The Ballad of Mama Cass

She was the voice behind "California Dreamin'" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me." The heart of The Mamas and The Papas. A woman who told the world she'd be "the most famous fat girl that ever lived" and then did exactly that.

But for fifty years, her death has been reduced to a punchline. A ham sandwich. A joke at her own expense.

In this episode of Dead Notes, we unravel the truth behind July 29th, 1974. The final days of Cass Elliot's life. The cover up that began before her body was cold. And the daughter who spent five decades fighting to reclaim her mother's story.

From Laurel Canyon to the London Palladium, from love affairs that broke her heart to a Las Vegas disaster that nearly ended her career this is the real story of Mama Cass. Not the myth. The woman.

Content Warning: Discussion of death, eating disorders, and substance use in music history.

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If you enjoy atmospheric storytelling, you may also like my other podcast, The Unremarkable, a series of fictional stories about ordinary places where something feels… off.

Listen here: The Unremarkable Podcast

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Music and production by Ben Cooper.
© 2025 CooperVille Studio. All rights reserved.

Copyright Disclaimer
This episode includes short references to copyrighted recordings for purposes of commentary, criticism, analysis, and historical discussion. These excerpts are used under the principles of fair use.