I am only in my 30s, but I love 60s music, and I really enjoy the Mamas & the Papas. The book starts slow but is a fascinating look into the history of the band, its members and their families and cool look into the 1960s in general. Even if you are not a fan on the band, I think any person who enjoys music and history would enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Globe Pequot for the ARC.

All the Leaves Are Brown by Scott G. Shea chronicles the rise and fall of the Mamas and Papas, the 1960s singing group that spawned memorable hits like California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday. You learn about all the principal singers' starts in the music industry and how they all came together to sing in such beautiful harmony, as mentioned in their catchy and semi-biographical song, Creeque Alley. But like many a tale of a band, it's not all harmony and success. Drama, unrequited love, infidelity, and so much more than that characterized this group who was a major part of the counterculture movement.

At first, the book moves pretty slowly through Papa John Phillips' origins. While I found it interesting and increasingly grew to dislike this talented and ambitious singer and producer, it is a pretty slow part of the book. And that's not the fault of the author. Some parts of his story meander about, and you wonder how he will ever meet up with the other members of his future musical family.

Once you meet Mamas Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot and Papa Denny Doherty, the book moves along at a solid clip. It never fails to amaze me how these bands come together. There's some magical formula that, even though they can appear to be orchestrated, cannot be denied as serendipity. I loved hearing about how they met up and bonded in their own ways and their conflicts and conspiring ways between one another.

Now, if you've always been fascinated by the drama surrounding the recording of Fleetwood Mac's Rumors and/or read or watched Daisy Jones and the Six, this book is for you! You think those stories had drama? This elevates the drama to sky-high heights that you cannot believe. The previously mentioned stories are so tame compared to what's shared in this book.

Since you're basically in the era of Free Love for the most part, you'll get plenty of drama from the whirlwind romance between John and Michelle Phillips to the unrequited love Cass Elliot had for Denny Doherty who eventually regretted spurning her. They all lived a pretty wild life with the drugs, the drama, the brushes with so many luminaries in Hollywood and the music scene and famous hideouts for musicians like Laurel Canyon. It's non-stop storytelling and name-dropping and incredibly interesting. It's also amazing how the members of the band were poor and down on their luck and catapulted to stardom and riches beyond compare.

If you're a huge music fan like me, you'll ravenously eat up all the details of the music business and the whole rock scene. I never knew that John Phillips pretty much created the Monterey Pop Festival. For all his flaws, he did possess a lot of motivation and talent. His upbringing and latter-day drug problems probably exacerbated his absolutely horrific and unforgivable ways of treating everyone. He was awful, but the music really speaks for itself.

An intriguing look at the short lived but incredible ride of the Mamas & the Papas.
Scott Shea draws from prior works and recent interviews with friends, family and musicians to create an account of John, Denny, Michelle, Cass and the culture that skyrocketed ‘California Dreamin’ to the top of the charts in 1965.
The majority of their songs written by leader and guitarist John Phillips, highlighted the beautiful voice of Denny Doherty and the blending, spot on harmonies of Michelle and Cass.
From their early days in the folk genre to the unexpected leap to pop/rock icons, the author builds their story brick by brick. The marriage, romances, unrequited love, addictions, jealousies, financial highs and lows and the beginning of the end with John’s creation; the Monterey Pop Festival.
The research and detail makes this not only informative but enjoyable and worthwhile read.
My thanks to NetGalley, Scott Shea and Backbeat Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is no doubt that California Dreamin’ is one of the greatest songs of the sixties (or any era), but you might be wondering whether a group that released only 5 albums in as many years and imploded is worth an entire book. For many bands out there, the answer may be yes, but for The Mamas and the Papas, the answer is, sadly, no. Of the group’s five albums, only three are actually worth listening to and only one (their debut) is worth listening to more than once. If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears is a very good album, if not a great one, but even that record only really has two songs that have stood the test of time. California Dreamin’ and Monday, Monday are still great songs but there really isn’t any other legacy that The Mamas and The Papas can leave the world. They were great harmonizers, but there were so many others that their equals or better and had much better songs. In the end, The Mamas and the Papas were just a group of four sad people who lived sad, debauched lives, sabotaged their own careers at every turn and eventually left nothing but one amazing song and one really good one.
To author Scott G. Shea’s credit, he really tries to make this book interesting (and sometimes succeeds) but unless you are a superfan of the group, you probably aren’t going to find much to love here. John and Michelle Phillips were just awful, narcissistic people who destroyed each other, themselves and the group as a whole. They just aren’t likeable people despite how much the reader wants them to be. Shea is a good writer and I wish he had picked a better group to write about, but he does make this slog of a story readable, at least. Honestly, though, the most interesting part of the book for me was the part about the Monterey Pop Festival (which John and Michelle were part of putting together). Unfortunately, the rest of the story just doesn’t rise to the level of the planning and implementation of that festival. This is a depressing story of bad people doing bad things to everyone they meet and, ultimately, becoming has-beens who never really do anything with their life or talent. Thanks to Netgalley and Globe Pequot for providing me with an ARC of this book. I gave it three stars mainly because the writing was good and the information on Monterey Pop was great. Otherwise, All the Leaves Are Brown is mostly a slog of a read through the lives of people that don’t deserve to have their story told.

This is a biography of the Mamas and Papas that starts with providing in-depth background on John Phillips and later gives background on the other band members (although in much less detail than about John). I have read other biographies about this group as well as the music scene at the time and I have to say I did learn new things in this book. I had no idea the role John Phillips had in managing the Monterey Pop Festival! The author has done thorough research about everything from the different bands people were in as well as the house John and Michelle move into. I found this book to be a worthwhile read for readers interested in the Mamas and the Papas or the music and cultural scene of the 1960’s California.

Thank you to Netgalley and Globe Pequot, Backbeat for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

A Mixed Bag of Rock History: "All the Leaves Are Brown" by Scott G. Shea

Rating: ★★½☆☆

"All the Leaves Are Brown: How the Mamas & the Papas Came Together and Broke Apart" by Scott G. Shea is a nonfiction biography that aims to chronicle the rise and fall of one of the iconic bands of the 1960s. With a mix of comprehensive research, engaging storytelling, and a focus on the emotional dynamics within the group, Shea's book offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of the Mamas & the Papas. However, it falls short in certain areas, leaving the reader wanting more.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to shed light on the origins and evolution of the Mamas & the Papas. Shea's thorough research is evident as he delves into the band's formation, their hitmaking approach with producer Lou Adler, and their relationships with other musicians during the folk-rock wave. The emotional rollercoaster that the band members experienced is also explored, providing a deeper understanding of the group's internal struggles.

However, the book suffers from a slow start. The initial chapters, which delve into the ancestry of John Phillips, the lead Papa and founder of the band, feel unnecessary and tedious. While Shea's intention might have been to provide context, it ends up being a detour that may cause readers to lose interest. Skimming through these sections may be advisable for those seeking a more engaging reading experience.

Once the narrative picks up pace, the book becomes much more captivating. Shea's writing style flows smoothly, making it easy to immerse oneself in the story. The comprehensive coverage of the band's recordings, performances, and ultimate demise is a notable aspect. It offers a more complete picture than other books on the topic and serves as a valuable resource for fans of the Mamas & the Papas.

The author's ability to uncover lesser-known stories is commendable. The anecdotes surrounding the creation of the iconic hit song "California Dreamin'" and John Phillips' maneuvering to include Michelle in his band provide intriguing insights into the band's dynamics. Furthermore, the inclusion of details about the legendary musicians who performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and John Phillips' proximity to the tragic events at Sharon Tate's house adds depth to the narrative.

"All the Leaves Are Brown" is not without its flaws. Some of the familiar pitfalls of rock and roll bands of that era, such as drug abuse, adultery, and dysfunctional relationships, are present but lack fresh perspectives. Additionally, certain aspects, like the impact of the band's music on society or their cultural significance, could have been explored further.

In conclusion, Scott G. Shea's "All the Leaves Are Brown" provides a comprehensive and engaging account of the Mamas & the Papas' rise and fall. While the book struggles to find its footing in the beginning and falls short in certain areas, it succeeds in fleshing out the band's story and shedding light on their tumultuous journey. Fans of the Mamas & the Papas and enthusiasts of '60s rock history will find this biography to be a worthwhile addition to their collection.

Note: I would like to express gratitude to the publisher Globe Pequot, Backbeat for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

When I first started reading this book it delved into the ancestry of lead Papa/founder John Phillips, and I've got to admit I seriously got bored. So I made an executive decision to skim forward to a more interesting period where John was a teenager sent off to a pseudo-military academy. The book took off from there. The writing style was easy flowing and the book was well researched for a comprehensive history of The Mamas & the Papas.

I've read at least two books on the topic in the past, that being John Phillips' autobiography and the most recent, scandalous autobiography from his eldest daughter Mackenzie Phillips alleging their consensual sexual relationship. However, this book really fleshed out the full story of the band's origins, evolution, recordings, performances, and ultimate demise. Like a lot of bands from the sixties, there is drug and alcohol abuse, adultery, people having children that should not be parents, etc. My favorite takeaway from the book was the story of how the iconic hit song "California Dreamin'" was written by John and Michelle Phillips. I also liked how John maneuvered Michelle into singing in his pre-Mama/Papas band, "The New Journeymen" even though she wasn't a singer. He just didn't want to be away from her, and this reminded me a bit of Paul and Linda McCartney.

John Phillips also organized The Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, where incredible acts of the day such as The Who, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar, The Grateful Dead, Otis Redding, and Simon and Garfunkel performed. There are a lot of stories about these legendary musicians and others that were swirling around the musical vortex during the Summer of Love. I was also shocked to learn that John Phillips had been invited to the gathering at Sharon Tate's house the night of the Charles Manson killings. This was a quality biography that I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher Globe Pequot, Backbeat for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

I received a copy of "All the Leaves are Brown" by Scott G. Shea from Netgalley. I was happy to get the chance to read this biography about the Mamas and the Papas since I have been a fan of the group since I was a child. The author spends a portion of the book giving a separate biography of each of the singers, and musicians. Each had very different childhoods. How this group eventually became the Mamas and the Papas. Some parts are hard to read because it was not all good with this group they had their dificulties. John Phillips was into drugs as were other bandmembers. It took awhile for this group to get together. The author wrote about the affairs that went on.
A few chapters were about the Monterey festival. and the many groups that played there over a few days. There could be a lot of drama between the band of singers. He writes about the ending of the band and a chapter of what became of each member after the Mamas and Papas broke up. A good biography. Not always easy to read though. A good read for fans of the group.

Boring.....written like an old high school history book. Starting with facts dating back to the grandparents. Really? Disappointing at best.

All the Leaves Are Brown will be published on June 1, 2023. Backbeat Books, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield Publishing provided an early galley for review.

The Mamas and the Papas are one of my wife's favorite 60's bands. I have always enjoyed their songs, with the blending harmonies and sing-along lyrics. I am familiar with their story, but I was eager to see what further facts Scott Shea would bring to the table with this book. On that count, he did not disappoint.

The framework of this entire narrative hangs on John Phillips. That really should be obvious given the cover shot of the book; it is a photo where John is front and center with the others in the supporting positions around him. The author clearly gathered a lot of research on him as several of the opening chapters are about his family history and his coming up as a folk artist. We only get introduced to Michelle, Denny and Cass as their paths cross with John; even then their background stories are much shorter compared to what we get for him.

Still, even with this particularly focused angle of the tale, Shea provides a compelling narrative of real people trying to make it in the music business despite all of the personal drama that is swirling around them and because of them. They were truly a dysfunctional group from the get-go. It is a reminder that so often the rock stars that are put on pedestals are just humans trying to make their art while dealing with the emotional and personal challenges regular people face. The book also devotes a lot of space to the Monterey Pop Festival of which John Phillips was a driving force.

This is a great read about one of the most iconic rock groups of the last 40 years. Who knew there were so many problems between the members of the group. The early days seemed ideal, singing and performing music. It seems like the move to California changed the dynamics of the group. All the drugs and alcohol didn’t help either. Mama Cass has the most class! Like David Crosby said, she carried the group. Her great voice made the Mammas and the Pappas what they really were, a terrific vocal band. Thank you to NetGalley and The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group for the Egalley!!! II was a lot of fun to read!!!!

A panoramic and detailed overview of the Mamas and Papas, the book not only encompasses the group but music scenes in Greenwich Villages and California in the tumultuous 60s. It’s a fascinating story full of vivid personalities, romantic betrayals, copious drug and alcohol use, and a lot of excellent music.

I love the Mama's and the Papas. They were so good and I grew up listening to the 50s and 60s with my grandparents. I absolutely loved reading this and learning all kinds of information I had never heard before.
I just reviewed All the Leaves Are Brown by Scott G. Shea. #AlltheLeavesAreBrown #NetGalley
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"Monday, Monday..." I realized as I sat down to type that I'm writing this review on a Monday. Somehow appropriate, even if I now know that no one in the group was particularly fond of the song, even vocal lead Denny Doherty. Actually, it turns out the Mamas and Papas weren't always particularly fond of each other, either, at times. This made those old photos from fan magazines seem not just faded but false. I'll never look at that famous photo of them all in the tub the same, either, now that I know what was going on at that moment.

The hows and whys of this discord is better left to individual readers to discover on their own as it is both intertwined and complex. What most knew about the group is what the music media of the time told us. You'll get the back stories here, however, on each of the members, such as Cass Elliot's early Broadway dreams, not to mention various detours into the times and supporting cast of characters about them. Be prepared for some hard truths. Infidelity ran rampant, as did Cass' long-time love for Denny Doherty, the same Denny who has an affair with John's wife Michelle, the one he left his wife and two chidren for, who had an affair with the Byrd's Gene Clark. And....well, it's complicated.

In the meantime, after you give up trying to keep score on the drugs and bed-hopping, you'll learn a great deal. First, yes, about the backgrounds of the four individuals who made up the group. You'll learn that being a musician isn't always glamorous. You'll also see friendships made (and destroyed). You'll discover that John was a bit of a music snob and looked on the Beatles with disdain until Denny managed to change his mind. This is only the tip of the iceberg and, quite frankly, most of it came before the group found success. Much of it made me sad or even angry, but I still found it fascinating, Quite frankly, for example,I really knew nothing more about the Monterey Pop Festival than that it happened, let alone John Phillips' role in it.

If you're a music fan, this book should be on your bookshelf. It's a behind the scenes look at not only what it takes to get to the top of the heap but what getting there can mean. Thanks to #NetGalley and #GlobePequot - #Backbeat for allowing me to indulge myself with "California Dreaming" for awhile. It wasn't always a pleasant memory-fest but fascinating nevertheless. Scott G. Shea really made me feel I was there.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Globe Pequot for the opportunity to read All the Leaves Are Brown
How the Mamas & the Papas Came Together and Broke Apart by Scott G. Shea. Being a huge fan of The Mamas & The Papas, i was captivated by this book. But it was so much more than just their story. Mr. Shea has given us a fascinating look into the history of the music, the entertainers, and what took place behind the scenes during an important period in music - a lot of which is still pertinent and important today.

I was fourteen and a high school freshman in winter of 1967 when I bought my first 45 records. One was Monday, Monday by the Mamas and the Pappas. I loved their sound. Later, I bought Twelve Thirty. And of course, California Dreamin’ was in my collection. I can still sing all the words.

Seeing this book, a fit of nostalgia overtook me and I was interested in learning more about the group.

Talk about sex, drugs, and rock and roll! Marijuana, LSD, and alcohol fueled their days. Infidelity was rampant. These deeply flawed people made choices that were self-destructive.

What I found most interesting was how John Phillips came to write his iconic songs, how he spearheaded the Monterey Pop Festival, meant to bring rock to the same respectability as jazz and folk, and how he followed the developing music scene from folk to rock.

This was more than a biography of a group; I was reading the history of the music I grew up to. I found it quite fascinating. So many 60s musicians and groups play their part in the story.

I especially was interested in the Monterey Pop festival history. I had to search online for videos of the concerts the author talked about.

I was horrified to learn of the way Cass Elliot was treated because of her weight, including snide remarks from John Phillips who never wanted her in the group. Really! With her remarkable voice? She felt pressured to lose weight, which destroyed her health. She died too young of heart disease.

The world they traveled in was so destructive, saturated in drugs and sex and hedonism. None came through healthy. It is so sad, considering their talent.

I was rivited by this fast read

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.