The Mamas & the Papas a rendezvous in Paris with Pic Dawson (according to Michelle Phillips). In an interview with "Melody Maker", Elliot unilaterally announced that The Mamas & the Papas had disbanded: "We thought this trip would give the group some stimulation, but this has not been so." In fact, Phillips and Elliot did patch things up sufficiently to complete "The Papas & The Mamas", which was released in May 1968. It was relatively successful in both the UK and US, although it was their first not to go gold or reach the top ten in America. "12:30 (Young Girls Are Coming to the
The Mamas & the Papas depending on the availability of the other group members: "It was rare we were all together. Most tracks were dubbed, one vocal at a time." The Mamas and the Papas' last album of new material, "People Like Us", was released in November 1971. The only single, "Step Out" (January 1972), reached number eighty-one in the US. The album peaked at number eighty-four on the "Billboard" 200, making it the only Mamas and Papas LP not to reach the top twenty in the US. Neither single nor album charted in the UK. Contractual obligations fulfilled, the band's split was now final.