If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As they developed and incorporated more of their own social lives into their music, the Mamas and the Papas became the model for other dysfunctionally self-involved groups like Fleetwood Mac. But none of that is evident on their 1966 debut, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears; rather, it's the quartet's dreamy vocal interaction that is the highlight here. "California Dreamin'" is a touching honeymoon of a song; and its follow-up, "Monday Monday," is much the same--though it comes this close to overwhelming sappiness. "Spanish Harlem," "In Crowd," and Mama Cass Elliott's lead on the Beatles' "I Call Your Name" are just as enjoyable. Though the accompanying music on this album was not the focus, it's every bit as strong as the vocal arrangements, with Larry Knetchel, Joe Osborne, and Hal Blaine handling the chores here. --Randy Silver

Tracks:

Monday, Monday
Straight Shooter
Got A Feelin'
I Call Your Name
Do You Wanna Dance
Go Where You Wanna Go
California Dreamin'
Spanish Harlem
Somebody Groovy
Hey Girl
You Baby
The In Crowd

Amazon.com

As they developed and incorporated more of their own social lives into their music, the Mamas and the Papas became the model for other dysfunctionally self-involved groups like Fleetwood Mac. But none of that is evident on their 1966 debut, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears; rather, it's the quartet's dreamy vocal interaction that is the highlight here. "California Dreamin'" is a touching honeymoon of a song; and its follow-up, "Monday Monday," is much the same--though it comes this close to overwhelming sappiness. "Spanish Harlem," "In Crowd," and Mama Cass Elliott's lead on the Beatles' "I Call Your Name" are just as enjoyable. Though the accompanying music on this album was not the focus, it's every bit as strong as the vocal arrangements, with Larry Knetchel, Joe Osborne, and Hal Blaine handling the chores here. --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews:

I'M A BELIEVER !!!.......2006-08-15

To me, great debut albums are few and far between. These days, there's just too much hype made about this group and that group; and, even if they are good, so much media overkill and overplay gets done that you're sick of hearing about someone before they've really had a chance? "IF YOU CAN BELIEVE YOUR EYES AND EARS" is one of those great debut albums--almost a "sleeper," if you will--that can't be beat! From start to finish, you want to hear more; and usually do wind up playing it a second (and maybe even a third) time around before walking away and saying, "Wow," to yourself over and over again. I can only compare that to, say, the first Beatles album (take your pick between the first UK or US release), Boston's debut LP, Skynyrd's "PRONOUNCED," or (another "sleeper") "LISTEN UP... IT'S THE ECHOES"--the latter, in some ways, reminding me of The Mamas & The Papas magic and honesty? This group's definitely earned itself a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I only wish there were more like them!

Metamorpho, Metamorpho...So Good to Me..................2006-01-05

People, people. I remember a long time ago, when I was a Metamorpho in training, trying to angle my radio in just a certain way to pick up a radio station in Boston to hear the latest. Even though I lived in the suburbs of New Jersey - extremely close to N.Y.C. - they really weren't up on it as far as new music was concerned. So.... there I was... trying to get under just the right cloud formation. And then I heard it (Bless Boston, Massachusetts!), California Dreamin'!!!! Then they announced that it was by The Mamas and the Papas. My teenage brain repeated over and over to me.. "MUST GET THIS".
Of course, I had to wait for New York to catch up, and then I had to wait for the album release. It was well worth the wait! At that time (65-66) I remember how unique they were. I mean. who dressed like that? Not even my beloved Beatles took that chance (Sgt. Pepper was years away). As I knew full well upon first hearing, "California Dreamin'" eventually went to Number 1. And not too long after that, they doubled that gift by releasing "Monday, Monday." Accessible pop done expertly.
This first album has many things to reccommend it. The arrangements, the vocal harmonies, the professional session men who provided the backdrop for these voices. The "definitive" Mamas and the Papas, if you ask Metamorpho.
So many good tunes. That great riff on the pop-rock "Straight Shooter", the carnival take on "I Call Your Name", the great tick-tocking of time on "Got a Feelin'". Wonderful, lush, great mid-sixties pop. Memorable and you always felt better after hearing it.
The Mamas and the Papas were different than anything else at the time. Their legacy lives on because there was quality there. Metamorpho is sad because he no longer discovers great music by transistor radio. He is sad because the times have moved from quality to quantity. To quote Metamorpho in one of his more reflective moods, "The discovery of great music is 50% of the joy upon hearing it." I hope my anecdotes and humor help you to the joy of new discoveries! Bye my people.... Metamorpho

Nothing like it before - EVERYTHING like it since.......2004-08-26

In an era where groups were categorized as 'Vocal', 'Motown', 'Folk', 'Girl Group', 'British Invasion', and 'Rock and Roll', along came The Mama's and the Papa's (at the time, resplendent with their apostrophes). What, exactly, do you call them? Part of the magic of the band was that you couldn't label them with anything that existed at the time - they really did carve their own niche... then immortalized it in the 2 years they were together. Their effect was profound, even leading to a 4/4 time drum beat that's colloquially referred to as 'Mamas and Papas'. The Classics IV would name a song after them; Peter, Paul and Mary would dedicate an entire verse to them in their hit "I Dig Rock and Roll Music"; Donovan would write a song for Cass. The group was as adept at others' material (a full HALF of this album is comprised of tunes by other artists), as they were at their own.

California Dreamin' - an ageless classic which made Rolling Stone's top 100 of the best songs ever recorded, and with good reason. A haunting, minor-chord revelation, the song takes the beachy California confections of the early 1960's and gives them folk's depth and mood. And, by the way, the second verse ends with "you know the preacher LIGHTS the COALS, he knows I'm gonna stay (get it, it's cold outside, the preacher lights a fire for the wandering troubadour who's dreamin' of California - the Beach Boys cover of this song sported a video that illustrates this point with some clarity).

Straight Shooter - Rock and Roll, pure and simple. Driving, groovy, and downright sexy towards the end (listen carefully for Cass's grinding 'half of that belongs to me' at the end of the song).

Got a Feelin' - One of the first four songs the group ever composed, the liner notes of the album refer to the song as 'feathery'. I really can't improve on that.

I Call Your Name - Cass' first showcase on the album, it defines the Mama's and Papa's brilliance (for the most part) at recording other's tunes, and Papa John's ability to rearrange a song and make it completely different. The Beatles' rock and roll standard becomes an almost ragtime love song, if you can believe your ears...

Do You Wanna Dance - another cover tune, late of Bobby Freeman AND the Beach Boys, it is arguably the group's best version of someone else's song - so good, in fact, that Dunhill - the group's record label - would mine it for a single TWO YEARS AFTER THE FACT. The beauty and sincerity of this song is BEGGING to appear on a soundtrack of a romantic comedy. Brilliant beyond words.

Go Where You Wanna Go - simple, cool, four-part-harmony fun. The first single - though preemptively - released from the album, it was quickly pulled in favor of California Dreamin'. The 5th Dimension would later cover the song and send it into the American Top 20, thus launching THEIR career.

Monday, Monday - won the group the Grammy in 1966, and with good reason. It's a symphony. In stereo, the one speaker will produce Cass, John, Michelle, and the strings, while the other will feature Denny's lead, the harpsichord (!) and percussion. It is technically awe-inspiring, simple and complex at the same time. Michelle thought it was pretentious at the time, and potentially career-limiting. Never has an artist been so happy to be so wrong. I can hear this song 1,000 times - and have - and can still find something new to love about it.

Spanish Harlem - on par with Do You Wanna Dance, Denny's vocals are pristine and plaintive, with the girls' harmonies behind him evoking the balcony to which he's singing. A love song lovers' love song.

Somebody Groovy - another of their first four tunes, it - along with the rest of the album - demonstrates the group's ability to be good time rock n' rollers. It's got a great beat, and you can... well, you know.

You, Baby - The Turtles are targeted in this cover, and I'm hard-pressed to decide who's won. The boys do it a little faster; the Mama's and the Papa's do it a little more rock-er. One of the few times the group would take on another artist's tune and match it closely, rather than re-invent it entirely.

Hey Girl - A great answer-back pop tune that should've appeared on more of the millions of compilations than it has. An early showcase for the girls' voices.

The In-Crowd - Watch Cass take a soul tune and make it her own. The other side of the coin from I Call Your Name, here Cass is finally unleashed on a song, her barreling contralto owning every note.

I still cannot imagine, after all the greatest hits re-do's, that California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday actually appeared on the same album together ORIGINALLY. Universal in its acceptance, If You Can Believe is to the Mama's and the Papa's what Pet Sounds is to the Beach Boys, and Sgt. Peppers is to the Beatles.

Yes, there was Abba, the Carpenters, the Sunshine Company... but FIRST, there was The Mama's and the Papa's.

Buy this album. Right now.

5 Stars Plus!!!.......2002-10-09

This is great makeout music! On Do You Wanna Dance, Monday, Monday and Spanish Harlem, Denny Doherty is a singer par excellence!!! Cass is super on Somebody Groovy and In Crowd!!!

Come back John and write some more songs! You left us too soon!

Their Fabulous Classic First Folk-Rock Album!.......2002-05-15

No single group flashed faster to the top nor created more hype than the fabled the Mamas and the Papas. From their initial burst onto the scene with "California Dreaming" to their final efforts with "For The Love Of Ivy", they created a new, exciting, and melodramatic form of vocal harmonies into the folk-rock mainstream. The album featured here was their freshman effort, and it is indeed a classic, containing wall to wall hits with "Monday Monday", "I Call Your Name", "Go Where You Wanna Go", and of course, "California Dreaming".

Tracks:

Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
Swanee- Al Jolson
When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
My Man- Fanny Brice
Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
Body And Soul- Libby Holman
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
Night And Day- Fred Astaire
Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
You're The Top- Ethel Merman
Summertime- Anne Brown
September Song- Walter Huston
My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
People- Barbra Streisand
Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
Come Follow The Band
Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

Memory- Betty Buckley
I Am What I Am- George Hearn
Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
With One Look- Glenn Close
On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
Seasons Of Love-
Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating:

Faust (Sung in English)
Gounod , Clarke , Miles , Plazas , Magee , and Parry
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Verdi: La Traviata

ASIN: B00006NSEC
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Average customer rating:

Jason Howard does the Hollywood musical--and very well!!

Make Believe: Hollywood Baritones

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004SC0P
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

Oklahoma: Oh, What A Beautiful Morning
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers: Bless Your Beautiful Hide
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers: When Your In Love
Kiss Me Kate: Where Is The Life That Late I Led?
Annie Get Your Gun: The Girl That I Marry
Annie Get Your Gun: My Defences Are Down
Annie Get Your Gun: Anything You Can Do
Annie Get Your Gun: They Say It's Wonderful
Pagan Love Song: Why Is Love So Crazy?
Gordon MacRae Film Medley: Look For The Silver Lining: Time On My Hands/Tea For Two...
Showboat: Make Believe
Carousel: If I Loved You
Carousel: Soliloquy
Carousel: You'll Never Walk Alone
Rose Marie: Rose Marie
Kismet: Stranger In Paradise
Lovely To Look At: Lovely To Look At
Oklahoma!: The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Oklahoma!: Oklahoma!

Customer Reviews:

Jason Howard does the Hollywood musical--and very well!!.......2000-10-30

This is an amazing CD. I recommend it especially for those who love Hollywood and Broadway musicals of the 1940's and 50's like "Oklahoma", "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers". Jason Howard is a wonderfully talented baritone whose singing rivals that of Howard Keel and Gordon MacRae, whose songs he sings on this disc. Every song is well done, and sung with appropriate feeling. Though recorded in a studio, you'd think that "Anything You Can Do," from "Annie Get Your Gun" was from a live theatrical performance, there is so much zest in the interaction between Howard and his female partner. The selections from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" are particularly welcome, as they are seldom recorded. I can't praise this disc enough!

Average customer rating:

One of the premier debut albums of the fun filled Sixties

If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

Manufacturer: MCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000E4UMMS

Product Description

Includes 12 songs. Including Monday Monday, Straight Shooter, Do You Want To Dance, California Dreaming, Hey Girl and 7 others.

Customer Reviews:

One of the premier debut albums of the fun filled Sixties.......2006-04-07

"If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears," the first album released by the Mamas and the Papas, is clearly the group's best album. "California Dreaming" was rocketing up the charts in the spring of 1966 when this album was released and introduced the crisp harmonies that John Phillips had developed through months of rehearsal in the Virgin Islands and hours of polishing the sound in the recording studio. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like when this sound was new and fresh. The album went to #1 on the Billboard charts and won a Grammy in the rather inclusive Other Pop/Rock&Roll/ Contemporary Awards or Instrumental category.

Of course, this is the group's best album (hits collections not included) since it has both of their greatest hits, "California Dreaming" (#4) and "Monday, Monday" (#1). Through into the mix the almost as good "Go Where You Wanna Go," the lovely "Got a Feelin'," and the awesome torch song cover of the Beatles song "I Call Your Name" that allows Cass Elliott to show off her solo skills, and none of their other albums are even close to being this good. Actually, the covers of "Spanish Harlem" and "Do You Wanna Dance" are pretty good as well. Besides, pretty much as soon as this album was released the group started to implode from the interpersonal conflicts.

Consequently, in the end I think that you can make an argument that "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears" should be remembered as a Sixties album on at least the level right next to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Pet Sounds," in terms of the exquisite way in which the songs and album were crafted. My contention would be that obviously you want to have a hits collection of the Mamas and the Papas (and there are several decent ones out there), but that picking up this first album would be worth it as well because this is the one that got everybody excited all their sound in the first place.

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