The Mamas & the Papas Album: “Monterey International Pop Festival”

Unfortunately this is the only "live" recording of the original line-up that currently exists. Although this is the group's worst live performance (John and Michelle have admitted this in their autobiographies) there are some stand-out performances, most especially "I Call Your Name", which showcases the true vocal talents of Mama Cass Elliot. The group also inflects some beautifully inspired harmony on "Got a Feelin'". With the exception of the festival finale, "Dancing in the Streets", all of the live recordings on this CD are songs that originate from their first album - their outstanding classic, "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". This CD should be a part of any true fan's collection but it left me wishing that there was another live recording of the band, perhaps from their concerts at Carnegie Hall or the Hollywood Bowl.

This was admittedly not their finest performance (according to the group members in various interviews), but it is the only full concert set that's available to us. So if you love the music of the Mamas and the Papas, this is well worth the twelve bucks. Actually, it's not bad, and there is some live dialogue, too.

This album was out about 4 weeks in 1971 and I jumped first. I believe it was pulled because some studio heads were uncomfortable with its rawness and, more than that, it followed too closely upon the heels of Jimi Hendrix's Monterey Pop release. However, The group does remarkably well here, having to put up with dead mikes, good drugs, horrible vocal monitors etc. That is what is so remarkable here, you hear a band begin boldly with "Straight Shooter," vocally not quite in balance. Then with "Got A Feelin'" you hear the audience grow silent as it finds its specialness. "California Dreamin'" sounds a bit forced but exuberant anyway, proceeding nicely into "Spanish Harlem." Cass banters and confidently carries them through "Somebody Groovy" and "I Call Your Name" with nice insider info about a "John" whispered in the production. Then the unthinkable happens to "Monday, Monday," which should have been the high point: the band goes flat and appears to drop from sight.Yet,this is where this concert becomes inspirational to every prospective performer, it resurrects itself! Mama Cass, like the North Star she was vocally, lifts the band back to full confidence and pitch before your ears. I believe the bassist mis-cued the band too, which any listener will forgive. Then the concert ends with a joyous romp in "Dancin' In the Street." An unprofessional band, like Xtreme in Live Aid, blowing their a cappela song worldwide, may vanish, but this great band pulled itslf up to a great finish. The hilarious bantering, the haunting vocals and the magical brilliance, too shortly lived, all make this a prized look at an immeasurably inspirational band. There would have been no Abba or Beach Boys endurance,or Bee Gees resurgence, had this band enjoyed a lengthier stay in the public limelight.