Remembering Mama Cass...

Cass Elliott passed away 29 years ago today.
Let's dream a little dream and remember the amazing voice of Mama Cass.
Anyone have a special memory they want to share?
Thanks!
Best-
Norm

 

I just love Mama Cass! I especially enjoy the recent Criterion DVD release with the bonus Mamas and Papas video's, Mama really shines in those!...I fondly recall buying "California Dreaming" on 45 the week it was released. Been a fan since day one! I have a friend who sings and looks just like her...The resemblance is uncanny!

 

Good afternoon, Norm!

Part of one of the most listener-friendly groups of their time, and left us way too soon. Nothing more to say, really, except: great voice!

A few photos:






This one's a little spooky. Rez isn't so hot, but the photo speaks for itself:



More typical:




ED

 

Mama Cass was a great talent. She is sorely missed.
Nice pic's ED. That whole period with Jimi Hendrix, Brain Jones, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin all going with in a year. Sad! At the time I thought they were so much older than me, but now I'm 48 and realize how young they really were. Their candles burned out much to early.

 

A very talented and influential woman. It is sad that people think of her as "choking on a chicken sandwich". While she was well aware of her size, she was a good sport about it. I still remember seeing the group sing "Creque Alley", I think on Ed Sullivan. "Everybody's getting fat, except Mama Cass". What a great tune.

 

"When Cass was a sophomore, planned to go to Swarthmore
But she changed her mind one day
Standin' on the turnpike, thumb out to hitchhike
"Take me to New York right away"
When Denny met Cass he gave her love bumps
Called John and Zol and that was the Mugwumps
McGuinn and McGuire couldn't get no higher
But that's what they were aimin' at
And no one's gettin' fat except Mama Cass...

Broke, busted, disgusted, agents can't be trusted
And Mitchy wants to go to the sea
Cass can't make it, she says we'll have to fake it
We knew she'd come eventually
Greasin' on American Express cards
It's low rent, but keeping out the heat's hard
Duffy's good vibrations and our imaginations
Can't go on indefinitely
And California dreamin' is becomin' a reality"

 

It was Ham oblio

 

It wasn't; urban legend. She died of a heart attack in Harry Nilsson's London flat.


ED

 

Chicken, Ham, whatever................I think Chicken goes better with Choking. (Can I say that?)

 

Her weight finally caught up with her...Maybe if she was not famous and lived a different life style, she would have lived longer...The heart can only take so much stress..

 

I always remember the VH1 "Behind the Music" Mama's and Papa's edition... they were interviewing John Phillips, and he was telling a story about how they "warmed up" to Cass. He pauses, breaks down and starts to sob.

"My god", he says, "what a voice".

Amen, says I.

 

Cass pushed hard to be a member...The rest is History.

 

Spooky....I was just listening to Graham Nash's Songs for Survivors DVD-A, and he dedicates the album to a few people, including Mama Cass....I always smile when I think of her.....my favourite memory is watching her face when Janis Joplin was on stage at Monterey....Mama was just shaking her head and smiling and saying "WOW".

 

Thanks

You guys have really made this a good thread. It's much appreciated.
You hope that when you start a new one members will take an interest but you never know..

Ed: As always, thanks for the pix.
Mark in CT: You are a cool guy and I'm glad you're here
Keep on postin' guys!

Best-
Norm

 

I can't recall what show it was but, John Denver and Mama Cass did an amazing "Leaving On A Jet Plane" Perfect blend!

 

As in John Belushi doing Elizabeth Taylor in Saturday Night Live?

Seriously, by all accounts, Cass had a wonderful personality.

 

Cass introduced John Sebastian to Zal Yanovsky--without her there would have been no Lovin' Spoonful!

JD

 

God bless Mama Cass ! We miss you !
txguitar