Not indefensible. California Dreaming is an absolute favorite of mine from the 60s.

As for Wedding Bell Blues, I remember a long late-night car trip with my parents, returning from a vacation, where that song became a torturous ear-worm for me. I was trying desperately to sleep, but bits of the song kept blaring in my head, never coming to an end.

Also, there was a recent thing on the radio that profiled Mama Cass Elliot, playlist here. Unfortunately, they don't stream their old shows.

One of my favorite songs of all time is "I Saw Her Again." It somehow manages to strike a delicate balance between beautiful, cynical and dark. Definite genius at work there.

I'm not really into the 5th Dimension (although as tot I loved their version of "Aquarius"), but I'm an unapologetic fan of the Mamas and Papas. Their singles are great and they have a lot of fantastic album cuts as well. And I'm a big fan of harmonies, and they are amongst the best.

"California Dreaming" is one of my all time favorite songs and for me is as close as you get to a perfect pop song. Punk band MIA did a killer version of it, and I even like the schmaltzy and slightly sinister cover by the Beach Boys in the mid 80's (minus the sax solo).

I think the Mamas and the Papas are great.

12:30 is my favorite Mamas and Papas track. John Phillips was WAY ahead in recording technology. I got to see them live, once, and they were really good. I had suspected that it was all studio genius, but they kicked ass live.

To whit.