Few songs have captured the contradictions and ambiguities of the 1960s as memorably as "California Dreamin'," the iconic folk music single that catapulted The Mamas & The Papas into rock and roll history. In All the Leaves Are Brown, SiriusXM producer Scott Shea details how John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips, and "Mama Cass" Elliot became standard-bearers for California counterculture, following their transformation from folk music wannabes to rock sensations and chronicling the tumultuous events that followed their unexpected success.

Shea gives a definitive account of the group's short time together, from their hitmaking approach with legendary producer Lou Adler to John's unique songwriting to their tours and friendships with other musicians riding the folk-rock wave. He explores the emotional vicissitudes that came with being in the Mamas & the Papas, from Cass's unrequited love for Denny, his affair with Michelle, and the ebb and flow of dysfunction in John and Michelle's marriage. Shea explains how it all came to a crashing end with John's brainchild, the Monterey Pop Festival, which should have launched them even further into the rock music stratosphere, but only served to be their undoing. Through interviews with former bandmates, session musicians, family members, and many others, All the Leaves Are Brown is a layered and revelatory tale of overnight stardom and its many pitfalls.

About the Author

Scott G. Shea is a longtime radio producer who currently works on the show Seize the Day with Gus Lloyd on SiriusXM's Catholic Channel. He has produced five original audio documentaries that have aired nationally.

Book Information
ISBN 9781493072118
Author Scott G. Shea
Format Hardback
Page Count 422
Imprint Backbeat
Publisher Globe Pequot Press
Weight(grams) 789g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 160mm * 30mm