John Phillips (John, the Wolf King of L.A.) is the first solo recording by the Mamas & the Papas leader John Phillips. All songs were Phillips originals, dealing mostly with recent events in Phillips' life, including references to his new girlfriend Geneviève Waïte and longtime friend Ann Marshall ("April Anne"). The backing musicians included members of Wrecking Crew. The album has received favorable contemporary reviews.The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. p. 207. Retrieved January 19, 2014. The album was selected as one of ShortList's 55 Coolest Albums Ever."The 50 Coolest Albums Ever". ShortList. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
As Phillips was the backing singer in the Mamas and the Papas, with the other three serving as lead singers, the album mix tends to de-emphasize his lead vocals. Denny Doherty stated that, had the Mamas & the Papas performed this album, it would have been one of their finest, because of the strength of Phillips' songs. "Mississippi" reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States. Phillips and the other members of the Mamas & the Papas were threatened with a lawsuit just as the album was released, discouraging the label from promoting the album."Straight Shooter", a PBS documentary about the Mamas and the Papas from 1988; a statement by John Phillips.
In 2006, the album was reissued by Varèse Sarabande with eight bonus tracks, also mostly Phillips originals.
Charts Chart (1970)Peakposition
Track listing All songs written by John Phillips, except where noted. "April Anne" – 3:22 "Topanga Canyon" – 3:53 "Malibu People" – 3:41 "Someone's Sleeping" – 2:46 "Drum" – 3:36 "Captain" – 3:25 "Let It Bleed, Genevieve" – 2:53 "Down the Beach" – 2:52 "Mississippi" – 3:36 "Holland Tunnel" – 3:41
2006 bonus tracks "Shady" – 3:48 "Lonely Children" – 3:44 "Lady Genevieve" – 4:30 "Black Girl" (Traditional) – 3:29 "The Frenchman" – 4:03 "16mm Baby" (Matthew Reich) – 2:41 "Larry, Joe, Hal and Me" – 2:25 "Mississippi" [Single Version] – 3:07
Personnel John Phillips – vocals, guitar, harmonica Buddy Emmons – pedal steel James Burton – guitar, dobro Red Rhodes – steel guitar Darlene Love – vocals Fanita James – vocals Jean King – vocals Gordon Terry – fiddle, violin Hal Blaine – drums David Cohen – guitar Dr. Eric Hord – guitar Larry Knechtel – keyboards Joe Osborn – bass Technical Chuck Britz – engineer Tom Gundelfinger – photography
References