"Monday, Monday" is a 1966 song written by John Phillips and recorded by the Mamas & the Papas, with backing music by members of the Wrecking Crew[2] for their 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears. Denny Doherty was the lead vocalist.[3] It was the group's only #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[4]

"Monday, Monday"
West German picture sleeve
Single by the Mamas & the Papas
from the album If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
B-side"Got a Feelin'"
ReleasedMarch 1966
RecordedDecember 16, 1965
StudioUnited Western, Los Angeles
GenrePop,[1] folk rock[1]
Length3:25 (album version)
3:09 (Single Version)
LabelDunhill
Songwriter(s)John Phillips
Producer(s)Lou Adler
The Mamas & the Papas singles chronology
"California Dreamin'"
(1965)
"Monday, Monday"
(1966)
"I Saw Her Again"
(1966)
Audio
"Monday, Monday" on YouTube

Background

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Billboard magazine advertisement, April 9, 1966

Phillips said that he wrote the song quickly, in about 20 minutes.[5] In the lyrics, the singer dislikes Mondays because the person he loved left him on that day. "Oh Monday mornin', you gave me no warnin' of what was to be."[6]

The song includes a pregnant pause before the coda, which modulates up a semitone. Succeeding "Good Lovin'" by the Young Rascals in the number one position, the event marked the first time in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 two songs with pregnant pauses were consecutive number one hits.[citation needed]

On March 2, 1967, the Mamas & the Papas won a Grammy Award for this song, in the category Best Contemporary (R&R) Group Performance, Vocal Or Instrumental.[7] In 2008 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.[8]

The song was performed at the Monterey Pop Festival (California) in 1967. The performance was filmed for the movie of the festival, but not included in the final print.

Chart history

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ a b Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn (2019). Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4408-6579-4.
  2. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  3. ^ Songfacts
  4. ^ The Mamas and the Papas
  5. ^ John Phillips interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  6. ^ Bing.com "Lyrics - Monday, Monday" Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mamas And The Papas | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  8. ^ "GRAMMY Hall Of Fame | Hall of Fame Artists | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  9. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1966-05-30. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Monday Monday". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  11. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Official Charts Company". Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  13. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  14. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 21, 1966
  15. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  16. ^ http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html Archived 2017-02-17 at the Wayback Machine Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 24, 1966
  17. ^ "American single certifications – The Mamas & The Papas – Monday, Monday". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  18. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  21. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  22. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  24. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  25. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
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