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124 of 126 found the following review helpful:
 An incredible blast from the pastFeb 01, 1999
By Jay L. Rudko
Anyone who listened to top-40 radio in the 60's has to remember the first time they heard "California Dreamin'". The haunting lyrics and the tight, clear harmonies had a folkish sound that was clearly ahead of its time. When their music finally became available on CD, the textures became more apparent and the true artistic content was more clearly defined. On this disc, which was carefully remastered from the original analog tapes, the Mamas and the Papas are finally heard at their best. While there was clearly not enough room for all their great songs, all of their major hits are included, including my favorite, "I Saw Her Again"... complete with Denny's goof that became a feature of the song. The voices are clearer and lyrics more understandable, and the instrumental backup, which was somewhat unconventional in itself, is clearer as well. Being the fan that I was since the first hearing, I have to rate this 5 stars... a real winner in both music and technical quality.
83 of 88 found the following review helpful:
Brings a lump to the throatApr 30, 2001
By David E. Levine
I remember that when music changed from the 60s sound to disco, I heard the song "Monday Monday" being played on a radio station and I became teary eyed. Mama Cass was still alive so, it wasn't as though I was grieving for a band that could never be reassembled. Rather, I was grieving for a contemporary music style that would never be recaptured. In the sixties, there was the San Francisco sound and then, there was the more laid back sound from Southern California exemplfied by the Mamas & the Papas. Monday Monday was so evocative to me because that song epitomised this sound which was now relegated to the status of "oldies but goodies." Of course, "Monday Monday" and the equally laid back "California Dreaming" sre included on this cd, as well as the lively "Go Where You Wanna Go" (My favorite song on the cd). Another Favorite is the beautiful arrangement of the Shirelles standard "Dedicated to the One I Love" (Gosh!! weren't the Shirelles great too!!??). All in all, there are 20 well selected hits and I think you will love this collection. Now that a second band member, John Phillips, has died, it is time to revisit this group of my fond memories.
31 of 33 found the following review helpful:
 FOR LATEST REMASTERING, BUY "GOLDEN ERA COLLECTION" INSTEADDec 15, 2004
By BOB
This is an OK compilation, but if you are looking for the most up-to-date mastering of these classic hits, spend the extra dollars and purchase the 2001 2-disc All the Leaves Are Brown: The Golden Era Collection over this 1998 single-disc package.
The vocals are much more up-front in that edition (although this disc is a big improvement over "Creeque Alley", which sounds like an old AM radio).
"GOLDEN ERA" also delivers the complete content of TM&TP's first four LP's, plus the non-LP single "Glad To Be Unhappy".
2/06 UPDATE: Universal, in their infinite wisdom, has killed the 52-track "ERA" set and replaced it with a 2CD, 33-track "Gold"-series disc. The audio masters are the same, they just whacked out almost half the songs.
Try to find a used "Era" disc, either here on Amazon or on ebay: It's worth the search to have the complete M&P catalog.
It's also worth not buying the "Gold" set, and lining Universal's pockets, for a sub-standard version.
37 of 41 found the following review helpful:
What a disappointment!Aug 10, 1999
By gdare@netscape.net
If you are searching for the definitive M&P collection, keep looking... this is not it.This compilation boasts that it is digitally remastered. However, the instrumentals are crisp and sadly to the fore, on most tracks the vocals have been muddied and diminished.. Cass would have not been amused. Regrettably my cassette tape of the M&P purchased in 1969 puts this assemblage to shame.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
The songs are greats and the CD transfer is not.Mar 24, 1999
I bought this CD with high expectations and was not disappointed with the quality of the music. The songs are great, but the transfer to CD is not. I'd recommend a remastered recording over this, even if it doesn't contain all their greatest.
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