Words of Love (The Mamas & the Papas song)

"Words of Love" is a song appearing on the album The Mamas & the Papas. The song was written by John Phillips, and featured Cass Elliot as the primary vocalist. It was released as a single in November 1966 (backed with a cover of Martha and the Vandellas's "Dancing in the Street").

Given the disappointing chart placement of the prior single, Look Through My Window, hopes were high that Words of Love would return the group to the upper reaches of the charts: on the week of January 21, 1967, the single fulfilled this hope, as it reached No. 5 in the United States.^[1] Overseas, it peaked at No. 47 in the United Kingdom.

The mono single, while approximately the same running time as the stereo version, contains a horn section overdub not heard in the stereo mix, extra backing vocals, and a more prominent piano; Elliot's vocals fade out a bit sooner near the end. This was the only song by the band which does not include a vocal contribution from either Phillips or Denny Doherty.

Michelle did contribute her high pitched "NO" right before the Chorus.

The B-Side, Dancing in the Street, is a cover of the Martha and the Vandellas smash from 1964. The Mamas & the Papas used the song in their live performances, and this flip side garnered enough airplay on its own accord to reach #73 on the Billboard Pop Chart.

Later uses

In 1971, Mama Cass featured "Words of Love" as the B-side of one of her UK single releases, "One Way Ticket."^[2] This inclusion provided "Words of Love" with additional exposure in Britain given its relatively tepid chart showing five years earlier.

Cover versions

In 2008, Nicole Atkins did a cover for an exclusive Barnes & Noble three track promotional sampler CD "Introducing Nicole Atkins" in conjunction with her appearance for their "Upstairs at the Square" series held in Manhattan.

In popular culture

The song was used frequently as bumper music during the early years of Coast to Coast AM.
The song was featured as the outro to the eighth episode of the sixth season of Mad Men.^[3]

References

↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 392.
↑ "Mama Cass Elliot - One Way Ticket / Words Of Love - Probe - UK - PRO 537". 45cat.com. 1971-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
↑ Leeds, Sarene (May 20, 2013). "'Mad Men' Recap: Monday Morning Coming Down". Rolling Stone.

The Mamas & the Papas

Denny Doherty Cass Elliot John Phillips Michelle Phillips Jill Gibson

Studio albums	If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966) The Mamas & the Papas (1966) The Mamas & The Papas Deliver (1967) The Papas & The Mamas (1968) People Like Us (1971)

Compilations	Farewell to the First Golden Era (1967) Golden Era, Vol. 2 (1968) Hits of Gold (1969) 16 Greatest Hits (1969) 20 Golden Hits (1973) The Best Of (1982) Greatest Hits (1998) 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) "Dancing Bear" (1967) "Twelve Thirty" (1967) "Safe in My Garden" (1968) "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1968) "For the Love of Ivy" (1968) "Do You Wanna Dance" (1968) "Step Out" (1972)

Related	Chynna Phillips Mackenzie Phillips Bijou Phillips Wilson Phillips The Beach Boys Geneviève Waïte

Book

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