The Monkees- just a kiddy band? I wonder...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

From the Monkees flick "Head". Pop a tab and then enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SNl-7lPbHM

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. Nesmith was siphoning off Monkee session money to go to Nashville...

...and record his own tunes. A good portion of the songs that ended up on his initial solo albums Magnetic South and Loose Salute re-surfaced on the Monkees box sets and "Missing Links" collections.

He pretty much knew exactly what he wanted out of that situation from day one and got it.

Several books on Nesmith paint him as one self-centered and ruthless wool hat wearin' S.O.B.

:toast:

[enigmatic]

7. yep

I loved "The Witchita Whistle Train Sings" record (even owned a vinyl copy for awhile) and "The Prison" as 2 of my favorite LP's, but Mike was/is NOT known for his humility.

[Mr. Ected]

15. Nesmith came from abject wealth

His mother invented Liquid Paper (white-out).

He knew how to leverage, alright.

[vixengrl]

2. Not hardly a kiddie band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HlxtBJgObs

There wasn't any reason for it, but they became the real thing. Sort of. Probably a good thing Manson didn't make the cut in the auditions (seriously). Also, it's not like Hendrix opened for them for no particular reason (another real story).

When they got back together in the late '80's, I was totally into it. (I was like, fourteen--exactly the right age.) I think I still have the VHS of Head somewhere.

I'd like a glass of cold gravy with a hair in it.

Wouldn't we all?

[Skittles]

3. they were marketed as kiddy but they were really quite talented

:thumbsup:

[vixengrl]

4. Seriously/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekWTf_o85CY

(Yeah, I know. ruthless wool-hat wearing....but I like his songs. "Sweet Young Thing" is one of my favorites, actually, but no youtubery. Also Tork rules--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA-EwXsDdkw&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4bB8pI-7L8&feature=related )

[GReedDiamond]

5. Pleasant Valley Sunday...

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

[enigmatic]

6. one of the great opening guitar riffs of the 60's

:thumbsup:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. ...and supposedly it was played by Nesmith...

Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees

Album: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd
Released: 1967
US Chart: 3 UK Chart: 11

Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote this about Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange, New Jersey, where they lived at the time. (thanks, Mark - Edison, NJ)

While studio musicians were brought in to play in many songs for The Monkees, Mike Nesmith played the famous opening guitar riff on this. Chip Douglas, a former member of The Turtles, played bass on most of this album. He came up with the guitar part, which was based on The Beatles "I Want to Tell You." He taught it to Nesmith, who overdubbed it twice. You can see him play the line during a close-up for the "video." (thanks, Barry Kesten - Bellmore, United States)

The Beatles weren't the only band in the '60s with a drummer who could handle vocal duties: Micky Dolenz of The Monkees sang lead on this and several of their other tracks, including "I'm A Believer."

This was used in a 2008 episode of the TV show Family Guy in a scene that was a homage to The Monkees, complete with a comic chase scene.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3885

[GReedDiamond]

10. No wonder...

..check out the wikipedia entry on the tune:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Valley_Sunday

(Based on the Beatles' "I Want To Tell You")

It works!

[enigmatic]

11. I did not know that!

I should hae realized that; I Want To Tell You is one of my favorite George Harrison songs.....
:toast:

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Never mind the 'furthermore;' the plea is self-defense

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4fwk0kt4F0



Can't find the original of this one, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDzemlztea4



When the world and I were young, just yesterday
Life was such a simple game a child could play
It was easy then to tell right from wrong
Easy then to tell weak from strong
When a man should stand and fight
Or just go along

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray

I remember when the answers seemed so clear
We had never lived with doubt or tasted fear
It was easy then to tell truth from lies
Selling out from compromise
Who to love and who to hate
The foolish from the wise

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray


It was easy then to know what was fair
When to keep and when to share
How much to protect your heart
And how much to care

But today there is no day or night
Today there is no dark or light
Today there is no black or white
Only shades of gray
Only shades of gray

[melman]

12. The Girl I Knew Somewhere

Another great one by Mike Nesmith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsjdU7lv1m0

[Locrian]

13. Different Drum

Didnt he also write Different Drum for the Stone Poneys?

[kaiden]

14. Loved them when they first came out -- I was 14.

Then, watching repeats in the late 1980s, I finally understood the humor and the double entendres. I ended up having a whole new appreciation for them.

[raccoon]

16. Some of their songs do make you think. I loved them. nt

[LibertyLover]

17. I used to apologize for liking the Monkees

but after watching the Smithsonian Channel special on them and listening to their music again after a multi-year hiatus, I will apologize no more. The opening riff on Pleasant Valley Sunday still sends chills down my spine. Dolenz rules!