The Mamas And The Papas’ ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears’ For Vinyl Editions
The LP will also be available on opaque yellow vinyl exclusively at uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl.
The Mamas & The Papas’ 1966 debut album If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears, a landmark in their career and in the pop-rock pantheon, is to be released on black vinyl by Geffen/UMe on January 29. It will also be available on opaque yellow vinyl exclusively at uDiscover Music and Sound of Vinyl.
First released on February 28, 1966, the LP went on to be ranked at an impressive No.127 in Rolling Stone’s critics’ list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. It rose to No.112 in the 2012 update. This was the record on which the sharp pop sensibilities and impeccable harmonies of Cass Elliot, Denny Doherty, John Phillips, and Michelle Phillips came together on album for the first time.
Produced by confidant Lou Adler, the album opened with the quartet’s No.1 smash “Monday, Monday” and includes another of their all-time signatures, “California Dreamin’.” If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears topped the Billboard album survey for a week in May 1966, their only such time at the magazine’s LP chart summit. It went to be listed as the No.6 LP of the year based on its US chart performance, with “California Dreamin’” as Billboard’s top single of 1966.
Both of the vinyl reissues will include the original cover image, which was censored at the time for showing a toilet. “Monday, Monday” is followed by the bass-heavy rocker “Straight Shooter,” then a ticking clock underscores the melancholy vibe of “Got A Feelin’,” co-written by Denny Doherty and John Phillips.
There are further typically classy original compositions in “Go Where You Wanna Go,” “Somebody Groovy,” and “Hey Girl.” The group also put their stamp on Leiber & Stoller’s “Spanish Harlem,” Bobby Freeman’s “Do You Wanna Dance,” and the Turtles’ “You Baby.” The album culminates with Cass Elliot’s take on Billy Page’s “The ‘In’ Crowd.”
If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears is released on vinyl on January 29. Pre-order it here.
Listen to the best of the Mamas and the Papas on Apple Music and Spotify.
