

A gem.......2006-05-23

For anyone who loved the Mamas and Papas, this one is definitely a keeper. So some of the songs have sommentary, this is not really a concert video - and it;s not a documentary - it's a retrospective on a wonderful time, some great talents, and memorable music. This group was only together for 2 years. Marvellous.

Average customer rating:

Songxpress: Mamas & The Papas
Starring: Various Artists
Manufacturer: Warner Brothers Pub.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001AW0P2
Release Date: 2004-01-20

Average customer rating:

Don't be decieved...this is NOT the same as the VHS version!
Mamas & The Papas: The Very Best of
Up the creeque alley ...
Not up to the legacy
Disappointed

The Very Best of the Mamas & Papas
Starring: The Mamas & the Papas
Manufacturer: Mvd Visual
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'

ASIN: B000059HB2
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Description

This 55 minute DVD tells the story of one of the top '60's super groups, from the Greenwich Village folk scene to the Virgin Islands, Cass Elliot's shattering death, the band members recent successes & lots of music. Special guest appearances by Dick Clark, Paul Shaffer, Mick Fleetwood, Joe Cocker, John Stewart, Spanky McFarlane and others.

Customer Reviews:

Don't be decieved...this is NOT the same as the VHS version!.......2006-08-12

I have to agree with Malcolm, who posted an earlier review on this item. I have owned the VHS version of this documentary since I was eleven years old and when I saw it came out on DVD I thought that was great because my tape was beginning to wear out. Let's just say I'm SO glad I decided to hold onto the VHS because the DVD is definitely not a direct copy of the VHS. I never read the packaging until way later on and discovered that the DVD is 55 minutes long - while the VHS was 88 or 90 (I can't remember exactly offhand). After watching the DVD through once, though, I recognized particular scenes were missing, such as a brief piece on the band's "People Like Us" album, as well as John Phillips' solo album, "Wolf King of L.A." I sent an e-mail to the company that released the DVD (an Australian company called DVDz)inquiring as to why this great documentary was butchered is such a way, but as of yet I have not recieved a response.

Basically my advice to anyone looking to buy this DVD would be to track down a copy of the VHS tape instead, because that will give you the truest information.

Mamas & The Papas: The Very Best of.......2004-01-04

Very bad advertising: there are no music clips AT ALL.
It's all interviews with 20 second bursts of their music, every now and then.
If you are a Fan and love watching The Mamas & Papas interviews then this is for you.
If you are after their Music plus Video Clips then don't buy this DVD as there is NO music clips on it!!!!!

Up the creeque alley ..........2001-08-07

Well, to start with, this is not quite as you expect. Having seen the full 80-odd minute video version of the "Straight Shooter" M&P documentary one assumes this is simply a straight transferral onto DVD ... alas, unfortunately not. For the DVD manufacturers have, bizarrely, chosen to EDIT DOWN the original biog to a mere 55-minutes in length ... and we all thought that DVD was the format of the future, offering the best in quality AND quantity ! Nevertheless, if you can accept the edited version then this is still an enjoyable hour spent in front of the TV. Rare footage, home movies, and classic music that recalls better days. However, in the light of the recent and tragic passing of JP, then maybe we can one day expect the definitive biog of the quartet, but until then ... the video version of this will do nicely thank you.

Not up to the legacy.......2001-06-24

The Mamas and the Papas were one of the major bridges between folk and pop-rock in the early sixties. Their music was without peer, between the strength of John Phillips' compositions and the execution of them by the group as a whole--most memorably Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot--they made a profound impression that belies their short existence as a group. As such I have to agree with the previous reviewer, there's simply not enough MUSIC to justify the price of this disc.

What's needed is for some enterprising executive at some huge multinational oligopoly to realize that what's really needed is to release a dvd of live and studio performances, preferably as a companion to Cass Elliot's stellar "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" show that was broadcast on network television in the early 70s (& recently re-released on CD). THAT would rate 5 stars!

Disappointed.......2001-06-05

I have quite a collection of DVD's, some which are quite good. To me a good music DVD has a lot of music, with the talking being limited to the "features" part of the DVD, or at the very least, in between songs. This DVD is mostly talking with very little music. If you are interested in a history of the M&P's, then this would interest you. If, like me, you already know their history but would like to listen to their music as well as see them, then don't buy this DVD. I wasn't hoping for high quality audio, just audio (of music), like some of the MusikLaden DVD's of some of the older groups (America, etc.)

Average customer rating:

Mamas & the Papas & Other 60's Greats
Starring: ed Sullivan
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Binding: DVD

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This Land Is Our Land: The Pop-Folk Years Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Good Music, annoying clapping of the audience

This Land Is Our Land: The Pop-Folk Years Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Warner Strategic Marketing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

This Land is our Land celebrates pop-folk of the 1960s in a live concert taped at the Byham Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA on August 20, 2003. The program hosted by Judy Collins, Michelle Phillips, and Denny Doherty is a sequel to the smash-hit PBS Special. 1. In My Life - Judy Collins 2. Don't Let The Rain Come Down - A Serendipitous Reunion 3. The Whistling Gypsy - Tommy Makem 4. Guantanamera - Jim Brady (formerly of The Sandpepers) 5. San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie 6. The Last Thing On My Mind - Tom Paxton 7. If I Had A Hammer - Trini Lopez 8. Walk Right In - Erik Darling (formerly of The Rooftop Singers) 9. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) 10. Sunday Will Never Be The Same - Spanky & Our Gang 11. Daydream - The Lovin'Spoonful 12. Do You Believe In Magic - The Lovin' Spoonful 13. California Dreamin' - Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips & Cast 14. La Bambe - Trini Lopez

Customer Reviews:

Good Music, annoying clapping of the audience.......2006-12-15

This was an overall great concert. Trini Lopez comes back to the stage after 20 years! One major complaint is the annoying audience clapping that is dubbed over the concert! When the camera pans over the audience while this clapping is going on, one can clearly see that audience is not even clapping, therefore it must have been dubbed. Even so, it is great to hear the excellent music in modern-day sound quality.

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