Cass Elliot (7,094 views)

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Cass Elliot
Birth name: Ellen Naomi Cohen
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Vocal Range: C3–F♯5
Years active: 1959–1974
Associated acts: The Big 3 (1962–1964), The Mugwumps (1964), The Mamas & the Papas (1965–1968, 1971), Solo (1968–1974)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Vocal Range Timeline}

The Big 3:
The Big 3 Featuring Mama Cass [recorded 1963 & 1964, released 1995]: E3–D5

The Mugwumps:
The Mugwumps [recorded 1964, released 1966]: C♯3–D5

The Mamas & the Papas:
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears [1966]: E3–E♭5
The Mamas & the Papas [1966]: C♯3–E5
The Mamas & the Papas Deliver [1967]: E♭3–C♯5–D5
The Papas & the Papas [1968]: F♯3–E♭5
People Like Us [1971]: G♯3–A3–C5

Solo:
Dream a Little Dream [1968]: D3–E5–F5
Bubblegum, Lemonade and… Something for Mama (reissued as 'Make Your Own Kind of Music/It’s Getting Better') [1969]: E♭3–C♯5–E5
Mama's Big Ones [1970]: E3–C♯5–E5
Dave Mason & Cass Elliot [1971]: F♯3–C5–E♭5
Cass Elliot [1972]: E♭3–E5
The Road Is No Place for a Lady [1972]: C3–C5
Don't Call Me Mama Anymore [1973]: C♯3–E♭5

^{NOTE: Any bonus tracks and/or remixes are counted within their respective album's range.}

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}

G5: "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover"

^{Reason: Screamed; poor tone & unrepresentative of her voice.}
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Questionable notes are any notes of questionable significance. In short, this section acknowledges known questionable notes, that would not contribute to the singer's range. These involve (but are not limited to) notes of questionable identity, notes of questionable legitimacy and notes of significantly poor quality.

Significant High Notes:

F♯5: "Act Naturally" live with Johnny Cash
F5: "Jane, the Insane Dog Lady"
E5: "Blues for Breakfast", "Cherries Jubilee", "I Can't Wait", "It's Getting Better", "What'd I Say" live 1969 with Sammy Davis Jr.
E♭5: "Hey Girl", "Midnight Voyage", "Sour Grapes", "Too Much Truth, Too Much Love", "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore
D5: "I Call Your Name", "I Can Dream, Can't I?", "Move In a Little Closer, Baby", "My Girl", "Nora's Dove", "No Salt on Her Tail", "Searching", "String Man", "Walk to the Point", "What'd I Say" live 1969 with Sammy Davis Jr., "What Was I Thinking Of"
C♯5: "Act Naturally" live with Johnny Cash, "Blues for Breakfast", "Dancing in the Street", "Even If I Could", "Every Body's Been Talkin'", "Free Advice", "Glad to Be Unhappy", "Glory Glory", "I Am Now", "I'll Be Home", "Jane, the Insane Dog Lady", "Make Your Own Kind Of Music/New World Coming/Dream A Little Dream Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "New World Coming", "On and On", "Searching", "Straight Shooter", "Too Much Truth, Too Much Love", "Trip, Stumble and Fall", "Walk to the Point", "Welcome to the World", "Wild Women", "You Know Who I Am"
C5: "The Banjo Song", "Burn Your Hatred", "Cherries Jubilee", "Disney Girls", "Does Anybody Love You", "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "European Blueboy", "Glad to Be Unhappy", "Glittering Façade", "Green Eyes / Tangerine" The Juile Andrews Hour, "Heaven Help Us All" live 1971 - The Andy Williams Show, "Hey Girl", "I Can't Wait", "I Shall Be Released" live with Joni Mitchell & Mary Travers, "The 'In' Crowd", "Jesus Was a Cross-Maker", "Make Your Own Kind Of Music/New World Coming/Dream A Little Dream Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Move in a Little Closer, Baby", "My Heart Stood Still", "No Salt on Her Tail", "Once Was a Time I Thought", "R.E.S.P.E.C.T" live 1969 with Sammy Davis Jr., "Safe in My Garden", "Sing for Your Supper", "Too Much Truth, Too Much Love", "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)", "What Was I Thinking Of", "Who in the World", "Winken, Blinken and Nod", "Words of Love"
B4: "The Banjo Song", "Blueberries for Breakfast", "Cherries Jubilee", "Come Along", "Dancing Bear", "Dancing in the Street", "Different", "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By", "Do You Wanna Dance", "Everybody's Been Talkin'", "Glory Glory", "Grasshopper", "Green Eyes / Tangerine" The Juile Andrews Hour, "I Call Your Name", "(If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart", "For the Love of Ivy", "Here We Go Again", "Ho Honey Ho", "I Am Now", "I'll Be There", "It's Getting Better", "Listen to the Word" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "The Look of Love"The Carol Burnett Show, "Make Your Own Kind of Music", "Monday, Monday", "New World Coming", "Next to You", "Nora's Dove", "Pleasing You", "Rider", "Rubber Band", "Sistowbell Lane", "Something to Make You Happy", "A Song That Never Comes", "Sweet Believer", "That Kind of Girl", "That Song", "Too Late", "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Trip, Stumble and Fall", "Twist and Shout", "Walk Beside Me", "Walk to the Point", "When I Just Wear My Smile", "When It Doesn't Work Out", "Words of Love", "You Know Who I Am"
B♭4: "All My Life", "The Costume Ball", "Different", "European Blueboy", "Country Medley" live with Johnny Cash - The Johnny Cash Show, "Does Anybody Love You", "Go Where You Wanna Go", "Got a Feelin'", "Heaven Help Us All" live 1971 - The Andy Williams Show, "Here We Go Again", "I Think It's Going to Rain Today", "I'll Be Home", "I'll Be Seeing You" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "The 'In' Crowd", "Long Time Loving You", "Move in a Little Closer, Baby", "My Love" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore', "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?", "On and On", "People Like Us", "Saturday Suit", "Say Hello", "Softly and Tenderly" live 1969 - The Johnny Cash Show, "Somebody Groovy", "A Song That Never Comes", "There's a Lull in My Life"The Carol Burnett Show, "To Be Free", "Twelve Thirty", "When It Doesn't Work Out", "When Love Was Not a Word", "Who in the World", "You Baby", "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover"
A4: "All for Me", "Alone Again (Naturally)" live 1972 - The Julie Andrews Hour, "Blues for Breakfast", "Burn Your Hatred", "California Dreamin'", "California Earthquake", "Cherries Jubilee", "The Costume Ball", "Creeque Alley", "Darlin' Companion" live with John Sebastian, "Darling Be Home Soon", "Dedicated to the One I Love", "Disney Girls", "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By", "Do You Know What I Mean", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "For the Love of Ivy", "Glittering Façade", "Grasshopper", "He's a Runner", "I Can Dream, Can't I?", "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" live 1969 with Sammy Davis Jr., "If You're Gonna Break Another Heart", "I'll Remember Tonight", "I May Be Right", "It's All in the Game", "It's Getting Better", "Jesus Was a Cross-Maker", "Lady Love" live 1970 - The John Davidson Show, "Lady Luck", "Love Was Not a Word", "Mansions", "Midnight Voyage", "My Girl", "My Heart Stood Still", "Next to You", "No Dough", "Nowhere Man" live 1966 - Hulabaloo, "People Like Us", "Pleasing You", "The Road Is No Place for a Lady", "The Room Nobody Lives in", "Sing for Your Supper", "Sit and Wonder", "So Fine", "Something Stupid" with John Davidson - The John Davidson Show, "Something to Make You Happy", "Sour Grapes", "Straight Shooter", "String Man", "Theme from 'L'Amour'", "To Be Free", "Try It, Baby", "When Love Was Not a Word", "You Know Who I Am"

Significant Low Notes:

A3: "All for Me", "Blues for Breakfast", "California Dreamin'", "California Earthquake", "Cherries Jubilee", "Come Along", "Dark As a Dungeon", "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "Everybody's Been Talkin'", "Glittering Façade", "Heaven Help Us All" live 1971 - The Andy Williams Show, "I Call Your Name", "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" live 1969 with Sammy Davis Jr., "(If You're Gonna) Break Another Heart", "The 'In' Crowd", "Lady Love" live 1970 - The John Davidson Show, "Lady Luck", "Leaving on a Jet Plane" live 1972 with John Denver, "Make Your Own Kind of Music", "No Dough", "Once Was a Time I Thought", "Rubber Band", "Say Hello", "Silkie", "Sit and Wonder", "Sour Grapes", "That Song", "Tony & Delia", "Walk Beside Me"
G♯3: "Country Medley" live with Johnny Cash - The Johnny Cash Show, "Darlin' Companion" live with John Sebastian, "Different", "Easy Come, Easy Go", "Got a Feelin'", "I Am Now", "I Can't Wait", "I Don't Wanna Know", "I May Be Right", "It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad", "Look Through My Window", "Nowhere Man" live 1966 - Hulabaloo, "People Like Us", "Midnight Voyage", "When I Just Wear My Smile"
G3: "All My Life", "All the Pretty Little Horses", "Blow Me a Kiss", "Blues for Breakfast", "Country Medley" live with Johnny Cash - The Johnny Cash Show, "The Costume Ball", "Dark As a Dungeon", "Dedicated to the One I Love", "Different", "Disney Girls", "Don't Let the Good Life Pass You By", "Do You Know What I Mean", "I'll Be Home", "I Think It's Going to Rain Today", "Jesus Was a Cross-Maker", "Leaving on a Jet Plane" live 1972 with John Denver, "Love Was Not a Word", "Move In a Little Closer, Baby", "My Heart Stood Still", "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?", "The Road Is No Place for a Lady", "The Room Nobody Lives in", "Say Hello", "Sing for Your Supper", "Softly and Tenderly" live 1969 - The Johnny Cash Show, "Something to Make You Happy", "Try It, Baby", "We'll See", "What Was I Thinking Of", "When Love Was Not a Word", "Who's to Blame"
F♯3: "Ain't Nobody Else Like You", "Alone Again (Naturally)" live 1972 - The Julie Andrews Hour, "Anna Fia (Feher)", "Baby I'm Yours", "Didn't Want to Do It", "Don't Make Me a Memory" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Down in the Valley", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "The Good Times Are Coming", "Glory Glory", "Here We Go Again", "I Am Now", "I'll Be Seeing You/Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "I'll Be There", "It's Getting Better", "It Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad", "Midnight Voyage", "One Way Ticket", "Ringo", "Rubber Band", "Sistowbell Lane", "There's a Lull in My Life"The Carol Burnett Show, "When It Doesn't Work Out", "Young Girl's Lament"
F3: "All My Life", "Alone Again (Naturally)" live 1972 - The Julie Andrews Hour, "Burn Your Hatred", "The Costume Ball", "Darling Be Home Soon", "Didn't Want to Do It", "Did You Ever Want to Cry", "He's a Runner", "It's All in the Game", "I Don't Wanna Know", "It's Getting Better", "The Look of Love"The Carol Burnett Show, "Long Time Loving You", "Love Was Not a Word", "My Love" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Nobody's Heart (Belongs To Me)" live The Carol Burnett Show 1971 with Carol Burnett, "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?", "The Road Is No Place for a Lady", "The Room Nobody Lives in", "Saturday Suit", "Softly and Tenderly" live 1969 - The Johnny Cash Show, "Sweet Believer", "Talkin' to Your Toothbrush", "What Was I Thinking Of", "When I Just Wear My Smile", "When Love Was Not a Word", "Wild Women"
E3: "Ain't Nobody Else Like You", "Alone Again (Naturally)" live 1972 - The Julie Andrews Hour, "Anna Fia (Feher)", "Burn Your Hatred", "California Earthquake", "The Costume Ball", "Don't Make Me a Memory" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)", "Glory Glory", "The Good Times Are Coming", "Green Eyes / Tangerine" The Juile Andrews Hour, "Here It Is, Another Day", "I Can Dream, Can't I?", "I'll Be Seeing You/Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Jane, the Insane Dog Lady", "Make Your Own Kind of Music/New World Coming/Dream a Little Dream Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "My Love" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "New World Coming", "Straight Shooter", "There's a Lull in My Life"The Carol Burnett Show, "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "You Know Who I Am"
E♭3: "Baby I'm Yours", "Did You Ever Want to Cry", "I Had a King"Andy Williams' Kaleidoscope Company, "Saturday Suit", "Welcome to the World"
D3: "Green Eyes / Tangerine" The Juile Andrews Hour, "Talkin' to Your Toothbrush", "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, "Who in the World"
C♯3: "Here It Is, Another Day", "Strange Young Girls", "The Torch Song Medley" live - Don't Call Me Mama Anymore
C3: "Who in the World"

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^{_{Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic vocals.
Bold marks particularly impressive vocal moments.}}

Best known as 1/4 of The Mamas & the Papas, the vocalist who arguably defined the group's sound, Cass Elliot became one of the defining vocalists of the 1960s. She possessed solid power throughout her entire range and could pull off impressive low notes and belting, even though she was most comfortable in the fourth octave. Her real strength came from the amount of personality she was able to imbue her singing with, whether it be tenderness in 'Dream a Little Dream of Me', enthusiasm in 'It's Getting Better', or world-weariness in 'Safe in My Garden'.