ONE OF THE MAMAS IS MAKING BOOK ON THE MAMAS AND PAPAS

The Mamas and Papas made sweet music during their three years together in the ‘60s, but things weren’t always so harmonious backstage, according to former member Michelle Philips. Assisted by Derek Taylor, she’s been penning a book about the group called “The Music, the Madness, the Magic That Was . . . California Dreamin’,” due out this May from Warner Books. MCA Records, which acquired ABC-Dunhill (the group’s label), will simultaneously release a Mamas and Papas “best of” album, as well as a “California Dreamin’ ” video.

Phillips is writing the book in cooperation with the late Cass Elliot’s estate because “if I didn’t, someone else was bound to--and it’s important that one of us wrote it.” Besides such angles as psychedelic drugs and relationships within the group, “I’ll cover me being thrown unceremoniously out of the group, which most people don’t know about.”

But will we get glimpses of her reported affairs with Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson and her “glorious eight days” of marriage to Dennis Hopper?

“Not a word.”

Meanwhile, Phillips is on location in Arizona co-starring with Olympic gymnast Mitch Gaylord in “American Anthem,” a romantic drama set against collegiate gymnastics and directed by Albert Magnoli. One look at her (see adjoining photo) suggests she might be playing the woman in Gaylord’s life. “I would love to have seen that happen,” she said. “I love him--he’s so cute.”

But Phillips, 41, plays his mom (Janet Jones is the girlfriend). Phillips admitted that Gaylord was her “oldest child” as a film mother, but added, laughing: “I had him when I was a very young teen-ager!”