I was 4 years old in 1966. The Monkees were my thing then. I got this album for Xmas '66. It was the first album I ever owned. Seeing that cover is like stepping in to a time warp. I still like The Monkees, even with all of the Pre Fab Four baggage. There are some good songs in their catalogue. Although not the coolest band in the world, The Monkees will always have a soft spot for me.
Me too Jim! My mom took me to see them in concert in 67. I was 5 at that concert. My dad took me to see HEAD. I never asked my parents but I'm now sure my mom said to my dad " I took him to the concert, you gotta take him to the movie." LOL
I was hoping you’d do this deep dive. As you know, I’m a huge Monkees fan…I don’t care what Aaron says. Lol. So cool to watch the early footage and audition tapes. Nesmith forever!!!!!!
I was anticipating this series Jeff. Possibly the only rock act that will never get into the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME. I discovered them in the early 70s watching their reruns and they inspired my fascination of 60s music. I have just about everything they ever put on tape. And everything Rhino scraped from the bottom of the barrels. And every kooky book on them. Fantastic rare footage you found! Bravo!
Great video! I'm a first generation fan since seeing their debut show. I love everything they've done up to Changes, just couldn't get into that one. My favorite changes from day to day (pun intended) but it's a toss up between Birds, Bees & The Monkees and Instant Replay. Looking forward to the next episodes.
Yes Jeff...been watching all I can...I was wondering if you are also interested in doing other 60's bands...like the Beachboys or the Byrd's...your knowledge will do them justice...
I'll always like this album as it was the first music I bought for myself. I was a new Monkee fan, dropping my usual Gilligan's Island to watch them. This album was a big bonus to me! This1st album, along with the rest, helped a lot of young musicians get their work out there to a wide audience. Peter once said in an interview that at the time it bothered him not to be part of the album process but in hindsight the producers wanted to make money and they couldn't trust 4 guys off the street to make the professional sounding music and do a TV show as well. I agree with that. Giant Step is my favorite song off this, but like, I know the whole album by heart. Unlike you, I never get tired of Last Train! Mike had to fight to get his music on this album! At least he got two under Kirshner. But this album and More of the Monkees showed he really did have a "golden ear." Thanks for the review. Love your editing in background info and footage in these posts.
Thanks Pamela! Giant Step is probably my favorite off the debut as well. I’m always curious what their third album would have sounded like if Kirshner had still been in charge.
Thanks for putting this out there. I hope this review finds more younger fans out there to keep the Monkees out there in pop culture. I dig all those clips you found to add to your reviews. This album is not bad for the first try. It's OK, sounds kinda folky in most instances.
The Monkees is probably the only thing in the world that my father and my father in law agree on. The Monkees unite! They were so much fun to watch in re-runs as a kid in the 70s and only served to reinforce a childhood love for the Beatles. Also...GREAT VID!
Thank you! It’s hard not to love the Monkees. Say what you will about them being manufactured but the music was superb and their personalities on the TV show were so lovable and hard to resist.
This was a great review of their debut album, complete with cool rare video footage as well!!! While Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart produced the album and created the Monkees' 'sound,' the backing vocals were also done by the duo (although Peter can be heard singing along with them on "Let's Dance On"!)...Although "Gonna Buy Me a Dog," is perceived as merely a novelty number, it is, along with Nez' tunes (who had the other group members sing background vocals), one of the few songs that actually represented the group, featuring Micky and Davy lampooning the number and doing what they do best: comedic improv...In fact, Mike also recorded a rockin' unreleased version of it at the time!!
Wow, I need to seek out that Mike version. Might change my whole perspective on the song. I think I liked the song a lot better the first time I heard it. Now I always skip over it,
Yes sir! I love the uptempo I Wanna Be Free! Papa Gene will forever be in my top 5 favorite Monkees tracks. So happy to see you kickstart the Monkees series! Gonna Buy Me a Dog can take a hike.
I'm late finding this video. Just finished watching TBTBATM video. Now I understand that you're not a first generation fan, i won't be mad at you! You cannot identify with us who were kids in 1966 when the Monkees premiered. There was nothing else like it on TV, and we all fell in love with 4 cute, funny boys. And they sang great! Before the Monkees, the only way to see the artists performing their hits was to catch a guest appearance on a variety show, usually at the very end of the hour. Monkees fans generally love them more than the Beatles, because the Beatles were for our older siblings, not us. Then the Beatles progressed into this weird, druggy music that we kids didn't relate to, and they were so much older, at least that's how I felt. I didn't collect pictures of Paul McCartney; he dated Jane Asher and was a grown man. But Davy Jones? Now, he was something special! We could watch our Monkees every week, save allowances to buy their records, and read about them in Tiger Beat and Sixteen magazines. There has really been nothing like that since! I don't critique Monkees music, it's the feeling that it gives me that's important. Some songs i don't particularly like, some I think are silly, and some are the best pop/rock music ever recorded! This was a lengthy missive for no apparent purpose. Just to say, more than 50 years later, I still love Mike, Peter, Davy and Micky. God bless them.
I am definitely a second generation fan and I love your perspective. The Beatles seemed to deliberately try to disenfranchise and alienate their younger fans beginning with Sgt Pepper. For the Monkees it was still about making fun and enjoyable music. Thanks for watching!
The Monkees first aired as I was starting the 4th grade, and I (and all my friends) became instant fans. At that point I had been a Beatles fan for around 3 years. I enjoyed this episode and please continue doing more Monkees episodes. Btw, my favorite album is Pisces Aquarius. . .
I remember watching The Monkees TV show as a kid of about 11 , and enjoying it quite a bit . The first album was just ok , with the theme song , Saturday's Child , I Wanna Be Free , Take a Giant Step and Last Train to Clarksville being the best songs on the album . The rest was pretty forgettable for me . I think that I prefer the faster version of I Wanna Be Free , as well . I would like more songs from their next album . Thanks !
I’m not even sure the first album would be in my top 10 Monkees albums. It has some good songs like you say but none of them with the exception of Take a Giant Step and Papa Gene’s Blues are my favorites.
Hey man I enjoyed the video my friend. I remember watching they're showing reruns, when I was just a young juvenile delinquent..lol. You did a great job putting this together Jeff
I get why you are tired of Last Train to Clarksville, but I don't think I have truly tired of it. Although, I don't seek to listen to it. Lyrically it is pretty powerful song for the so called bubbly pop era of the Monkees. That is probably what saves it for me. I'm a Believer and Daydream Believer are my not-again big hit Monkee tracks that I like. My favorites off of this record are Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day, Papa Gene's Blues, Take A Giant Step, and Sweet Young Thing. I don't mind Gonna Buy Me a Dog. It is such a stupid and bad song that I find it funny. I have memories of my Dad commenting on how bad the song was which makes me like it in a funny way.
For a silly cartoon tupe show it wS always fun to watch and the monkees actually put out some really good songs. And don't pretend you couldn't sing along with probally every one of them. I know i can.
Ah man, disappointed at your lack of good sportiness about Buy Me A Dog 😆 it’s quite obviously a song that prob wouldn’t have made the cut but the unplanned hijinks made it fun
I was 11 years old when the show was running for the first time! I have been a fan of the Monkees and now it is 2024.
And the show is still as funny and enjoyable as it was 50 years ago. 👍
I was 4 years old in 1966. The Monkees were my thing then. I got this album for Xmas '66. It was the first album I ever owned. Seeing that cover is like stepping in to a time warp. I still like The Monkees, even with all of the Pre Fab Four baggage. There are some good songs in their catalogue. Although not the coolest band in the world, The Monkees will always have a soft spot for me.
Such a great musical memory! I can totally relate to that Monkees nostalgia feeling. 👍
Me too Jim! My mom took me to see them in concert in 67. I was 5 at that concert. My dad took me to see HEAD. I never asked my parents but I'm now sure my mom said to my dad " I took him to the concert, you gotta take him to the movie." LOL
I was hoping you’d do this deep dive. As you know, I’m
a huge Monkees fan…I don’t care what Aaron says. Lol. So cool to watch the early footage and audition tapes. Nesmith forever!!!!!!
Thanks Chris! The Monkees rule! I’m very surprised Aaron doesn’t like them since he’s such a big Beatles fan.
I was anticipating this series Jeff.
Possibly the only rock act that will never get into the ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME.
I discovered them in the early 70s watching their reruns and they inspired my fascination of 60s music. I have just about everything they ever put on tape. And everything Rhino scraped from the bottom of the barrels.
And every kooky book on them.
Fantastic rare footage you found! Bravo!
Thanks George! It’s a crime the Monkees will never make the HOF while rap artists are getting in seemingly without any controversy.
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 Rap artists? How about all the bands that used The Wrecking Crew?
Great video! I'm a first generation fan since seeing their debut show. I love everything they've done up to Changes, just couldn't get into that one. My favorite changes from day to day (pun intended) but it's a toss up between Birds, Bees & The Monkees and Instant Replay. Looking forward to the next episodes.
Thank you Harry! Instant Replay is one of my favorites. 👍👍
I liked that record , especially the Mike Nesmith songs.
You sir....bring joy...to us who love the Monkees😅....thank you so much...bring us more of your insight...tx....from Fresno Cali
Thank you Joseph! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series. 👍👍
Yes Jeff...been watching all I can...I was wondering if you are also interested in doing other 60's bands...like the Beachboys or the Byrd's...your knowledge will do them justice...
The Monkees show was fun. I never missed an episode those were the days.
Good debut , Dolenz voice , great Nesmith writing , fun
I'll always like this album as it was the first music I bought for myself. I was a new Monkee fan, dropping my usual Gilligan's Island to watch them. This album was a big bonus to me! This1st album, along with the rest, helped a lot of young musicians get their work out there to a wide audience. Peter once said in an interview that at the time it bothered him not to be part of the album process but in hindsight the producers wanted to make money and they couldn't trust 4 guys off the street to make the professional sounding music and do a TV show as well. I agree with that. Giant Step is my favorite song off this, but like, I know the whole album by heart. Unlike you, I never get tired of Last Train! Mike had to fight to get his music on this album! At least he got two under Kirshner. But this album and More of the Monkees showed he really did have a "golden ear." Thanks for the review. Love your editing in background info and footage in these posts.
Thanks Pamela! Giant Step is probably my favorite off the debut as well. I’m always curious what their third album would have sounded like if Kirshner had still been in charge.
I have two words for you, “It’s about f@&$ing time!” Ok that was four, but you get the point. I loved this and I’m very happy you are doing this.
Thanks brother! I don’t know what took me so long??
Thanks for putting this out there. I hope this review finds more younger fans out there to keep the Monkees out there in pop culture. I dig all those clips you found to add to your reviews. This album is not bad for the first try. It's OK, sounds kinda folky in most instances.
Agreed! A very mixed bag of styles but a definite country flavor to several songs.
You did a great job talking about my favorite group !
Thank you David!
The Monkees is probably the only thing in the world that my father and my father in law agree on. The Monkees unite! They were so much fun to watch in re-runs as a kid in the 70s and only served to reinforce a childhood love for the Beatles. Also...GREAT VID!
Thank you! It’s hard not to love the Monkees. Say what you will about them being manufactured but the music was superb and their personalities on the TV show were so lovable and hard to resist.
"I'll Be True to You" is a(n inferior) remake of the Hollies' version, which was called, "Yes I Will."
Not the last time that would happen!
Hell yeah brother
Great job on this video Jeff I enjoyed it so much more than the album!! Awesome brother 👍🤘🤘
Thank you brother! I know it wasn’t an easy one to sit through. 🤪
This is so interesting I love it man
Thank you brother!
This was a great review of their debut album, complete with cool rare video footage as well!!! While Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart produced the album and created the Monkees' 'sound,' the backing vocals were also done by the duo (although Peter can be heard singing along with them on "Let's Dance On"!)...Although "Gonna Buy Me a Dog," is perceived as merely a novelty number, it is, along with Nez' tunes (who had the other group members sing background vocals), one of the few songs that actually represented the group, featuring Micky and Davy lampooning the number and doing what they do best: comedic improv...In fact, Mike also recorded a rockin' unreleased version of it at the time!!
Wow, I need to seek out that Mike version. Might change my whole perspective on the song. I think I liked the song a lot better the first time I heard it. Now I always skip over it,
8:16: Mr. Whipple!
Yes sir! I love the uptempo I Wanna Be Free! Papa Gene will forever be in my top 5 favorite Monkees tracks. So happy to see you kickstart the Monkees series! Gonna Buy Me a Dog can take a hike.
Yeah Papa Genes Blues is a top 5 for me also. I’m glad we are finally in agreement about something! 😃
Of course! I have to humor you every now and then, haha.
I'm late finding this video. Just finished watching TBTBATM video. Now I understand that you're not a first generation fan, i won't be mad at you! You cannot identify with us who were kids in 1966 when the Monkees premiered. There was nothing else like it on TV, and we all fell in love with 4 cute, funny boys. And they sang great! Before the Monkees, the only way to see the artists performing their hits was to catch a guest appearance on a variety show, usually at the very end of the hour. Monkees fans generally love them more than the Beatles, because the Beatles were for our older siblings, not us. Then the Beatles progressed into this weird, druggy music that we kids didn't relate to, and they were so much older, at least that's how I felt. I didn't collect pictures of Paul McCartney; he dated Jane Asher and was a grown man. But Davy Jones? Now, he was something special! We could watch our Monkees every week, save allowances to buy their records, and read about them in Tiger Beat and Sixteen magazines. There has really been nothing like that since! I don't critique Monkees music, it's the feeling that it gives me that's important. Some songs i don't particularly like, some I think are silly, and some are the best pop/rock music ever recorded! This was a lengthy missive for no apparent purpose. Just to say, more than 50 years later, I still love Mike, Peter, Davy and Micky. God bless them.
I am definitely a second generation fan and I love your perspective. The Beatles seemed to deliberately try to disenfranchise and alienate their younger fans beginning with Sgt Pepper. For the Monkees it was still about making fun and enjoyable music. Thanks for watching!
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 Thank you so much. I really enjoy your videos.
The Monkees first aired as I was starting the 4th grade, and I (and all my friends) became instant fans. At that point I had been a Beatles fan for around 3 years. I enjoyed this episode and please continue doing more Monkees episodes. Btw, my favorite album is Pisces Aquarius. . .
Thank you! Pisces Aquarius is great!
I remember watching The Monkees TV show as a kid of about 11 , and enjoying it quite a bit .
The first album was just ok , with the theme song , Saturday's Child , I Wanna Be Free , Take a Giant Step and Last Train to Clarksville being the best songs on the album .
The rest was pretty forgettable for me . I think that I prefer the faster version of I Wanna Be Free , as well .
I would like more songs from their next album .
Thanks !
I’m not even sure the first album would be in my top 10 Monkees albums. It has some good songs like you say but none of them with the exception of Take a Giant Step and Papa Gene’s Blues are my favorites.
@@jeffwhitchervinyldestinati4486 Oddly enough , after buying their first 2 albums , I only ever bought compilations after that ..
I had no idea Davy Jones started so young
ANOTHER EXCELLENT VIDEO MY FRIEND
Thank you Juan!
Great show Jeff , well presented 😎
Would love to watch further episodes 😊
Thank you Mark!
Hey man I enjoyed the video my friend. I remember watching they're showing reruns, when I was just a young juvenile delinquent..lol. You did a great job putting this together Jeff
Thank you Rod! That TV show was solid gold comedy as a kid.
They should have been called The Monkees-- Featuring the Wrecking Crew. 😅
You have a point.
Then you’d have to say that about countless 60s acts.
Saturday's Child , David Gates from Bread !
I get why you are tired of Last Train to Clarksville, but I don't think I have truly tired of it. Although, I don't seek to listen to it. Lyrically it is pretty powerful song for the so called bubbly pop era of the Monkees. That is probably what saves it for me. I'm a Believer and Daydream Believer are my not-again big hit Monkee tracks that I like. My favorites off of this record are Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day, Papa Gene's Blues, Take A Giant Step, and Sweet Young Thing. I don't mind Gonna Buy Me a Dog. It is such a stupid and bad song that I find it funny. I have memories of my Dad commenting on how bad the song was which makes me like it in a funny way.
Your favorites from this album also happen to be my favorites. Gonna Buy Me. A Dog is a fun track if nothing more. 👍
For a silly cartoon tupe show it wS always fun to watch and the monkees actually put out some really good songs. And don't pretend you couldn't sing along with probally every one of them. I know i can.
Jeff will you review Dolenz Sings Nesmith sometime?
Yes if I can ever find the album!
I prefer the more uptempo version of I Wanna Be Free.
Ah man, disappointed at your lack of good sportiness about Buy Me A Dog 😆 it’s quite obviously a song that prob wouldn’t have made the cut but the unplanned hijinks made it fun