Real Gone Music has long had the well-deserved reputation for being the most prolific reissue label on the planet, often releasing 8-10 titles at a time. But for its January 8, 2016 street date, the label has come up with a release so unique, so special, that it is clearing out its schedule for that release alone. The title in question? The Mamas and the Papas: The Complete Singles—50th Anniversary Collection.
With the debut of their first hit, “California Dreamin’,” on the charts, The Mamas and the Papas proclaimed themselves to be a potent new force in the burgeoning West Coast folk-rock movement, announcing to the world that something special and beautiful was happening in California. Now, 50 years to the day after “California Dreamin’” entered the Billboard Hot 100 on January 8, 1966, Real Gone Music is celebrating this very special anniversary by releasing The Mamas and the Papas: The Complete Singles—The 50th Anniversary Collection, a two-CD, 53-track set that includes for the first time ever the A and B side of every single the group released, all in their impossible-to-find-on-CD original U.S. mono single mixes. But this one-of-a-kind collection—which is remastered by Aaron Kannowski, the engineer responsible for Real Gone’s acclaimed collections of singles by fellow Dunhill label acts The Grass Roots and Steppenwolf—doesn’t stop with The Mamas and the Papas’ singles. It also includes the solo single sides that group members Mama Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty and John Phillips cut for the Dunhill and ABC labels, again in their rare, original single mixes.
Due to the unfortunate situation with the Dunhill single master tape reels (supposedly thrown out at the behest of one of the label’s owners), Mamas and Papas fans had despaired of ever hearing the group’s original singles on CD. And among the most surprised and excited about this release is Mama Michelle Phillips herself. “I can’t believe it’s been 50 years since our first single hit the charts,” Michelle exclaims. “What a way to celebrate! Thanks to Real Gone for commemorating our anniversary in such a thorough, classy way.”
Co-Producer Ed Osborne’s notes feature quotes drawn from extended interviews with Michelle, as well as with Dunhill label head and producer Lou Adler. The package also includes a number of rarely-seen images of this eminently photogenic band. Many of the solo singles and B-sides have never been on CD, let alone in their single mixes; plus, over the course of listening to this set (which clocks in at over 150 minutes) the listener will hear such legendary songs as “Monday, Monday,” “California Dreamin’,” “Creeque Alley,” “I Saw Her Again,” “Words of Love,” “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Glad to Be Unhappy,” “Dedicated to the One I Love,” and “It’s Getting Better” exactly as folks heard them over the radio back in those halcyon days.
Long in the making, and assembled after countless hours spent tracking down sources across the globe, The Mamas and the Papas: The Complete Singles—The 50th Anniversary Collection is the most significant addition to The Mamas and the Papas’ discography in years.
Track List:
Disc One
1. Go Where You Wanna Go
2. Somebody Groovy
3. California Dreamin’
4. Monday, Monday
5. Got a Feelin’
6. I Saw Her Again
7. Even If I Could
8. Look Through My Window
9. Once Was a Time I Thought
10. Words of Love
11. Dancing in the Street
12. Dedicated to the One I Love
13. Free Advice
14. Creeque Alley
15. Did You Ever Want to Cry
16. Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming)
17. Straight Shooter
18. Glad to Be Unhappy
19. Hey Girl
20. Dancing Bear
21. John’s Music Box
22. Safe in My Garden
23. Too Late
24. Dream a Little Dream of Me
25. Midnight Voyage
26. For the Love of Ivy
27. Strange Young Girls
Disc Two
1. Do You Wanna Dance
2. My Girl
3. Step Out
4. Shooting Star
5. California Earthquake (Mama Cass)
6. Talkin’ to Your Toothbrush (Mama Cass)
7. Move In a Little Closer, Baby (Mama Cass)
8. All for Me (Mama Cass)
9. It’s Getting Better (Mama Cass)
10. Who’s to Blame (Mama Cass)
11. Make Your Own Kind of Music (Mama Cass Elliot)
12. Lady Love (Mama Cass Elliot)
13. New World Coming (Mama Cass Elliot)
14. Blow Me a Kiss (Mama Cass Elliott)
15. A Song That Never Comes (Mama Cass Elliot)
16. I Can Dream, Can’t I (Mama Cass Elliot)
17. The Good Times Are Coming (Mama Cass Elliot)
18. Welcome to the World (Mama Cass)
19. Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By (Mama Cass Elliot)
20. The Costume Ball (Mama Cass Elliot)
21. Watcha Gonna Do (Denny Doherty)
22. Gathering the Words (Denny Doherty)
23. To Claudia on Thursday (Denny Doherty)
24. Tuesday Morning (Denny Doherty)
25. Mississippi (John Phillips)
26. April Anne (John Phillips)
