Mamas And Papas California Dreaming

It's a family affair for Wilson Phillips, coming to Mount Pleasant's Soaring Eagle

“I’m in the studio,” she explained as her publicist patched her into our phone interview. Along with sister Wendy Wilson and friend Chynna Phillips — collectively known as Wilson Phillips — she’s recording an album of Beach Boys and Mamas and Papas covers.

“It’s going to be very, very emotional. We can be singing ‘Ring Around the Rosie’ and burst into tears with the three-part harmonies so you can imagine what it’s like singing our parents’ songs. It’s a very sensitive project.”

Listen, she says, turning up the volume on the instrumental track while she sings along to “California Dreamin’.” Phillips is the daughter of Mamas and Papas’ Michelle and John Phillips, and the Wilsons’ dad was legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson.

“I grew up singing that music,” Carnie Wilson said. “Then I had the opportunity to tour with (fellow Beach Boy) Al Jardine, and I recorded with my dad, too. I’ve been exposed to this music my whole life.”

Fans will get a sneak peek, Wilson said, when Wilson Phillips performs a few of the cuts for the first time before an audience during their show with John Waite on Friday, June 24, at Mount Pleasant’s Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.

“You’re going to hear all the hits, ‘Hold On,’ “Release Me,’ ‘You’re in Love,’ along with a couple of songs from ABBA and the Eagles,” she said as she walked into another room to grab a quick lunch.

She paused a couple of times to give orders — maybe 6-year-old Lola and 2-year-old Luci were nearby? — and always came back headed in a totally new direction.

“People keep calling this a reunion but truthfully, we’ve been doing this for years,” she said. “We actually reunited in 2004 and we put out our Christmas album. We’ve toured; we play 10 to 20 shows a year.

“And now we have the new project. But with nine children between us, we take things at our own pace. I have a nanny for my girls, but I’m proud that they’ve never been in day care. I still make their lunches and change Luci’s diapers.”

They’re the priority now, Wilson said, but that doesn’t mean she sits still for long. A fixture in everything from reality television to the Game Show Network, she’ll head for Vegas while Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips head for Los Angeles for her latest television venture.

Bruce's Journal: California Dreamin' by the Mamas and Papas ...

Bruce Slutsky was born in New York City in 1949. For the last 18 years I have worked as a Science/Engineering Librarian at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. I have been married to Karen since 1983. We have a son Lee who is now 23 years old. I am very much interested in the popular music of the 1960s especially Bob Dylan and the Beatles. I am interested in rock and roll radio. Since the inception of the team in 1962 I have been a big fan of the New York Mets.

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