All the Leaves Are Brown: How the Mamas & the Papas Came Together and Broke Apart

"California Dreamin'" is a famous folk music song that helped The Mamas & The Papas become rock and roll legends. In his book, All the Leaves Are Brown, SiriusXM producer Scott Shea explores the group's transformation from folk music wannabes to rock sensations, their tumultuous events, and the emotional vicissitudes that came with being in the band.

Format: Hardback
Length: 422 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

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 his book, All the Leaves Are Brown, SiriusXM producer Scott Shea delves into the story of John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips, and "Mama Cass" Elliot, who became standard-bearers for California counterculture after their transformation from folk music wannabes to rock sensations. Shea provides a definitive account of the group's short time together, from their hitmaking approach with legendary producer Lou Adler to John's unique songwriting and 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, including 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. The Mamas & The Papas' journey from folk music wannabes to rock sensations is a testament to the power of music and the enduring impact of their legacy.

Weight: 796g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493072118