Personnel: John Phillips (vocals, guitar, harmonica); James Burton

(guitar, dobro); David Cohen, Dr. Hord (guitar); Buddy Emmons, Red Rhodes (steel guitar); Gordon Terry (fiddle); Larry Knechtel (keyboards); Joe Osborn (bass); Hall Blaine (drums); Darlene Love, Jean King, Fanita James (background vocals).

Recorded in Los Angeles, California in 1970.

If there's any justice to be had, the 2006 reissue of John Phillips's solo debut, which adds eight previously unreleased tracks, will alert the world to the presence of this overlooked folk-rock gem. Originally released in 1969 in the wake of the demise of the Mamas and the Papas, JOHN, THE WOLFKING OF L.A. contains songs that rank alongside the finest Phillips penned for that group. A dream team of session musicians, including Sun Studios' guitarist James Burton and members of Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew, give the album its assured, sunbaked country feel, but it is the strength of Phillips's remarkable songwriting that makes this a treasure.

The first solo album of the architect of the Mamas & Papas sound, John Phillips, was certainly one of the more heralded events at the dawn of the 1970s. Phillips, the primary songwriter and vocal arranger for all of the group's great records, however, was not exactly a great lead vocalist. Phillips knew this, and, according to his book, Papa John, he purposely buried his voice in the mix. This proved to be a bit of tragedy, because underneath it all, this is an excellent album. Songs such as "April Anne," "Malibu People," and "Holland Tunnel" bear out what a fine songwriter he really was, and indeed, these are some of the finest songs of his career. The performances on this record are spectacular. Backed by an all-star group of musicians (most of Elvis Presley's band, including James Burton, as well as the Wrecking Crew, among others), the record's decidedly country feel is crafted to the extreme. Mamas co-founder Denny Doherty has always felt that had the Mamas & Papas recorded this album, it would have been one of their finest. There's no doubt. ~ Matthew Greenwald

Rolling Stone (p.79) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The songs thrive on dramatic harmonies, arresting melodies, Phillips' smooth, South Carolina-sired hippie crooning, country touches, and background vocals from the Blossoms..."

Entertainment Weekly (p.95) - "[H]e enlisted a crackerjack band to document his whirlwind year on this reflective disc." -- Grade: A-

Q (2/93, p.91) - 3 Stars - Good - "...really quite good, lightly melodic country rock..."

Dirty Linen (p.85) - "[I]t stands as a vivid, tender, and gritty artifact of a memorable time and place."

Mojo (Publisher) (3/01/04, p.53) - Included in Mojo's The 67 Lost Albums You Must Own! - "[T]ales of spilt wine, drug pick-ups and shipwrecks in a wash of country-soul harmony."