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"The Monkees" was released in October 1966, a month after the premiere of their half hour sit-com on NBC. Shortly it went to No. 1 on The Billboard Charts and stayed in The Hot 100 for well over a year. I've had the album on vinyl for over 30 years and now I got it on CD and I still love it. Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart,(who in 2019 were nominated for The Songwriters Hall of Fame,) with the music provided by their group "The Candy Store Prophets" and some members of the legendary studio musicians nicknamed "The Wrecking Crew."
Boyce&Hart wrote the first track on the album, "Theme from The Monkees," which here features a longer and I think better version. Remember,"People say they monkey around. But they're too busy singing to put anybody down." They wrote "I Wanna Be Free" one of Davy Jones' favorites,(one of Peter Tork's least favorites,.) Andy Williams did his version of this song on his 1967 album "Born Free." Tommy Boyce co-wrote "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" an upbeat,rocking tune sung by Micky Dolenz that is one of my favorites. Davy sings Boyce&Hart's kind of mellow "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day."Boyce&Hart also wrote "Gonna Buy Me A Dog" with Davy and Micky monkeying around on it. And, they wrote The Monkees' first single "Last Train To Clarksville" which went to No. 1 on The Billboard Charts even before the television show premiered. Louie Shelton of "The Wrecking Crew" played a great lead guitar on it. This was the only song they did that was ever nominated for a "Grammy." It was was nominated for "Record of The Year" of 1966. "Monday,Monday" by "The Mamas and The Papas",(which "The Wrecking Crew" also played on ,) won the award. I liked "Last Train To Clarksville" better. With the beat,like the sound of a rolling train. I think it was Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart's best song.
David Gates who went on to form the group "Bread" in the '70's and is a member of The Songwriters Hall of Fame wrote the second track on the album "Saturday's Child" which Micky sings. And, Rock&Roll Hall of Fame members Carole King and her then husband Gerry Goffin wrote the flip side of the 45 single "Last Train To Clarksville", "Take A Giant Step" a cool, upbeat,psychedelic tune sung by Micky. Remember, "Come and leave yesterday behind and take a giant step outside your mind." Peter did his version of this song on his first solo album,1994's "Stranger Things Have Happened" which is good.
Mike Nesmith produced and wrote the Country-Rock "Papa Gene's Blues" ,(which a then unknown Glen Campbell who was then was a member of "The Wrecking Crew" played lead guitar,) Peter played acoustic guitar on it. Mike produced and co-wrote along with Carole King, the Country-Rock tune "Sweet Young Thing" which Glen Campbell also played on. Both tunes are really good. Finally,Davy sings a cover of The Hollies' 1965 song "Yes I Will", "I'll Be True To You" which the teenybopper girls or tweens as they're called now will think is groovy as they used to say back then.
I once heard on Casey Casum's American Top 40 some years back, that for 10 years from 1966 to 1976 ,(when "Pink Floyd" and "The Eagles" came along,) this and The Monkees' next album, "More of The Monkees" were the top selling albums. Not too shabby.
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Top reviews from other countries
william harris
great to hear these songs again
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2017Verified Purchase
sandra
Fabulous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2018Verified Purchase
Linda B
Great Music
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2020Verified Purchase
B M
Perfect
Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2020Verified Purchase
BARRY C MCQUADE
If you like it (or want to joke someone) get it!
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2017Verified Purchase
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