Customer Reviews

Creeque Alley: History of

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I was barely a teenager when I first heard the gorgeous vocal harmonies on their first single "California Dreamin'" in 1966. And although the band's inner turmoil throughout its brief three-year history was the stuff of tell-all books (in fact, John and Michelle Phillips each wrote books after the break-up), it didn't stop them from producing some of the most memorable pop music of the sixties.

In addition to "California Dreamin'," they scored big hits with "Monday, Monday" (their only No. 1), "I Saw Her Again," "Words of Love," "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "Creeque Alley." All of these hits are here, plus "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which was actually released as Mama Cass with The Mamas and the Papas.

This collection also features some pre-Mamas and Papas songs. Two by the Big Three (with Cass Elliot), two by the Mugwumps (with Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty and future Lovin' Spoonful member Zal Yanovsky) and one by Barry "Eve of Destruction" McGuire with The Mamas and Papas on background vocals.

In addition, the set also includes at least one post-group song from each member, including John Phillips' lone top 40 single from 1970, "Mississippi."

From beginning to end, this is a delightful artifact of the folk-rock era. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This set will indeed take you back in time, but, unfortunately, not due to the music: It sounds like it's coming out of an AM radio, as it was released fifteen years ago, and has never been remastered.

If you are seeking the best reproduction of the TM&P's sound, serious consideration should be given to the remastered, 2001 2-disc set All the Leaves Are Brown: The Golden Era Collection.

"Era" contains the complete first four TM&P's LP's, plus the non-LP single, "Glad To Be Unhappy" in excellent remastered sound. "Era" is also superior in sound to the MCA "Greatest Hits" single disc CD released in 1998.

This disc should only be purchased if the more obscure tracks and studio dialog justifies the expense of this additional set.

This is the most amazing Mamas and the Papas collection, and it is certainly the most comprehensive, with bits of dialogue in addition to the very best of some of the very best songs ever written or performed. These are the classic performances, with even songs included from before the group existed and after its demise, when the members attempted to pursue solo careers. In addition, the liner notes provide photographs and a full history of the group, a story that is even more incredible than the number of hits the Mamas and the Papas had. This is essential for any Mamas and Papas fan, and will certainly not disappoint any music lover. If I could only own one set of CDs, these are the two I would choose, as I could listen to the complex melodies and rich harmonies every day for a lifetime.

This compilation was released in the early nineties, since when other compilations have been released with improved sound quality. Nevertheless, this compilation includes tracks that pre-date the formation of the group as well as solo tracks recorded later, so there are tracks here that will be of interest to die-hard fans, which might not be easy to find elsewhere.

Mama Cass began her career in the Big three, which evolved into the Mugwumps. Two tracks from each of these groups begin this collection. As the Mugwumps, they recorded one album before splitting up. One member of the Mugwumps (Zal Yanovsky) went on to form the Lovin' Spoonful with John Sebastian, who had been a sideman on the Mugwumps' album. These four tracks are followed by a Barry McGuire solo track featuring the Mamas and Papas on backing vocals. The sixth track is a dialog by John Phillips. The remaining sixteen tracks on the first CD and the first thirteen tracks are by the Mamas and the Papas. The set closes with tracks recorded after the group broke up - three Mama Cass solos, a Mama Cass dialog, one solo song by each of the other three and one more Mamas and Papas track from a reunion made to fulfil contractual obligations.

The classic Mamas and Papas songs are all here including California Dreaming, Go where you wanna go, Monday Monday, I saw her again, Words of love and Creeque alley. These are classic slices of sixties folk-rock, some of which at least you must be already familiar with.

Also in this collection are their great covers including I call your name (Beatles), You baby (Turtles), Spanish Harlem (Ben E King), Dancing in the street (Martha Reeves and the Vandellas), Dedicated to the one I love (Shirelles), My girl (Temptations) and Twist and shout (Isley brothers). Do you wanna dance was originally an American hit for Bobby Freeman but later became a British hit for Cliff Richard and an American hit for the Beach Boys. Dream a little dream of me was over forty years old when the Mamas and Papas recorded it - this song was actually the first Mama Cass solo recording though the group was still united at this stage. Some of these covers were also hits for the Mamas and Papas.

Of the solo tracks recorded after the group broke up, the most important is It's getting better, a top ten UK hit for Mama Cass.

This is a fine collection but unless you are particularly interested in the rare Big three and Mugwumps recordings, you might be better to buy one of the more recent compilations. Some of these contain the later solo recordings and some don't, but the Mama Cass solos are available separately.

The Mamas and Papas were one of the best groups of the mid 1960's, when I came of age. Listening to these two CD's brings back fond memories. All of the group's greats are included, as well as some songs I didn't remember (and I've still got all of their LP albums at home).

If you like the Mamas and Papas, you'll enjoy this album. It is worth the price.

A fantastic collection of Mamas and Papas music....this presents as a great showcase for John's writing and the roots, hits, and post-works of the group. The chat snippets are interesting, too...They've packed tons of songs onto this 2-disc set. You also get the hits from sol efforts by John, Michelle, cass, and the world's greatest rock/pop/folk tenor, Denny Doherty, as well.......

Much better than the earlier "Greatest Hits" CD, this boxed set covers every single released by the band, from 1966's "California Dreamin'" right up to their final chart entry from 1972 (!), "Step Out." Cass Elliot shines throughout the CD, and some of her unfairly overlooked solo work is featured. Fans of the M&P's may be disappointed to learn that some of the original B-sides are not here, and some fans may never want to hear the post-M&P solo tracks (especially Michelle Philips' awful entry from 1977) a second time. Still, the package is above average, and is ideal for anyone who wants to upgrade from vinyl to CD to hear those flower-folk-pop harmonies again.

Yeah, these discs really take me back to when girlfriends Cass and Michelle, and my men Denny and John, were so much a part of my life. I remember their gig (on the portable record player) at my dad's party the day he made journeyman electrician at Fords . And I remember kicking it with them in my room, using Crayolas to stand in for their physical selves.

But mostly I remember standing over our console stereo, enthralled by the melodies coming out as the "Dunhill" label spun around and around. At four and five, I preferred "Dancing Bear", the song about a kid dreaming of far away places and animals, to "Monday Monday", But I did like the harmonies.

On this collection, it's easy to appreciate the beauty, and in some cases complication, of the Mamas & the Papas' harmonies . One of my favorites musically is "Once Was a Time I Thought"; especially since you hear the group put the final touches on the recording. It seems they haven't overdubbed this accapella full of fifths and sixths, yet it sounds like a whole choir full of people is singing, not just four. Other arrangements on songs like "No Salt On Her Tail" are often unpredictable and refreshing.

Hearing the voices of the band and the history from the Big Three and Mugwumps is delightful, with one caveat. These folks wear their hearts on their sleeves, as anyone who has heard "I Saw Her Again" can attest to. They court each other, warn each other, build each other up, and finally, in Creeque Alley, vilify each other in song. I for one can't listen to the line "No one's getting fat except Mama Cass" without squirming. Still, I would highly recommend this collection of songs. They provide some beautiful melodies, and the history of one of the most important American pop bands of the '60s.

I should know. They lived on our stereo.

If you own no Mamas and Papas music, you have three options:

1. Buy SIXTEEN OF THEIR GREATEST HITS, the Mamas and Papas C.D. comprising all the popular songs you would expect.

2. As the Mamas and Papas released only five studio albums, just get all of them. In fact, leave PEOPLE LIKE US, which after splitting the quartet reunited to make due to contractual obligation, for last. You can decide to own it should the four true Mamas and Papas albums, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR EYES AND EARS; DELIVER; THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS; and THE PAPAS AND THE MAMAS, please you. (Okay, there is also a Mamas and Papas concert L.P., and you can hold off on that one until you feel you gotta have it.)

3. Pick up CREEQUE ALLEY.

Providing all the songs the Mamas and Papas hits C.D. offers as well as several outstanding album tracks proves just the start with CREEQUE ALLEY. This two-disc collection's greatest appeal is its inclusion of songs Mamas and Papas members John Phillips, Cass Elliot, Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty recorded either as solo artists or with other groups. With the Cass Elliot folk trio Big Three's "Winken Blinken and Nod;" John Phillips' raucous "Mississippi;" Michelle Phillips' country tune "Achin' Kind;" and Elliot's solo songs "California Earthquake" and "Make Your Own Kind of Music," CREEQUE ALLEY may leave you seeking out more than just other Mamas and Papas records.

The CREEQUE ALLEY booklet includes individual pictures of the Mamas and Papas members. Oddly, the photo captions name each individual by his or her proper name except Cass Elliot's, which identifies her simply as "Mama Cass."

If it's just the Mamas and Papas you want, go with the first or second suggestion. CREEQUE ALLEY will whet your appetite for pre- and post-Mamas and Papas music the quartet's members gave us.

All that I expected to hear was there, and it brings back some fond memories. But much more than that, the music was excellent! It is heard to advantage here in one of the most beautifully mastered CDs I have ever heard. Nice context is provided by the inclusion of music both pre-M&Ps and after the group's break-up. What is great about this compilation is that you don't have to be familiar with the group to appreciate their talent. Some of the masterpieces here have more than simply held up. 35 years later the music sounds as if it had been created today.The liner notes are fascinating, too...