Denny Doherty - Waiting for a Song

1974 ,Then There Was No More..

Immaculately produced.. beautifully arranged.. tasteful, reserved strings and horns.. albeit extremely dated. Doherty's vocals carry the day, however. And if you're reading this, then that's what you're after. Right...?! You won't be disappointed. Too bad this guy doesn't lay it down anymore. That voice, man.... there's just something about it. April 19, 2006

The Man with the Golden Voice!

"Waiting for a Song" is a very romantic pop album sung by a very romantic singer.

Denny Doherty, marvelous lead vocalist of the Mamas & Papas, experimented with country-rock numbers on his great solo debut, "Watcha Gonna Do." He offered a hand in writing many of the songs on that album. This go-round, on "WAITING FOR A SONG" Doherty chose to record an eclectic selection of wonderful tunes by a host of artists, creatively using ex-love Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot as his two female backups. (Cass wrote the album's original liner notes the same month she passed away -- July 1974.)

This CD nearly replicates the magic of the Mamas and the Papas' finest hour!!!

Denny voice has a clear, rich timbre. He sings with feeling and honesty on this album, of which he kicks-off with the echo-pretty, "Simone."

Doherty wraps his warmest most affectionate vocal around "You'll Never Know," his adult-contemporary hit which was originally spawned from the 1943 romantic musical "Hello, Frisco, Hello." On the amorous "Good Night and Good Morning," he waxes rhapsodic. It is gloriously radiant!

The sunny "Together" shows a contented couple in love and how the lover feels secure without promises, though promises have been offered by her devoted partner to make her feel even more secure. The song is sonically reminiscent of Lennon-McCartney's, Penny Lane, complete with piccolo trumpet.

"Give Me Back That Old Familiar Feeling" yearns for a former sweetheart and happier days, literally "waiting for a song" to come, to sing and woo his lover back. And on the dramatic "Lay Me Down, (Roll Me Out to Sea)," -- hear Michelle Phillips sexy whisper-enhanced, "honey!"

Doherty's awesome, self-penned "It Can Only Happen In America" (co-written by Henry "Bud" Fanton) tells what Denny was going through at this point in his life. And very convincing is Denny's lustrous vocal on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," the Righteous Brothers' classic.

Both "Children Of My Mind" which shows personal fulfillment of artistic talents yet still hoping to be recognized for them -- and the comin'-back-to-my-girl "I'm Home Again" are sweetly and smoothly flowing." The sprightly "Southern Comfort," is another successful example of Doherty's country side.

The CD has exceptional liner notes by Richard Barton Campbell. Superb arranger, Mike Melvoin, did what was hip at the time in the mid-70s, yet the album still holds up today!

This is a beautiful, beautiful album! Makes me anxious for Denny's musical, "Dream a Little Dream - the Nearly True Story of the Mamas and the Papas" which he stars in and co-created with Paul Ledoux, to arrive in the states! October 3, 2002

Lovely tenor voice, blah middle of the road material

Denny Doherty contributed some of the best vocals to thr Mamas and the Papas. When that group broke up, he was left without the songs and arrangements of John Philips. He tried this middle of the road material ("You'll never know" was the one hit on this album). Unfortunately, the rest of the album is a drag - adult contemporary bland material and productions. Sorry I wasted my money on this one. September 17, 2002

You Want Romance?

The transcendent tenor of Denny Doherty will make any female melt! So rich. So clear. (sigh)

WAITING FOR A SONG is an amalgam of standards, pop and original work. The Mamas and the Papas' fabulous male lead singer knows how to pick 'em write 'em and croon 'em!

His cover of the Righteous Brothers' YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN' FEELIN' is supreme, and outdoes the 1964 hit, if that's at all possible. TOGETHER, with its carefree swing, is sheer sweetness...and Denny redoes the romantic YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, adorably!

Doherty's self-penned IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN AMERICA is autobiographical and brilliant. (He performs this currently in his musical, Dream a Little Dream - the Nearly True Story of the Mamas and the Papas.) I'M HOME AGAIN is another gem.

Denny sings a more lively version of England Dan and John Ford Coley's international hit, SIMONE. And GIVE ME BACK THAT OLD FAMILIAR FEELING will give you chills if you're a Ms and Ps' fan.

Michelle Phillips says "I think Denny is the psychedelic Frank Sinatra. He has a style of phrasing that is so unique and so rich. And he has amazing intonation. He has absolutely one of the best tenor voices in rock and roll." Superb arranger, Mike Melvoin says, "The thing that is most important about his songs and his singing is the essential honesty of his vocals. Just hearing him and me together on the early verses of 'Lay Me Down' - it sounds so right, so current and so believable." - (from Richard Barton Campbell's notes, April 2001.)

Michelle and the late Cass Elliot supplied beautiful backround vocals throughout the entire album. Cass wrote the original 1974 liner notes shortly before she passed away, and they're included again on this disc.

Exceptional arrangements by Mike Melvoin! And the production by John Madara and Jeffrey Kruger is flawless.

Watcha Gonna Do after this awesome album? How about checking out Denny Doherty's WATCHA GONNA DO compact disc! August 6, 2002

Fantastic! Papa and the Mamas

As a California boy who grew up digging the Mamas and Papas, I was amazed to see this Denny Doherty "reissue." I did not know this recording had existed. Denny Doherty with Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips! Holy cow...how could that have gotten by me??!! Well, it seems this was originally recorded in 1974 and only released in Canada due to some legal/business issues. I'm only glad that it has been reissued on CD and is now available in the U.S.

Denny had, and still has, a magnificent voice. I was lucky and caught his live show in Toronto last summer while there on business. Let me tell you, this guy can still croon and still rock!! He is in a class by himself.

Listening to this great recording, I can only wonder what would have been if Cass hadn't died so young and the group would have moved on to record more material. This is as close as you can get to a "lost" Mamas and Papas album, albiet Papa John Phillips is not part of this recording. These are the last recordings Cass Elliot did. I would have bought it for the historical value alone.

The sound on this CD is as fresh as if recorded yesterday and the music and vocals on it are timeless. Denny's voice is like velvet and the backing vocals by the ex-Mamas combine with Denny's pipes to sent shivers down one's spine.

This CD fully captures Doherty's talent and the selection of material is wonderful. The songs range from tender ballads to rock and roll and everthing in between. "You'll Never Know" is perhaps my favorite cut. The beautiful sound of Denny's voice fills the air, and with the sound of Michelle and Cass mixing in, you almost hear that wall of sound that was the Mamas and Papas. "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" could also be right out of a Mamas and Papas album...they were famous for re-doing oldies (Dancing in the Street, Dedicated to the One I Love, My Girl). "Simone" is another great cut, as is "Together" and "Only in America". In fact, there is not a bad cut on this whole recording. Every one is a gem.

I play this CD constantly and just can't get tired of it. It just sounds too darn good! February 6, 2002

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