California Dreamin': The True Story of the Mamas and the Papas

The Mamas and the Papas were a somewhat motley-looking group who sang in pleasing four-part harmony and gave voice to the feelings of many young adults in the 1960s. The musical genius behind the group was John Phillips. In 1961, before the group was formed, teenaged Michelle Gilliam met Phillips, the two fell in love, lived together and eventually married. Michelle here tells the story of her life, particularly the years with John and with The Mamas and the Papas. She tells the story engagingly, giving us excellent portraits of the group's members: the charismatic, freewheeling John; friendly Denny Doherty, with whom she had a brief affair; overweight, bright, unhappy Cass Elliott; and herself, in the center of the '60s cultural upheaval. Her autobiography is published almost simultaneously with her husband's (Papa John, reviewed in Forecasts Apr. 18). Although hers is a sanitized account compared to John's, she is more successful at putting events into historical context. Photos not seen by PW. (May 27)