FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Mamas and Papas Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Mamas and Papas Quizzes, Trivia

Mamas and Papas Trivia

Mamas and Papas Trivia Quizzes

  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Music Trivia
  6. »
  7. Music L-P

Fun Trivia
The Mamas and The Papas
3 quizzes and 35 trivia questions.
1.
  Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Just how much do you know about The Mamas and the Papas' classic "California Dreamin'"? Pit yourself against ten questions about the song and/or associated facts. Song #36 in the 'Anatomy' series. And quiz #100 for this author!
Average, 10 Qns, FussBudget, Jan 04 17
Average
FussBudget gold member
3129 plays
2.
  The Mamas and The Papas   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the folk rock group that sang the songs California Dreamin' and Monday, Monday. Choose from the multiple-choice answers the one you think is correct.
Average, 10 Qns, root17, Sep 09 09
Average
root17 gold member
4059 plays
3.
  The Magnificent Mamas and Papas    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
How well you know the lyrics to Mamas and Papas hits? Probably better than you think. All of the following songs were taken from "The Best of The Mamas and The Papas".
Average, 15 Qns, Roslyn, Jun 08 03
Average
Roslyn
2683 plays
trivia question Quick Question
On what credit card did the group finance their vacation? (Hint: You can hear them refer to this in the song "Creeque Alley.")

From Quiz "The Mamas and The Papas"





Mamas and Papas Trivia Questions
1. What colour are "all the leaves"?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Brown

The song commences: "All the leaves are brown..." From this information, we could assume that the weather may be cold. That, or there has been a fire through recently!

2. Which Mamas and Papas hit does the following line come from "... so soft and tender, won't win a girl's heart anymore."

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Words Of Love

This song was a minor hit in the UK getting to number 47 in the charts in February 1967. Where as it reached number 5 in America.

3. What folk music group was John Phillips in before he formed The Mamas and The Papas? (Hint: He played acoustic guitar in a three-man group that included a banjo.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: The Journeymen

John Phillips, Scott McKenzie and Dick Weissman formed The Journeymen in 1961. They recorded three albums for Capitol Records, none of which sold particularly well. McKenzie later sang a John Phillips' song titled "If You Go to San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)" that became the unofficial anthem of the "Summer of Love" in 1967 in San Francisco. Aspiring model 17-year-old Michelle Gilliam met John in 1962 when the Greenwich Village-based trio played at "The Hungry i" in San Francisco and became John's second wife by the end of the year.

4. What colour is "the sky"?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Gray

"All the leaves are brown And the sky is gray" Hmmm, I'm tending towards the cold theory again!

5. "I used to live in New York City. Everything here was dark and dirty. Outside my window was a steeple, with a clock that always said ...." What time was it on the clock?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Twelve Thirty

The Song is "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon).

6. On what Caribbean island did the soon-to-be Mamas and Papas spend several months perfecting their harmonies before they launched their career? (Hint: This is one of the three U.S. Virgin Islands.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: St. Thomas

John, his second wife Michelle and Denny Doherty decided in 1965 to take a vacation in St. Thomas to get a break from the Greenwich Village folk music scene. They were soon joined by Denny's good friend Cass Elliot. While in St. Thomas the group sang at a boardinghouse named Duffy's on Creeque Alley (the inspiration for the autobiographical song "Creeque Alley").

7. What activity is the singer undertaking in the song?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Walking

"I've been for a walk" FussBudget's helpful hint: Don't go swimming in New York, people! The song was originally written by the group and was intended to be given to Barry McGuire (of "Eve Of Destruction" fame) as he had helped the group secure a recording contract. Can you imagine that gravelly voice singing this beautiful melody? In the end, it was Barry who to take a walk!

8. "All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey." This is the opening line from which Mamas and Papas hit?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: California Dreamin' & California Dreamin & California Dreaming

This was recorded in 1965 and it reached number 1 in the US charts.

9. On what credit card did the group finance their vacation? (Hint: You can hear them refer to this in the song "Creeque Alley.")

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: American Express

After their American Express credit line was exhausted, they were left with less than $50.00 and no return air tickets. In a last-ditch effort to win enough money get back home, John, Michelle and Denny went to the casino in the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They headed for the craps tables, and Michelle (who had never played craps before) had beginner's luck and won enough money to fly the three of them first class back to New York (Cass, who had a round-trip ticket, went back to Los Angeles).

10. What season is it in the song?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Winter

"I've been for a walk On a winter's day" Ah, the clues were all there. The leaves were brown, the sky was grey, and it is a winter's day.

11. Which Mamas and Papas hit do the following lyrics come from? "You don't understand, that a girl like me can love just one man."

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Go Where You Wanna Go

This song was never actually a hit for the group, but it is considered to be one of the groups best songs.

12. Who was the last member to join the group? (Hint: This last member had sung with Denny Doherty in 1964 when they were both in a folk-rock group called the Mugwumps.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Cass Elliot (Mama Cass)

Cass had a crush on Denny and followed him to St. Thomas. They had sung together in 1964 when they were both in the short-lived group called the Mugwumps (this is also mentioned in "Creeque Alley"). Although Cass very much wanted in the group, John wouldn't allow it at first. The story often mentioned is an accidental blow to her head raised her singing voice a full tone higher, which fit in with the harmonic blend John wanted. However, according to Snopes.com, Michelle's sister, Russell Gilliam, claims this is just a cover story, invented to explain away John's real reason: Cass' weight did not fit his group image. Re: www.snopes.com/music/artists/casspipe.asp

13. In which Californian location would the singer be "safe and warm"?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Los Angeles

"I'd be safe and warm If I was in L.A." Certainly, compared to the setting of the song, New York, Los Angeles would be a tempting destination for one attracted to warmth. Let me tell you, the author has been to Victorville, in the middle of the day no less, and it was coooolllldddd!

14. What was the inspiration for the song California Dreamin' to be written? (Hint: The line in the song "stopped in to a church I passed along the way" refers to St. Patrick's cathedral in Manhattan.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Michelle was homesick for California while living in New York City in a bone-chilling winter

After the warm weather of the Virgin Islands, New York seemed very cold. Michelle was anxious to get back to warm weather in Los Angeles, and that inspired John to write California Dreamin'. Michelle helped him write down the words, and as a result she got half publishing credit and royalties.

15. What type of establishment does the singer "stop into"?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: A church

"Stopped into a church I passed along the way" According to songfacts.com, a few days before the song was written, John and Michelle Phillips had visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, and this was the inspiration for the line in the song.

16. "Do you, do you, do you ....?" What question was being asked in this Mamas and Papas hit. This song was also a hit for Cliff Richard, Del Shannon, The Beach Boys and Bette Midler?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Do You Wanna Dance

This was a top 100 hit in November 1968, although it was featured on the Mamas and Papas first album in 1966.

17. What song was the group's only number one hit? (Hint: It was not their first big hit.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Monday, Monday

Although California Dreamin' has become a signature anthem of the '60s, it was not their biggest hit. California Dreamin' was released in 1965, and after a slow start it rose to a number 4 ranking nationwide. The follow-up tune, 'Monday Monday,' shot to number 1 and became the biggest hit of their career. It won a Grammy award in 1966. Their first album, 'If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears,' was released in January 1966 and by March of that year it was at number 1 in the charts.

18. What body parts are mentioned during the song?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Knees

"I got down on my knees And I pretend to pray" Again, with songfacts.com, there is wild conjecture about these lines. Some contributors insist regarding the line "I pretend to pray", that the reason for pretending is "Because the singer is homeless and plans on spending the night in the church. He probably feels like he has a better chance of not getting kicked out if he appears pious". Homeless? Who said the singer is homeless? Oh! This guy does: "I'd be SAFE and WARM", otherwise, why not be safe and warm at home?"

19. In which song was Mama Cass "Craving your kiss"?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Dream a Little Dream of Me

This was originally part of the 1968 album "The Mamas and The Papas", but Mama Cass also issued it as a solo single in 1968.

20. Who was the girl singer who briefly replaced Michelle on tour in 1966? (Hint: She was NOT in the groups Fleetwood Mac or Jefferson Airplane.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Jill Gibson

Jill Gibson was the girlfriend of the group's producer, Lou Adler. She was needed for a brief time in 1966 because John fired Michelle from the group (as a result of strained group relations after her affair with Denny Doherty) but then reluctantly let her back in after fans objected. Interesting trivia: the daughter of John Phillips and his first wife Suzy was the young kid in the hot rod in the movie "American Graffiti" in her first acting job at age 12 (Mackenzie Phillips). The daughter Michelle and John Phillips had was named Chynna. She later, along with the two daughters of Brian Wilson (of Beach Boys fame), formed the rock group "Wilson Phillips.")

21. The singer "stops in" to a place where the person in charge likes the weather. What does that person like about the weather?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Because the weather will encourage the singer to stay

"You know the preacher likes the cold He knows I'm gonna stay" Back to songfacts.com! The same guy who thinks the singer is homeless also opines: "The preacher absolutely "lights the coals", because it is obviously cold and this guy is obviously going to spend the night". Ooh! Obviously he's going to spend the night! I am not sure whether to laugh or cry! It's good fun writing justifications, sooner or later they can fit anything! Yet another contributor to that site also supports the "lights the coals" theory, but he thinks that is a drug reference! So this guy has the preacher smoking dope! If you have never looked at songfacts.com, check it out sometime. Have a good laugh and make yourself feel better by realising that you are not nearly as crazy as you may have previously thought. Take solace in the fact there are a lot of people ahead of you in the queue!

22. "But what can I do: I'm lonely too, and it makes me feel so good to know she'll never leave me." Which song do these lyrics come from?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: I Saw Her Again Last Night

This song got to number 11 in the UK and it was in the top 5 in the USA in 1966.

23. Which group member usually wore a hat during performances? (Hint: In his/her later appearances it was often a chinchilla hat.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: John Phillips

Later in his career John usually wore a chinchilla hat during performances, TV appearances and photo shoots. Early in career as a Papa he frequently wore various styles of cloth hats.

24. If the singer "didn't tell her", on what day could the singer leave?

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'"

Answer: Today

"If I didn't tell her I could leave today" Well, I guess this is true. Also true is that you could tell her and still leave. I guess running away was the easier option? I have always been intrigued by this part of the song, it contains a slightly darker inference than the rest of the lyrics. Does the singer want to leave on his own? Or is it simply a throwaway line?

25. Which group member went on to have a solo singing career after the group broke up? (Hint: The song "Dream A Little Dream of Me" was recorded by this member while still in the group.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Cass Elliot (Mama Cass)

The group's fourth album was titled "The Papas and the Mamas" and was released in 1968. It included Cass singing a solo rendition of the song "Dream a Little Dream of Me," which served as a launching pad for her subsequent solo career. The group broke up shortly thereafter in 1968. They did reunite briefly in 1971 to produce a fifth album called "People Like Us" to fulfill contractual obligations, but as Michelle described it: "It sounded like what it was--four people just trying to avoid a lawsuit." Michelle has had a successful acting career, appearing in many TV shows and movies. Both she and John have published books: John's book is titled "Papa John" and Michelle's is titled "California Dreamin'".

26. "Creeque Alley" is a song about how it all happened for the Mamas and Papas. What name is missing from the following line? "And no one's getting fat except ..."?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Mama Cass

This hit got to number 5 in the US and number 9 in the UK.

27. Which former group member died a premature death, before age 40? (Hint: An untrue urban legend is that this member choked on a ham sandwich.)

From Quiz The Mamas and The Papas

Answer: Cass Elliot (Mama Cass)

Cass died in London in 1974 at age 33 of a heart attack. The popular misconception is that she choked to death on a ham sandwich, but that is one of those urban legends that get ingrained in the popular culture but isn't true. The urban legend probably got started because early investigators found a half-eaten sandwich by her bed. John Phillips died 18 March 2001 at age 65. Denny Doherty died 19 January 2007 at age 66.

28. "Once I believed that when love came to me, it would come with rocket bells and poetry." This is the first line to which Mama Cass song?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: It's Getting Better

This was Mama Cass's biggest solo hit in the UK, reaching number 8.

29. "Make your own kind of music, sing your own special song. Make your own kind of music, even if nobody else ...... " Which words are missing from this Mama Cass lyric?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: sings along

This is from the song "make your Own Kind of Music".

30. "Fools rush in, so here I am." This is the opening line to which song?

From Quiz The Magnificent Mamas and Papas

Answer: Glad to be Unhappy

This is a Rodgers and Hart Classic, from the musical "On Your Toes".

This is category 1820
play trivia = Top 5% Rated Quiz, take trivia quiz Top 10% Rated Quiz, test trivia quiz Top 20% Rated Quiz, popular trivia A Well Rated Quiz
new quizzes = added recently, editor pick = Editor's Pick editor = FunTrivia Editor gold = Gold Member

Teachers / educators: FunTrivia welcomes the use of our website and quizzes in the classroom as a teaching aid or for preparing and testing students. See our education section. Our quizzes are printable and may be used as question sheets by k-12 teachers, parents, and home schoolers.

 ·  All questions, answers, and quiz content on this website is copyright FunTrivia, Inc and may not be reproduced without permission. Any images from TV shows and movies are copyright their studios, and are being used under "fair use" for commentary and education.