The Mamas & the Papas discography

The Mamas & the Papas discography
The Mamas & the Papas discography
	The Mamas & the Papas in 1967
Studio albums	5
EPs	5
Live albums	5
Compilation albums	23
Singles	17
Video albums	6
Music videos	6

Last updated October 22, 2025

The Mamas & the Papas were a vocal group from Los Angeles, California, that was active from 1966 to 1969. Their discography consists of a total of five albums and 17 singles, six of which made the Billboard top ten, and sold close to 40 million records worldwide.^[1] "Monday, Monday" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1966 and "California Dreamin' " was the top song on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1966.

The Mamas & the Papas' recordings were released on Dunhill Records until 1967, when the company was sold and the label became ABC-Dunhill.^[2] Around 1973, ABC-Dunhill discarded all multi-track session recordings and mono masters because they were deemed obsolete and too expensive to store.^[3] The original recordings of the Mamas & the Papas, and of labelmates such as Three Dog Night, are therefore lost, and it has been necessary to create digital versions from the stereo album masters, often second- or third-generation tapes. This is why the sound quality of Mamas and Papas' reissues does not match the best from the 1960s. In 2012, Sundazed Records located a mono master of If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears in the UK and released it on 180-gram vinyl and a limited edition of 500 compact discs.^[4] Three years later an extensive search of label archives worldwide turned up all the mono singles and mono LP masters from which the 50th Anniversary 2-CD set was made a year later and reissued for Record Store Day in 2018.^[5]

The RIAA ^[6] has certified the single "California Dreamin' " as 3× platinum", and the singles "Dream a Little Dream of Me", and "Monday, Monday" as platinum.

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, peak chart positions and certifications
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions				Certifications
Title	Album details	US ^[7]	CAN ^[8]	GER ^[9]	UK ^[10]	Certifications
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears	Released: February 1966 Label: Dunhill (D 50006 / DS 50006)	1	—	—	3	RIAA: Platinum^[11]
The Mamas & the Papas	Released: August 1966 Label: Dunhill (D 50010 / DS 50010)	4	10	14	24	RIAA: Gold^[12]
Deliver	Released: February 1967 Label: Dunhill (D 50014 / DS 50014)	2	3	30	4	RIAA: Gold^[13]
The Papas & the Mamas	Released: May 1968 Label: Dunhill (DS 50031)	15	—	—	—
People Like Us	Released: November 1971 Label: Dunhill (DSX 50106)	84	55	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected details
Title	Album details
Historic Performances at the Monterey International Pop Festival	Released: 1970 Label: Dunhill (DSX 50100)
Greatest Hits: Live in 1982	Released: 1989 Label: Success (2170CD)
Live in Concert	Released: 1991 Label: PolyTel Elite (848 697-2)
California Dreamin'	Released: 1997 Label: Prism Leisure (PLATCD 274)
Live!	Released: 1999 Label: Pegasus (PEG CD 269)

Select compilation albums

List of select compilation albums, with selected details, peak chart positions and certifications
Title	Album details	Peak chart positions					Certifications
Title	Album details	US ^[7]	AUS ^[14]	BEL (FL) ^[15]	NL ^[16]	UK ^[10]	Certifications
Farewell to the First Golden Era	Released: 1967 Label: Dunhill (D 50025 / DS 50025)	5	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold^[17]
Golden Era Vol. 2	Released: 1968 Label: Dunhill (DS 50038)	53	—	—	—	—
Hits of Gold	Released: 1969 Label: Stateside (5007)	—	—	—	—	7
16 of Their Greatest Hits	Released: 1969 Label: Dunhill (DS 50064)	61	13	—	—	—
A Gathering of Flowers	Released: 1970 Label: Dunhill (DSY 50073)	—	—	—	—	—
20 Golden Hits	Released: 1973 Label: Dunhill (DSX 50145)	186	—	—	—	—
The Best of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 1977 Label: Arcade (ADEP 30)	—	—	—	—	6
The ABC Collection	Released: 1979 Label: ABC Records (AC-30005)	—	—	—	—	—
The Hit Singles Collection	Released: 1986 Label: MCA (LMCL 521)	—	—	—	—	—
The ★ Collection	Released: 1991 Label: MCA (MCD 17756)	—	—	—	—	—
Creeque Alley: The History of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 1991 Label: MCA (MCAD2-10195)	—	—	—	—	—
California Dreamin': The Very Best of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 1995 Label: Polygram (5239732)	—	—	45	33	14
California Dreamin': The Greatest Hits of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 1997 Label: Telstar (TTVCD 2931)	—	—	—	—	30
Greatest Hits	Released: 1998 Label: MCA (MCAD-11740)	123	—	—	—	—
Before They Were the Mamas & the Papas... The Magic Circle	Released: 1999 Label: Varèse Sarabande (VSD-5996)	—	—	—	—	—
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mamas & the Papas	Released: 1999 Label: Geffen, MCA	—	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold^[18]
All the Leaves Are Brown: The Golden Era Collection	Released: 2001 Label: MCA (088 112 653-2)	—	—	—	—	—
Complete Anthology (4-disc box set)	Released: 2004 Label: MCA (982 168 0)	—	—	—	—	—
Gold	Released: 2005 Label: Geffen (B0002616-02)	—	—	—	—	—
California Dreamin': The Best of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 2006 Label: UMTV (9841715)	—	—	—	—	21
Icon	Released: 2011 Label: Geffen (B0015530-02)	—	—	—	—	—
The Complete Singles (50th Anniversary Collection)	Released: 2016 Label: Real Gone Music (RGM-0418)	—	—	—	—	—
Ultimate Anthology	Released: 2016 Label: UMe/Universal Music Special Markets (B0024954-02)	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Video albums

List of video albums, with selected details
Title	Album details
Straight Shooter	Released: 1989 Label: Rhino Home Video (RNVD 1931)
The Very Best of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 2001 Label: MVD (MVD 08582)
California Dreamin': The Songs of the Mamas and the Papas	Released: 2005 Label: Hip-O (B0004218-09)
The Mamas & the Papas & Other '60s Greats	Released: 2005 Label: Eagle Vision/SOFA Home Entertainment (EREDV514)
Legends of the Canyon	Released: 2009 Label: Image Entertainment (ID4847ISDVD)
The Ed Sullivan Show Presents: The Mamas & the Papas	Released: 2016 Label: SOFA (DVD-MPES)
The Ed Sullivan Show Presents: California Dreaming' - The Songs of the Mamas & the Papas	Released: 2016 Label: SOFA/TJL/Treasury Collection (DVD-MP01)

Singles

List of singles, with selected peak chart positions and certifications
Title	Year	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
Title	Year	US ^[19]	AUS ^[14]	BEL (FL) ^[15]	BEL (WA) ^[20]	CAN ^[21]	GER ^[9]	NL ^[16]	NZ ^[22]	SA ^[23]	UK ^[10]	Certifications	Album
"Go Where You Wanna Go"	1965	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
"California Dreamin'"	1965	4	87	—	—	3	31	—	14	—	9	RIAA: 4× Platinum^[24]
"Monday, Monday"	1966	1	4	2	7	1	2	2	4	1	3	RIAA: Platinum^[24]
"I Saw Her Again"		5	9	—	47	1	21	6	6	3	11		The Mamas & the Papas
"Look Through My Window"		24	67	—	—	5	—	—	18	—	53^[a]		Deliver
"Words of Love"		5	6	—	—	3	—	—	—	—	47		The Mamas & the Papas
"Dancing in the Street"		73	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		The Mamas & the Papas
"Dedicated to the One I Love"	1967	2	3	13	8	3	26	15	10	2	2	RIAA: Gold^[25]	Deliver
"Creeque Alley"		5	4	—	26	1	—	—	16	19	9		Deliver
"Twelve Thirty"		20	20	—	—	14	—	—	11	16	51^[a]		The Papas & the Mamas
"Glad to Be Unhappy"		26	55	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	—		Golden Era Vol. 2
"Dancing Bear"		51	—	—	—	13	—	—	—	—	—		The Mamas & the Papas
"Safe in My Garden"	1968	53	86	—	—	30	—	—	—	—	—		The Papas & the Mamas
"Dream a Little Dream of Me"		12	1	—	—	7	5	—	—	8	11^[b]	RIAA: Platinum^[24]
"For the Love of Ivy"		81	—	—	—	55	—	—	—	—	—
"Do You Wanna Dance"		76	—	—	—	37	—	—	—	—	—		If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
"Step Out"	1972	81	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		People Like Us
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

1 2 Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
↑ "Dream a Little Dream of Me" is credited only to Mama Cass on the UK Singles Chart.^[26]

References

↑ "The Mamas and the Papas", Last.fm. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
↑ "Bobby [Roberts] and Lou [Adler], some time earlier, had come to us and begged us to give them a two-year extension on our contract...based on that we agreed to the extension, and we woke up two days later to read in the trades that Dunhill had been sold. Maybe for business reasons, whatever, we could not be told. At any rate we were sold, and it was a real nasty piece of business. Bobby, Lou, and Jay [Lasker] picked up a million apiece – we got nothing. We would one day look back and see that it was the beginning of the end for our recording, really. ABC did not understand us at all". Michelle Phillips, California Dreamin' , pp. 128–129.
↑ "ABC-Paramount Records Story". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
↑ "The Mamas and the Papas: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". Sundazed.com. Retrieved on 15 April 2012.
↑ (liner notes of the aforementioned CD)
↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
1 2 "The Mamas & the Papas Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
↑
RPM chart positions:
- The Mamas & the Papas: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (3). March 18, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- Deliver: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (18). July 1, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- People Like Us: "RPM 100 Albums" (PDF). RPM. 16 (19). December 25, 1971. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
1 2 "Discographie von The Mamas & the Papas". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
1 2 3 "Mamas & The Papas". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 26, 2021.
↑ "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.
↑ "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – The Mamas and the Papas". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.
↑ "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – The Mamas & The Papas Deliver". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.
1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 190. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
1 2 "Discografie The Mamas & the Papas". Ultratop Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
1 2 "Discografie The Mamas & the Papas". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
↑ "American album certifications – The Mamas & the Papas – Farewell to the First Golden Era". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.
↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
↑ "The Mamas & the Papas Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
↑ "Discographie The Mamas & the Papas". Ultratop Wallonie (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
↑ "Results: RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
↑ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
↑ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (M)". Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
1 2 3 "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
↑ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
↑ "Mamas & The Papas". Official Charts. Official Chart Company. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

External links

The Mamas & the Papas discography at AllMusic
The Mamas & the Papas discography discography at Discogs

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[fn2-25] 1 2 Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".

[28] "Dream a Little Dream of Me" is credited only to Mama Cass on the UK Singles Chart.^[26]

[1] "The Mamas and the Papas", Last.fm. Retrieved 3 May 2013.

[2] "Bobby [Roberts] and Lou [Adler], some time earlier, had come to us and begged us to give them a two-year extension on our contract...based on that we agreed to the extension, and we woke up two days later to read in the trades that Dunhill had been sold. Maybe for business reasons, whatever, we could not be told. At any rate we were sold, and it was a real nasty piece of business. Bobby, Lou, and Jay [Lasker] picked up a million apiece – we got nothing. We would one day look back and see that it was the beginning of the end for our recording, really. ABC did not understand us at all". Michelle Phillips, California Dreamin' , pp. 128–129.

[3] "ABC-Paramount Records Story". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 2011-09-10.

[4] "The Mamas and the Papas: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". Sundazed.com. Retrieved on 15 April 2012.

[5] (liner notes of the aforementioned CD)

[6] "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.

[Billboard_200-7] 1 2 "The Mamas & the Papas Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[RPM-8] RPM chart positions:
The Mamas & the Papas: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (3). March 18, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
Deliver: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (18). July 1, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
People Like Us: "RPM 100 Albums" (PDF). RPM. 16 (19). December 25, 1971. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[mwBJo] The Mamas & the Papas: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (3). March 18, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[mwBKU] Deliver: "RPM 25 Top LPs" (PDF). RPM. 7 (18). July 1, 1967. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[mwBLA] People Like Us: "RPM 100 Albums" (PDF). RPM. 16 (19). December 25, 1971. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[Deutsche_Charts-9] 1 2 "Discographie von The Mamas & the Papas". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[UK_Charts-10] 1 2 3 "Mamas & The Papas". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[11] "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.

[12] "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – The Mamas and the Papas". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.

[13] "American album certifications – The Mamas and the Papas – The Mamas & The Papas Deliver". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.

[aus-14] 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 190. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[Belgian_Charts_FL-15] 1 2 "Discografie The Mamas & the Papas". Ultratop Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[Dutch_Charts-16] 1 2 "Discografie The Mamas & the Papas". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[17] "American album certifications – The Mamas & the Papas – Farewell to the First Golden Era". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 22, 2016.

[18] "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2024-06-29.

[19] "The Mamas & the Papas Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[Belgian_Charts_WA-20] "Discographie The Mamas & the Papas". Ultratop Wallonie (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

[21] "Results: RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2022-10-12.

[22] "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2022-10-12.

[23] "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (M)". Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 2022-10-12.

[:0-24] 1 2 3 "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2025-05-26.

[26] "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2025-05-24.

[27] "Mamas & The Papas". Official Charts. Official Chart Company. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

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v t e The Mamas & the Papas
Denny Doherty Cass Elliot John Phillips Michelle Phillips Lisa Brescia Jill Gibson Laurie Beebe Lewis Deb Lyons Spanky McFarlane Barry McGuire Scott McKenzie Mackenzie Phillips
Studio albums	If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966) The Mamas & the Papas (1966) Deliver (1967) The Papas & the Mamas (1968) People Like Us (1971)
Compilations	Farewell to the First Golden Era (1967) 16 of Their Greatest Hits (1969) Greatest Hits (1998) 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mamas & the Papas (1999) All the Leaves Are Brown (2001)
Singles	"Go Where You Wanna Go" (1965) "California Dreamin' " (1965) "Monday, Monday" (1966) "I Saw Her Again" (1966) "Words of Love" (1966) "Dancing in the Street" (1966) "Look Through My Window" (1966) "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1967) "Creeque Alley" (1967) "My Girl" (1967) "Glad to Be Unhappy" (1967) "Twelve Thirty" (1967) "Safe in My Garden" (1968) "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1968) "Do You Wanna Dance" (1968)
Related	Discography The Beach Boys The Journeymen The Halifax Three The Big 3 The Mugwumps