Guy/Girl Number 1

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From the MUSIC section: Guy/Girl Number 1

Yesterday, May 7, the Mamas and the Papas’ hit song Monday, Monday reached the top of the charts in the USA in 1966. More significantly, it was the first time a mixed gender group had made it to the top.

The Mamas and Papas were an extremely productive and successful group, especially given that they weren’t around very long. They managed to release 5 albums from 1965 to 1968 and they’ve sold almost 40 million records worldwide!

Prior to the Mamas and the Papas, all Number 1 hits on the pop / rock charts in the USA had been performed by either all-guy groups, i.e., The Beatles and The Beach Boys or all-girl groups, such as The Supremes and The Ronettes.

The Mamas and the Papas, i.e., John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips, all have to thank producer Lou Adler for giving them a shot. Adler auditioned them while they were singing back-up vocals for protest folk singer Barry McGuire.

At the audition they sang California Dreamin’ and Monday, Monday and Adler was completely astonished: “Wow, I can’t believe my eyes and ears!” he exclaimed.

And that became the basis for their first LP, called: If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Your Ears.

By the summer of 1966 the album was Number 1 in the USA.

Vocabulary:

To manage. Conseguir, lograr

Worldwide. Por todo el mundo

i.e. (abreviatura de id est). Es decir

Shot. (argot). Oportunidad

To be astonished. Estar asombrado, estupefacto

I can’t believe my eyes. No me lo puedo creer

Published by: Drew Crosby