Lost Inspiration But Still......

Late 1971. Let's see. Phil Ochs was through recording and on his way to suicide with laughing gas, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, two heroes diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, had irresponsibly overdosed (not to mention the estimable Jimi Hendrix who met a similar fate), and the backlash of the country's conservatives who had been outraged (I think they still are) at delegates showing up in their so in-vogue tie-dyes for the '68 Democratic Conventiion had begun. The hippie movement had failed; Nixon was in. Maybe there was another "times are a-changing" mood that the head Papa sensed. Surely the group was not doing its usual "110%" effort though. The die-hards then (and apparently some of them even now) looked to extend the revolution, even in music. Didn't happen with this album. I still have the LP of this piece of music, and I treasure it, particularly for its poignant "Step Out", a piece of music apparently unappreciated by some of the cynical, emotionally unavailable crowd that the 60s spawned. (And who is "Music Fan", a catchall appellation or one critic hiding in the shadows?). "People Like Us", even with its lack of the usual energy, I welcomed as having the M&P one mo' time. No heavy message in "Step Out", but it makes the album for me. And it WAS a mild hit as a single. Sorry there weren't more. As a group their time had passed. So had the time of the "revolutionaries".

My Favorite Mamas & Papas Album!!

I grew up listening to the magical sounds of the Mamas & Papas and have always found the "People Like Us" record to be my favorite album of the bunch. 'Snow Queen Of Texas', 'European Blueboy', 'Pearl', 'Step Out', 'Blueberries For Breakfast, 'Lady Genevieve'....what's NOT to love here?! These songs are solid and introspective. This album feels like a natural result of both personal and artistic maturation and makes sense as the final statement from this wonderful group.

I'm not sure why this album is so maligned. I think it is the band's finest collection of songs.

None of the chaos shows...but there's no joy, either

Contractually required to come up with a record, John Phillips closes the chapter on his Mamas & Papas tale with a lovely but inconsequential record. It opens with a blissful title cut, but loses inspiration from there. Yes, it's enjoyable in spots, but there is no personality here, no heart, and no soul.