I recommend Words Randy Scouse Git The Porpoise Song The Girl I knew Somewhere Love is Only Sleeping Take a Giant Step Papa Gene's Blues Star Collector Daily Nightly She
Mickey Dolenz was a famous child actor. He was the star on the Saturday morning Children's lineup of shows called Circus Boy. I watched it religiously every Saturday morning in the late 1950s.
I used to drive 350 miles twice a week to U.C.L.A. for kidney transplant follow-ups. I passed through Pleasant Valley twice on each round trip and would always find myself singing the chorus.
Carole King said she and then hubby Gerry Goffin earned enough royalties from songwriting by the mid-60s to move from NYC to West Orange, NJ, where they bought a house. They soon became unhappy with suburban life where conformity was the accepted social norm and keeping up with the Jones the general mentality. They wrote this song as a statement of their discontent with the title "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for a main street in their town called Pleasant Valley Way.
Nesmith was a frustrated "serious" musician who hated that much of their music was considered bubble gum. Both he and Tork were solidly talented musician/song-writers, but Tork sort of rolled with it a little more.
Paul, thank you for A Day in the Life and Pleasant Valley!✨ Thanks, Lee, for the show’s footage! This is a real song with a real nice arrangement. Pretty harmonies! A very Beatlesque end. Fun!
Lordy I missed all the premieres today. I miss everybody. I'm gonna have fun catching up with the videos today even though I missed the camaraderie of the group❤
How fun was the fashion of the time too. And the shenanigans of the Monkees were just a fun thing to enjoy at the time they came out for me. Of course the odd one was Peter and that was the one I liked because you know I've always been the odd one.
🌸 I think with the footage from the TV show, I watched a lot of their TV show over the years and it seems to me that this particular one they were probably pissed off at this point about not being allowed to play their own instruments and not being allowed to be their own band and they kind of were making sure that it showed through.... does that make sense??
They did have complete creative control by this point. They were picking the songs (and writing a lot), and playing as many instruments as they felt comfortable with. Nesmith played the lead guitar here, and Tork the piano.
Notice the guitar riff sounds somewhat like the Beatles Paperback Writer guitar riff. This was no accident. On "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by The Monkees, the primary instrument played by a Monkee member was the electric guitar, played by Michael Nesmith, who delivered the distinctive guitar riff at the beginning of the song; while the recording also featured session musicians including a bass player and drummer, with Micky Dolenz singing lead vocals.
This is a great track. Also should be noted that Mike plays the electric guitar, Peter plays the piano and possibly Mickey on acoustic guitar on this track. For these later albums, they recruited Chip Douglas from the Turtles to be the producer and is also the bass player on the songs that they don't play bass on.
Love the 1967-1968 Monkees tracks. Although Chip Douglas was only producer and bass player for albums 3 and 4. He was not involved after that (note that Daydream Believer had been withheld from album 4 and released as a single 6 months prior to album 5, onto which it was added to help promote sales). For albums 5 through 8, The Monkees were credited as producer, but in reality, each of them was individually self-producing their own tracks, holding their own sessions in separate studios with separate studio musicians. This was the case for "The Birds the Bees.." "Instant Reply" and "The Monkees Present." The Head Soundtrack was a different sort of art. And of course "Changes" was a different animal altogether. I don't even know what to call "Pool It" other than decent 80s pop/rock with good singers. They didn't really work together like a band again until 1996 "Justus" and then their true Swansong, "Good Times" (2016).
I’m an old lady now, but I’ve loved the Monkees since I was 11 years old. I saw them in concert when I was 12. Mickey was always my favorite singer. They were so much more talented than people gave them credit for.
Written by Carol King. Mickey Dolenz grossly underrated, one of the great vocalist in pop/rock. They eventually played all their songs live, and did all the vocals, played all the instruments, and wrote most of their third album HEADQUATERS. In 1967, the had Four albums reach number one. No other band, not even The Beatles did that.
I loved the Monkees. I used to play "the drums" by using wooden sticks on the arms of the couch. I was ridiculed by friends who preferred the Beatles, but that's okay. When I got real drums, I played along with all of their songs - so fun!!!!!
I actually met Peter Tork about 10 years ago. Long story, but he was playing at a really small club at a benefit as a favor to a friend. After the show, he was signing autographs and my husband had his tuba with him (like I said--long story, haha) and I told him that he should ask Peter to sign his case as he'd probably never done that before. He starting bringing the case up and Peter said, "Hey--you didn't tell me you had a tuba!" and my husband said, "You didn't ask!" Anyway, Peter then asked him to see it and then asked if he could play it which he did. Then he hung out with us and talked about music and his love for the french horn. We talked for probably about 20 minutes.
The song is from what I personally think is The Monkees' best album, Pisces Aquarius Capricorn & Jones Ltd. It was the follow-up to Headquarters, on which The Monkees played almost all the instruments themselves, but in the process showed their limitations. For Pisces Aquarius, the band all played on it, but they also used session players to strengthen the quality of the instrumental tracks, and Fast Eddie Hoh was a huge bonus to their recorded sound. Unfortunately, he became a casualty of the fast-paced LA rock scene, fell prey to addiction, had a nervous breakdown, moved back to his native Chicago and eventually died in a nursing home in 2015. Mike Nesmith's on-camera demeanour was probably due to dissatisfaction with the whole Monkees machinery. By the second season of the TV show, the whole band was getting tired of being seen as a teen idol boy band who supposedly couldn't play their own instruments, and they also began using various substances and turning up stoned for TV shoots. Nesmith himself was a very creative and inventive person (he invented MTV, basically) who unfortunately had personal troubles that he mainly kept to himself. He died an unhappy man, and he said that his mother (who invented liquid paper) also died unhappy. A very complex guy whose music and intelligence I always admired.
I recommend you react to the song "Different Drum" written by Mike Nesmith in 1964. There is a video Nesmith singing this song on a TV show before he joined the Monkees. One reason Nesmith looks so annoyed all the time is because this song and a number of others he offered to the Monkees' producers were rejected. A 1967 cover of Different Drum by the Stone Poneys became a top 20s hit and made its lead singer Linda Ronstadt a star.
I live pretty close to Pleasant Valley Way. Carol King borrowed the street name for this song. She didn't like the NYC burbs much. Micky Dolenz was a fine lead singer.
Great song by Carole King and Jerry Goffen, capturing the zeitgeist of the 60s. Michael Nesmith supposedly admitted to copping a George Harrison riff to add something of their OWN to the song. I think he bristled at them not being able to do their own original tunes as much and being force fed songs by others all the time
yes, not a banger, my fav is valleri. this song is mocking the establishment which was very 60's. fyi mike nesmith mother invented white out. so he was living the suburb life for sure
Only thing missing is some Michael Nesmith songs.. some of their best!.. What Am I Doin' Hangin' 'Round Love Is Only Sleeping Tapioca Tundra The Door Into Summer.
No matter how l try, l just can’t bring myself to fault Mrs. Gray for being proud of her roses. Chip Douglas came up with the riff, an “offshoot” of the riff from George Harrison’s I Want To Tell You. And, as your information told you, Mike played it.
Recently read Carol’s book. I think Carol was happy but Gerry (her husband and lyricist) was not. They had two daughters and a nanny at that time. Peter seems to have a tattoo on the back of his right hand. I like seeing Davey attempting to play bass. I think he learned to play a bit. I’ve seen him on drums too. Generally he had little to do unless he was singing.
If you have a pick for my next Monkees video, leave it here! I'll credit you if I do it :)
I recommend
Words
Randy Scouse Git
The Porpoise Song
The Girl I knew Somewhere
Love is Only Sleeping
Take a Giant Step
Papa Gene's Blues
Star Collector
Daily Nightly
She
“You Just may Be the One” “Words” “Shades of gray”, or “For Pete’s Sake” would be my top choices to check out.
Vallarie
Zor and Zam - The Monkees anti-war track
Randy Scouse Git - Reminiscing about a party with the Beatles
Cuddly Toy
I always saw this song as an indictment of suburbia
Mike Nesmith always looked or actually was pissed off
Mickey Dolenz was a famous child actor. He was the star on the Saturday morning Children's lineup of shows called Circus Boy. I watched it religiously every Saturday morning in the late 1950s.
I don't care what anyone says - I have always loved the Monkees
Peter tork was a part of the Laurel canyon scene
I used to drive 350 miles twice a week to U.C.L.A. for kidney transplant follow-ups. I passed through Pleasant Valley twice on each round trip and would always find myself singing the chorus.
Looking forward to this one. It's one of my favorites of theirs.
That made my day. I loved the show as a kid ❤
Carole King said she and then hubby Gerry Goffin earned enough royalties from songwriting by the mid-60s to move from NYC to West Orange, NJ, where they bought a house. They soon became unhappy with suburban life where conformity was the accepted social norm and keeping up with the Jones the general mentality. They wrote this song as a statement of their discontent with the title "Pleasant Valley Sunday" for a main street in their town called Pleasant Valley Way.
Nesmith was a frustrated "serious" musician who hated that much of their music was considered bubble gum. Both he and Tork were solidly talented musician/song-writers, but Tork sort of rolled with it a little more.
Shades of gray
Papa's Jean's Blues
The Monkees are fun ... you should watch some of their TV show
Something to be said for music that makes us feel good...thank you!
I had forgotten just how catchy this song is.
Mikey Dolenz had the best voice in Rock history. According to me!!!
And me...and a lot of other people!
My absolute favourite Monkees song. Written, of course, by the legendary Goffin and King.
Carole King does no wrong
Paul, thank you for A Day in the Life and Pleasant Valley!✨
Thanks, Lee, for the show’s footage!
This is a real song with a real nice arrangement. Pretty harmonies! A very Beatlesque end. Fun!
I find it interesting that they used session guys for the rhythm section but Nesmith and Tork actually played.
Ohhhhh I was so smitten with Davy Jones when I was a teenager ..was able to see them in concert just before Davy died
Lordy I missed all the premieres today. I miss everybody. I'm gonna have fun catching up with the videos today even though I missed the camaraderie of the group❤
How fun was the fashion of the time too. And the shenanigans of the Monkees were just a fun thing to enjoy at the time they came out for me. Of course the odd one was Peter and that was the one I liked because you know I've always been the odd one.
Another big Monkees hit from 1967. Was a #1 record here in Canada 🇨🇦
Last Train to Clarkesville.
🌸 I think with the footage from the TV show, I watched a lot of their TV show over the years and it seems to me that this particular one they were probably pissed off at this point about not being allowed to play their own instruments and not being allowed to be their own band and they kind of were making sure that it showed through.... does that make sense??
Watching it today, I feel the same way Hope. 🎸🥁🎹🎶
@robotronrichard thank you, my friend.... it helps me not feel like I'm going crazy LOL
They did have complete creative control by this point. They were picking the songs (and writing a lot), and playing as many instruments as they felt comfortable with. Nesmith played the lead guitar here, and Tork the piano.
I'm a believer. Although I also loved songs Davy was the lead on, this song was one I loved the most when I heard it on my little transistor radio.
Notice the guitar riff sounds somewhat like the Beatles Paperback Writer guitar riff. This was no accident. On "Pleasant Valley Sunday" by The Monkees, the primary instrument played by a Monkee member was the electric guitar, played by Michael Nesmith, who delivered the distinctive guitar riff at the beginning of the song; while the recording also featured session musicians including a bass player and drummer, with Micky Dolenz singing lead vocals.
She
You Just May Be the One
Yes! You just may be the one is one of my absolute favorites.
Thanks Paul for suggesting such a happy pleasant song. Thanks L33 for monkeying around today! 🙈🙉🙊🐵
Thanks, Paul!
This is a great track. Also should be noted that Mike plays the electric guitar, Peter plays the piano and possibly Mickey on acoustic guitar on this track. For these later albums, they recruited Chip Douglas from the Turtles to be the producer and is also the bass player on the songs that they don't play bass on.
Love the 1967-1968 Monkees tracks. Although Chip Douglas was only producer and bass player for albums 3 and 4. He was not involved after that (note that Daydream Believer had been withheld from album 4 and released as a single 6 months prior to album 5, onto which it was added to help promote sales). For albums 5 through 8, The Monkees were credited as producer, but in reality, each of them was individually self-producing their own tracks, holding their own sessions in separate studios with separate studio musicians. This was the case for "The Birds the Bees.." "Instant Reply" and "The Monkees Present." The Head Soundtrack was a different sort of art. And of course "Changes" was a different animal altogether. I don't even know what to call "Pool It" other than decent 80s pop/rock with good singers. They didn't really work together like a band again until 1996 "Justus" and then their true Swansong, "Good Times" (2016).
@@PianoGardenMan Thank you for all that info
Nice harmonies in this one, great song writing. Thanks Paul.
🙂Barry, this is good!🐵
❤
I’m an old lady now, but I’ve loved the Monkees since I was 11 years old. I saw them in concert when I was 12. Mickey was always my favorite singer. They were so much more talented than people gave them credit for.
Thanks, Paul, for the trip down memory lane. Can't lie, I love them. Great commentary, Lee, always spot on. Great fun. Blessings all.
Written by Carol King. Mickey Dolenz grossly underrated, one of the great vocalist in pop/rock. They eventually played all their songs live, and did all the vocals, played all the instruments, and wrote most of their third album HEADQUATERS. In 1967, the had Four albums reach number one. No other band, not even The Beatles did that.
My favorite Monkees song because it rocks, the harmony, the lyrics, and the ending.
They were pretty much bubble gum but this is one of the songs that I still enjoy listening to. A Goffin/ King classic..
I hardly think Going Down is bubblegum .. or many of the other songs that they actually wrote themselves
@@Reba-123 No, but they were a manufactured pop group targeted for that age group..
Favorite song from summer of 67. Sweet memories. Cool beat.
Randy Souse Git is a great one also.
Randy Scouse Git.
Scouse, referring to a Liverpudlian.
@@reddoxx4754 I couldn't remember how to spell it. Thx
@@kengreen3575 Sorry, I couldn't remember how to spell it. Thx
I loved the Monkees. I used to play "the drums" by using wooden sticks on the arms of the couch. I was ridiculed by friends who preferred the Beatles, but that's okay. When I got real drums, I played along with all of their songs - so fun!!!!!
Mike's guitar was a non-production model made for him by Gretch. Two copies were made with one given to George Harrison and the other to Chet Atkins.
Goffin/King wrote the song, but the Monkees added the intro/segue guitar riff!
🌸 good morning!!
Thank you, Paul.
The Monkees were fun, I loved their madcap silliness on the tv show when I was a kid.
You probably don’t remember, but Mike was in the video for the Beatles “A Day In The Life”.
I actually met Peter Tork about 10 years ago. Long story, but he was playing at a really small club at a benefit as a favor to a friend. After the show, he was signing autographs and my husband had his tuba with him (like I said--long story, haha) and I told him that he should ask Peter to sign his case as he'd probably never done that before. He starting bringing the case up and Peter said, "Hey--you didn't tell me you had a tuba!" and my husband said, "You didn't ask!" Anyway, Peter then asked him to see it and then asked if he could play it which he did. Then he hung out with us and talked about music and his love for the french horn. We talked for probably about 20 minutes.
we thought of them as the TV Beatles.
The "pre-fab four" as they were called.
That was too much fun ❤ thank you Lee ❤
I ADORE that you are reacting to Monkee's!! 💜
Their best imho. Brings back that 60s feeling. Thanks!
This song is by Jerry Goffen and Carol King
Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, love what the Monkees did with this.
Love this song, a little bit me a little bit you is a great track by them.
From one of their best albums. Nesmith and Tork actually played instruments.
"She" is a very good song. Love and longing.
The song is from what I personally think is The Monkees' best album, Pisces Aquarius Capricorn & Jones Ltd. It was the follow-up to Headquarters, on which The Monkees played almost all the instruments themselves, but in the process showed their limitations. For Pisces Aquarius, the band all played on it, but they also used session players to strengthen the quality of the instrumental tracks, and Fast Eddie Hoh was a huge bonus to their recorded sound. Unfortunately, he became a casualty of the fast-paced LA rock scene, fell prey to addiction, had a nervous breakdown, moved back to his native Chicago and eventually died in a nursing home in 2015.
Mike Nesmith's on-camera demeanour was probably due to dissatisfaction with the whole Monkees machinery. By the second season of the TV show, the whole band was getting tired of being seen as a teen idol boy band who supposedly couldn't play their own instruments, and they also began using various substances and turning up stoned for TV shoots. Nesmith himself was a very creative and inventive person (he invented MTV, basically) who unfortunately had personal troubles that he mainly kept to himself. He died an unhappy man, and he said that his mother (who invented liquid paper) also died unhappy. A very complex guy whose music and intelligence I always admired.
Going Down is a fantastic Monkees track....
Arrrgh 😎
"Get off my lawn!"...😂
🙊🙉🙈
I need that Nehru jacket now.
I think you'll like The Monkees' 'Alternate Title' ('Randy Scouse Git' (in the US))
❤❤❤
I recommend you react to the song "Different Drum" written by Mike Nesmith in 1964. There is a video Nesmith singing this song on a TV show before he joined the Monkees. One reason Nesmith looks so annoyed all the time is because this song and a number of others he offered to the Monkees' producers were rejected. A 1967 cover of Different Drum by the Stone Poneys became a top 20s hit and made its lead singer Linda Ronstadt a star.
I live pretty close to Pleasant Valley Way. Carol King borrowed the street name for this song. She didn't like the NYC burbs much. Micky Dolenz was a fine lead singer.
TV network creates band, has band record song satirizing its viewers. Big hit ensues...ah the 60's
Door Into Summer, You Told Me, Sunny Girlfriend, Papa Gene’s Blues. You Just MAy Be the One.
Michael..😊
Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, Someday Man, Listen To The Band, What Am I Doin Hangin Round
Still haven’t done “I’m a believer“! Written by Neil Diamond. One of their best.
You think about it The Monkees and the Beatles were multi-talented
Producer Chip Douglas came up with the guitar riff (which wasn't part of the original demo) and taught it to Nesmith.
I've always felt that this song was heavily influenced by Paperback Writer, released a year earlier.
Pretty good song.
Great song by Carole King and Jerry Goffen, capturing the zeitgeist of the 60s. Michael Nesmith supposedly admitted to copping a George Harrison riff to add something of their OWN to the song. I think he bristled at them not being able to do their own original tunes as much and being force fed songs by others all the time
Mickey ❤❤😅
yes, not a banger, my fav is valleri. this song is mocking the establishment which was very 60's. fyi mike nesmith mother invented white out. so he was living the suburb life for sure
Are we making them a weekly thing? 😮
Only thing missing is some Michael Nesmith songs.. some of their best!..
What Am I Doin' Hangin' 'Round
Love Is Only Sleeping
Tapioca Tundra
The Door Into Summer.
No matter how l try, l just can’t bring myself to fault Mrs. Gray for being proud of her roses.
Chip Douglas came up with the riff, an “offshoot” of the riff from George Harrison’s I Want To Tell You. And, as your information told you, Mike played it.
Recently read Carol’s book. I think Carol was happy but Gerry (her husband and lyricist) was not. They had two daughters and a nanny at that time.
Peter seems to have a tattoo on the back of his right hand.
I like seeing Davey attempting to play bass. I think he learned to play a bit. I’ve seen him on drums too. Generally he had little to do unless he was singing.
Micky was a child TV star.
😂 snarky about suburbia.
I'm not sure if this was on an album. I had the 45.
two extremely short and weird cuts-Zilch and Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Named Porky.
Micky could actually drum---he plays on the Headquarters album.
I would definately join Patreon but can't afford it. EDS and disability since 2011.
Under 1200/mo!
I wish you weren't receiving so little money. I wish I could help.
@ColeenU thank you
I put up a go fund me because they took 529 out of my ck this month. I have seven dollars at the moment.
I used to have a Nehru jacket
Me too!
A good song, but I dont is so much for Monkees
I didn't know what any of this meant back then but I sure do know now.😳🥸
That was fun anyway