Mama Cass: The Heart of The Mamas & The Papas
Mama Cass was the standout member of the iconic vocal group, The Mamas & The Papas, one of the most successful bands of the mid-1960s. Though their career spanned just a few years, from 1965 to 1968, the group achieved monumental success, producing eleven top-40 singles across five albums and selling over 40 million records worldwide.
Before releasing their debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears in 1966, the band had already seen success with two hit singles: Monday, Monday and California Dreamin’. The latter became one of their signature songs, while Monday, Monday reached #1, solidifying the group’s place in pop history. The album itself topped the charts, reaching #1 in the U.S.
Their follow-up album, The Mamas and the Papas (1966), didn’t produce any major hits but still performed well, peaking at #4 on the charts. One standout track was their cover of Martha and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street.
In 1967, Deliver was released, featuring another memorable cover of My Girl and Twist and Shout, though the album didn’t produce any chart-topping singles.
The band’s final studio album, The Papas & the Mamas (1968), featured the iconic Dream a Little Dream of Me, with Mama Cass delivering a stunning solo performance. Though the album was another hit, it marked the end of the band’s commercial dominance.
Mama Cass continued her solo career, releasing albums on her own, beginning in 1968, which may explain the two-year gap in The Mamas & The Papas’ releases. Her final album, Don’t Call Me Mama Anymore (1973), was a live recording, but it didn’t enjoy much commercial success. The album’s title, however, earned it a place in music lore for its bold, tongue-in-cheek nature.
In 1974, after a sold-out two-week stint at London’s Palladium, Mama Cass tragically died in her sleep at her flat in Mayfair, London, from a heart attack. Two years later, The Who’s drummer Keith Moon passed away in the very same flat.
Mama Cass Tunes | Related Pages
Dancing In The Street | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Dancing In The Street by Martha and the Vandellas using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| E7 | E7 (D/E) | E7 | E7 (D/E) |
Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat…
Dream A Little Dream Of Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Dream A Little Dream Of Me by Mama Cass using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| C Gbdim7 | Ab6 G |
Stars shining bright above you…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Mama Cass) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
My Girl | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play My Girl by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C | F | C | F |
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: My Girl (The Temptations) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Twist & Shout | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Twist & Shout by The Beatles using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, chord analysis, and the original recording.
| A5 (C#) | D5 G5 A5 |
Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up, baby)…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Twist & Shout (The Beatles) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Mama Cass on the web
