The Monkees (album)

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The Monkees
The Monkees cover
Studio album by The Monkees
Released October 10 1966
Recorded July 1966
Genre Rock
Length 30:00
Label Colgems Records
Producer Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller, Michael Nesmith
Professional reviews
The Monkees chronology
The Monkees
(1966)		 More of the Monkees
(1967)

The Monkees is the first album by the band The Monkees. It was released in October 1966 by Colgems Records.

The Monkees' debut was the first of four consecutive U.S. number one albums for the group, and it also topped the UK charts. Assembled by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider to portray a Beatles-type pop band on a new series, the quartet recorded vocals only between rehearsals for the weekly show. Peter Tork, however, did play guitar on "Papa Gene's Blues."

While subsequent albums would improve on its quality, largely due to the group's increased participation, The Monkees remains an appealing mix of pop songs and performances. Micky Dolenz delivers a rousing lead on the brisk "Last Train to Clarksville," a U.S. number-one single and one of several tunes written by veteran hitmakers Boyce and Hart, while Davy Jones sensitively handles the precious ballad "I Wanna Be Free", which like "(Theme from) The Monkees", received as much radio airplay as popular 45 singles at the time. Michael Nesmith sings lead on his own country-flavored compositions, "Papa Gene's Blues" and "Sweet Young Thing" (co-written with legendary songwriting team Gerry Goffin and Carole King).

Though critics disparaged The Monkees as the "Pre-Fab Four," the TV show was a hit. The symbiotic relationship between the show and radio play enabled The Monkees to hold down the top-selling album slot for 13 weeks, eventually selling over 5 million copies.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "(Theme from) The Monkees" (Boyce/Hart)
  2. "Saturday's Child" (Gates)
  3. "I Wanna Be Free" (Boyce/Hart)
  4. "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" (Boyce/Venet)
  5. "Papa Gene's Blues" (Nesmith)
  6. "Take a Giant Step" (Goffin/King)
  7. "Last Train to Clarksville" (Boyce/Hart)
  8. "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day" (Boyce/Hart)
  9. "Let's Dance On"(Boyce/Hart)
  10. "I'll Be True" (Goffin/Titleman)
  11. "Sweet Young Thing" (Goffin/King/Nesmith)
  12. "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" (Boyce/Hart)

[edit] Bonus tracks (1994)

The following tracks were included on the 1994 Rhino CD reissue of the album.

  1. "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (Previously Unreleased Early Version) (Boyce/Hart)
  2. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Previously Unreleased Alternate Version) (Goffin/King)
  3. "(Theme from) The Monkees" (Previously Unreleased Early Version) (Boyce/Hart)

[edit] Bonus Tracks (2006)

The following tracks were included on the August 15, 2006 deluxe CD of the album. Some were previously unreleased, while others were on the 1994 reissue or the Missing Links series. Studio chatter is included between some bonus tracks.

Disc One Tracks 1-12-Original Album In Stereo

Tracks 13-21-Bonus Tracks

13. "(Theme From) The Monkees" (Second Recorded Version)
14. "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love" (Alternate Mix)
15. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Micky's Vocal)
16. "So Goes Love"
17. "Papa Gene's Blues" (Alternate Mix)
18. "I Can Get Her Off My Mind"
19. "(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love" (Alternate Mix, Davy's Vocal)
20. "Gonna Buy Me A Dog" (Backing Track)

Disc Two Tracks 1-12 Original Album In Mono

Tracks 13-20-Bonus Tracks

13. "Kellogg's Jingle"
14. "All The King's Horses"
15. "You Just May be The One" (TV Version)
16. "I Wanna Be Free" (Fast Version)
17. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Mike's Vocal)
18. "I Won't Be The Same Without Her" (Mono Mix)
19. "Propinquity (I've Just Begun To Care)" (Demo Version)
20. "(Theme From) The Monkees" (TV Version)

[edit] Session information

"(Theme From) The Monkees"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Gene Estes
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 5, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"Saturday's Child"

  • Written by David Gates (later a member of the band Bread)
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Tambourine: Gene Estes
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"I Wanna Be Free"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Davy Jones
  • Acoustic guitar: Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton, Harpsichord: Michael Rubini, Violin: Bonnie Douglas and Paul Shure, Viola: Myra Kestenbuam, Cello: Fred Seykora
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 19, 1966 (2– 7:30 PM)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Steve Venet
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce, Electric guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Harmonica: Keith Allison, Tambourine: unknown
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"Papa Gene's Blues"

  • Written by Michael Nesmith
  • Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
  • Harmony Vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, James Helms, and Don Peake, Bass: William Pitman, Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, and Jim Gordon, Percussion: Gary Coleman
  • Recorded at Western Recorders Studio 2, Hollywood, July 7, 1966 (8– 11:30 pm)
  • Produced by Michael Nesmith

"Take a Giant Step"

  • Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce, Electric guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Gene Estes, Glockenspiel: Bobby Hart, Piano: Jack Keller, Harpsichord: Michael Rubini
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • An alternate mix of this song, with different backing vocals and with Micky's lead not double-tracked, was featured on the TV series episode "The Chaperone."

"Last Train to Clarksville"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce, Electric Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Gene Estes and David Walters
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7 pm-3 am)
  • Released as a single, reached number 1 on the pop music charts
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Davy Jones
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Gene Estes, Cello: Joseph Ditullio
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 6, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"Let's Dance On"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
  • Backing Vocals by Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce and Ron Hicklin
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Organ: Bobby Hart, Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 6, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"I'll Be True to You"

  • Written by Gerry Goffin and Russ Titelman
  • Lead vocal by Davy Jones
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Glockenspiel: Bobby Hart, Percusssion: Gene Estes, Unknown Backing Vocals
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"Sweet Young Thing"

  • Written by Michael Nesmith, Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  • Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
  • Backing vocals by Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork
  • Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey and Michael Deasy, Fiddle: Jimmy Bryant, Bass: Bob West, Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, and Jim Gordon, Percussion: Gary Coleman
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 18, 1966 (8 pm-12 am)
  • Produced by Michael Nesmith

"Gonna Buy Me a Dog"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocals by Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton, Organ: Bobby Hart, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studio #1, Hollywood, July 23, 1966 (2-8 pm)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

[edit] CD bonus tracks

"I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (alternate take)

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal by Davy Jones
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gery McGee, and Louie Shelton, Piano, autoharp: Bobby Hart, Bass: Larry Taylor, Drums: Billy Lewis, Percussion: Gene Estes and David Walters
  • Recorded at RCA Victor studios, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7 pm-3 am)
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Later re-recorded by The Monkees and used on Headquarters

"I Don't Think You Know Me"

  • Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
  • Lead vocals by Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith
  • Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, and Al Casey, Organ: Larry Knechtel, Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon, Unknown backing vocals
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7:30 pm– 12:15 am)
  • Produced by Michael Nesmith
  • Two mixes were made of this song. The first featured Micky on vocals and was mixed by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Mike recorded his own vocals later that year.

"(Theme From) The Monkees"

  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Vocals by Micky Dolenz, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Other personnel unknown
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • In another key than the album version
  • Recording info unknown

"You Just May Be The One"

  • Written and produced by Michael Nesmith
  • Lead vocals by Mike Nesmith
  • Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, and Al Casey
  • Bass: Robert West
  • Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
  • The song features the doubling of regular bass with Danelectro or "dano" bass, played by one of the other guitarists; the dano bass' distinctive twang gave Mike's 1966 tracks a country flavor. The doubling of bass proved difficult to master as some 35 takes were needed before the backing track was completed.
  • The song was featured on three episodes of the TV series - "The Chaperone," "One Man Shy," and "Monkees A La Mode."

[edit] Miscellanea

  • Early pressings of the album's cover featured a misspelling of "Papa Gene's Blues" as "Papa Jean's Blues."
  • Only one song on the album, "I'll Be True To You", was not featured on the TV show. The song had originally been recorded by The Hollies under the title "Yes I Will".
  • The song was chanted during the 1969 riots in Northern Ireland by both parties with changed lyrics saying, "Hey hey we're the Monkeys, We're just fooling around, until we see your blood spilling, all over the ground."
  • At the very end of the song "Gonna Buy Me A Dog", Davy can be heard to sing "They're Coming to Take Us Away, Ha Ha.." referring to the then (banned on some radio stations) novelty hit (July 1966) of Napoleon XIV's - They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!

[edit] Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1966 Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) 1
1967

[edit] Other personnel

[edit] References

  • All information can be found on the reissue of The Monkees
  • The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation by Andrew Sandoval
Preceded by
Dr. Zhivago (soundtrack) by Maurice Jarre		 Billboard 200 number-one album
November 12, 1966 - February 10, 1967		 Succeeded by
More of The Monkees by The Monkees
v • d • e
The Monkees
Micky Dolenz · Davy Jones · Michael Nesmith · Peter Tork
Production & Management
Studio albums
Principal Film/Television Appearances
Miscellaneous
Languages