A GREAT CD OF THE M&P'S 3RD, AND 4TH ALBUMS. THE ADDITIONAL BONUS TRACK OF 'THE RIGHT SOMEBODY TO LOVE' IS AN ADDED TREAT (AS IS THE M&P CHATTER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SONG 'DID YOU EVER WANT TO CRY'). THE ONLY NEGATIVE THING THAT I COULD SAY ABOUT THIS CD IS THAT IN THE LINER NOTES, IT REFERS TO THE LATE CASS ELLIOT'S DEATH AS BEING CAUSED FROM CHOKING ON A SANDWICH. THAT NEVER HAPPENED, FOLKS! EVEN A PASSING M&P FAN WOULD KNOW THAT SHE REALLY DIED OF HEART FAILURE. I FIND IT REALLY TACKY THAT SOME PEOPLE KEEP BELIEVING THIS URBAN LEGEND EVEN WHEN THEY ARE SHOWN HARD PROOF THAT IT IS A LIE.
"Deliver" is the 3rd studio album released by the Mamas and Papas in the spring of 1967 and went all the way to Number 2 on the BillBoard Best Album chart. Even though "Deliver" isn't as perfect as their debut album ("If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears") or as experimental as their mostly original second album, it still has several wonderful songs and served to continue the Mamas and Papas reign as the "Royal Family of Pop".
The album opens with a beautifully arranged remake of the Shirelles "Dedicated to the One I Love" which features Mama Michelle Phillips on one of her few lead vocal performances. This record hit Number 2 on the singles chart and became the third biggest selling record of their career - behind "California Dreamin'" and "Monday, Monday". The other two singles from the album are the biographical "Creeque's Alley" which was written as a "road map" for producer Lou Adler which esplained how the group came together. The other single, "Look Through My Window", which was released in the fall of 1966, prior to the album's release, is still regarded as one of their most under-rated masterpieces. They also perform cover versions of the Temptations "My Girl" and the Beatles "Twist and Shout" - the latter a more slow and seductive interpretation. Other cuts on the album include an upbeat "Free Advice" which sounds like a good follow-up to "Straight Shooter and "String Man" - another Mama Michelle lead vocal recalling how she met husband John Phillips.
Mama Cass Elliot gets to shine on three lead vocal performances - the Rodgers and Hart "Sing for Your Supper" which was featured on the "Rodgers and Hart" television special where the group performed 4 of the duo's famous songs. "Boys and Girls Together" which sounds like a Herb Alpert and the Tiquana Brass selection complete with mariachi band. Her other lead on "Did You Ever Want to Cry" is yet another under-rated classic performnce reminiscent of the Lovin' Spoonful.
The only cuts of the album that clearly didn't belong here were 2 intrumentals -"Frustration" and "John's Music Box" which clearly illustrates that the group was running out of material to record. Even though these two cuts detract from the album I still gave it five stars because of the quality of the other material.
Even though the Mamas and Papas would record another studio album before they broke up the following summer, I feel this album only enhances their popularity and was clearly their last great effort cementing their status as the Kings and Queens of Rock and Roll.
"The Mamas and the Papas Deliver" is a perfect blend of the 1967 phsycadelic era and of the 1950s rock and roll era. In the height of their career, the Mamas and the Papas put out this album, and it seemed they could do no wrong. After two public - pleasing and sucessful albums they could now focus on being themselves and writing how they wanted to. A nice addition to your collection of Mamas and Papas discography.
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