have we really never polled the mamas and the papas?

Missing "Twelve Thirty" makes this an odd "best of" poll.

"Got a Feeling," the least celebrated highlight of Monterey Pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP7OKxjObNo

I still have my mama and papa's copy, with interview clips between tracks

"I Saw Her Again", but I probably would have voted "Twelve Thirty" also.

Write-in vote for 'Safe In My Garden'

Creeque Alley is so fun

A 2-LP anthology is kind of funny since it's 50% of everything they did (minus the contractual obligation album) - and still no "Twelve Thirty" or "Safe in My Garden," which are certainly two of my faves.

Boring choice, "California Dreamin'"

Not super familiar with their catalog outside the hits but that intro then explosion in California Dreamin’ with all the wistful yearning is classic.

I still have my mama and papa's copy, with interview clips between tracks

― Brad C., Friday, April 1, 2022 10:19 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

yeah it’s a really cool record!

With all the commentary between tracks, this seems more like an aural documentary than a regular anthology. I'll give this a listen though I know all the songs. Strangest choice is including 8 songs from each of their first two albums, 4 from their third and none from their fourth (their mildly underrated fifth (and last) would come out the next year).

I would’ve voted “Twelve Thirty” (but settled for “Creeque Alley”).

still pondering these

I was surprised to realize that "Straight Shooter" and "Free Advice" are sunny, coy treatments of the same milieu as "I'm Waiting for the Man" and were released before the VU song

"California Dreamin'" is the best song written about California ever, and will outlive the rest of their catalog.

I voted for "California Dreamin'" too, but I nearly went with "Monday, Monday" simply because it may have inspired "1999"'s hook.

I actually didn't really have an Mamas and Papas until a few months ago. I wasn't the biggest fan, but a two-CD collection of the original mono single mixes was released by Real Gone, the very first time these mixes have ever been released in digital (much less straight from the first-generation master tapes which they used for this set), and I was surprised much I liked the whole thing. Wound up buying Sundazed's re-issue of their debut album's original mono mix.

"California Dreamin'" will win the poll, so I feel like I should give some love to another track

maybe "Dedicated to the One I Love," even though it's a cover

"Creeque Alley" is great but I can't imagine Cass Elliot enjoyed being the punchline of the chorus ... Phillips' comments about her in the interview clips are not too cool either

Blows my mind there’s never been a biopic; supposedly Cass used to wake the other three up some mornings by spraying liquid LSD in their mouths. I went with I Saw Her Again.

This was probably my favourite Behind The Music episode ever;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAiS620Y9EY

I still know little about their personal history and maybe this isn't the place for it, but anyone know more about the incest allegation? Is it likely it's true or is it impossible to know?

Phillips was a dick.

They were all having affairs with each other long before Fleetwood Mac thought of doing the same thing.

Holy crap

Is it likely it's true or is it impossible to know?

Various family members and acquaintances have come out on either side of the allegations. There's going to be little effort to investigate accusations against a dead man.

Does that Behind the Music episode contain the anecdote where Michelle gets tossed from the group for drawing a portrait of her lover Gene Clark on her husband's hand in Magic Marker while he slept?

I don't.. think so but it's been ages since i saw it.

creeque alley, i saw her again, california dreaming so many good ones

my fave is 12:30 but still so much good shit yo choose from w/out it

california dreaming might be it?
those fucking harmonies are so sick

Creeque Alley is an earworm but I can't get past John's digs at Cass.

those fucking harmonies are so sick

I agree with the intended compliment, but man does that phrase take on an unfortunate truth...

gross

i take it back

it has to be California Dreamin tho

Michelle Phillips is lovely.

Tempted to vote for Once Was a Time I Thought. A fast delight, and not really like anything else they ever did.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Michelle Phillips is lovely.

― Mr. Snrub, Tuesday, April 5, 2022 12:47 AM (four days ago) bookmarkflaglink

Yeah, but

Their version of Do You Wanna Dance is my absolute favorite version of that song. Go Where You Wanna Go also stone classic in addition to the hits. I love this group for road trips, nostalgia.

OK, so how come I never knew Michelle Phillips was married to Dennis Hopper... for 8 days!

Man, when being married to Michelle Phillips for eight days is merely an obscure footnote to your life story...

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

went to st Thomas years ago for work and despite being v familiar w Creeque Alley from years of oldies radio, didn’t know until a couple of years later they actually parked it there for a minute. sounds grooovy!


https://stthomassource.com/content/2001/03/20/bit-st-thomas-musical-history-resurfaces/

“Strange Young Girls” is one of their more interesting tracks, sort of baroque psych, a b-side of “For the Love of Ivy,” their last all-new single.

I’m more convinced than ever that their best tunes are

California Dreamin’
Creeque Alley
Twelve Thirty
Safe in My Garden

This could have been titled POLLin' in the Street