Music Notes

Creeque Alley

My fourth track is by a band now defunct, The Mamas and the Papas. It's a song you don't hear often: Creeque Alley, released in 1970.

Lyrically it discusses in humourous details the personal hardships the band endured as they put themselves together. With a jolly, rollicking melody, a variety of instruments, and verses that seem to ramble on forever (it lacks a clear chorus) it's unique and quirky.

My mom was obsessed with Creeque Alley in 2020; she would put it on repeat at her work, and it helped her get through the extremely stressful environment. I didn't think very much of it myself, as it seems rather silly. I do appreciate the amount of harmonious vocal effort and instrumental precision that went into it… but I prefer more introspective or transcendent lyrics, I guess, such as their more well-known hit California Dreaming. Also, Creeque Alley is now so tightly associated with Mom and the pandemic and our toxic jobs, that I don't think I'll ever be able to appreciate it as a song.

I chose Creeque Alley to write about instead of California Dreaming, as something more unusual and interesting, because I know most of my choices are going to be pretty "bland" or "predictable" or "classic…" my knowledge of older music doesn't run very deep.

Words: 229.