Creeque Alley

CREEQUE ALLEY
 
 
“Creeque Alley”  is an autobiographical hit single written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas in 1967, narrating the story of how the group was formed, and its early years.  The third song on the album Deliver, it peaked at #5 on the U.S. Billboard pop singles chart the week of Memorial Day, 1967.  It made #9 on the UK Charts.  The title of the song, which does not occur in the lyrics, is derived from Creque or Crequi (pronounced “creaky”) Alley, home to a club in the Virgin Islands where John and Michelle Phillips’ original group, the New Journeymen, spent time on vacation.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

The Mamas and the Papas are another band featuring both men and women that had enduring popularity throughout the British Invasion years.  The complicated story of their formation and the other musicians who moved in and out of their circles – which included John Sebastian and Zal Yanofsky of the Lovin’ Spoonful – is related in their song “Creeque Alley”.  Considerably more drama would follow during and after the Mamas and the Papas had their hit-making run.  

 

(November 2013)