This one will take you all the way down memory lane. When The Mamas & the Papas reunited in 1998 to sing their timeless hit “California Dreamin’,” it felt like coming together with old friends. The all-too-short-lived band split all the way back in 1968, but when they reunited for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, all those years melted away. Hearing the voices of Denny Doherty, John Phillips, and Michelle Phillips singing in harmony together again is just good for the soul.
Despite the fact that it had been 30 years between drinks for the band, they sounded just as good as ever singing their 1965 hit, although the late great Mama Cass was dearly missed. Watching the smiles on the faces of all the band members really said it all. Doherty even began the performance by skipping around the stage like a little kid. Here on The Music Man, The Mamas & the Papas are one of our favorite vocal groups, and seeing them singing together one more time was just what the doctor ordered.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame uploaded The Mamas & the Papas reunion in HD in 2020, and fans have since tuned in to watch the performance 9.3 million times. It clearly meant a lot to fans to see the band together again, as they added comments such as “Seeing Denny sing beautifully and being happy on stage is an unearthly joy and burst of tears at the same time” and “I’ve loved them since I was 12. Now I’m 69 and I still love them. My favorite song forever is and will be ‘California Dreamin’.’”
You may also like...
- Article Continues Below -
Watching the reunion might just give you a hankering for seeing the original four-piece lineup from the 1960s, which additionally featured Mama Cass. I was pretty impressed by the reunion performance, but it has to be said that Mama Cass was such an integral part of their vocal sound, which their 1967 performance on The Ed Sullivan Show really shows.
John and Michelle Phillips wrote “California Dreamin’”, although the song was first recorded by Barry McGuire. The Music Man readers might be interested to know that the McGuire version featured The Mamas & the Papas on backing vocals. The Mamas & the Papas subsequently released their own recording of “California Dreamin’” on December 8, 1965. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and went three times Platinum in the US and the UK. The legacy of the song has been long-lasting, with Rolling Stone ranking it at number 420 on the 2021 edition of its “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.
The Mamas & the Papas touched hearts once more with their nostalgic reunion, reminding us of the timeless power of music and memories. Their soulful harmonies will forever remain a cherished part of music history. For those eager to dive deeper into the remarkable legacy of this legendary group, find more insights and surprises in the links below.