Words of Love (The Mamas & the Papas song)

"Words of Love" is a song by the Mamas & the Papas from their second studio album of the same name. The song was written by John Phillips, and featured Cass Elliot as the primary vocalist. It was released as a single in November 1966 (backed with a cover of Martha and the Vandellas's "Dancing in the Street").

Given the disappointing chart placement of the prior single, "Look Through My Window", hopes were high that "Words of Love" would return the group to the upper reaches of the charts: on the week of January 21, 1967, the single fulfilled this hope, as it reached No. 5 in the United States. Overseas, it peaked at No. 47 in the United Kingdom.

In the lyrics, Elliot advises men that simply reciting words of love "won't win a girl's heart anymore". She tells men to demonstrate their love and admiration for a potential girlfriend by sending her "somewhere where she's never been before". Michelle Phillips provided her high pitched "NO" before the refrain of the song.

The mono single, while approximately the same running time as the stereo version, contains a horn section overdub not heard in the stereo mix, extra backing vocals, and a more prominent piano; Elliot's vocals fade out a bit sooner near the end.

Cash Box praised the single's "solid and unique harmonies".

The Mamas & the Papas used "Dancing in the Street" in their live performances, and this flip side garnered enough airplay on its own accord to reach No. 73 on the Billboard Pop Chart.

Later uses

In 1971, Mama Cass featured "Words of Love" as the B-side of one of her UK single releases, "One Way Ticket." This inclusion provided "Words of Love" with additional exposure in Britain, given its relatively tepid chart showing five years earlier.

Cover versions

• In 2008, Nicole Atkins did a cover for an exclusive Barnes & Noble three track promotional sampler CD "Introducing Nicole Atkins" in conjunction with her appearance for their "Upstairs at the Square" series held in Manhattan.

In popular culture

• The song was used frequently as bumper music during the early years of Coast to Coast AM.
• The song was featured as the outro to the eighth episode of the sixth season of Mad Men.

References

1. The Mamas & the Papas (album)
2. The Mamas & the Papas
3. The Mamas & the Papas discography
4. Dedicated to the One I Love
5. Cass Elliot
6. 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mamas & the Papas
7. Words of Love (disambiguation)
8. Jill Gibson
9. All the Leaves Are Brown
10. Look Through My Window
11. John Phillips (musician)
12. Kokomo (song)
13. Sophie Tucker
14. List of song recordings featuring Hal Blaine
15. Glad to Be Unhappy
16. Sunshine pop
17. Mama's Big Ones
18. Dancing in the Street
19. One Way Ticket (Stephen Lawrence song)
20. Les Crane