The Monkees

[gryphon]

In the mid sixties, the hottest thing on the planet were, the four gentlemen from Liverpool. They had sung and cavorted about for the camera and proved that they could make the cash tills sing. So if you could not own them , then you had only one option…………………….To copy them!
This then , is how the idea of the Monkees was born.

The Monkees were a pop rock quartet assembled by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider in Los Angeles in 1966..................objective...............find four boys who could be put in the role of boy band...............make a TV series in the style of “A Hard Day’s Night”.................rush out an album or two
Tell the boys they shut up and do as they are told ...................make money and then move on.
You have the idea.

To this end, an advert was placed in a paper: “Wanted Four Boys To Play in a TV Pop Band”

People who auditioned included:

Stephen Stills
Charles Manson
Narry Nilsson
Danny Hutton

Plus the four who got the parts.

The starting point was the TV series and the idea was, that the four boys would make a pilot episode to see if they looked good in front of the camera and they would take it from there. The TV series was to be a vehicle to plug the band’s hits which would be written , performed and recorded by professional musicians.
To do justice to the four: it is interesting to look at those Boyce and Hart pilot takes

Here is the Monkees Theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWea5rB7XlY

Now let’s hear the Monkees version with at least some input from them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgyZCgw6kdw

The four boys who had been selected contained two fully qualified musicians: Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith

Micky Dolenz had some musical back ground but did learn on the job as did David Jones.

Hence, the pilot was completed and a full series commissioned .

The idea was to milk the idea as fast as possible before the bubble burst:
The Monkees plus musical help were to provide the soundtrack and star in the series. It was soon realized, that it would not be possible to just plug the hits in every program , so the cream of American’s song writing talent was used to make as many potential hits as possible.

It is interesting to look at some of the song writers involved:

Neil Diamond
Goffin and King
Boyce and Hart
Neil Sedaka

It is also worth noting that, the Monkees were prolific recording artist and recorded a great deal of material at this point.............Not all of it found it’s was onto vinyl creating a vast back catalogue of unreleased material: some of this turned up in shows but not on record .

Into the first starting point:

The star of the first part of the first series was

Starting point:Last Train To Clarksville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KSHyXGy6XA

This really started the ball rolling on the success story.

To begin with: hit after hit came :

I’m A Believer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqNtWfo0yzc
( NB this is an almost note for note copy of Neil Diamond’s version )

To capitalise on the success the management quickly prepared an album:

· Album The Monkees by The Monkees

( An excellent pop album .............This is best bought as one the Rhino reissues, as they have excellent sleeve notes, extra tracks and a special enhanced edition containing many esxtra)
The success of this approach was a surprise even to the most optimistic of the team that had prepared it ........................ However, not all was going to plan......................................

The four boys were supposed to lie down and do as they were told!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They did not...they wanted more and more say in what they did artistically and this started to make the project harder to handle.

· Single ...........A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xow8HjjN9Q

The hits go on but the Monkees involvement is becoming greater, they are taking a bigger part in recording, playing and composing. It is interesting to note that from the beginning songs are credited to Nesmith and Tork.

· Second Album.......................More Of The Monkees .

Another excellent Pop album. However, this one begins to show that under the surface all is not well.............There are at least four producers credits on this album..........Careful examination of the history of the cover shot reveals that, the shot was not intended for an album sleeve but, instead was intended for a clothes promotion........................Most telling of all was the fact that the Monkees themselves had no knowledge of it’s release.....................The story goes that they only found out about it one day when they strolled into a record shop and saw it there. Clearly communication and PR were at an all time low.

So what is going on?................... Well the musical/TV side had not really expected to get much further than a quick album or so. When they did they rush released a second album. The Monkees had made head way in controlling their artistic output and had started to record tracks under their control as well as the musical team.( This explains the many producers : there was now,and is evidence of more than one team at work!)

It also comes to pass, that the team have sent The Monkees out on the road! The non musicians have been working hard to brush up their skills and with a small team of support musicians the band are on the road and getting a good reaction ! ( Not bad considering there have always been charges of the band not being able to play!)
So, what do you get musically ?

WELL still sone great pop music:

Boyce and Hart pen the excellent “She” to start with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRjKHdK77c

they add also:

The archetypal punk anthem” I’m Not Your Stepping Stone”

They big track on the album and on single was “I’m A Believer”

But there were other good tracks again Neil Diamond scores with:

“Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZCMkEY-Fbc

Gofin and King contributed

“Sometime In The Morning”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cvtRvzABIY

Mike Nesmith fought back for the band with:

Mary Mary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6jVxks8M4A

Neil Sedaka and Carol Bayer added

When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umt_7jXfF...re=related

With this the Monkees were riding high and taking more and more control !

· Third Monkee Album Was Headquaters

This shows the high point of both worlds : The Don Kirschner lead music team and the Monkees at their best.
There are still big names writing songs and there are still Monkees leading songs too. The TV’s shows were at their height and the tour schedule busy................
Gems from this album are

Randy Scouse Git ( Alternative Title)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihXygclhvsI
( Note the Beatles references “ The Four Kings Of EMI!)

Mr Webster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f649qmahmgk

Forget That Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uTAYGNCgtE

So now we turn the corner:

Next, follows the album

· Album Pieces Aquarius Capricorn and Jones

To start with, all seems normal and indeed there are plenty of high points:

Salesman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZxsR8DaPnY

Cuddly Toy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nusQ3Lqsz0

Pleasent Valley Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ICup8O_1M

However, The Monkees now have managed to obtain the upper hand in the artistic control battle:

Still time for another album

• Album : The Birds The Bees and The Monkees
  

Tracks that stand out

Daydream Believer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQNqk54HPdE

Valleri

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJw0qpqIONQ


BUT The ball is now in the Monkees court , artistically, and,

This changes things:

They are disillusioned with the TV shows and silly clown characters:

To this end they decide to strike out and destroy this manufactured image:

Move One : They make the Film “ Head “

· Album Head Sountrack

This takes the Monkee image and destroys it : ( Head Promo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNdtqzm-v-w

With this they produce some great music but the “Kids” who have been their following are confused to say the least.

The film is rarely seen now because it was a total flop...............It was pulled from most mainstream theaters within a week and most copies were trashed!

However.................It is an excellent film and contains some great music:

The Porpoise song: ( Film clip version )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtjXHUaKQHE

Circle sky

As We Go Along
( Clips unavailable)

This move puts the Monkees at the following situation:

They are producing good self penned music which they largely play BUT, their audience is deserting them in droves........................

At this point The Monkees try to put together a new form of TV program:

· Video 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee

This has an all star cast from the world of popular music and light entertainment.....................

The Music is diverse and interesting and very unusual .
For along while this has been unavailable in any format due to the complex copyright problems involved in clearing all the artist involved but, I believe that it can be obtained on DVD

Windup Man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0qGOrihJ5A

There is plenty more Monkee image panning involved in this program as well as some really good music.

It is available in seven parts on youtube.

So..................This seems to be artistic control and expression but just as it becomes reality: Peter Tork quits...............

However, on go three Monkees and we get another album:

· Album The Monkees Present

This is not a bad album ...........three Monkees and some of their own material .............At this point its a bit like The Beatles White Album ..............recorded separately

But there are high points :

Listen To The Band: ( Mike Nesmith with Area Code ^15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AweItvbPmBQ

Mommy and Daddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR6TE1m2KSQ

The three Monkees go on despite rock bottom ratings and positive hostility from their fans:

· Album Instant Reply

This marks the point where The Don Kirschner music team from before begin to get really concerned and look to try to and save something from their previous investments:
They issue two singles from the earlier material which are included on this album

Someday Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj1bvraWmX8

and

Teardrop City
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7pLL8MPkE

The album contains other good tracks from the correct time period:

Through The Looking Glass

Don’t Listen To Linda

A Man without A Dream.


So, this is the end of the road for one more Monkee : Mike Nesmith leaves

Dolenz and Jones Go on

· Album Changes

This is an odd album , it is mostly a Barry Kim album performed by the two Monkees

It is not a strong album but there are one or two good tracks:

Oh My My

I Love You Better

The rumour then goes around that there will finally be another album and it will be called The Monkee with just Davy Jones...............

There are one or two PS ‘s

There was a 70s version of the Monkees playing their greatest hits called Dolenz, Jones , Boyce and Hart

They did reform

However, there was one more development....................Don Kirchner’s Music team did come back to life.....................They had found managing a real band too hard so they invented away round this ...............a virtual band ..........................................Called “The Archies “

This time there were no rebellions or arguments , but there were hits and it did make money.

The band did appear but only as cartoon characters..................

Sugar Sugar .............The Archies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2bGQogovfA&feature=fvst

PPS

AS I mentioned The Monkees recorded prolific amounts in the earlier days .

To this end I must mention three excellent albums

· Missing Links 1
· Missing Links 2
· Missing Links 3

Also worth mentioning are the excellent CD versions of their albums on Rhino records
And the two seasons of The Monkees make excellent viewing.

Monkees Websites

http://www.monkees.net/default.htm
:biggrin::biggrin:

[BetaTV]

Wow - this was VERY informative! I remember the Monkees - and the 'rumors' that went around about problems and the fact they they 'weren't musicians" - I guess they showed all of us didn't they. Their TV show was hilarious - very campy.

[AlexN]

Woohhhhooo! I haven't heard so much about this band! Thank you, "the monkeeb" seems to be very funny)))

[Music Head]

very nice gryphon
thanks

[aalina387]

Woohhhhooo!thanks for sharing information..... I haven't heard so much about this band... Their TV show was hilarious - very campy.

[Bob]

Thanks for the information on "The Monkees"! I remember how much fun their tv show was, back in the day.

[ChrisBungo]

An actor friend of mine worked on a few episodes of the series. It was NOT one of his most memorable experiences as the four of them ("The Monkees") were very unprofessional on the set. Years later, he crossed paths with Davy Jones and the two reminisced about the series a bit and Jones remarked, "Yeah, we behaved very badly on that set."

Despite the difficulties BEHIND the scenes, what ended up on our TV screens was great fun.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
cool little story Chris, its always interesting to read things like that.

[ChrisBungo]

^^
cool little story Chris, its always interesting to read things like that.

I suppose if it wasn't for The Monkees, there would have been no Partridge Family a few years later (both were produced by the TV subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems).