Customer Reviews

Dream A Little Dream - The nearly true story of The Mamas & The Papas

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

 

 

Canadian Dennis Doherty garnered a healthy amount of fame and fortune during his heyday with the Mamas & the Papas. He has ranked near the pinnacle as one of the greatest lead singers of pop. Now Denny emerges victorious in DREAM A LITTLE DREAM - THE NEARLY TRUE STORY OF THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS, the triumphant musical he's cowritten -- and stars in!!!

You will be TOTALLY MOVED after playing this disc, as if you were in a front row seat at the show applauding for an encore!!! I can see why this musical was so successful in Canada. Doherty carries the Mamas and the Papas' legacy masterfully!!! So here I continue with my raves......

First, I love the opener LOOKIN' BACK! Denny's new composition shows his pop-rock perfection!

You never heard anyone croon a ballad more romantically, clearly or effortlessly than Denny on STEP OUT! His warmth, incredible range and fluidness polishes this tune. Originally, this Mamas & the Papas' 1970's single with Den singing lead, PROBABLY was released excruciatingly on the wrong label at the wrong time, because IT SHOULD HAVE GONE GOLD!!!

Doherty's voice must have gotten stronger over the years by projecting it on the Canadian theatre stage. That's why, in my opinion, this live vocal of I SAW HER AGAIN, the Mamas and the Papas hit which Denny co-wrote with John Phillips, is better than the 1966 version. Ditto for the sterling IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN AMERICA which Denny also co-penned, as compared to this same gem on his 1974's WAITING FOR A SONG album. Also - the flute is in tune (!) on this live version of CALIFORNIA DREAMIN', which Den sings with palpable enthusiasm.

Denny's deft storytelling is very funny in this musical. He has impeccable comic timing!!! LSD is romanticized, like in Michelle Phillips' autobiography. But he doesn't skirt around the sadness, heartache and pain in this Mamas and Papas' autobiography either. It's fascinating how easily he can do some tough talkin' ---- then break into a romantic ballad with ease. (Swoon!)
".....And everything starts to shimmer!!!"

I never heard the soothing 500 MILES till now. When the banjo floats in....ahhhhhh....It's one of my favorites on the disc, along with a slower romantic rendition of SHAKE IT UP BABY (TWIST & SHOUT). That's Denny's lead on both ballads, all right, in a lilting & lovely voice, tugging at our hearts...

On the standout tune DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME, Doherty delivers a warm and passionate vocal, and duets with the Dream Band's wonderful singer and top notch musical arranger, Doris Mason. I adore this version more than Cass Elliot's original!!! Denny even whistles a couple of lines in perfect pitch! DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME, IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN AMERICA, and STEP OUT are the most potent songs in the production, in my opinion.

The splendid 6-piece Dream Band/vocalists dress up some Mamas and Papas' songs in more contemporary arrangements, as on the reggae-fied CREEQUE ALLEY. They even rev-up the Mugwumps' EVERYBODY'S BEEN TALKIN'. Throughout the musical, the talented groups' energy level never takes a dip, even after the members change instruments multitudinous times!!!

The compact disc includes most of the story Doherty wrote with Paul Ledoux, the director of the production. Also here are handsome, rare photographs of Denny with the Mugwumps, the Dream Band, Mamas and Papas, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot.

Encore! Encore! For Denny Doherty & the DREAM BAND!!!

This is a fabulous cd for a true Mamas and Papas fan . You don't really hear much from Denny, so this cd is a real rarity. You get the whole *nearly true* story of the Mamas and Papas with this cd, and hearing it straight from denny's mouth is interesting. Plus, its a great tribute to the late Mama Cass! 5 stars!

It was the lead vocals from Denny Doherty's majestic voice that helped catapult such Mamas and Papas' classics as "Monday, Monday" "California Dreamin" and "I Saw Her Again" to the top of the charts, so why not perform them again, live, in his musical, "Dream A Little Dream, the Nearly True Story of the Mamas and the Papas?"

The good news is -- Denny DOES! -- and they were recorded and included on this CD along with fresh, sumptuous harmonies and dazzling musical arrangements!

Denny brilliantly co-created and co-conceived this musical with director, Paul Ledoux. It's been extremely successful in Canada and plans for its United States debut are in the works.

Doherty has a tremendous band behind him for this show. They all sing and act as his orchestra, rather than a Ms & Ps' imitation.

The album kicks off with the awesome pop-rocker "Lookin' Back," a new number that Denny self-penned and sings just for this musical. I really dig it! New, also, is his "Chanson, Chanson, Chanson," on which he entertainingly tells of the Mamas and Papas' lucky gamble to fame and fortune as well as of his budding romance with pretty Michelle Phillips.

For ardent "Twist and Shout" fans, you're treated to two versions here: The Dream Band's Beatle-lesque rocking rendition - capped off by Denny's gorgeous ballad!

Denny still has a beautiful, romantic voice on the ballads!

"Got A Feelin," (Doherty/J.Phillips) and "It Can Only Happen In America" (Doherty/Henry 'Bud' Fanton) are winners. I like Doherty's strong vocal on the latter, which gives the tune that simmering power!

"Creeque Alley" dons an alternative rhythm here, which I prefer, highlighted by a fine fiddling interlude by Janet Munson. Munson's fab violin work is also featured on Doherty's and the late Papa John Phillips' composition, "I Saw Her Again" on this CD, and on "It Could Only Happen In America."

Denny tenderly caresses the lyrics on folk's finest, "500 Miles." And his heavenly voice on "Step Out" makes the ballad a hand-polished gem! It's so romantic. "Step Out" is vintage Denny Doherty.

The Dream Band performs the raw 'n rocking "Straight Shooter" and the Halifax Three's hit "The Man That Wouldn't Sing Along with Mitch" -- with gusto. Likewise with the Mugwumps' "Everybody's Been Talkin'," a song which I think is totally cool! (Denny had previously been the lead singer of the Halifax Three, before forming the Mugwumps with Cass Elliot, Zal Yanovsky and Jim Hendricks.)

So touching -- is the musical's devotion to the late Mama Cass Elliot -- whose love for the handsome Doherty was unrequited.

Doris Mason's perfect pipes belt out "In Crowd" and Cass & The Big Three's, "Wild Women." Mason is simply awesome! And YOU AIN'T HEARD NOTHIN' -- till you listen to Denny and Doris Mason duet on "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Breathtaking!

Denny Doherty is the quintessential raconteur! He's funny and engaging in his basically one-man show, and some of his masterful storytelling is heard between songs on this CD, giving the musical a gripping, continuous flow.
THE BITTERSWEET FINALE WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!

Denny Doherty and the Dream Band:

Richard Burke: Vocals, Accordion, Bass, Sax, Flute
Denny Doherty: Vocals, Guitar,
Doris Mason: Musical Direction, Vocal Arrangements, Vocals, Key boards
Kris MacFarlane: Vocals, Drums
Janet Munson: Vocals, Fiddle, Accordion, Guitar, Percussion
Greg Simm: Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Tuba, Bass, Mandolin, Banjo
David Smyth: Musical Direction, Tambourine, Bass, Electric, Acoustic and 12 string guitar

"...Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda?..." Get this CD if you can!

This CD was wonderful...The recording date was November, 1997; so it actually appears to be an unintended forerunner to the likes of the popular VH-1's "Storytellers" series. As the Mamas and the Papas WAS a fascinating story, I would have prefered to hear a little more dialogue, but the music stands very well on its' own; thanks to Denny's wonderful voice and the vocal arrangements in the harmonies. Nice rendition of "It Can Only Happen In America" (a little-known track from his 1974 solo album.) I keep this CD in my almost daily rotation of driving tunes. Great liner notes, too....

denny doherty sings the songs of the mamas and papas in good spirits. the only thing lacking is the late mama cass. but denny doe's this with style now is the time to release the whole mamas and papas cass elliot/ denny doherty back catalogue on to cd.......well done denny

YOU KNOW, I AM SURE THAT MR. DOHERTY HAD HIS HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE WHEN HE DID THIS ALBUM, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL M&P PLAYERS, THEIR SONGS JUST ARE NOT THE SAME. THE M&P SONGS WERE WRITTEN/RECORDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GROUP'S FOUR UNIQUE VOICES, AND WITHOUT ALL OF THEM TOGETHER, IN MY OPINION, THE SONGS JUST FALL FLAT. MR. DOHERTY MAY BE TRYING TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THE M&P'S ALIVE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CD PROVES THAT, WHILE HE STILL MAY BE ABLE TO SING THE SONGS, THERE IS JUST THAT CERTAIN *SOMETHING* THAT IS NO LONGER THERE.