Was CUT From #1 Band by SCUMBAG Singer For Being TOO FAT…GOT EVEN With DOZEN HITS!-Professor of Rock

Coming up… the strange tale of how a lead pipe falling at a construction site allegedly gave Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas one of the most iconic voices of the '60s the ability to sing three octaves higher. As the story goes, Cass auditioned for the up-and-coming band but was initially denied because her range was not good enough. Then Cass was at a construction site and got hit in the head with a pipe and when she came to, her range drastically expanded. And Cass got into the group because of it and had an incredible career. But did this really happen? And if not, why was the story told in the first place? Was there another reason why she was initially rejected? We’re delving into another fascinating case of fact vs. fiction, thought the songs of the Mamas and the Papas including California Dreaming, and CREEQUE ALLEY next on Professor of Rock.

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We’ve done a couple of features on songs by the Mamas & the Papas- “California Dreamin,” and “Monday Monday,” two of their biggest hits. The toxic dynamics inside the band make them a fascinating subject to explore, and there’s always that lingering wonder about what that group could’ve been if they didn’t have all of that internal strife. In addition to the stories of those two mega hits, there is a lot more to tell about what went on behind the scenes with John & Michele Phillips, Denny Doherty, and “Mama” Cass Elliot. As I mentioned in an episode that we did exposing myths surrounding the death of Cass, she didn’t like it when people called her “Mama” Cass, but I will refer to that nickname during a key part of this episode only because it is essential to the storyline.

Michelle Phillips once said, “I can’t even count how many people have told me over the years that they ended up in California because they heard ‘California Dreamin’. It changed their lives.” Nearly 60 years later, the music of the Mamas & the Papas still carries that same life-changing magic.

The Mamas & the Papas followed “California Dreamin” and “Monday Monday” with a string of consecutive hits singles. “I Saw Her Again” was their 3rd Top 5 hit in a row, vaulting to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 in South Africa, #11 in the UK, and perched at the #1 spot in Canada: Next was “Look Through My Window,” a song that John Phillips wrote during a temporary separation with Michelle. John was convinced that Michelle was so upset at him that she left New York City and went back to home to California. It turned out that she was actually biding her time in an apartment just a few minutes away in Greenwich Village.

“Words of Love” was the next single in Mamas & the Papas hit machine that climbed to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #5 in Australia. The John Phillips penned song featured an inspired lead vocal performance by Cass Elliot Then as the lead single from their 3rd studio album Deliver, the Mamas & the Papas released a beautiful rendition of “Dedicated to the One I Love,” originally recorded...

[ProfessorofRock]

Poll: OK! Straight up...Who is your pick for the GREATEST FEMALE SINGER EVER?

[jakeoncall]

I used to think Cass was the soprano in the group, but it was actually Michelle. Cass was the alto. I ran into Michelle by accident a few years ago at a Wilson Phillips concert in Ojai, California. She was there to see her daughter China. She happened to walk past us and my wife whispered, "That's Michelle Phillips!" After the concert I walked over to where she was sitting and told her how much her music meant to me and we shook hands. Later I saw her being interviewed on TV and she said it meant a lot to her when people would tell her that. I'm glad I had the chance to be one of those people.

[chariotdrvr]

I truly appreciate your covering the story of Cass Elliot. She deserved more respect and acknowledgement than she ever received.

[donnerdonner]

You are 100% correct Professor!!! Cass Elliot WAS THE VOICE of The Mama's and The Papa's!!! That woman could SING!!! To me, she ranks right up there with Karen Carpenter as one of the greatest female vocalist of all time!!!

[shaunlynch-ux]

Great video, Cass had the type of voice that immediatly grabbed your attention and emotions Dream a Little Dream is absolutly adorable.

[HickSquatch]

Even as a child, I had a poor self image. Seeing Cass performing and famous, really gave me a boost: if a “fat girl” can succeed and be famous and loved, then I could too.

[gary]

Poor Cass seemed to attract these weird stories, this and that goddamned ham sandwich one. She was absolutely brilliant and died way too soon.

[nancyholcombe]

Thank you, Adam, for this wonderful piece on Cass Elliot. There were so many social prejudices back in the 60s where women were concerned that I'm sometimes amazed that we got anything done at all ever! (I know because I was there!) Cass proved to me that a good voice was as good as gold, an impression on a child that has stuck with me to this day. I will only say one thing about the pipe accident: I believe it actually happened but the whole group, including Cass, were so constantly stoned that the scary incident may have released her inhibitions about working with John Phillips! I'm certainly no Cass Elliot but I do sing and remember not doing well trying out for a group until I got a private audition with the director. She was so kind to me that I sang like a bird! Perhaps the scare she got made her sing like a bird too! We all have our triggers. After the breakup, Cass Elliot was the only one sober enough to continue to understand that it may only be singing but you still have to actively work at it! The others thought fame would carry them, while Cass sought performance after performance. Had she lived longer, there's no telling where she could have gotten to! 😊

[johnathansaegal]

I was born in '68 and my babysitter from my infancy through kindergarten was a hippy chick who lived up the street from my grandparent's house. She was all of 15 at the most from what my mom told me about her, but such a gentle girl to my brother and I.
I have few memories of being babysat by her, but the few things that flash in my memory when I recall those years was the room above the garage where she lived and watched us, and the music she played.

Psychologists say that smells and music are some of the strongest forces to memories... this teenage girl played The Doors and The Mamas and the Papas all the time. My earliest memories are sparked back to her above-the-garage room and the sounds of both those bands playing (and an odd skunk-like odor for some reason, wink, wink) that bring my right back to the green shag carpet in her room and the large bay window that looked out over the San Diego coastline.

Yep, my grandparents lived on a street one block away from Ocean Beach near Sunset Cliffs. The babysitter's house was higher up the street, so the room in the garage overlooked all the single-story houses all around.
Listening to The Mamas and the Papas or The Doors, smelling this odd aroma in the room and looking out toward the Pacific Ocean... those are some of my earliest memories, and I cherish those little flashbacks in my life.

[deantoso]

Never heard this story before. Wow! This is why I watch your videos. The Mama's and Papa's were amazing. Creek Alley was my favorite song. Cass Elliott was the main reason to listen to them!!

[MountainCry]

I never liked the song Creeque Alley because I couldn't believe they wrote a song saying, "no one's getting fat except Mama Cass" and then made her sing along to it. I first heard it as a child and wasn't aware there was another meaning to "getting fat, " but even so it's pretty clearly a reference to her being overweight as well.

[kariqualters]

My 2 favorite episodes of Scooby Doo were “Scooby Doo meets Mama Cass” and “Scooby Doo meets Jerry Reed” !!! Love the respect (and even a little reverence) you show Mama Cass!! I think she would have loved being interviewed by you! Thanks for the memories… 😊

[todhannigan]

You really opened my eyes up regarding this group and Cass . The weight jokes must have hurt like hell. Esp that line “no ones getting fat but Mama Cass.” Great work Prof

[sherriweibert]

Love Cass. I remember upon hearing California Dreamin for the first time, immediately falling in love with that song! I had the 45 and played it over and over. I also love the time Cass sang Leaving On A Jet Plane with John Denver. ❤

[patrickkaye]

California Dreamin' is iconic. A favorite part of "Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood." I can see it luring free-spirited young people of the era to California.

And I always felt that same freedom to be yourself, peace-loving spirit of the 60s attrubuted to her being loved and accepted for who she was, as a large woman, and that allowed her to break out. And she did!

[reneegencur]

Cass Elliot is the voice I hear in my mind when I think of the group. She was definitely strong enough for success as a solo performer and her songs were magic.

[dhpbear]

12:35 - Interesting! I always thought that 'getting fat' meant that Cass was earning MORE money than the other members!

[teslagirl]

I remember her on a talk show...the rude host heard that she liked those chocolate hostess cupcakes and he had some there on the show for her. There was a look of pained embarassment so brief you'd miss it if you blinked, but Cass was gracious when she thanked the jerk. He expected her to eat one right then. "At least take a bite." He was super pushy...there was an element of bullying as he thrust the snack cakes at her. Know what Cass did? She smiled and lightly remarked, "right before I sing? Chocolate in my teeth? How attractive."

She did NOT eat those cakes. Bravo, Cass.

[christineml]

The Mamas and the Papas remind us the human voice is the greatest musical instrument.

[endcensorship]

I get a concussion from a bike crash and all I got was three days in the hospital and four months off work. No special powers, no sudden ability to speak a second language, no genius level math skills, just a stupid brain bleed that also gave me vertigo.