Cass Elliot, who gained fame as a member of a crowd -the Mamas and the Papas group- likes the idea of being on her own. And she likes television even more.
"Records can be a bad trip," she explained while taping for her ABC-TV special. "The audience can play your mistakes over and over. In a television special they see you once and you work hard to make sure they're seeing you at your best."
"Of course, live audiences are the greatest of all," she continued "You have the audience right there communicating with you."
ABC-TV's "The Mama Cass Television Program," airing Thursday, June 26 (9-10p.m.), is the longest time she has worked in front of a TV camera. "When the Mamas and the Papas were on TV," she recalled, "I'd just come out, do my thing and that would be it."
"This," she added, "is hard work." The wilt was real, but she is pleased with her special. "It's low key. It would be pretentious for me to do a show that wasn't."
Her guests June 26 include Buddy Hackett, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain.
That's not really performing alone, but for someone used to working with a group, it's truly solo. And Mama Cass hedged even more - to the extent of having several of her folk-singing friends with her - Mary Travers, Joni Mitchell and John Sebastian.
"I'm grateful to them for appearing. After nine years as a member of a mob scene, I don't want to be too alone."
Mama Cass opens the special show with her hit arrangement of "Dream a Little Dream of Me," with backup vocalists Clydie King, Carol Willis and Edna Wright.
Cass and Buddy Hackett do a comedy routine and Buddy sings his own compilation, "My Daughter."
Folk singer Joni Mitchell does a single of her original song, "Both Sides Now." Mary Travers, appearing away from the Peter, Paul and Mary group sings the rousing "And When I Die." Cass Elliot then joins Joni Mitchell and Mary Travers in "I Shall Be Released."
The unlikely song-comedy team of Cass Elliot and Buddy Hackett paired with Martin Landau and Barbara Bain then launch into a version of "Meeskite."
Two skeletons, starring first Cass and Buddy, then Martin and Barbara follow.
Young folk singer, John Sebastian, formerly of the Lovin' Spoonful, plays guitar and sings a haunting rendition of his composition, "She's a Lady." Then Cass and John sing "Darlin' Companion."
Printed from the official Joni Mitchell website. Permanent link: https://jonimitchell.com/library/view.cfm?id=2232
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