Another Tuesday and another debut album.
Released in 1966 just as The Mamas and The Papas’ California Dreamin’ was climbing the singles charts by leaps and bounds, If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears embraced folk-rock, pop-rock and soul, and introduced four unique individuals whose combined voices had an undeniable flow.
Cass Elliot was the true swaggering rock outlaw with a voice for the ages, Denny Doherty oozed gallant Irish cool, John Phillips stood tall as the guitar playing rogue prince, and Michelle Phillips played the attractive California hippie, fluttering eyelashes bigger than she was.
Monday, Monday and California Dreamin’ are familiar enough to anyone who’s ever listened to the radio, but the rest of the album is compelling even to casual listeners, including the ethereal Got A Feelin’, the rocking Straight Shooter, the jaunty, torch song-style version of I Call Your Name (listen for Cass Elliot’s whispered “John” during the instrumental break, a message to John Lennon) and the prettiest versions of Do You Wanna Dance and Spanish Harlem anyone has ever recorded.
Here it is … If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears … in its entirety.

Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right

Mamas and Papas Debut Album

Monday, Monday (J. Phillips)
Straight Shooter (J. Phillips)
Got A Feelin’ (J. Phillips/D. Doherty)
I Call Your Name (J. Lennon/P. McCartney)
Do You Wanna Dance (B. Freeman)
Go Where You Wanna Go (J. Phillips)
California Dreamin’ (J. Phillips/M. Phillips)
Spanish Harlem (J. Leiber/P. Spector)
Somebody Groovy (J. Phillips)
Hey Girl (J. Phillips/M. Phillips)
You Baby (S. Barri/P. F. Sloan)
The In Crowd (Billy Page)