Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart - Alice Long

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  • Опубліковано 9 вер 2011
  • Boyce & Hart, the songwriting and performing team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, are most famous for writing several of the Monkees' big hits, including "Last Train to Clarksville," "Valleri," and "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone." Together and separately, they also wrote or contributed to hits by several other acts in the 1960s, including Freddy Cannon, Curtis Lee, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Jay & the Americans. In 1967 they began recording on their own as a duo, landing a Top Ten hit the same year with "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite." Boyce & Hart were a West Coast equivalent to the kind of craftsmanship and methodology espoused by Brill Building songwriting teams, although their material was less meaningful and enduring than Goffin-King's or Barry-Greenwich's. They emphasized bright, happy, AM radio melodies with room for lots of vocal harmonies, an appropriate vibe for the Monkees and other acts; it was typical of the L.A. late-'60s pop/rock that would retroactively be dubbed "sunshine pop."
    Boyce, the older of the pair, had a history that long predated the Monkees, co-writing a Top Ten hit for Fats Domino in 1959 ("Be My Guest"). Around the early '60s, he met Hart and the pair spent some time in New York in the mid-'60s, where they (with Wes Farrell) wrote the Jay & the Americans hit "Come a Little Bit Closer." Throughout the first half of the 1960s Boyce wrote or helped write material without any Hart involvement, including hits by Cannon ("Action") and Lee ("Pretty Little Angel Eyes"), while Hart had a piece of the songwriting for Little Anthony & the Imperials' "Hurt So Bad." It wasn't until 1965 that the Boyce-Hart partnership took off in earnest, as they were signed to the Screen Gems publishing company. They knocked off some energetic pop/rockers that were recorded by bands like Paul Revere & the Raiders ("[I'm Not Your] Stepping Stone") and the Leaves ("Words"), as well as the theme for the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
    They found themselves in the right place at the right time when they were commissioned to write a few songs for the pilot episode of The Monkees. Because the Monkees were going to be on TV every week, they needed a steady supply of songs fast, which helped assure that Boyce & Hart placed many of their tunes with the group. These included not only a few hits, but also many album tracks; about half the songs on the Monkees' first album were Boyce-Hart tunes. The Monkees even redid some Boyce-Hart songs, such as "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone," "Words," and "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day."
    Boyce & Hart's material may not have been the first choice of what the group, and specifically their most experienced songwriter, Mike Nesmith, wanted to record. But Boyce-Hart's knack for AM-friendly pop hooks and chipper, just-this-side-of-bubblegum arrangements were very much in tune with the image projected by the group on their show. Boyce & Hart were also involved in the Monkees' first two albums as producers, a role they returned to on the Monkees' albums in 1969 and 1970.
    Starting in 1967, Boyce & Hart also recorded on their own for A&M Records. Aside from "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite," however, none of their efforts made the Top 20 or came close to that song in quality, although "Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend)" and "Out & About" both made the Top 40 and "We're All Going to the Same Place" and "Goodbye Baby" charted in lower positions. Boyce & Hart split up, both as songwriters and performers, at the end of the 1960s, although they teamed up with ex-Monkees Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones to perform and record for a while in the mid-'70s as Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart. Boyce committed suicide in November 1994 after a lengthy struggle with illness and depression. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
    PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads among multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948's oldies classics. LINK: john1948.wikifoundry.com/page/...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 56

  • @bryanpalmer9660
    @bryanpalmer9660 3 роки тому +15

    I LOVE listening to Boyce and Hart-pure sunshine music

  • @johnnypoker46
    @johnnypoker46 8 років тому +45

    I will NEVER get tired of hearing this song!

    • @ProudKansan08
      @ProudKansan08 4 роки тому

      Me, either!

    • @maureenmcgovern6119
      @maureenmcgovern6119 2 роки тому

      Me either and I enjoy the video. Even though it’s silly. We need silly these days 2021.

    • @thomjones44
      @thomjones44 2 роки тому +4

      Here's my question. Beside myself who else is listening to this in 2022?

    • @chriscoghlan692
      @chriscoghlan692 7 місяців тому

      Me!​@@thomjones44

  • @baselinesweb
    @baselinesweb 9 років тому +27

    Back when radio was still fun to listen to!

  • @liizardcroziier8853
    @liizardcroziier8853 11 років тому +16

    It just doesn't get any better that this song!!... the 1st time I heard it.. it sounded Familiar.... Sun,Sun,Sun...

  • @sauquoit13456
    @sauquoit13456 12 років тому +15

    On this day in 1968 {June 22nd} Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart performed this song on the late Dick Clark's American Bandstand...
    Two weeks later on July 6th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #27 and spent 10 weeks in the Top 100...
    Two years earlier in 1966 they penned "Last Train to Clarksville", which the Monkees took to #1 on the Hot Top 100...
    Sadly; Tommy Boyce passed away on November 23rd, 1994 at the young age of 55...
    R.I.P. Mr. Boyce and Mr. Clark..

    • @davideley7253
      @davideley7253 4 роки тому +1

      Apparently Tommy Boyce committed suicide......so sad

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas 6 місяців тому

      ​@@davideley7253Nooooo! Oh how sad.

  • @phukyergreennewdeal1053
    @phukyergreennewdeal1053 3 роки тому +6

    These guys get left off of a lot of Top Songwriting Duo's Of All Time Lists. They do belong.

  • @AustriaGermany
    @AustriaGermany 9 років тому +13

    Alice long yes!

  • @ChadQuick270W
    @ChadQuick270W 5 років тому +11

    My favorite song by Boyce and Hart. Great to see the promo film and hear the song in mono as it sounds best 👍

    • @raycooper614
      @raycooper614 Рік тому

      I can't understand how you could prefer mono over stereo. Can you let me know. 🤔

    • @ChadQuick270W
      @ChadQuick270W Рік тому +1

      @@raycooper614 I grew up listening to AM Top 40 Radio and the 45’s were all in mono until 1969-1973 depending on the label. Those four years were when labels switched to stereo for singles (although AM radio was still broadcast in mono). It’s just a preference.

    • @raycooper614
      @raycooper614 Рік тому +2

      @@ChadQuick270W OK. Thanks for your reply. I guess it is a matter of choice. 👍

  • @raymondswenson5529
    @raymondswenson5529 3 роки тому +3

    Alice Long by Boyce and Hart was the very first 45 that I could claim I owned. Because when my older sisters who were huge Monkees fans brought this home.....I.....all of six years old at the time, rocked out to it, So I took possession of it.

  • @ProudKansan08
    @ProudKansan08 4 роки тому +4

    I'm pretty I was 9 years old when this song came out, and it was my favorite song, and I can't remember if I bought it when I went to go spend a week at my grandparent's house or if I had already, but, I used to listen to it at my grandparents house and my grandpa told me he liked this song and would listen to it when I played it on my little record player, or once when I was older, and living with my grandma when I was going to college, she told me that my grandpa sometimes hid behind the door and listen to the song when I played it. I still love this song, and it reminds me of my grandpa.

  • @haraldfarinski6245
    @haraldfarinski6245 8 місяців тому +2

    Along with the Monkees and Beatles ,how good were the 60’s! Wish I was younger again!

    • @zzzbbbooo
      @zzzbbbooo 4 дні тому +1

      You don't have to be young to enjoy it!😉

  • @savecolaclibrarynow
    @savecolaclibrarynow 9 років тому +10

    Very clever song, the melody, the riff and the unusual arrangement.

    • @MIKECNW
      @MIKECNW 8 років тому

      +Paul David Cross How is it unusual?

    • @savecolaclibrarynow
      @savecolaclibrarynow 8 років тому +3

      +MIKECNW Not too many songs written in the same year as this featured bass lines, drums, guitar riffs like this song. Listen to the clever use of runs in it, the unusual drumming. It is a very good melody and well recorded, these guys were very clever and hence had numerous hit songs...

  • @stanstanminson6608
    @stanstanminson6608 3 роки тому +2

    this is one of the earliest music video ever created.

  • @chadgilmore5046
    @chadgilmore5046 2 роки тому +3

    Thank you for uploading this I love this song👍

  • @P00katube
    @P00katube 6 років тому +2

    MTV Closet Classics brought me here :)

  • @user-it5ll2xh6s
    @user-it5ll2xh6s Рік тому +1

    Those guys had GREAT MUSIC❤

  • @austriagermany5731
    @austriagermany5731 5 років тому +2

    great music groovy !!!

  • @patmyles4776
    @patmyles4776 9 місяців тому

    As a fan of Sunshine Pop, this song grows on you.

  • @newerafrican
    @newerafrican 4 місяці тому

    My first serious crush in junior high was a girl named Allison. She broke my heart and this song always reminds me of her. I ended up marrying another wonderful girl who has been my wife for over 43 years and I'm glad it worked out the way it did.
    But Allison was sure a sweetie!

  • @lisaprid5693
    @lisaprid5693 9 років тому +19

    when music was fun and you could sing along and remember the tune music today has a tune - yeah right not

    • @MIKECNW
      @MIKECNW 8 років тому +2

      +Lisa Prid Not in all cases.There are a few I know of.Plus back then some people were saying the same thing about this.

  • @voiceguy3635
    @voiceguy3635 5 місяців тому

    1967/1968/1969 had the greatest songs.This,to me,was in the top 10 of those great pop songs,because of the chorus and interlude in the middle.My list--(no particular order)
    My World Fell Down--Sagittarius
    It's Cold Outside
    The Sound of Love
    Light my Fire
    Sugar,Sugar
    Alice Long
    I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight
    Penny Lane
    Sweet Caroline
    Friday on My Mind
    Many others of differing styles,instrumental,hard rock,ballads,psychedlic,but for pop heaven,these are it for me."Light my Fire" encompasses everything and it's my all time favorite,so in it goes on any list.

  • @jasperlocicero3509
    @jasperlocicero3509 3 роки тому +1

    Love Alice Long!

  • @dionstephanous6209
    @dionstephanous6209 2 роки тому

    Il always love this song, great memories

  • @peacockblue8407
    @peacockblue8407 7 років тому +2

    very cute!! i've never heard this song before, & i'm 59🤶🏼

    • @terryaltman6765
      @terryaltman6765 5 років тому +2

      Her name was Sherry long I used to sing this song all the time to her wherever you are I'd like to take you one more time in my Corvette on the 101 in California from San Diego to Malibu Beach stop along and get Coney Island Hot Dogs what a great time that was

  • @richardzion1828
    @richardzion1828 5 років тому +2

    First ground breakings vids!

  • @lissy912
    @lissy912 Рік тому

    It is interesting to see my family name (Boyce), in the music world! Although probably no relation to me, I love this song.

  • @kensims4086
    @kensims4086 6 років тому +4

    there's still 2 promo videos they did that aren't on youtube

  • @gigantibyte
    @gigantibyte 13 років тому +2

    @John1948TwelveC True. I forgot they also had help from Andy Kim.

  • @gqjohnny
    @gqjohnny Рік тому

    This song should have charted top 10. I bought the single. The flip side P O Box 9847 is a good one as well.

  • @joserobertodoreto238
    @joserobertodoreto238 14 днів тому

    Tem versao aqui no brasil, na jovem guarda pela cantora wanderlea, nome da musica e vou conseguir

  • @matthewclark9652
    @matthewclark9652 2 роки тому

    I guess that A&M Records do not have the STEREO version because they cannot find that in the vaults.

  • @alycat776
    @alycat776 3 роки тому

    My friends father use sing this to me but instead of saying Alice long he use to say alison being my name lol

  • @xsunraysx5288
    @xsunraysx5288 3 роки тому

    Anyone know where this was filmed???

  • @daveschwartz303
    @daveschwartz303 4 роки тому

    You know who you are

  • @davidsearle2274
    @davidsearle2274 4 роки тому +1

    Like them riding on the running boards the policeman on motorcycle doesn’t seem to care about it

  • @John1948TwelveC
    @John1948TwelveC  13 років тому +1

    @gigantibyte Well... without some gifted songwriters maybe. But the Monkees were sponsored by a TV network. If the couldn't get Boyce and Hart they would have hired some else that was comparable. Money talks! LOL

  • @transmissionjimmy69
    @transmissionjimmy69 10 років тому +3

    Lol

  • @strandedathemall
    @strandedathemall 2 роки тому

    MTV in embryo stage

  • @Boondoggle6969
    @Boondoggle6969 Рік тому

    I feel like Allison would have worked better than Alice Long

  • @ProudKansan08
    @ProudKansan08 2 роки тому

    Great song but very stupid action that goes with it.