Mama Cass & Denny Doherty, future Lovin’ Spoonful guitarist Zal Yanovsky and “Summer Rain” hit songwriter Jim Hendricks makeup this folk-pop supergroup! Before each member found their way to stardom, The Mugwumps were born - the very same Mugwumps that the Mamas & the Papas sang about in “Creeque Alley!” To flip it upside down once more, this treasure was recorded pre-Papas and pre-Spoonful, yet it didn't hit shelves until after they each found success. "This was the first folk-rock group ever," Cass Elliot boasted to Johnny Carson about The Mugwumps. In a sense it's true. A small amount of cross-pollination occurred in the group's formation: Cass and her erstwhile husband Jim had been in Cass Elliot & the Big Three, a progressive folk outfit. Canadians Denny and Zal hailed from The Haliax Three, a more traditional folk trio. In early '64, Zal and Denny launched a rock alter ego called The Noise. Also in '64, Cass introduced Zal to John Sebastian by claiming Ringo Starr was with her. A historic connection was made as Zal and John went off to form the Lovin' Spoonful, while Cass and Denny joined John & Michelle Phillips to form the Mamas & the Papas, who pioneered rock's “California Dreamin'" era. Unfortunately, the Mugwumps era lasted only from July through November 1964, their one album recorded August 13 & 14, 1964, produced by Alan Lorber, who'd gone to see them at the behest of managers Roy Silver and Bob Covello. Recalled Cass: “We were doing very sophisticated folksy stuff, but obviously 1964 wasn't the year for it...It was in a time warp. Just too much before its time." -- All About Jazz