Mama's Big Ones
Mama’s Big Ones is the third solo album released by Mama Cass. It was also the last studio album she released for Dunhill in order to fulfill her three-album deal.
| Mama's Big Ones | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | October 1970 | |||
| Recorded | 1966-1970 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Label | Dunhill | |||
| Mama Cass chronology | ||||
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Conception
Elliot’s frustration with trying to prove herself as her own artist and tackle the material she wanted had proved an impossibility with Dunhill.[1] The power struggle began with her attempts to drop the "Mama" moniker and use the name Cass Elliot.[2] This had been met with opposition by the studio heads at Dunhill. They felt that using the name "Mama Cass" and continuing to produce music similar to her work with the Mamas & the Papas would produce greater commercial success.[3]
Seven of the songs had been previously released on her first two solo albums and/or as singles, and one (Words of Love) was a hit with the Mamas & the Papas. The album yielded four new songs, "One Way Ticket", "The Good Times Are Coming", "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By" and "Ain’t Nobody Else Like You".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Chart Position | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Getting Better" | US #30 Pop/#13 AC, UK #8 (5/1969) | |
| 2. | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | US #12 Pop/#2 AC, UK #11 (6/1968) | |
| 3. | "Make Your Own Kind of Music" | US #36 Pop/#6 AC (10/1969) | |
| 4. | "Words of Love" (with the Mamas & the Papas) | US #5, UK #12 (11/1966) | |
| 5. | "New World Coming" | US #42 Pop/#4 AC (1/1970) | |
| 6. | "Move in a Little Closer, Baby" | US #58 Pop/#32 AC (2/1969) | |
| 7. | "One Way Ticket" | ||
| 8. | "The Good Times Are Coming" | US #104 Pop/#19 AC (11/1970) | |
| 9. | "Easy Come, Easy Go" | ||
| 10. | "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By" | US #110 Pop/#34 AC (11/1970) | |
| 11. | "Ain't Nobody Else like You" | ||
| 12. | "A Song That Never Comes" | US #99 Pop/#25 AC (7/1970) |
Reception
The album was released in October 1970[4][5] and peaked at the #194 spot on the Billboard Charts.[6]
Today
The album was reissued by MCA in 1980 and again by MCA, on CD, in 1987.
The album can be seen hanging on the wall of the character Leah in the 1996 British film Beautiful Thing while she is listening to "One Way Ticket". "It’s Getting Better", "Make Your Own Kind of Music", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", and "Move in a Little Closer, Baby" are also featured in the film.
Songs from the album (namely "It’s Getting Better", "Make Your Own Kind of Music", and "New World Coming") were used on the American television series Lost.
“Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By” was a backing track and the name of Season 3 episode 8 of the NBC fantasy comedy The Good Place
References
- Feigel, Eddi (September 28, 2005). Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Life of Cass Elliot. Chicago Review Press. p. 290. ISBN 978-1556525889.
- Hopkins, Jerry. "Interview October 26, 1968". Rolling Stones. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- Fiegel, Eddi (September 28, 2005). Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Life of Cass Elliot. Chicago Review Press. p. 243. ISBN 978-1556525889.
- "Billboard October 17, 1970 Album Reviews". Amazon. 17 October 1970. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- Thompson, Dave (September 28, 2005). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Chicago Review Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-1440243721.
- "Mama's Big Ones". All Music. Retrieved 3 February 2016.