People Like Us

[Midnight Voyager]

Hi TravisJames,
Even though Michelle Phillips does apologize for PLU being made in the liner notes to the M and P box set, after reading the liner notes to the new release of PLU In my humble opinion I feel initally she wanted to record with the group again, but as things were being finalized the record company sued the group, thus making for difficult reording sessions.
Take care,
Nicole

Hi Nicole. I haven't purchased the re-release of People Like Us, so I haven't read the liner notes. But as I understand it, after they broke up, they all wanted individual pursuits -- mostly noteably Cass. None of them had any interest of reforming the group. Two years after their break-up they only reluctantly made the album to avoid paying the million dollars their record company was sueing them because their contract required one more album.
The liner notes you mention appear contridictory to that. The implication being that they were back together, intending to make a new album. I'm confused!

[Nicole]

Hi Midnight Voyager,
Sorry for the confusion. Yes, thr liner notes in the new release of PlU do contradict that no one wanted to record. According to the liner notes, around 1970, early, 1971, Michelle Phillips was talking to Cass Elliot, saying how it great it would be to get the group together again. Everyone was working moving forward with projects and she felt she was standing still. In the middle of that, that seems to be when the record company sued them. Hope this clears up the confusion.
Take care,
Nicole

[CassFanForLife]

Hi all... I was able to order the PLU expanded thru the record store that I deal with for Mamas and Papas stuff, and it arrived the other day, I 'm glad i now have it, even with the bonus tracks as I've never had heard of John's solo stuff except " Missippi ", the other one on the Creeque Alley compilation CD, and the John Phillips Cd where he sings "Warrior".... nor did I even hear of the PLU album.... of course " Steppin Out " is on that same " CA " compilation cd.... Defintely a departure from their earlier stuff but yet it still has essences of remnants of it throughout.....this might of been the direction they would of perhaps taken musically if they were to have done up another album after this one, providing the interest was mutual . And the liner notes were interesting and the pix !
My next big quest/hope..... that " Watcha Gonna Do " will resurface again as a reissue available here in North America and abroad , not just Japan.....I want to have that CD so bad, but am not odering from Japan. Some folks over here need to wake up and smell Denny's musical coffee.....

[Nicole]

Hi Cassfan,
I agree with you. Perhaps one day it will come to pass. "Whatcha... deserves to be re-released as does Denny's other solo work.
Take care,
Nicole

[Richard]

I was listening to my Anthology box set today and the PLU album, though not in the same league as the first 4 albums, is actually a very good album. I found myself listening for Cass, who as we all know wasn't as involved as usual for health reasons. I can only make her out on 7 tracks. People like us, Pacific coast, Shooting star, No dough, Grasshopper, Blueberries and Pearl being the only song to feature a few lines of Cass solo. I don't think she's on the other 5 tracks, not even Step out. Am I right I'd love to hear from anyone if they know any more I think Pearl is the best track, and the only one that captures their trademark sound, but I like nearly all the tracks. Thanks, Rich.

[Nicole]

Hi Richard,
I think you may be right about that. As far as I can tell, Michelle and Denny are very prominent on PLU. My favorites are "Step Out", "I Wanna Be a Star", and "Pacififc Coast Highway".
Take care,
Nicole

[Eran]

Our own Sandy Granger described it best a very long time ago, saying that People Like Us, is by default a "New Journeymen" album. And it would not at all be a stretch for me to say that it took that very clever observation to get me to look and listen to PLU for the very first time with a fresh pair of ears and point of view.

'Pearl' may be the only track that sounds closest to albums 1-4, but my favourite always has been and always will be 'Snowqueen of Texas.'

All the best, everybody.