Archive for the ‘Monkees’ Category

Monkees-Pool It!

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Pool It!

No keepers on this one.

Pool It!

Monkees-Changes

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Changes

Changes? Yep. Big ones.

Keepers:

99 Pounds
Oh My My

Changes

Monkees Present

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Monkees Present

Keepers:

Good Clean Fun
Listen To The Band
Mommy And Daddy

Monkees Present

Monkees-Instant Replay

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Instant Replay

Keepers:

Teardrop City
While I Cry

Instant Replay

Monkees-Head

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

Head

“Head” marks the end of a string of 6 really great albums – after this they Peter-ed out and drifted into OK-ness – but it was a hell of a run while it lasted.

Keepers:

Porpoise Song
Circle Sky
Daddy’s Song
Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again

Head

Monkees-The Birds, The Bees, And The Monkees

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Birds Bees & The Monkees

Keepers:

Auntie’s Municipal Court
Daydream Believer
Tapioca Tundra
Valleri
Writing Wrongs

Birds Bees & The Monkees

Monkees-Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.

Keepers:

Salesman
She Hangs Out
The Door Into Summer
Love Is Only Sleeping
Cuddly Toy
Words
What Am I Doing Hanging ‘Round
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Star Collector

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (Deluxe Edition, 2CD)

Monkees-Headquarters

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Headquarters

Keepers:

For Pete’s Sake
I’ll Spend My Life With You
You Just May Be The One
Sunny Girlfriend
Mr. Webster
You Told Me
Randy Scouse Git
No Time

Headquarters

More of the Monkees

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

More of the Monkees

Keepers:

Mary, Mary
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
The Kind Of Girl I Could Love
I’m A Believer

More of the Monkees

It Must Be Monkees Day…

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Gary Pig Gold says “A picture is worth (at least) 201 words.”

Monkees_vs_Beatles

Click the image for full-size glory

Sweet Young Thing

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

The first Monkees lp is just a good album, period, but in my mind the blow-away track (and possibly my favorite Monkees song) on it is “Sweet Young Thing”. Co-written and produced by Mike Nesmith, “Sweet Young Thing” is simply a pulsing slab of country punk that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on a 13th Floor Elevators album – growly vocals, thumping drums, fiddle madness and (for much of the song) just a couple of chords. No jug, but I can sure hear where it would’ve gone had it been used. I’m not sure what anyone was thinking when this album was put together, but how in the world did this make it to the finished master? I mean, “Sweet Young Thing” is on the same album as “I Wanna Be Free”, which makes this one of the greatest pieces of stealth-music ever.

If you can think of others, leave ‘em in the comments.

The Monkees

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Monkees

Keepers:

Papa Gene’s Blues
Take A Giant Step
Last Train To Clarksville
Sweet Young Thing

If you’re looking at this in the first place, you’re probably one of those people who know that The Monkees were not quite what they seemed to be. The four of them were joined at the hip by some sort of corporate commercial happenstance, but how different is that from bands at that time that came together because the musicians were friends, or lovers, or cousins… especially in California. If you had even one member that could sing, play, or write (or all three) you were in good shape, because there were enough great session musicians floating around to make sure that the finished product was listenable, and tons of artists and their record companies were quick to take advantage of the situation.

So let’s see – The Monkees had one really good writer, three good singers, and a couple of good players. Add to this the fact that Michael Nesmith actually had some sort of vision and was able to act as producer when necessary, and I think you would have to consider The Monkees as legitimate a band as… well, I won’t name names.

Monkees