11-08-2010 @ 13:23
In 1981, ten years after the release of the last album by the original members of The Mamas and The Papas, John Phillips (1935-2001) reformed the group with his daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, original Papa, Denny Doherty, and Spanky McFarlane from Spanky and Our Gang. Scott McKenzie replaced Denny in the mid-80s. The group recorded over two albums’ worth of new John Phillips songs between 1981 and 1988. The best of these never-before-released studio recordings are featured in this collection, and find John Phillips returning to his original role as group leader, songwriter, vocal arranger and producer after a decade pursuing various solo recording and film projects.
• The first track, “Go Now!” — a remake of the 1965 hit by The Moody Blues — was considered for release as a single, and is the only non-Phillips original in the collection. • The song “Kokomo” is also included, featuring vocals by Denny and Scott together, and is performed the way John and Scott originally composed it, before The Beach Boys recorded a version for the Tom Cruise movie, Cocktail, with additional music and lyrics by Mike Love and Terry Melcher. • The collection also contains an original version of “Fairy Tale Girl,” another of John’s songs that The Beach Boys revamped and recorded on the Still Cruisin’ album under the name “Somewhere Near Japan.” • This new incarnation of The Mamas and The Papas toured extensively throughout the 80s playing a variety of The Mamas and The Papas hits, the band members’ solo hits, and material from the studio albums then in progress. Live performances from the group’s debut 1982–1983 tour are included on the extra disc, which is a CD-only release, not available for digital download. • The live disc also includes a rare performance by John Phillips singing “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair),” the 1967 hit he wrote for Scott McKenzie.
JOHN PHILLIPS - MANY MAMAS, MANY PAPAS
Featuring Denny Doherty, Spanky McFarlane, Mackenzie Phillips and Scott McKenzie
Bestelnr. 2CD: CVV7016-2
Label: Colosseum
Release: 25-06-2010
distr. rough trade blx