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").

"Words of Love"
West German picture sleeve
Single by the Mamas & the Papas
from the album The Mamas & the Papas
B-side	"Dancing in the Street"
Released	November 14, 1966[1]
Genre	Psychedelic rock[2] folk rock[3]
Length	2:13
Label	Dunhill
Songwriter(s)	John Phillips
Producer(s)	Lou Adler
The Mamas & the Papas singles chronology
"Look Through My Window" (1966) "Words of Love" (1966) "Dedicated to the One I Love" (1966)

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.^[4] 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".^[5]

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."^[6] This inclusion provided "Words of Love" with additional exposure in Britain, given its relatively tepid chart showing five years earlier.

Charts

Chart performance for "Words of Love" by The Mamas & the Papas

Chart (1966/1967)	Peak position
Australia (Go-Set)[7]	5
UK Singles Chart[8]	47
US Billboard Hot 100[9]	5

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[10]

References

1. Rodriguez, Robert (2012). Revolver: How the Beatles Re-Imagined Rock 'n' Roll. Montclair: Backbeat Books. p. 253. ISBN 978-1-61713-009-0.
2. Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn (2019). Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-4408-6579-4.
3. Evans, Paul (2004). "The Mamas and the Papas". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 511. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 392.
5. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 26, 1966. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
6. "Mama Cass Elliot - One Way Ticket / Words Of Love - Probe - UK - PRO 537". 45cat.com. 1971-09-03. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
7. "Billboard Magazine, April 22, 1967". Billboard. 22 April 1967.
8. "Billboard Magazine, March 4, 1967". Billboard. 4 March 1967.
9. "Billboard Magazine, January 21, 1967". Billboard. 21 January 1967.
10. Leeds, Sarene (May 20, 2013). "'Mad Men' Recap: Monday Morning Coming Down". Rolling Stone.