Dream a Little Dream

Music from Denny Doherty and Paul Ledoux's off-Broadway hit, Dream a Little Dream: the nearly true story of the Mama's and the Papa's. Recorded live at The Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia by CBC Radio Maritimes.

As a member of the Mamas & the Papas, Denny Doherty made his mark as one of the greatest lead vocalists of his day on such records as "California Dreamin'," "Monday, Monday," "I Saw Her Again," and others throughout their brief but brilliant career. Fortunately, it still is his day, and this record, the cast recording of Doherty's play on the Mamas & the Papas, Dream a Little Dream illustrates his talent brilliantly. The play itself is fabulous, with Doherty leading the audience though his career, as well as all of the trials, successes, and heartaches that went into the whole Mamas & Papas experience. The album condenses the story, and includes a bit of dialogue, and most of the songs. Aside from most of the Mamas & Papas' hits, there are several other songs, many of them written after the band ended, and "Looking Back," the excellent pop/rocker that leads off the album, being written especially for the production. "Everybody's Been Talkin'," which dates back to the Mugwumps (pre-Mamas & Papas group with Doherty and Cass Elliot) days, is an exceptional slice of vintage folk-rock, and was written before the term became a buzzword. "Chanson, Chanson, Chanson," written about Doherty's romantic entanglements with Michelle Phillips is also extremely fetching. Doherty's band, the Dream Band, is stellar. A six-piece group featuring men and women who all sing and switch instruments, they do an absolutely brilliant job in conveying the spirit, emotion, and sound of the Mamas & Papas, without ever once slipping into a retread, tribute band feel -- a problem that usually plagues these types of efforts. Not so here. Sincerity is the order of the day here, and Doherty and his musicians deliver that with a brilliant sense of style.
-Matthew Greenwald, Allmusic

Denny Doherty: vocals, guitar
Richard Burke: vocals, accordion, bass, sax, flute
Doris Mason: musical direction, vocal arrangements, vocals, keyboards
Kris MacFarlane: vocals, drums
Janet Muson: vocals, fiddle, accordion, guitar, percussion
Greg Simm: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, tuba, bass, mandolin, banjo
David Smyth: musical direction, tamborine, bass, electric, acoustic and 12 string guitar