Editing Cass Elliot (section)

=== 1965–1968: The Mamas & the Papas ===
With two female members, the New Journeymen needed a new name and they agreed on [[the Mamas & the Papas]]. The group lasted from 1965 to 1968. According to Doherty, as written in his website, Elliot had the inspiration for the band's new name. Doherty also said that the occasion marked the beginning of his affair with fellow band member [[Michelle Phillips]]. Elliot was in love with Doherty and was displeased when he told her of the affair. Doherty has said that Elliot once proposed to him, but that he was so stoned at the time that he could not even respond.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

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| quote = We're all just lying around vegging out watching TV and discussing names for the group. The New Journeymen was not a handle that was going to hang on this outfit. John was pushing for the Magic Cyrcle. Eech, but none of us could come up with anything better, then we switch the channel and, hey, it's the [[Hells Angels]] on the [[The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson|Carson show]]&nbsp;... And the first thing we hear is: "Now hold on there, Hoss. Some people call our women cheap, but we just call them our Mamas." Cass jumped up: "Yeah! I want to be a Mama." And Michelle is going: "We're the Mamas! We're the Mamas!" OK. I look at John. He's looking at me going: "The Papas?" Problem solved. A toast! To the Mamas and the Papas. Well, after many, many toasts, Cass and John are passed out.
| source = — Denny Doherty<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dennydoherty.com/dream/dream11.html|title=Dream A Little Dream : Just A-Catchin' Fire|website=Dennydoherty.com|access-date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
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Elliot was known for her sense of humor and optimism, and was considered by many to be the most charismatic member of the group. Her powerful, distinctive voice was a major factor in their string of hits, including "[[California Dreamin']]{{-"}}, "[[Monday, Monday]]", and "[[Words of Love (The Mamas and the Papas song)|Words of Love]]". She also performed the solo "[[Dream a Little Dream of Me]]" (credited on the label of the single as 'Featuring Mama Cass with the Mamas and the Papas'), which the group recorded in 1968 after learning about the death of [[Fabian Andre]], one of the men who co-wrote it, whom Michelle Phillips had met years earlier. Elliot's version is noteworthy for its contemplative pace, whereas many earlier recordings of "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (including one by [[Nat King Cole]] and another by [[Ozzie Nelson]]) had been up-tempo versions&mdash;the song having been written in 1931 as a dance tune. The Mamas and the Papas continued to record to meet the terms of their record contract until 1971.