Customer Reviews

Dream a Little Dream of Me

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I wore out the grooves on my original, vinyl edition of this LP when it was released in 1968. I was only 13 at the time, so I ordered this CD reissue with some trepidation. I'm delighted to report that it is every bit as wonderful as I remembered. The material is first-rate from beginning to end and covers a wide range of genres from torch songs to ballads to boogie-woogie. Cass rises to the occasion on every cut; it sounds like she was having a great time showing her chops! Special praise to producer John Simon and his musicians for creating settings that are gorgeous and witty. This, in my opinion, is Cass Elliot's best-ever combination of material, performance and production. The packaging includes remembrances by Simon and Cass's daughter, Owen, plus a Japanese insert with all the lyrics in English and Japanese. My only complaint is the high price tag, but I forgot about that as soon as the music started.

MCA Japan has really outdone itself with this elaborate, sparkling reissue. The remastered tracks bring new life to this psychedelic classic, Cass's first artistic opus. "California Earthquake," "Long Time Loving You," "Burn Your Hatred," and "Dream a Little Dream" burst out with a sound quality that puts most American re-issues to shame. This album has been out of the public's consciousness for well past thirty years. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. "Sweet Believer," a sprawled-out ballad of epic proportions replete with enigmatic lyrics and Stax-y horns, is worth the price alone.

well done mca japan at long last the debut of mama cass as been put onto cd. love the extra pics and rememberances by owen elliot and john simon.also thanks to rbcsoup at casselliot.com for keeping cass's music alive. it is now a great pleasure to be able to listen once again to such good songs as you know who i am and sweet believer without the sound of much worn vinyl and in true stereo sound remastered brilliantly. i hope this sells really well so that all the rest of her mca recordings get re-released. their is no other word for it brilliant a treat

"Dream a Little Dream of Me," released in 1968, came to me as a gift in 1967--a promotional "not for distribution" vinyl. Cass Elliot's debut solo album, it established her as one of the great "voices" of the 1960's. An eclectic mix of some traditional and some quite unusual songs, it showcases her talent in several genres from playful ("Rubber Band") to country catsup ("Jane the Insane Dog Lady" and "Talkin' to Your Toothbrush") to dreamy torchsong ("Sweet Believer"). I had never heard most of the songs before, and I have never heard them sung by other artists since, which is fine because Cass's performance would be tough to follow. I feel the two best numbers on the album are "What Was I Thinking Of," which reveals her powerful voice and great range, and "Sweet Believer." But for me, every song on this album is great. It remains one of the finest presents I have ever received.

This particular release is a compilation of nine tracks from Cass's first two Dunhill/ABC solo albums, and should not be confused with "Dream A Little Dream," her first solo LP.

The drawing on the front album jacket is great. I wish I still had this album just for the art. The original essay by Ellis Nassour (on the back cover) is excellent, as well, and far beyond what one would expect from a Pickwick release.

As my memory serves, here is the program:

"Dream A Little Dream Of Me" (Mamas & Papas version)
"Blow Me A Kiss"
"It's Getting Better"
"Who's To Blame"
"Move In A Little Closer, Baby"
"I Can Dream, Can't I?"
"Easy Come, Easy Go"
"When I Just Wear My Smile"
"The Room Nobody Lives In"

I was so happy to see this album on CD. I remember having it on 8-Track tape when I was a teenager. Have been searching for it for a few decades. Mama Cass is the best! The CD was shipped extremely fast. Only hang up was US Customs. Otherwise no complaints

My memory of the LP cover for Mama Cass's first solo album corresponds to that which Amazon.com has on their web-site; however, the LP is not actually available, apprently anywhere. The picture of Mama Cass and her daughter as shown on Amazon.com misrepresents the item that you can purchase. Specifically, only the cassette by the same name ("Dream A Little Dream") is for sale via Amazon.com, and it does not contain the lovely "Sweet Believer" track. Only the LP offers that track. Very sad and frustrating to have purchased two cassettes and found no "Sweet Believer" track. Perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words, but this picture (see above) suggests deceptive advertising.