R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips

Subject: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 04:27 PM

Just heard on the news that John Phillips, of the Mamas and the Papas, died of heart failure in L.A. at age 65. Had watched the 1988 documentary Straight Shooter last week on Bravo Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 07:27 PM

I know it was the 60s and I know this is likely to make me "persona non grata" around here, but I have a hard time feeling anything good towards a man who would introduce his own child to drugs and nearly destroy her. or am I just middle-aged?

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 07:42 PM

No Sins, I understand completely. John Phillips may have given us some good music, if you happen to like his stuff. He gave more though to himself.

"Livin' Large".....a phrase that came immediately to mind this afternoon when I heard he died. Whatever he gave to others, he gave more to himself. That he died of heart failure is no surprise. That he was 65 before it happened is amazing. Yet, as the passing of one dimishhes us all, then I feel some sorrow at his death...........but I feel much more for Mick's friend that I never met.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: GUEST,Pseudolus
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 09:39 AM

I think anytime someone like John Phillips dies it makes me sad. I understand that he didn't die in the prime of his life, ala, John Belushi or Chris Farley, but after hearing of the news in any of these cases, I feel cheated. These are people who have all the talent in the world but can't handle the recognition without the drugs etc. These are people who have so much to contribute to the entertainment portion of our lives and they just throw it away. I guess it all depends on when it is you die to determine whether your death is tragic or your life is tragic......

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:53 AM

Sorry to hear it. The Mamas and the Papas, though never my favorite group, were a sort of background music for my High School years. California Dreamin' and If You Go to San Francisco are great songs, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Biskit
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:42 PM

I knew him for awhile in so.California(Palm Springs)and i knew him as a really sweet man who took the time to listen to my music, Of course when I first met him I was in awe,...WHOA! Papa John! I being a child of that era, but he was quickly able to help me put that aside and we just enjoyed each others company after that,playing music, talking,...about addiction,music, politics, and trading views on what we thought the "60's" meant, or if in fact "meant" anything at all!? None of us are perfect, we all make mistakes in judgement, some worse than others, Had it not been for Papa John, There never would have been a Monterey Pop Festival, Jimi may well have been an also ran, He did alot of positive,(behind the scenes) things for young musicians, as well as some old burned out ones, he had bragging rights,but didn't use them. Before you start judging maybe you should look at the whole picture, Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone! If it sounds like I'm taking up for him or trying to preserve a memory,you're right Damnit I am! and i'd do the same for anyone I called friend. PEACE(through understanding)-Biskit-

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:42 PM

I thought San Francisco was a solo effort? Lyrics World has it as Scott McKenzie, not M/P's.

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:45 PM

Biskit says, "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone!"

As far as taking illegal drugs and giving them to my kid, I'm sin-free.

But not in a stone-throwing mood. How can I say that I, in the same circumstances, would have fared any better?

Goodbye, Papa John. The sky is gray.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:58 PM

Biskit,
I respect your loyalty and am glad someone has some positive personal experiences to share.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: GUEST,She Who Sells Seashells By The Seashore
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:23 PM

Mousethief points out that "San Francisco" was by Scott McKenzie, and not by the Mamas & the Papas.

It was written by Papa John Phillips.

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 01:44 PM

I didn't say "by."

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 03:11 PM

WE all make mistakes in our lives. Some of his were grave as MAry (Sinsull) rightly points out. I grew up listening to his music and will miss the talent he was. Hopefully he was able to make amends for the drugs and if he helped musicians starting out perhaps he did. So long Papa John, may the road you travel now be less troublesome than the one you traveled here. Neil

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: GUEST,willie-o
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 03:52 PM

he wrote "Me And My Uncle". a mean nasty rockin cowboy murder ballad that the grateful dead and yours truly have just enjoyed the hell out of playing for years and years.

so let him rest. better and worse, the sixties are over.

w-o

Subject: RE: BS: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: raredance
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:17 PM

Personally, I really like the 3 Journeymen albums (J Phillips, Scott McKenzie and Dick Weissman). "Metamorphosis" is one of the great recorded insect songs even though they didn't write it.

rich r

Subject: RE: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Willie-O
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 08:00 PM

What the hell, here it is. Damn good song. You can practically smell the sweat on the leather, and the whisky and gunsmoke.

Me And My Uncle
-by John Phillips

Me and my uncle went riding down
South Colorado, West Texas bound.
We stopped over in Santa Fe.
That bein the point that was just about halfway
You know it was the hottest part of the day

2
I took the horses down to their stalls
Stopped in a barroom, ordered drinks for all.
Two days in the saddle, you know my body hurt
It bein summer, I took off my shirt
And I tried to wipe off some of that dusty dirt.

3
West Texas cowboys, they was all around
With liquor and money, they loaded down
So soon after payday, y'know it seemed a shame
Y'know my uncle, he starts right in on a game
Five card stud and the loser takes the name(?)

4
My uncle starts winning, cowboys got sore
One o' them called him, and then two more
Accused him of cheating, oh no, it can't be
I know my uncle, he's as honest a man as me
And I'm as honest as a living man can be

5
One of those cowboys, he starts to draw
So I shot him down, boys, he never saw.
Shot me another, one more that won't grow old
In the confusion, I took off out the door
And I hightailed it down to Mexico.

6
God bless the cowboys, god bless their souls
God bless my uncle, whichever way he goes
He taught me the Good Book, and he taught me all I know
He taught me so well, that I just let that go
And I left him lying dead by the side of the road.

i've never really been able to figure out how this came from the writer of "Monday Monday" and other mushy kinda stuff. Guess it's from the wilder side of John Phillips--god knows he had one.

Willie-O

Subject: RE: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Peg
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 08:32 PM

I have had Mamas and Papas songs in my head all day; it is always a tragedy when someone whose art has given joy to the world passes on...

Subject: RE: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: mkebenn
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:09 AM

If there's a rock 'n roll heaven, they got some killer harmony. Mike

Subject: RE: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: Big Red
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 12:37 AM

Listen to the Journeymen and the Big Three (with Mama Cass). Then listen to the Mama's & Papa's. You may be left wondering just who was responsible for the "sound" of the M & P. Can't help but think that maybe Cass contributed a great deal more than her voice to the group. I just wish both had stayed with folk a bit longer.

Subject: RE: R.I.P. 'Papa' Phillips
From: LR Mole
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 08:32 AM

Odds & ends: "Dancing Bear" and its strange tempo shifts;"Once Was A Time I Thought", a sort of M&P-meet Swingle Singers-Hi-Los. And those great covers: "Words of Love", and "My Heart Stood Still". As the bumper sticker says, John knew how to lead, follow, and get out of the way, sometimes all at once. Trust the art,not the artist.