Customer Reviews

Phillips 66

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3 star:		(1)
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John Phillips was one of those figures in popular music that showed incredible potential but succumbed to self-inflicted tragedy. As a pop songwriter, he was among the best of the mid-60's to early 70's. As a pop vocal arranger, he was simply the best. His star burned bright as leader of the Mamas and Papas and continued to shine just as bright in his solo recording, John the Wolfking of LA. But then he extinguished it himself due to his drug excesses and eventual addictions. His autobiography, Papa John, is fascinating reading. After his Wolfking release, there was just nothing from John Phillips for 30 years. But now, posthumously, there is Phillips 66. It makes you wish he had not wasted all those years. Finally he got straight in the 80's and, in the new century, recorded an album that stacks up well with his very best. Phillips 66 is laid back. It is understated. Absent is the high energy of I Saw Her Again or the pathos of Someone's Sleeping. His life was steadier and fuller at the end and that comes out in this recording. Of his new material, I like Slow Starter and She Got She best. These songs are great pop songs. She Got She could be a top 40 hit. He only rehashes one old song, California Dreamin'. And it is well worth the rehash. Entirely different from the original arrangement and yet just as compelling, this recording of California Dreamin' features John Phillips up front and his reading is compelling. The song samples provided by Amazon are good indications of the flavor of this recording and it is one I recommend highly.

John's voice displays the damage done by the excesses of his younger life in this solo CD, finished not long before his death. However, half the songs on here are pretty darn good, and performed very well under the circumstances. Everyone loved Phillips when his super group, "The Mamas and the Papas" were hot in the '60's. After its demise, none of the members were able to make a commercial splash in the world of solo albums. A handful of fans, like me, invested in "John, the Wolfking of L.A." his first solo LP, which was good, and is available on CD. However, it wasn't good enough in my life to keep me from giving it away when I moved across the country a couple of years after it came out. If you really loved John, get this one too. If you remember the group with affection, and can find this in a bargain bin, as I did, it is worth buying. I have listened three times this week, since finding this an an irresistable price. I may give this one away also, in a year or so, but I am glad I heard it.

This is a true masterpiece. Every song is heartfelt and beautifully arranged. I especially liked the new, haunting version of "California Dreamin", and John's update of his classic song "Me and My Uncle", which the Grateful Dead ruined for many years. I wish every album I owned could be this good.

It's very rare that a CD can move me in such a deep way, but that's just what "Phillips 66" did. There are a lot of fine songs here, but there's also a certain vibe or atmosphere that makes this one special to me. It sounds like a guy who knows he doesn't have much time left. There's no bitterness, no self-pity, no ego hang-ups. Just a very gentle and loving farewell to family and friends.

Listening to "Slow Starter", I almost feel like I'm eavesdropping on a private conversation between a father and child. The final tune on the album, "If", is almost certainly Papa John very eloquently saying goodbye to his ol' lady. The thing that makes it so moving (to me anyway), is that he's clearly not interested in gaining any more respect or credit as an artist; that stuff doesn't matter anymore. He's just expressing himself very honestly, un-self-consciously, and for lack of a less cliched phrase, "from the heart". His voice often sounds tired and old, he doesn't care, and it actually adds to the atmosphere. To criticise him for it would, under the circumstances, be incredulous and even callous. The sheer raw sincerity and lack of artifice is enough, in my opinion, to make this a masterpiece and a beautiful way to end his career and life.

I know I sound very emotion-heavy in my description of this CD, but when dealing with love and death, there is simply no room for intellectualisation. There is only room for compassion.

Firstly,this is no Wolfking of LA,easily John's finest work.However,this is a polished,well written effort from a underrated singer/songwriter.The songs combine both old and new(ish) material,done in a folkish,laidback style,which makes for a consistent listen."California Dreaming" is revamped in a new and interesting way,and it's good to hear John do "Me and my Uncle",a song recorded by countless artists(good and bad!).Personal favourites include "Average Man","There is a Place" and "Gram's Song"(love the lyrical reference to "cockney gansters with electric guitars":no prizes for guessing their identity!).The album's production work is excellent,and the musicianship first class(particularly some ace work from Chris Spedding on guitar).Vocally Phillips is a little ragged:he sounds tired at times,and it's probably no surprise he died just before the albums release.In all,this is a fine album that displays John Phillips' lyrical & producing abilities,and makes one reflect on how he career might have panned out, had he stayed away from drugs and alcohol...

Over the last few years, I purchased the other cd's by John Phillips and liked his kind of easy rockin songs, and wished there were more. When purusing amazon one day I was delighted to discover this cd and ordered it, four years after its release. With dissapointing entries (in my humble opinion) by the Stones, McCartney and more, I am overjoyed with this listenable cd.

I'm hoping that a John Phillips' Greatest Hits cd is in the works.This farewell cd was a sad ending to John's rollercoaster career.His voice is weak and dry,at times.I think John knew it was the end of his interesting journey.Yet, there are three songs where the magick shines through along the way,from his Phillips 66.