Customer Reviews

John the Wolf King of La

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am glad this is in print again, I found it on CD sometime ago, and also owned the LP when it first came out. Did everyone forget this was called a "Masterpiece" by Rolling Stone when it was first released? Anyway, by that review I purchased it, and it has remained in my collection ever since! It is very unlike the Mama's and Papa's. But I cannot think of another piece of work that sounds like it!! And Mississippi, which received some play should have been a huge hit. With John's recent passing it makes me wonder what other music he held in his heart that we did not get to hear. I was always looking for the follow up. He was extremely talented and will be missed. I hope someone young rediscovers this classic!

I wore out my Grundig(Hi-Fi)playing this album. I had no idea this album ever existed til about 10 years ago when I learned about it on The Mamas and The Papas documentary "Straight Shooter." I bought the album at age 14 in 1992 at a record store for .... Hell, I have to be the youngest Mamas and The Papas fan ever and that was the first time i had ever seen that album so [the price] was worth it to me.(I also own Denny Dohertys' rare solo album "Whatcha Gonna Do") The songs on this album are classic. As said before Very mellow, no, not carpenters or Tom Jones mellow, but more of a Donovan or Bob Lind mellow. Excellent song writting and vocals by Papa John (God bless him)The only thing that would of made this C.D. better would be if Sundazed had releaed it instead of some off the wall French label. Sundazed would of Interviewed Denny Doherty and Michelle Phillips on their thoughts of the album and what Johns life was like at that time, also would of had unused photos from the album covers photo sessions. Otherwise perfect. If your a Journeymen, New Journeymen, Mamas and the Papas, or just folk music fan buy this CLASSIC C.D.

After doing a little research online, I found out that there are plans to re-release this album some time in 2006. I'm going to save my money until that time.

I first heard the song Mississippi over WNEW-AM in 1970 and immediately bought the LP. I of course knew of the Mamas and Papas but never was a big fan. But this record brought me up short. Simple songs, simply played with a nice touch of country. I learned later of John's personal situation and have always thought that some of that came through the grooves. There is a feeling of dissipation and lassitude that is palpable to the listener. Almost as if nothing good was about to happen to its creator and he knows it.

I have always been a huge fan of the Mamas & Papas, and was happy to hear John recording again when "Mississippi" came out in the spring of 1970. I bought the vinyl album that fall, and loved it from the start. It was showing its age when I came across this CD in 1993. It's quite a departure from the orchestrated tunes of the M&P, being an acoustic album with a country flavor, due to use of the steel guitar on several songs. The instrumental portions are played by the same session musicians that played on the M&P hits.

Some of the tracks are simple, yet unforgetable ("Topanga Canyon", "Someone's Sleeping"). "Drum", "Down the Beach", and "Mississippi" are all catchy tunes that will stick in your mind all day. Still others are like short stories set to music.

It's too bad that this album didn't fare as well commercially as it deserved; perhaps there would have been more output from John during the '70's. At least we have this collection of studio cuts that showcase John's considerable songwriting talents in the post-Mamas & Papas era.

yeah, i was just a kid and i only had about three or four dollars so i was looking through the bargain bin at the record store and there was nobody in there that i'd ever heard of except john phillips who i knew from the mamas and papas and since it was the only album i could afford i bought it, took it home, added it to my small record collection, played it over and over and learned all the words and sang along and, yes, it DOES grow on you and it isn't the disaster of a record that the critics would have you believe, because it's a GOOD album, just not a GREAT album, and it probably sounds a little dated NOW, but if you were alive and listening to music BACK IN THE DAY, well you just might want to get it, but good luck finding it anywhere NOW for three bucks.

This album got very little promotion when it came out. There was one song "Mississippi" that was played now and then. I loved it from the moment I heard it and bought the album on the strength of that and the fact that I like the Mamas and the Papas. There are many other good songs on the record which I played over and over again, I enjoyed it so much. "Topanga Canyon" is a particularly sweet and wistfull cry for help. Too bad John didn't record much more after this. He does have a credit on the Beach Boys hit Kokomo though.

Woke up this morning with "Someone's Sleeping" going through my head, and knew i had to get another copy of this great album. I've worn out at least 2 tapes of the album, in my old LP collection. Got it new, and the songs keep resurfacing from the depths of memory. Lovely lyrics, lovely tunes, more sensual and lazy than the Mamas&Papas, less frantically party-hearty than Buffet, w/ some of the same beachy feel. Definitely west-coast beach music, evening in Newport Beach, walking along the sand, watching the dolphins contest w/ the surfers as the tide goes out. Don't get homesick for LA often, but this does it.

I just received this cd after not hearing it for some 20 years. I remember when I had the vinyl album (yes, I'm that old) that it became one of my favorites. Well, I wore that thing out and having moved a couple of times kind of forgot about it. But then I came across it through Amazon.com and just had to get it. I'm glad I did. This is a terrific cd. Nothing outrageous, but instead music to relax with and you can sort of mellow out. Listen to it in your car when your taking a long drive. Very relaxing. It'll bring back some fond memories as well. John we hardly knew ye'. RIP.

This wonderful album has finally been re-released on CD, so there is no reason to pay the sort of money that some of these sellers are asking for the 12-year-old out of print release.