Safe in My Garden

Last updated
"Safe in My Garden"
Single by The Mamas and the Papas
from the album The Papas & The Mamas
B-side "Too Late"
ReleasedMay 1968
Recorded1968
Genre Folk rock
Length3:10
Label Dunhill
Songwriter(s) John Phillips
Producer(s) Lou Adler
The Mamas and the Papassingles chronology
"Dancing Bear"
(1967)		"Safe in My Garden"
(1968)		"Dream a Little Dream of Me"
(1968)

"Safe in My Garden" is a song written by John Phillips and recorded by The Mamas and the Papas. The single was briefly in the Top 100 pop chart in the United States. AllMusic.com calls the song "One of the group's finest latter-day records." [1]

Contents

The Mamas and the Papas

After Cass Elliot left the group temporarily in 1967, she returned in 1968 to complete their fourth album, The Papas & The Mamas. While the 1967 single Twelve Thirty appears on the album and was intended to be the first single for the fourth album, nearly a year had passed between its release and the completion of the remainder of the album, with two additional singles issued in order to keep the group in the minds of the American record buying public, "Glad to Be Unhappy" (a non-album single) and "Dancing Bear" culled from the group's second album. As a result, "Safe in My Garden" serves as something of a lead-off single for the album.

The song marks a departure for the group, as their signature folk-rock sound gives way to world-weary lyrics. Songwriter John Phillips, in the two years prior, had seen the group achieve great highs (six singles in the American Top 5 charts, a Grammy award, and enormous wealth and popularity) and extraordinary lows (Michelle Phillips' affairs with bandmate Denny Doherty and The Byrds' Gene Clark, Cass's departure, John's burgeoning drug addiction and added responsibility of becoming a father for the third time), and now outside the group, 1968 was a myriad protests, police brutality, and a world-weariness about the 1960s, in particular the Sunset Strip Riots. [1] Despite the actual lyrics, the music is classic "Laurel Canyon" folk music, and has been described as "this bucolic, happy song." [2]

Well known for their singers' harmonies, this is an especially beautiful example of how the Mamas and Papas blended their voices by "layering vocal lines over and under each other that almost breaks your heart." [3] Billboard described the single as a "smooth, easy beat rhythm number with another exceptional vocal workout." [4] Cash Box said it was a "pretty ballad" with "polished performance" and "adept arrangements." [5] Despite reaching the Top Pop 100, as a "lead single" at the time, it was considered a failure for the band, leading to widespread rumors they were breaking up.[ citation needed ] However, since then, it has been included in virtually every one of their later compilation LPs and CDs, including Greatest Hits (1998), The Singles+, and All the Leaves Are Brown (both 2001). [1] In 2014, the Knoxville News called the song number three out of the "Ten essential songs that everyone should hear." [3]

Despite its hours of production and craftsmanship at John and Michelle Phillips' new home recording studio, the single was the first to miss the Top 40 of Billboard's Top 100 entirely, peaking at #53. The album from which the single was drawn, while still a hit, was considered a disappointment at the time: while all 3 prior albums and their Greatest Hits LP all became Top 5 smash hits, this album's highest chart position was #15.

Other recordings

The song was also recorded in Swedish, as "En dag i juni", with lyrics by Britt Lindeborg. The Family Four recorded the song as a B-side for the single Kör långsamt (Cab Driver) , released in November 1968. [6] and on the 1969 album Kör långsamt . [7] With these lyrics, the song was recorded by Thorleifs, releasing it as a single in 1973 [8] and on the 1974 album with the same name [9] The Swedish-language lyrics have an environmental-political message, tackling mankind 's ways of dealing with planet Earth. [10]

Charts

Chart (1968)Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100 [11] 53

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Mamas & the Papas</span> Canadian-American folk rock vocal group

The Mamas & the Papas was a folk rock vocal group formed in Los Angeles, California, which recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968. The group was a defining force in the music scene of the counterculture of the 1960s. The group consisted of Americans John Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips, and Canadian Denny Doherty. Its sound was based on vocal harmonies arranged by John Phillips, the songwriter, musician, and leader of the group, who adapted folk to the new beat style of the early 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Dreamin'</span> Single by the Mamas & the Papas

"California Dreamin'" is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips and first recorded by Barry McGuire. The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who sang backup on the original version and released it as a single in 1965. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson Phillips</span> American vocal group

Wilson Phillips is an American pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The group consists of Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dancing in the Street</span> 1964 single performed by Martha and the Vandellas

"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha and the Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song. A 1966 cover by the Mamas & the Papas was a minor hit on the Hot 100 reaching No. 73. In 1982, the rock group Van Halen took their cover of "Dancing in the Street" to No. 38 on the Hot 100 chart and No. 15 in Canada on the RPM chart. A 1985 duet cover by David Bowie and Mick Jagger charted at No. 1 in the UK and reached No. 7 in the US. The song has been covered by many other artists, including The Kinks, Tages, Black Oak Arkansas, Grateful Dead, Little Richard, Myra and Karen Carpenter.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, soon followed and also by Wayne King and His Orchestra with vocals by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, it has seen well over 400 recorded versions.

"Dedicated To The One I Love" is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass that was a hit for the "5" Royales, the Shirelles, the Mamas & the Papas and Bitty McLean. Pauling was the guitarist of the "5" Royales, the group that recorded the original version of the song, produced by Bass, in 1957. Their version was re-released in 1961 and charted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monday, Monday</span> 1966 single by the Mamas & the Papas

"Monday, Monday" is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by the Mamas & the Papas, using background instruments played by members of the Wrecking Crew for their 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. Denny Doherty was the lead vocalist. It was the group's only #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creeque Alley</span> 1967 single by The Mamas & the Papas

“Creeque Alley” is an autobiographical hit single written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas in late 1966, narrating the story of how the group was formed, and its early years. The third song on the album Deliver, it peaked at #5 on the U.S. Billboard pop singles chart the week of Memorial Day 1967, becoming their last Top 10 hit. It made #9 on the UK charts, and #4 on the Australian and #1 on the Canadian charts.

"Glad to Be Unhappy" is a popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart. It was introduced in their 1936 musical On Your Toes, sung by Doris Carson and David Morris, although it was not popular at the time, as there was only one recording of the song. In the 1937 London production, it was sung by Gina Malo and Eddie Pola. The song was performed in the 1954 Broadway revival by Kay Coulter and Joshua Shelley.

"Andante, Andante" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA for the album Super Trouper. It was released as a single in only two countries: El Salvador and Argentina. It was written by members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus on April 9, 1980, at Polar Music studios. Initially, this song was called "Hold Me Close". Anni-Frid Lyngstad handles the lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Saw Her Again</span> 1966 single by The Mamas & the Papas

"I Saw Her Again" is a pop song recorded by the U.S. vocal group The Mamas & the Papas in 1966. Co-written by band members John Phillips and Denny Doherty, it was released as a single in June 1966 and peaked at number one on the RPM Canadian Singles Chart, number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart the week of July 30, 1966. It appeared on their eponymous second album in September 1966.

"Look Through My Window" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Mamas & the Papas. It was written by John Philips, c. 1964 during a temporary separation from his partner, Michelle Phillips. The song was inspired by the fact that although John thought Michelle was out in California, she in fact was just blocks away in Greenwich Village. The mono version has a slightly longer fade-out so that the closing refrain "And the rain beats on my roof" is sung 9 times.

"Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" is a song written by David Allan Coe and recorded by American country music artist Tanya Tucker. It was released in December 1973 as the first single and title track from the album Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone). It topped the U.S. country chart on March 30, 1974, for one week and was Tucker's third number-one song on the chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 46. Only her 1975 number-one country hit, "Lizzie and the Rainman", performed better on the pop chart.

"Jul, jul, strålande jul" is a Christmas song with lyrics written by Edvard Evers and music composed by Gustaf Nordqvist. It was published in 1921.

"Gråt inga tårar" is a song written by Åke Hallgren in the dansband Pippis from Hede, and recorded and a released a single by several dansbands in 1974, including Pippis, Dannys and Thorleifs. Pippis also recorded the song on the 1975 album Ordning på torpet.

"När det lider mot jul", also known as "Det strålar en stjärna", is a Swedish Christmas song with lyrics by Jeanna Oterdahl, and written for vocals and piano in 1909 by Ruben Liljefors. A version for mixed choir, a cappella, was added in 1933 and originally published in 1944 by Gehrmans musikförlag. The song’s later popularity is said to have been affected by publication in Gottfrid Berg’s Läroverkskören 1950 and after being recorded on record, it was heard in TV in the early 1960s.

En spännande dag för Josefine is a song written by Benny Borg, and recorded by Schytts, using it as a B-side for their 1974 single "Hasta la vista " and also charted at Svensktoppen for one weeks, at 9th position, on 20 October 1974. It was also recorded by Curt Haagers on their 1985 album with the same name, and Göran Lindbergs orkester, on the 1993 album Den röda stugan.

"Island in the Sun" is a song written by Harry Belafonte and Irving Burgie, and performed by Harry Belafonte for the 1957 film Island in the Sun and on his 1957 album Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean.

<i>En dag i juni</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Thorleifs

En dag i juni is a 1974 Thorleifs studio album In 1996, the album was rereleased to CD and cassette tape on the Golden Line label.

Platina Records was a Swedish independent record label founded in 1964 by businessman and songwriter Evert Jakobsson. The label saw great success throughout the mid-1960s with rock acts such as Tages, before turning to dansband music in the 1970s, gaining success with Flamingokvintetten and Thorleifs. After turning to pay to play in 1984, the label shut down in 1989.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Greenwald, Matthew. "Safe In My Garden: Song Review". All Music. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  2. ↑ Byrd, Stephanie (March 1, 2012). "Grammy Museum digs into LA history and music". Daily Trojan. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Bledsoe, Wayne (August 30, 2014). "Ten essential songs that everyone should hear". Knoxville News. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. May 25, 1968. p. 65. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  5. ↑ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 25, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  6. ↑ "Kör långsamt". Svensk mediedatabas. 1968. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Kör långsamt" (in Swedish). Svensk meidedatabas. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "En dag i juni" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1973. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "En dag i juni" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1974. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "I afton dans med Thorleifs" (in Swedish). Industrifacket. 21 November 2005. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  11. ↑ "1968". Billboard. 1968. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.