Many critics believed that Ellen Cohen—best known known as Cass Elliot of The Mamas & The Papas,was always the strongest singer in group, although the other 3 members didn’t always agree–

But when the group broke up in 1968, Cass was the only one of the four who had a successful solo career.

Unfortunately, It was short-lived, as was Cass herself, who died of a heart attack in 1974, at the age of 32.

Regardless of the rumors at the time, she did NOT die from choking on a sandwich…nor were there any drugs in her system.

During those 6 years as a solo sct, she made dozens of TV and concert appearances..and released a number of Great Songs, including 1969’s “It’s Getting Better.”

The song was written by the Hall-of-Fame songwriting team of Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, and was recorded by several others before Cass took a stab at it but her version was by far the nmost successful, reaching #13 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

And here’s a fun Fact” The song was considered to be “sunshine Pop,”a sub genre of bubblegum music…and alhtough Cass liked the song, she compared it to Chinese food. In her Words: “ahalf an hour after tasting it you’re hungry again.”

It’s Getting Better: A Great Song of 1969 by a Great Artist who left us way too soon…Cass Elliot.

== Mike Cook