In music history, The Mamas and the Papas’ debut album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, stands out not only for its harmonious tracks but also for the stir caused by its controversial cover art. Released in 1966, the album’s cover featured the band members cozily gathered in a bathtub, with a bathroom scene that included a visible toilet. At the time, this small detail was seen as indecent by some retailers and authorities.
This toilet on the album cover was enough to trigger censorship, with the record being pulled from shelves. In response, the label reissued the album with the offending toilet covered by a label listing the hit songs.
This act of censorship underscored the clash between the conservative social norms of the time and the emerging counterculture of the 1960s, which The Mamas and the Papas were a part of. Despite the initial controversy, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears quickly earned its place in American pop culture and music history.
Origins and Background of the Album
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, crafted by The Mamas and the Papas, was a landmark record in the evolving 1960s music scene. Blending folk-rock with sunshine pop, the album is defined by its lush harmonies and evocative lyrics.
The band—John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips—captured the essence of the California dream in their music. One of the standout tracks, “California Dreamin’,” perfectly encapsulates the longing and free spirit associated with the Golden State. Along with “Monday, Monday,” which became an instant classic, these tracks helped solidify the album’s enduring reputation.
The creation of the album has its own fascinating backstory. Before recording, the band spent a significant amount of time rehearsing in the Virgin Islands, where their sound truly began to take shape. This period of focused preparation laid the groundwork for what would become a defining album of the Sunshine Pop movement.
The Story Behind the Censored Cover
But despite its warm reception, If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears faced unexpected censorship due to its cover art. Photographer Guy Webster, who shot the album cover, later revealed that the controversy stemmed from a simple decision to take the photo in a bathroom.
I think it was Cass who pulled out the grass from tinfoil and lit it with all the windows and doors closed. We all got really stoned. I couldn’t even get my lens cap off. I said, ‘We gotta shoot something.’
The apartment had a 1920s-era bathroom with all of this funky tile. I put them in the bathtub, set up my tripod and my big two-and-a-quarter camera, and shot the cover for If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears with my wide-angle lens.
Guy Webster – Big Shots: The Photography of Guy Webster; Text by Harvey Kubernik and Kenneth Kubernik
As Guy and the band would soon find out, there was one small detail that upset corporate decision-makers—something so ordinary, yet so problematic in that era: a toilet.
There was a toilet in the corner and I left it in. That was a big mistake. You can’t put a toilet on the cover of anything and sell it at Sears or one of those chain stores. They will not allow it.
So Lou [Adler] came up with the great idea to put a little sticker on the shrink-wrap that read ‘including ‘California Dreaming’. And the covered the toilet.
It became one of the most controversial album covers of its day, which pleased us to no end. I became famous overnight. The Mamas and the Papas blew up, and I guess I blew up with them.
Guy Webster – Big Shots: The Photography of Guy Webster; Text by Harvey Kubernik and Kenneth Kubernik
Why Censor Something as Trivial as a Toilet?
In the conservative cultural climate of the ’60s, showing a toilet in media was deemed indecent. The push to censor the cover of If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears reflected the social norms of the time, where even mundane objects like a toilet were seen as inappropriate for public display.
These days, nearly anything can pass as art, but back then, things were much stricter.
Censored Versions
After the original sleeve was pulled from the market, several censored versions of the album were released. The first version featured a scroll that covered the toilet, reading “Includes ‘California Dreamin’.” This version, printed by RCA Victor, mirrored Dunhill’s original U.S. release.
The next censored version included the same scroll, but this time with two additional songs listed: “Monday, Monday” and “I Call Your Name.” An older version of this lacked the “Gold Record Award” stamp on the left.
The most extreme version completely obscured the bathroom, leaving only the band members visible. If you’re curious to see all the different variations, including European prints, Discogs.com is a great resource.
Original Now a Rare Collectable
The uncensored original pressing of the album is now a highly sought-after collectible. Its rarity, combined with The Mamas and the Papas’ iconic status, has made it a prized piece of 1960s counterculture memorabilia.
Depending on the album’s condition and provenance, it’s not uncommon for these originals to sell for hundreds of dollars at auction. The band’s lasting legacy, the album’s critical acclaim, and the intrigue surrounding its censored cover all contribute to its value.
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