Monkees, The


Band members               Related acts

- Mickey Dolenz - vocals, drums, percussion (1967-70)
- David Jones - vocals, percussion (1967-70)
- Michael Nesmith - vocals, guitar (1967-69)
- Peter Tork - vocals, bass, keyboards (1967-68)

   

 

 

- Michael Blessing (aka Michael Nesmith)
- Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart
- Mickey Dolenz (solo efforts)
- First National Bank (Michael Nesmith)
- Davy Jones (solo efforts)
- Michael Nesmith (solo efforts)
- Second National Bank (Michael Nesmith)
- Peter Tork (solo efforts)
 

 

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Head

Company: Colgems

Catalog: 5008

Year: 1968

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: original metallic cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $50.00

Cost: $66.00

 

More than anxious to capitalize on the band's popularity, Columbia leaped at the opportunity to finance a Monkees film. Big mistake !!! Directed by Bob Rafelson (and starring a bizarro cast including boxer Sonny Liston, Jack Nicholson, former football player Ray Nitschke and Frank Zappa), anyone expecting a "Hard Days Night" styled comedy was in for a major surprise. To their credit, "Head" proved daring and imaginative, though dense, fragmented and virtually impossible to follow. Anti-war sentiments and non-too-subtle commentary on stardom (the band is seen committing suicide jumping from a bridge) left Columbia executives dumbfounded. Needless to say, the film proved a commercial disaster. In spite of the fact it was their most creative album, 1968's "Head" suffered from the film connection. Certainly far from their most consistent set, interspersed with fragments of dialog, sound effects and incidental music, highlights included Nesmith's blazing 'Circle Sky', Jones' campy reading of Nilsson's 'Daddy's Song' and the psychedelic single 'Porpoise Song' (probably one of Carole King-Gerry Goffin's weirdest efforts). Their poorest seller up to that point, the album faltered at # 45. (The album was originally released with a metallic mirror cover.) 

"Head" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Opening Ceremony - 1:19
2.) Porpoise Song (Theme from "Head") (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 2:56
3.) Ditty Diego - War Chant - 1:27
4.) Circle Sky (MIke Nesmith) - 2:32
5.) Supplico - :49
6.) Can You Dig It (Peter Tork) - 3:19

(side 2)

1.) Gravy - :05
2.) Superstitious - :06
3.) As We Go Along (King - Stern) - 3:53
4.) Dandruff? - :40
5.) Daddy's Song (Harry Nilsson) - 2:29
6.) Poll - 1:12
7.) Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again (Peter Tork) - 2:37
9.) Swami - Plus Strings (Ken Thorne) - 5:16


The album also brought personal tensions to a head (ha!). Having just turned in two of his most impressive songs ('Can You Dig It' and 'Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again'), increasingly frustrated with the rock star lifestyle, Tork bought out the remainder of his Colgems contract for a then-whopping $160,000. Giving him kudos for showing the morale strength to follow his beliefs, the decision also left Tork broke. Within a couple of years he was left to working menial day jobs to pay his bills. 

 

 


 


Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Instant Replay

Company: Colgems

Catalog: COL-113

Year: 1968

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: original metallic cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4346

Price: $40.00

Cost: $66.00

 

Down to a trio following Tork's departure, "Instant Replay" appears to have been made under trying circumstances.  Exemplified by some of the group photos on the back cover, the general caliber of the material made it clear the survivors weren't particularly happy to be with one another and were rapidly running out of creativity, let alone much enthusiasm for the band. A mixture of older, previously unreleased material and newer efforts which sounded suspiciously like solo efforts (a la Beatles White Album), little on the set was particularly impressive. As to be expected, Nesmith-penned country-rock efforts such as 'Don't Wait for Me' and the pretty 'While I Cry' provided most of the highlights. On the downside, Jones' MOR-moves like 'Don't Listen To Linda' and 'Me without You' were increasingly irritating (though his hysterical stab at hard rock 'You and I' was worth hearing).  Usually good for an enjoyable  track or two, this time around Dolenz's all-around weirdness ('Shorty Blackwell') took up way too much track time. Colgems tapped the album for a pair of singles:

 

- 1968's 'Tear Drop City' b/w 'A Man Without a Dream' (COLGEMS catalog number 5000)

- 1969's 'Listen to the Band' b/w 'Someday Man' (COLGEMS catalog number 5004)

 

Both singles charted, but were only minor hits. On the other hand, backed by a national tour and an NBC television special ("33 /3 Revolutions per Monkee"), the parent album actually managed to sell, eventually hitting #  32.

"Instant Replay" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Through the Looking Glass   (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart - Baldwin) - 2:41
2.) Don't Listen To Linda   (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:45
3.) I Won't Be the Same without Her   (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 2:28
4.) Just a Game   (Mickey Dolenz) - 1:46
5.) Me without You   (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:08
6.) Don't Wait for Me   (Michael Nesmith) - 

(side 2)

1.) You and I   (Davy Jones - Bill Chadwick) - 2:10
2.) While I Cry   (Michael Nesmith) - 2:57
3.) Tear Drop City   (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:01
4.) The Girl I Left Behind   (Carole Bayer - Neil Sedaka) - 2:40
5.) A Man without a Dream   (Gerry Goffin - Carole King) - 2:58
6.) Shorty Blackwell   (Mickey Dolenz) - 5:42

 

 

 


Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Changes

Company: Colgems

Catalog: COL-119

Year: 1969

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

Cost: $66.00

 

 

Although Jones had announced his intent to leave the group, in the wake of Tork's hideous experience with Colgems, he apparently reconsidered. Accordingly, 1970's "Changes" found the enterprise down to a duo. With Jeff Barry brought in to handle production chores, the set came off as little more than a career wake. With Dolenz's 'Midnight Train' serving as the only original effort, the remainder of the collection found Dolenz and Jones at the mercy of Barry and a gaggle of other outside writers. Clearly uninspired by their surroundings, neither principle seemed to put much effort into the set. Exemplified by material such as 'Oh My My', 'Ticket On a Ferry Ride' and 'It's Got To Be Love' the results were professional, if bland and quickly forgotten. Elsewhere, '99 Pounds' made it clear Jones' wasn't cutout for heavy metal. The only track worth hearing more than once was the Boyce and Hart written and produced 'I Never Thought It Particular'.  With the collection failing to chart, Dolenz and Jones officially killed the band.

"Changes" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Oh My My (Jeff Barry - Andy Kim) - 2:57
2.) Ticket On a Ferry Ride (Jeff Barry - Bobby Bloom) - 3:25
3.) You're So Good To Me (Jeff Barry - Bobby Bloom) - 2:29
4.) It's Got To Be Love (Goldberg) - 2:20
5.) Acapulco Sun (Soles - Albight) - 2:45
6.) 99 Pounds (Jeff Barry) - 2:25

(side 2)

1.) Tell Me Love (Jeff Barry) - 2:32
2.) Do You Feel It Too? (Jeff Barry - Andy Kim) - 2:28
3.) I Love You Better (Jeff Barry - Andy Kim) - 2:26
4.) All Alone In the Dark (Soles - Albight) - 2:47
5.) Midnight Train (MIckey Dolenz) - 2:05
6.) I Never Thought It Particular (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:20

 

 


Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Barrel Full of Monkees

Company: Colgems

Catalog: SCOS-1001

Year: 1971

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: double LP set, minor ring and edge wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5043

Price: $15.00

 

The final Monkees release on Colgems, 1971's "Barrel Full of Monkees" was a double LP 20 track compilation.  Apparently geared for the children's market that grew up with the band's television program, the set was actually quite good.  Overlooking the absence of  much in the way of liner notes (but then do 10 year olds care about liner notes), the compilation pulled together the band's radio hits, pseudo-hits and a couple of their better album tracks. Curiously it didn't sell well.  That might have something to do with the fact fans had grown up and moved on to other things, or perhaps something to do with the hideous cover art.  (The album shouldn't be confused with the Rhino Records release "Barrel Full of Monkees: Music for Children" that featured an inferior track listing.)

"Barrel Full of Monkees" track listing:
(side 1)
1.)
I'm A Believer   (Neil Diamond) - 2:41

2.) Cuddly Toy   (Nilsson) - 2:45

3.) Star Collector    (Carole King - Gerry Goffin) - 3:30

4.) What Am I Doin' Hangin' 'Round?   (Lewis - Clarke) - 3:02

5.) Pleasant Valley Sunday    (Carole King - Gerry Goffin) - 3:10    

 

(side 2)
1.)
Last Train To Clarkesville   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:40

2.) Valleri   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:16

3.) Randy Scouse Git   (Mickey Dolenz) - 2:35

4.) I Wanna Be Free   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:24

5.) Listen To The Band   (Michael Nesmith) - 2:45 

 

(side 3)
1.)
(Theme From) The Monkees   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:20

2.) She Hangs Out   (Jeff Barry) - 2:33

3.) Gonna Buy Me A Dog    (Boyce - Hart) - 2:28 

4.) She   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:27

5.) (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone   (Boyce - Hart) - 2:25 

 

(side 4)
1.)
Daydream Believer   (Stewart) - 2:58

2.) Your Auntie Grizelda    (Keller - Hilderbrandt) - 2:28

3.) A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You   (Neil Diamond) - 2:35

4.) Mary, Mary   (Michael Nesmith) - 2:12

5.) Shades Of Gray   (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) - 3:20

 

 


Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Re-Focus

Company: Bell

Catalog: 6081

Year: 1972

Country/State: US/UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: minor ring wear, cut lower corner

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

 

With the band's television program going into Saturday morning syndication, Bell Records took advantage of the new audience to release the "best of" "Re-focus". Most of the top-40 hits were here; the one odd (and interesting) choice being the inclusion of Nesmith's 'Listen To the Band'. Given the set did little sales wise, it's one of the rarer titles in the catalog.

"Re-focus" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Monkee's Theme (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:29
2.) Last Train To Clarksville (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:48
3.) She (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:27
4.) Daydream Believer (John Stewart) - 2:58
5.) Listen To the Band (Mike Nesmith) - 2:45
6.) A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Neil Diamond) - 2:35

(side 2)
1.) I'm a Believe (Neil Diamond) - 2:41
2.) I Wanna Be Free (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:24
3.) Pleasant Valley Sunday (Carole King - Gerry Goffin) - 3:10
4.) (I'm Not) You're Steppin' Stone (Tommy Boyce - Bobby Hart) - 2:25
5.) Shades of Gray (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) - 3:30

 

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