Editing The Mamas & the Papas (section)

=== 1965: Formation and beginnings ===
The Mamas & the Papas was formed by the husband and wife John Phillips (formerly of [[the Journeymen]]) and Michelle Phillips, along with [[Denny Doherty]] (formerly of [[The Mugwumps (band)|the Mugwumps]]). Both of these earlier acts were [[Folk music|folk]] groups active in 1964 and 1965. The last member to join was [[Cass Elliot]], Doherty's bandmate in the Mugwumps, who had to overcome John Phillips's concerns that her voice was too low for his arrangements, that her [[obesity]] would be an obstacle to the band's success, and that her temperament was incompatible with his{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=30}} (Elliot struggled with obesity all her life and felt deeply insecure about her physical appearance).<ref>[https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/eddi-fiegel Eddi Fiegel],''[https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/eddi-fiegel/dream-a-little-dream-of-me Dream a Little Dream of Me: The Life of 'Mama' Cass Elliott]'' ([[Sidgwick & Jackson]], 2005; [[Pan Macmillan]], 2006), pp. 19, 26–27.</ref> The group considered calling itself the Magic Cyrcle before switching to the Mamas & the Papas, inspired by the [[Hells Angels]], whose female associates were called "mamas".{{sfn|M. Phillips|1986|pages=72–73}}{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=139}}

The quartet spent the period from early spring to midsummer 1965 in the [[Virgin Islands]] "to rehearse and just put everything together", as John Phillips later recalled.{{sfn|Greenwald|2002|p=47}} Phillips acknowledged that he was reluctant to abandon folk music.{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=122}} Others, including Doherty and guitarist Eric Hord, have said he hung on to it "like death".{{sfn|Greenwald|2002|pages=37; 45}} [[Roger McGuinn]]'s view is that "[i]t was hard for John to break out of folk music because I think he was really good at it, conservative, and successful, too."{{sfn|Greenwald|2002|p=27}} Phillips also acknowledged that it was Doherty and Elliot who awakened him to the potential of contemporary pop, as epitomized by [[the Beatles]]. Previously the New Journeymen had played acoustic folk with banjo, and the Mugwumps played something closer to [[folk rock]], with bass and drums.{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=127}}{{sfn|M. Phillips|1986|p=52–54}} The rehearsals in the Virgin Islands were "the first time that we tried playing electric".{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=129}}{{sfn|Fiegel|2005|p=154}}

The band then traveled from New York to Los Angeles for an audition with [[Lou Adler]], co-owner of [[Dunhill Records]]. The audition was arranged by [[Barry McGuire]], who had befriended Cass Elliot and John Phillips independently during the previous two years and who had recently signed with Dunhill.{{sfn|Greenwald|2002|pages=15-16}}{{sfn|Fiegel|2005|p=165}} The audition led to "a deal in which they would record two albums a year for the next five years", with a royalty of 5% on 90% of retail sales.{{sfn|Fiegel|2005|pages=168–169}}{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=138}} Dunhill Records also tied the band to management and publishing deals, commonly known as a "triple hat" relationship.{{sfn|Fiegel|2005|p=169}}{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|pages=138; 142}} Cass Elliot's membership was not formalized until the paperwork was signed, with Adler, [[Michelle Phillips]] and Doherty overruling John Phillips.{{sfn|Fiegel|2005|pages= 164; 168}}

The Mamas & the Papas made their first recording singing background vocals on McGuire's album ''This Precious Time'', although they had already released a single of their own by the time the album appeared in December 1965.<ref>[http://www.barrymcguire.com/?page=bio5 "Biography: California Dreamin{{'"}}], Barry McGuire Website. Retrieved April 24, 2013.</ref> The single "Go Where You Wanna Go", which was given a limited release in November, failed to chart.<ref>[http://mpinfo.davidredd.com/MP45.html "I Wanna Be a Star: The 45s"], David Redd's Mamas and Papas Pages. Retrieved December 29, 2013.</ref> The follow-up, [[California Dreamin'|"California Dreamin{{'"}}]], has the same B-side, suggesting that "Go Where You Wanna Go" had been withdrawn.{{sfn|J. Phillips|1986|p=141}}{{sfn|Greenwald|2002| p= 98}} "California Dreamin{{'"}} was released in December, touted by a full-page advertisement in ''Billboard'' on December 18.<ref>[http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/does-anyone-here-own-the-go-where-you-wanna-go-45-dunhill-4018.189389/ "Does anyone here own the "Go Where You Wanna Go" 45 (Dunhill 4018)?"] Steve Hoffman Music Forums, July 26–27, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2013.</ref> It peaked at No. 4 in the United States and No. 23 in the United Kingdom. "Go Where You Wanna Go" was covered by [[the 5th Dimension]] on its album ''[[Up, Up and Away (The 5th Dimension album)|Up, Up and Away]]'' and became a Top 10 hit.