Monkeying Around

October 28, 2005 at 1:09 pm · Filed under audio

* The Monkees: For Pete’s Sake (2.5 mb) | Sunny Girlfriend (3.0 mb) | Randy Scouse Git (3.0 mb) | I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind (2.5 mb)
From Headquarters Sessions : Rhino Handmade : RHM2 7715

The Monkees

Here’s how the story goes. Back in the 1966, the first manufactured pop band was made. The Monkees were a band created by the studio and promoted by a TV show. The actors, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, were recruited by the studio from talent shows and casting calls. The actors, although some of them were actually accomplished musicians, were to play musicians on TV, with the actual music and songs being supplied by a studio band.

Fast forward one year later, and the show and the accompanying debut album are an extreme success. The actors/musicians become more and more dissatisfied with their primary roles as actors and are chagrined to find out that their manager, Don Kirshner has just released a second album without a single iota of input from any of them. In a surprise move (probably due to the popularity of the show), the studio allows the band to oust Mr. Kirshner and, for the first time, gain creative control of the band.

Much has been made of this gain of creative control, with some saying that it was a complete and utter disaster and some saying that it was complete and utter success. Obviously, since I’m posting songs from the results, I fall in the latter category. At this time, the band is totally on fire and they’ve got something to prove. If you listen closely to these songs, I’m sure you’ll agree that the resulting album, Headquarters is a pop masterpiece.

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6 Comments

  1. Rich B said,

    October 29, 2005 @ 10:45 am

    I agree…The Monkees albums, especially after the guys themselves took control are great! Micky was a great rock singer…Mike a great writer…Pete a guy who could play many instruments well (how about that piano on “Daydream Believer”?), and Davy…well, he had stars in his eyes!

  2. The Graduate said,

    October 31, 2005 @ 7:17 am

    You have the Headquarters Sessions? You are my god. Dang, Rhino Handmade and their limited pressings! I guess that I’ll have to make do with my life as a nomad continually scouring eBay frantically for the three Missing Links.

  3. Mike V said,

    October 31, 2005 @ 2:40 pm

    A few years ago I knew nothing abut the Monkees except what I saw on Nick at Nite in the late 80’s. Then a friend of mine turned me on to the depth of their catolog and I realised how great they really were. “Here we come….”

  4. cb said,

    November 1, 2005 @ 3:15 am

    I honestly think it’s amazing just how good a band The Monkees are.

    -cb

  5. Adriana said,

    August 8, 2006 @ 11:06 pm

    The Monkees are amazing! A spiffy TV show & groovy music… They rock my psychedelic mocassins! I love them all.

  6. danny said,

    September 29, 2006 @ 6:06 pm

    I have been taking Tour photos since 1976. I have had the pleasure to shoot the Monkees tours 1986, 1987, 1996, 1997, 2001 as well as David Jones Solo Tours of 1998- to the present.Davy lives 20 miles from me here in central Pennsylvania! He is a real good person and has been very good to me.

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