Another hit from Carole King, her demo of this is fabulous. The Monkees were a terrific band who got bad press at the time for not writing their own material as an unfair comparison to The Beatles. Dolenz was one the best pop rock voices of his time. ✌️
This song was written by iconic singer/songwriter Carol King. I love the lyric, "Here in Status Symbol Land" It's the perfectly succinct social commentary on American materialism. Ps. Micky Dolenz, the last remaining Monkee, is a highly underrated singer!
Amber, you nailed it. This a 1960’s social commentary on suburbia. I loved the Monkees in those days (I was 11). As I look back on their songs now, Pleasant Valley Sunday and Last Train to Clarksville still hold up. Mickey Dolenz, and actor by trade, was a pretty good lead singer.
It was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way and their move to suburban West Orange, New Jersey, Goffin and King wrote the song about dissatisfaction with the life in the suburbs.
Yes, I keep forgetting that Carole King and her husband wrote this song. Sounds like they regretted moving to their new suburban environment in New Jersey. Somewhat of a down beat social commentary song that contrasts with the mostly upbeat material that The Monkees recorded.
Yep, right around the corner from Kessler Institute. One of the best physical rehabilitation centers in the country. Founded by Dr.Kessler, the protégé of Dr. Rusk, the father of physical rehabilitation therapy.
You should react to "A little bit me, A little bit You." I know Jay would like that one. The other songs you haven't reacted to and I'm sure you'd like is "Valleri" and "Steppin Stone." Another fun one to listen to is "That was then, This is now." It was their comeback single after the kids in the 80's rediscovered them after MTV began airing reruns of the Monkees in block episodes. Everyone gained a whole new appreciation of them after that comeback. It was a really big deal at the time.
@@rjpgby the time they recorded this, they were mostly playing their own instruments. On "Headquarters" (the album before this) and "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." (This album) Nesmith was doing a lot of the lead guitar work himself (often on his custom 12-string electric).
For anyone who doesn't believe it's Nez.. Micky Dolenz: Lead Vocal Mike Nesmith: Backing Vocal and Electric Guitar Peter Tork: Backing Vocal and Piano Davy Jones: Backing Vocal “Fast” Eddie Hoh: Drums and Percussion Chip Douglas: Bass Bill Chadwick: Acoustic Guitar
"For Pete's Sake" was played at the end of every Monkees show and one of my personal favorites is "Going Down". Wait until you hear Mickey "rap". Sending good vibes!
Micky Dolenz, Drummer, and lead singer on this song is sadly the last remaining member still with us. He was also lead on I'm a Believer, and Last Train to Clarksville. Thanks again for the memories and the smiles
My brother has become friends with him after meeting him many times over the years at comic conventions. My brothers a vendor at the major ones and Mickie goes to a lot of them. He says he one of the nicest guys he's met at the show, another is Henry Winkler. He usually hires friends to load and unload his tractor trailer and their always amazed when people like Micky and Henry come looking for my brother at the New York Comic Con.
"Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow" is my favorite song by the Monkees and was always a highlight of their live shows when Davy was with the band. I think the two of you would enjoy it as well as your audience.
Ohhhhh yesssss! One of my fave Monkees tracks for sure! Love the story about how they achieved that psychedelic echo ending by placing mics in the bathroom and recording the sound using the room's typical ambience to achieve the effect we hear. You want another hit, maybe try I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. For something a bit more trippy, there's The Porpoise Song and for something deep and stripped back, definitely try Shades of Gray.
"I'm not feeling it " That's the kind of honesty I look for in a reaction. Nobody can like EVERY song they listen to and I really appreciate the tactful way he said this. It also makes it that much better when they do love something.
Need to do a Monkees song with Mike singing lead. Papa Gene's Blues, You Just May Be the One, Sweet Young Thing or What Am I Doing Hanging Round are a good start.
I love this song. Micky Dolenz had a beautiful tenor voice. He does a wonderful song, “Sometime in the Morning”. Really shows off his voice. They were unfairly maligned. Frank Zappa was a huge fan. He was a guest on their show. John Lennon called them the Marx Brothers of Rock. Spice Girls kind of had a similar start but did great songs. They are an important part of my childhood. ❤ Daydream Believer clip is a great song. Davy Jones was such a great dancer in that.
Michael Nesmith, the guitar player, wrote many of their songs and had a great solo career. Sweet Young Thing, What Am I Doing Hangin’ ‘Round and The Door Into Summer were Monkees songs that he wrote and sang lead. Any or all of those would be great songs to react to.
“WHAT AM I DOING HANGING ROUND?” MIKE sings this one , you haven’t heard him yet!! Check the video from the show , you’ll see DAVY playing the maracas, you liked when you saw him do it before. “PAPA GENE’S BLUES “sung by Mike is another good, light bouncy one !
I remember the Monkees coming thru Niagara Falls while we were swimming at the Holiday Inn pool in the summer of 1972, we were 14 yrs old. Karen and I ran down the road chasing their car and they stopped. Davey Jones got out of the car we al.ost passed out. Too funny thanks for the memories.
The Monkees' way of mixing lighthearted melodies with subversive lyrics always makes me smile. It reminds me of The Stone Roses, another band you might want to sample.
Yeah, those late eighties/early nineties bands like the Stone Roses, Oasis, the Happy Mondays, Blur, etc, sounded so sixties, and said as much at the time, sometimes citing their love for earlier sixties revival bands like Rain Parade. These guys should listen to the Stone Roses' 1989 "Fools Gold."
Written by Carole King who was one of, if not the most prolific female songwriters of all time. She wrote Chains for the Beatles, You've Got a Friend for James Taylor, Locomotion for Grand Funk Railroad and Up on the Roof to name a few. I think at least 200 songs.
This is one of my favorites by The Monkees! Please do more. I used to watch their show every single day after school and in the summer (and this was before my time). Definitely do some reactions to Mike Nesmith’s songs, like-“And you just may be the one”, and “Papa Gene Blues” and Sweet Young Thing. ❤
If you want to hear more of Mickey Dolenz's voice, check out "Words", which I also think is their best song. The video for "Words" is great just to see Davey Jones "attempt" to play "air" drums.
Mickey Dolenz, the drummer and lead singer on this song, started as a child actor in 1956 as the star of a Saturday show for children called "Circus Boy" which I watched regularly when i was a kid in the 50's. One of his daughters Amy Dolenz is and actor who has appeared in many movies.
This time Mike Nesmith (lead guitar) and Peter Tork (piano) had actually played the same instruments on the recording as they did in the video. The Beatles released the Sgt. Pepper album that year so the Monkees wanted something edgier than they had been doing.
His twin sons were pretty good looking as well. They were the lighter sound band of the hair bands. My son liked them so I took him to a couple of their concerts.
@@valogden Yes they were/are. I actually went to a Nelson concert back when I was in 10th grade and it was loads of fun. Sadly, I never got to see Rick Nelson in concert before he died. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I learned that he'd died, though. Sigh.
I've been going to Monkees concerts since I was a kid in 1986...always the only black kid in the audience, but I loved their reruns on MTV so I went...by myself! Look into them, they were like the foundation of the California country sound that the Eagles took to the top of the charts. Neil Diamond, Carole King, Harry Nilsson, Mann and Weil, they had all the best writers. They were bold as hell - they even had Jimi Hendrix open for them on their first tour!!
The Monkees were a lot of fun - I enjoyed watching their shows when I was a kid! For other future reactions please consider "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon, "Foolish Games" by Jewel and "Hello" by Walk Off The Earth featuring Myles and Isaac! All three are Female Friday possibilities! Cheers for Sunday and every other day!
They reacted to "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" (Carly Simon) about a year ago . . . th-cam.com/video/8k5_pNMphrw/w-d-xo.html / Their only Jewel reaction was "You Were Meant For Me". . . th-cam.com/video/RHWvYDfdRm0/w-d-xo.html
I’m so glad you guys chose to react to this song. It is one of my favorites. Micky, the drummer/lead singer has always been my favorite member. Sometime In The Morning is another really good Monkees song. Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow, another good one. I’d love to see you guys also react to some of their 80’s stuff too. Heart and Soul and That Was Then and This Is Now both really good songs. Another less common known 80’s song from them which is really good is Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere. I can’t wait to see more Monkees music reactions. :)
"Another pleasant valley Sunday here in status symbol land" "Let's complain about how hard life is, and the kids just don't understand". Biting commentary on the suburban America lifestyle, and the generation gap of the 60's and early 70's. Materialism's hypnotic affect on us and the pride we all take in the amount of "stuff" we can accumulate. Definitely worth another listen to pick up everything they were singing about, because so much of the message still holds true today.
Pleasant Valley is one of The Monkees top Rockers.. great tune. Depending on who is doing the singing, you will get 3 different vibes on their songs.. Mickey doing "Stepping Stone", "For Pete's Sake", or "Auntie's Municipal Court ".. Davy singing "Valleri ", "Early Morning Blues and Greens", or "A Little Bit Me,A Little Bit You".. and Michael on vocals on "What Am i Doing Hangin' Round", "A Door Into Summer", and "You May Just Be the One".. All are fantastic tunes with slightly different vibes, and really made them unique and popular, like The Beatles, where all 4 members provided vocals.. So many excellent songs..
Producer chip Douglas came up with the guitar intro riff - based on the Beatles' "I Want to Tell You" riff. But it's Mike Nesmith playing the riff in the recording.
Love the Monkees. It's funny you've reacted to a handful of their songs. Still haven't gotten to my 2 favorites of theirs yet though! I love Valleri and (I'm not your) Stepping Stone by them.
The "Monkees" were a highly underrated group that was put together for a SitCom in the 60s. The four actually started out in different bands or acting careers and the director and producers hand-picked Peter Tork (Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals), Micky Dolenz (Drums, Vocals), Michael Nesmith (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals), and Davie Jones (Bass guitar, Drums, Tambourine, Vocals).
"Hey! Hey! We're the Monkeys." The opening refrain of their theme song. It's one of the first shows I can remember watching. Davy Jones was my older sister's crush. Love this band.
I used to watch The Monkees all the time when I was a kid. Good times. Lots of fun and good tunes! You should take some time and watch a few episodes of the show, you're really going to enjoy it!
@@trex19681 I'm going to have to get one just for nostalgia sake. It was a wild car! The Monkeymobile, the Dragula from the Munsters, and the Batmobile were probably the most famous TV cars until KITT from the 80's showed up.
When I was a kid two bands in the neighborhood would practice in their parents garage almost every week. The late 60's: muscle cars everywhere, garage bands, my Schwinn Orange Krate... what a time to be alive.
I just saw Micky at a concert a month ago and he was reading some of the lyrics Michael wrote for Daily Nightly and when you just read them like that, you really appreciate how amazing they are. "Darkened rolling figures move Through prisms of no color Hand-in-hand, they walk the night But never know each other Passioned pastel neon lights Light up the jeweled traveler Who, lost in scenes of smoke filled dreams Find questions, but no answers"
The Monkees are my favourite band since I first caught their tv show when I was 12 in 1998. Saturday's Child, For Pete's Sake, She, Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow), (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone, The Kind of Girl I Could Love, Sweet Young Thing, You Just Might Be the One, She Hangs Out, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, Valleri . . . I could go on.
l was at one of those concerts with my mom and big sister =) I can still hear the girls chanting "We Want Davy" ! Now i have all the Monkees albums and most of Jimi Hendrix !
the sound on this was off because it was from the tv show. so it was sped up ever so slightly (to allow more time for commercials),and it was in mono not stereo. give it a second listen with the official audio and i'm sure jay will notice the difference. the lyrics are simple, but it really paints a picture of suburban life in the late 60s. growing up then i remember "charcoal burning everywhere" on sundays,especially in my own backyard. a simpler time i remember with great fondness.
My favorite Monkees tune.. reminds me of listening to this on AM radio while riding in the backseat of my grandparents car as a then 15 year old teen.. beautiful memories. ❤
Davy Jones is the guitar player near keyboard player Peter Tork. The others are Mickey Dolenz on drums and Mike Nesmith on the other guitar. Davy was the heart throb of the group. This was part of my childhood guys. The Monkees premiered in 1966 when I was 6 and I loved them - especially Davy. 😍😁
So good to hear the Pre-Fab 4? Check out their other stuff , and the tv show. They were a lot of fun and were surprisingly good musicians. This one does sound different from their previous songs. It’s less bubble gum and more adult/ grown up. And remember, Jimi Hendrix opened for them on tour!
Once you start down the rabbit hole that is The Monkees, you will discover how talented they all truly were/are. “Love is Only Sleeping” and “I’ll Be Back Up On My Feet” would be good to see just a little bit of how varied their music is. For a love song, “Sometime In The Morning” is my vote, as well as “As We Go Along”. I can talk about The Monkees for days 😂 🙊
I LOOOOOVVE The Monkees!! ❤ I grew up watching reruns because they were a bit before my time. I totally fell in love with Davy Jones. 😍 Back in the day some of their music (mostly Mickey Dolenz songs) took a while to grow on me. However, now I really love all of their tunes. There is no wrong song for me. Especially Mickey’s songs like: Randy Scouse Git, Words, Going Down and She. Jay, I think you’d definitely like these songs especially Going Down. Anyway, thanks for this reaction I always enjoy The Monkees. 🐒😉👍🏽
Going Down is my favorite! He's so amazing on it!! I met him and his sister Coco who has sung backup with them in the studio since she was a teenager. Back in 2011, saw them in concert and was in front after the show I got the nerve and walked up to him and he said Boy your a real fan aren't you? He said he saw me singing every song word for word down in front! I couldn't believe it, he noticed me! Anyway he introduced his sister we talked a while, I tried to not act like a crazy fan and they were so cool and down to earth! And Peter was talking to fans too, Davey was with his daughter's so I didn't wanna bug him. These guys are so amazing to their fans!
This song slaps I played in a bar band in college in the late 80s/early 90s. One day I suggested that we play a cover of this and no one in the band was very thrilled with the suggestion (it was a bit of a departure from the type of stuff we normally played). But the first time we played it live the crowd freaking LOVED it.
Glad to see a reaction to the Monkee's a fun sixties group who did some really catchy songs.I used to watch their TV programme-showing my age! Another good one is 'A little bit me,A little bit You'. I like this song myself, Jay is hard to please! For more fun 6o's , The Kinks song 'Dedicated follower of Fashion' is good.
Love it that you reacted to this song! I love this song too. Micky Dolenz is the lead in this song. This song was written for the Monkees show by George Goffin and Carole King, describing suburban life and not digging it is what we got out of it, well, I had my older brother to explain it to me as I was just too young to understand that at the time and it is mixed in with a description of a pleasant day with people grilling outdoors; just keep in mind their songs will have references from the era they were in and you just might miss out on the meaning. So the two who wrote the song were not happy with living life in the suburbs. It happens. Not every song will be bouncy pop rock music you are used to listening to, there are also easy mellow rock songs of that era too so just know there will be songs like this no matter who the band is. Try reacting to this song "Steppin' Stone by The Monkees! Once again Micky Dolenz is the lead singer in that song. Oh and the guy on the keyboard is Peter Tork I enjoyed your reaction! ☮💕
A large problem the Monkees faced was accusations that none of them could play a musical instrument, because the music on *their first records was mostly made by studio musicians.* Nesmith and Dolenz played guitar, and Dolenz took drum lessons, so he could play drums on camera. Tork played guitar, keyboards and banjo.
Rob usually seems to feel that an artist should only have one sound, but I love it when an artist gives you something different and unique from the same thing all the time.
Let's see. I was 10 years old in 1967 when this song came out. I loved the Monkees and even had a Monkee mobile model (you know, the models you put together with glue back in the day.) Blast from the past. Daydream Believer was my favorite song.
Hey the Monkees were killing it on this tune from 67. Imagine these guys on your TV back in the day. I was a young 7yr old when they released this song. I loved growing up in the 60's and 70's.
I think The Monkees are great. What I really find awesome is listening to Amber say how 'groovy' the music is and how much she digs it. 😊😊😊 That, more than anything, brings me back to the days of my youth. I LOVE IT!!! ❤❤
Yep Carole King. This is perhaps her deepest song. Forget the fact that it was written for a fictional band and for a television series. Look at the lyrics. “There’s Mrs Gray she’s proud today because her roses are in bloom. There’s Mr Green, he’s so serene, he’s got a TV in every room. Another Pleasant Valley Sunday. Here in status symbol land.” And Dolenze sings it so well.
The inspiration for the song was when Carole King and husband moved into a suburban housing community in West Orange, NJ. Interestingly, the name comes from Pleasant Valley Way, a road that stretches most of the way through West Orange and into Verona. Another story is that it's about a mental institution, which would have been Greystone, which it wasn't. Other Monkees songs you should give a listen to are "Mary, Mary", "Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow", "The Door Into Summer", "Words", "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", "Randy Souse Git", "What Am I Doing Hanging Round", "Papa Gene's Blues", "You Just May Be The One". All of them demonstrate the vast and diverse talent this group had.
who can not like the Monkees? Each song is full of fullness of life and is a feel good song. I can imagine many parents say the kids still dont understand and vice versa! I was only about six when this 30 minute new show came on and i guess my folks didnt mind it too much else they wouldnt have watched it. It was so unlike any other show because of the hip music! And similar to the Marx brothers in humor although i had never heard of the marx brothers then and besides that these Monkees really were cute and funny. Much more lively than the Dick Van Dyke show. I they were my first crush. i begged mom to buy the fan mags and i cut out the monkees pictures and put them up in my little closet door.
This came out at about the time the Monkees were rebelling against being a cardboard band releasing singles on which session men played all the backing. The single which preceeded this was "Randy Scouse Git" (release in the UK as "Alternate Title" for lunatic reasons) this was their first single that was not some kind of love song and it has that "freak out" ending - all signs that they were no longer content to be the pre-fab four. That intro riff is very hard to play - there are whole videos here on TH-cam offering guidance on how to play it. Mike Nesmith was a very underrated musician.
One thing about the great groups of the 60s and 70s is that they weren't stuck in a single formula or sound. Expext diversity in their catalog... it's part of what makes them great.
The singer on this one was Mickey Dolenz (who also sang lead on "I'm a Believer," which, incidentally, was written by Neil Diamond). I grew up watching the series (as reruns; I was only born in 1975 after all, but my mother was a huge fan so I became one as well). Having seen every episode of the show and owning every one of their albums on the original vinyl (handed down from my mother), I could sit here typing suggestions of The Monkees for quite a while, but I always try to limit myself to suggesting only one song per video. That said, there are two of their songs that I am having SO MUCH TROUBLE choosing between! I think for now that I'll go with the one that it's less likely anyone else will recommend. A really good song called "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day." I think you'll both enjoy that one quite a bit!
As a group thrown together for a TV series, they weren't usually allowed to really play their own instruments as they wanted to. The concept was two actors who could sing and two singers who could act. Each was picked to play a role similar to The Beatles and they played a variety of styles to appeal to a wide audience. * Davy Jones (the short British guy) could play guitar, tamborine, and a little bit of drums. He was an actor who could sing and was signed on for his Pop Sound and was 'The Cute One' * Mike Nesmith (the tall - 'wool cap') played guitar and bass guitar (his mother invented liquid white out and he went on to create MTV & CMT and owned major stock in the Country Music industry - by far the most financially successful one). He was a musician first and actor second. He was the Country Sound and played the role of 'The Smart One'. * Mickey Dolenz (the drummer) only played drums a little, and had his set up left-handed, even though he was right-handed, and keyboard. He was often placed on drums and became one of the first Drummer/Singers. He was also an Actor turned Singer. He was actually really good at scat and could also do a pre-rap style flow. Check out 'Going Down' and 'Randy Scouse Git' by them. * Peter Tork - on the keyboard - was an amazing musician! He played 8 instruments and was the only one allowed to play on their Album Recording Sessions for their first couple of albums. He was a Folk Musician with a following in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district and New York's Greenwich Village Folk Scene. He played the role of 'The Shy One'. After The Monkees, he became a High School Teacher.
Starting to get into some deep cuts now, a few suggestions: Sometime in the Morning A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) When Love Comes Knockin
Davy Jones was Rockin that bass! Hell they all are! Coming in not knowing how to play at all but learning for the TV show, then evolving into fine musicians, it really is amazing.
The Monkees was my very first rock concert!! I was a little kid and my parents took me...1967 or 68..I can't recall. I distinctly remember that the girls screamed so loud, it was hard to hear the music!
I loved watching "The Monkees" TV show reruns when I was a kid. And consequently I fell in love with the band and their music. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" is my absolute favorite song by them. And, as many others have pointed out, the song was written by Carole King. A song really of its time; peppy, bright music combined with thought provoking lyrics of social commentary. And overall, the song is colored with the tone of the 60s psychedelic era it was born in. Love the harmonies between Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith, accented with Davy Jones's vocalizing. A most excellent, near perfect pop/rock song from The Monkees.
You've done some Linda Ronstadt reactions, so to put a name with a song, Michael Nesmith (the guitar player) wrote the song Different Drum that was one of her early hits. By the way, his mother also invented Liquid Paper (the typewriter correction fluid) so his family ended up very wealthy.
Another hit from Carole King, her demo of this is fabulous. The Monkees were a terrific band who got bad press at the time for not writing their own material as an unfair comparison to The Beatles. Dolenz was one the best pop rock voices of his time. ✌️
Actually, they weren't ALLOWED to perform their own work
The guitar riff is so popular that Carole King incorporates it whenever she plays the song live even though it was not part of her demo.
Not just because they didn’t write their own music, all except Peter , did not play an instrument.
@@waltersmith6100 This is true and yet in time they managed to learn how to play those instruments anyway!
@Ana g ...Nesmith wrote "Papa Gene'sBlues" and, with Carole King and Gerry Goffin, "Sweet Young Thing" on the Monkees' 1st album.
One of my absolute favorites from The Monkees. It makes me sad that Mickey, the drummer/singer, is the last man standing. RIP Davey, Peter, & MIke.
Yes.
I saw them when I was 13 and it is sad that they are gone now.
Every time I saw the Monkees on tv it looked like Mickey was pretending to play the drums.
I love this song so much.
This song was written by iconic singer/songwriter Carol King. I love the lyric, "Here in Status Symbol Land" It's the perfectly succinct social commentary on American materialism. Ps. Micky Dolenz, the last remaining Monkee, is a highly underrated singer!
And he’s out on tour.
Micky has always been my favorite 😍
Micky Dolenz, An original Hollywood Vampire.
Yeah Davey was more eye candy for the girls.
Micky's best is "Goin' Down".
I've never clicked a video so fast. This is my favorite Monkees song!
I suggest "Valleri", "Stepping Stone", "Mary, Mary", "Daily Nightly"
Always loved this song. Has a melancholy vibe. And Mickey is a great singer.
Mickey is my favorite singing lead.
@@patriciamcelroy3581 And freaking hot. Not just looks, his intelligence and talent. And a good dad.
Can’t believe he’s .only one left. Makes me feel. Older.
@@danno7466 I am so glad I got to at least see Micky, Peter & Mike ten years ago in Austin.
Me, too. Among their best on my opinion.
Amber, you nailed it. This a 1960’s social commentary on suburbia. I loved the Monkees in those days (I was 11). As I look back on their songs now, Pleasant Valley Sunday and Last Train to Clarksville still hold up. Mickey Dolenz, and actor by trade, was a pretty good lead singer.
Mickey is still touring!....
It was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way and their move to suburban West Orange, New Jersey, Goffin and King wrote the song about dissatisfaction with the life in the suburbs.
Yes, I keep forgetting that Carole King and her husband wrote this song. Sounds like they regretted moving to their new suburban environment in New Jersey. Somewhat of a down beat social commentary song that contrasts with the mostly upbeat material that The Monkees recorded.
Yep, right around the corner from Kessler Institute. One of the best physical rehabilitation centers in the country. Founded by Dr.Kessler, the protégé of Dr. Rusk, the father of physical rehabilitation therapy.
For years I had assumed that this was about southern CA and then I read it was West Orange. LOL SMH
@@Calistogakid2u There were Surburbias Everywhere and they actually did all look the same!
I'm Not Your Steppingstone is one of my favorite songs by the Monkees.
You should react to "A little bit me, A little bit You." I know Jay would like that one. The other songs you haven't reacted to and I'm sure you'd like is "Valleri" and "Steppin Stone." Another fun one to listen to is "That was then, This is now." It was their comeback single after the kids in the 80's rediscovered them after MTV began airing reruns of the Monkees in block episodes. Everyone gained a whole new appreciation of them after that comeback. It was a really big deal at the time.
I LOVED Valleri!! As a kid I had wished that was my name because they made it sound so cool and pretty!! lol
Those are all good ones, and so is "Someday Man."
Sending them to some of their more attitude filled ones....can't forget "Porpoise Song" and "D.W. Washburn." They SOUND pleasant...
“Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow” and “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” are other worthy listens that no one is mentioning
YES!
Good clean fun, You Told Me, or Don't Call on Me.
"Last Train To Clarksville" is a good one
Mike Nesmith shines here. Not only does he play the famous guitar riff but he sings harmony with Mickey on the 2nd verse.
Actually the Monkees didn't play the instruments but the famous "Wrecking Crew" did (hired musicians that played numerous songs in the 60-70's.)
@@rjpgby the time they recorded this, they were mostly playing their own instruments. On "Headquarters" (the album before this) and "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." (This album) Nesmith was doing a lot of the lead guitar work himself (often on his custom 12-string electric).
Nez was playing guitar before he was a Monkee.
On the “Pisces” album all of the musicians are credited and all of the guitars are played by Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Mickey Dolenz.
For anyone who doesn't believe it's Nez..
Micky Dolenz: Lead Vocal
Mike Nesmith: Backing Vocal and Electric Guitar
Peter Tork: Backing Vocal and Piano
Davy Jones: Backing Vocal
“Fast” Eddie Hoh: Drums and Percussion
Chip Douglas: Bass
Bill Chadwick: Acoustic Guitar
I have to say Amber is absolutely brilliant with her analysis/ reaction on pretty much every tune she reacts to 🎶👍
My friends all think I'm crazy, but I think Mickey Dolenz was one of the best pop singers of the '60s.
He also is an incredible Blues singer!
You’re correct.
He's terribly underrated.
Not crazy, put up with anyone else in the sixties with his voice.
Absolutely underrated and could have done rock.
"For Pete's Sake" was played at the end of every Monkees show and one of my personal favorites is "Going Down". Wait until you hear Mickey "rap". Sending good vibes!
"Goin' Down' is my favorite Monkees song
Micky Dolenz, Drummer, and lead singer on this song is sadly the last remaining member still with us. He was also lead on I'm a Believer, and Last Train to Clarksville. Thanks again for the memories and the smiles
My brother has become friends with him after meeting him many times over the years at comic conventions. My brothers a vendor at the major ones and Mickie goes to a lot of them. He says he one of the nicest guys he's met at the show, another is Henry Winkler. He usually hires friends to load and unload his tractor trailer and their always amazed when people like Micky and Henry come looking for my brother at the New York Comic Con.
@@ptournas True Story If Henry wasn't cast as The Fonz, in Happy Days, Mickey was next in line for the role.
@@CPny65 That's an interesting bit of trivia, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing.
"Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow" is my favorite song by the Monkees and was always a highlight of their live shows when Davy was with the band. I think the two of you would enjoy it as well as your audience.
Ohhhhh yesssss! One of my fave Monkees tracks for sure! Love the story about how they achieved that psychedelic echo ending by placing mics in the bathroom and recording the sound using the room's typical ambience to achieve the effect we hear. You want another hit, maybe try I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. For something a bit more trippy, there's The Porpoise Song and for something deep and stripped back, definitely try Shades of Gray.
I'm Not Your Stepping Stone should be next.
I'm Not Your Stepping Stone and Shades of Gray are two of their best, lyrics worth hearing,
"Randy Scouce Git" almost reminds me of 80s hardcore punk
Yes, that ending is pretty cool -- it sort of 'washes out' at the end.
"I'm not feeling it " That's the kind of honesty I look for in a reaction. Nobody can like EVERY song they listen to and I really appreciate the tactful way he said this. It also makes it that much better when they do love something.
Need to do a Monkees song with Mike singing lead. Papa Gene's Blues, You Just May Be the One, Sweet Young Thing or What Am I Doing Hanging Round are a good start.
YES! YES! YES!❤❤❤❤❤❤
These are great. I would also suggest Love is Only Sleeping and Door Into Summer.
My favorite Mike song is "What Am I Doing Hanging Round". I just love that song.
Thank you. Mike was very underrated and his vocals are great.
His solo hit Joanne from 1970 is one of my all-time favorite songs.
I love this song. Micky Dolenz had a beautiful tenor voice. He does a wonderful song, “Sometime in the Morning”. Really shows off his voice. They were unfairly maligned. Frank Zappa was a huge fan. He was a guest on their show. John Lennon called them the Marx Brothers of Rock. Spice Girls kind of had a similar start but did great songs. They are an important part of my childhood. ❤ Daydream Believer clip is a great song. Davy Jones was such a great dancer in that.
Michael Nesmith, the guitar player, wrote many of their songs and had a great solo career. Sweet Young Thing, What Am I Doing Hangin’ ‘Round and The Door Into Summer were Monkees songs that he wrote and sang lead. Any or all of those would be great songs to react to.
I agree.
“Hangin’ Round” was actually written by Michael Martin Murphey, but sung by Nesmith.
And Different Drum which was a Linda Rondstat hit
I always felt this was one of their best songs. Great singing and harmony, good baseline, deep lyrics and it moves.
Lead vocal was Mickey Dolenz, my favorite Monkee. And I love this song, love all their music.
“WHAT AM I DOING HANGING ROUND?”
MIKE sings this one , you haven’t heard him yet!! Check the video from the show , you’ll see DAVY playing the maracas, you liked when you saw him do it before.
“PAPA GENE’S BLUES “sung by Mike is another good, light bouncy one !
Jay & Amber, you'll love their "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You"!!
I remember the Monkees coming thru Niagara Falls while we were swimming at the Holiday Inn pool in the summer of 1972, we were 14 yrs old. Karen and I ran down the road chasing their car and they stopped. Davey Jones got out of the car we al.ost passed out. Too funny thanks for the memories.
The Monkees' way of mixing lighthearted melodies with subversive lyrics always makes me smile. It reminds me of The Stone Roses, another band you might want to sample.
Wouldn't have made the Stone Roses connection on my own, but having tossed it out there, it absolutely resonates!
@@robtaylor5550 Yeah, it only hit me when I watched this video. Now I have "She Bangs the Drums" stuck in my head ;)
Yeah, those late eighties/early nineties bands like the Stone Roses, Oasis, the Happy Mondays, Blur, etc, sounded so sixties, and said as much at the time, sometimes citing their love for earlier sixties revival bands like Rain Parade. These guys should listen to the Stone Roses' 1989 "Fools Gold."
@@colibri1 I hope they do. Of course, they're free to do what they want (any old time).
I don't think they wrote any songs. Most if not all of their songs were written by the greatest hitmakers/singer
Written by Carole King who was one of, if not the most prolific female songwriters of all time. She wrote Chains for the Beatles, You've Got a Friend for James Taylor, Locomotion for Grand Funk Railroad and Up on the Roof to name a few. I think at least 200 songs.
One of their best songs!
This is one of my favorites by The Monkees! Please do more. I used to watch their show every single day after school and in the summer (and this was before my time). Definitely do some reactions to Mike Nesmith’s songs, like-“And you just may be the one”, and “Papa Gene Blues” and Sweet Young Thing. ❤
Geez I loved the Monkees, Mickey Dolenz has a kickass voice
You folks need to do "Goin' Down." You'll be pleasantly surprised.
If you want to hear more of Mickey Dolenz's voice, check out "Words", which I also think is their best song. The video for "Words" is great just to see Davey Jones "attempt" to play "air" drums.
@@ronbruno5942 cheers for that, I certainly will 🙂🇦🇺
@@suemontague3151 How are things Down Under? Big fan of the Wallabies! The other point I should mention in "Words" is Mike Nesmith's killer bassline.
@ronbruno5942 yeah things are good thanks, Winter has just started here, I listened to the song 🎵, I remembered it as soon as I listened to it
Mickey Dolenz, the drummer and lead singer on this song, started as a child actor in 1956 as the star of a Saturday show for children called "Circus Boy" which I watched regularly when i was a kid in the 50's. One of his daughters Amy Dolenz is and actor who has appeared in many movies.
This time Mike Nesmith (lead guitar) and Peter Tork (piano) had actually played the same instruments on the recording as they did in the video. The Beatles released the Sgt. Pepper album that year so the Monkees wanted something edgier than they had been doing.
Also Chip Douglas on bass - he produced the song and wrote the intro riff - and “Fast” Eddie Hoh on drums.
First pic I ever saw of my wife when we were teens she wore a Monkees Sweatshirt. 💕 Amazing times and amazing music.
Rick Nelson is an oldies Icon that y'all definitely need to check out! He was one of Rock and Roll's pioneers - great voice and talent.
He was pretty easy on the eyes, too!
@@sadfaery Absolutely!!!
His twin sons were pretty good looking as well. They were the lighter sound band of the hair bands. My son liked them so I took him to a couple of their concerts.
@@valogden Yes they were/are. I actually went to a Nelson concert back when I was in 10th grade and it was loads of fun. Sadly, I never got to see Rick Nelson in concert before he died. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I learned that he'd died, though. Sigh.
I've been going to Monkees concerts since I was a kid in 1986...always the only black kid in the audience, but I loved their reruns on MTV so I went...by myself! Look into them, they were like the foundation of the California country sound that the Eagles took to the top of the charts. Neil Diamond, Carole King, Harry Nilsson, Mann and Weil, they had all the best writers. They were bold as hell - they even had Jimi Hendrix open for them on their first tour!!
The Monkees were a lot of fun - I enjoyed watching their shows when I was a kid! For other future reactions please consider "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" by Carly Simon, "Foolish Games" by Jewel and "Hello" by Walk Off The Earth featuring Myles and Isaac! All three are Female Friday possibilities! Cheers for Sunday and every other day!
They reacted to "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" (Carly Simon) about a year ago . . . th-cam.com/video/8k5_pNMphrw/w-d-xo.html / Their only Jewel reaction was "You Were Meant For Me". . . th-cam.com/video/RHWvYDfdRm0/w-d-xo.html
Yelp I also loved the show memories from way back dang!
Yep. Back in the 80's I watched it everyday after school.
I’m so glad you guys chose to react to this song. It is one of my favorites. Micky, the drummer/lead singer has always been my favorite member.
Sometime In The Morning is another really good Monkees song. Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow, another good one.
I’d love to see you guys also react to some of their 80’s stuff too.
Heart and Soul and That Was Then and This Is Now both really good songs. Another less common known 80’s song from them which is really good is Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere. I can’t wait to see more Monkees music reactions. :)
"Another pleasant valley Sunday here in status symbol land" "Let's complain about how hard life is, and the kids just don't understand". Biting commentary on the suburban America lifestyle, and the generation gap of the 60's and early 70's. Materialism's hypnotic affect on us and the pride we all take in the amount of "stuff" we can accumulate. Definitely worth another listen to pick up everything they were singing about, because so much of the message still holds true today.
It’s “mothers complain about how hard like is..”
You absolutely nailed it....perfect analysis of a great song...
Pleasant Valley is one of The Monkees top Rockers.. great tune. Depending on who is doing the singing, you will get 3 different vibes on their songs.. Mickey doing "Stepping Stone", "For Pete's Sake", or "Auntie's Municipal Court ".. Davy singing "Valleri ", "Early Morning Blues and Greens", or "A Little Bit Me,A Little Bit You".. and Michael on vocals on "What Am i Doing Hangin' Round", "A Door Into Summer", and "You May Just Be the One".. All are fantastic tunes with slightly different vibes, and really made them unique and popular, like The Beatles, where all 4 members provided vocals.. So many excellent songs..
You might be surprised to know that Mike Nesmith wrote ‘Different Drum’. I know you enjoyed Linda Ronstadt covering it with the Stone Ponies.
Producer chip Douglas came up with the guitar intro riff - based on the Beatles' "I Want to Tell You" riff. But it's Mike Nesmith playing the riff in the recording.
Love the Monkees. It's funny you've reacted to a handful of their songs. Still haven't gotten to my 2 favorites of theirs yet though! I love Valleri and (I'm not your) Stepping Stone by them.
Yes, Valerie is a top Monkee's song with a great classic guitar run ( don't know who actually played guitar on that ).
Wow, I totally forgot about I’m Not Your Stepping Stone.
Great taste! Pleasant Valley Sunday is my favorite, and these two are a close second and third.
"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog" will always be my favorite Monkees song.🐶
"Cause I need A friend Now"!!!.....HILARIOUS!
Monkees- "Im not your steppin stone" and their most psychedelic song is "Daily Nightly". Both are excellent.
Love The Monkees...they really have so many hits.
The "Monkees" were a highly underrated group that was put together for a SitCom in the 60s. The four actually started out in different bands or acting careers and the director and producers hand-picked Peter Tork (Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Vocals), Micky Dolenz (Drums, Vocals), Michael Nesmith (Rhythm Guitar, Vocals), and Davie Jones (Bass guitar, Drums, Tambourine, Vocals).
"Hey! Hey! We're the Monkeys." The opening refrain of their theme song. It's one of the first shows I can remember watching. Davy Jones was my older sister's crush. Love this band.
Davy was every teen girl's crush.
I was totally in love with Davy.
@@drdr76 Even Marcia Brady had a crush on Davy Jones!
I used to watch The Monkees all the time when I was a kid. Good times. Lots of fun and good tunes!
You should take some time and watch a few episodes of the show, you're really going to enjoy it!
Don't forget the car
@@mikebzdusek8754 Yes! I had a model of that back in the 70's, I think it was made by Monogram.
@@tjsogmc just picked up the re-issued model with perfectly duplicated box art. It's out there, and not expensive.
@@trex19681 I'm going to have to get one just for nostalgia sake. It was a wild car! The Monkeymobile, the Dragula from the Munsters, and the Batmobile were probably the most famous TV cars until KITT from the 80's showed up.
When I was a kid two bands in the neighborhood would practice in their parents garage almost every week. The late 60's: muscle cars everywhere, garage bands, my Schwinn Orange Krate... what a time to be alive.
More “ heavy” songs by the Monkees would include, “ Daily Nightly,” and “ Randy Scouse git.”
"Daily Nightly" is notable for being an early use of the (at that time) new Moog synthesizer.
I just saw Micky at a concert a month ago and he was reading some of the lyrics Michael wrote for Daily Nightly and when you just read them like that, you really appreciate how amazing they are.
"Darkened rolling figures move
Through prisms of no color
Hand-in-hand, they walk the night
But never know each other
Passioned pastel neon lights
Light up the jeweled traveler
Who, lost in scenes of smoke filled dreams
Find questions, but no answers"
If Jay isn't "feeling" this one, he almost certainly won't be feeling "Daily Nightly".
Also politically significant would be Last train to Clarksville
@@labyfan1313 Daily Nightly is absolutely my fave Monkees song. The lyrics are just amazing.
The Monkees are my favourite band since I first caught their tv show when I was 12 in 1998. Saturday's Child, For Pete's Sake, She, Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow), (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone, The Kind of Girl I Could Love, Sweet Young Thing, You Just Might Be the One, She Hangs Out, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, Valleri . . . I could go on.
Fun fact: Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkees on their first tour.
And got booed off stage!
l was at one of those concerts with my mom and big sister =) I can still hear the girls chanting "We Want Davy" ! Now i have all the Monkees albums and most of Jimi Hendrix !
Yeah, but not for very long. And the Who opened for Herman's Hermits in 1967 on their US tour. Also on the bill was Blues Magoos.
@@TheHogsEarReport I would have loved to see Hermans Hermits ! I saw The Who and Have The Blues Magoos Album with "You ain't Seen Nothing Yet" =)
the sound on this was off because it was from the tv show. so it was sped up ever so slightly (to allow more time for commercials),and it was in mono not stereo. give it a second listen with the official audio and i'm sure jay will notice the difference. the lyrics are simple, but it really paints a picture of suburban life in the late 60s. growing up then i remember "charcoal burning everywhere" on sundays,especially in my own backyard. a simpler time i remember with great fondness.
“Porpoise Song” is the best 🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬
Don't forget another King masterpiece, "As We Go Along"! Micky is haunting on those vocals! ❤
Words & A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You are my favorites.
OMG! I haven't heard this in decades. Love it! ❤
Mike Nesmith on Guitar, Peter Tork on keyboard, Mickey Dolenz on drums and Davy Jones on bass
My favorite Monkees tune.. reminds me of listening to this on AM radio while riding in the backseat of my grandparents car as a then 15 year old teen.. beautiful memories. ❤
This may be my favorite Monkees songs.
"Mary, Mary" is also a great song!!
Davy Jones is the guitar player near keyboard player Peter Tork. The others are Mickey Dolenz on drums and Mike Nesmith on the other guitar. Davy was the heart throb of the group. This was part of my childhood guys. The Monkees premiered in 1966 when I was 6 and I loved them - especially Davy. 😍😁
So good to hear the Pre-Fab 4? Check out their other stuff , and the tv show. They were a lot of fun and were surprisingly good musicians. This one does sound different from their previous songs. It’s less bubble gum and more adult/ grown up. And remember, Jimi Hendrix opened for them on tour!
Pre-Fab 4? They didn't come out *before* The Beatles.😂
@@frauleinmona I think they were trying for a play on prefabricated
@@eurofritz4617 Ohh! *I* get it! LOL Thank you for explaining that to me!😊🙏
This song ALWAYS CRACKED ME UP. We lived in " Pleasant Valley" Missouri and went to "Pleasant Valley" elementary school...ahhhhh memories
Mike, the guitarist, is known as the grandfather of countryrock.
I love his song “Joanne”
The First National Band! It would be cool to see them react to them.
Once you start down the rabbit hole that is The Monkees, you will discover how talented they all truly were/are. “Love is Only Sleeping” and “I’ll Be Back Up On My Feet” would be good to see just a little bit of how varied their music is. For a love song, “Sometime In The Morning” is my vote, as well as “As We Go Along”.
I can talk about The Monkees for days 😂 🙊
I LOOOOOVVE The Monkees!! ❤ I grew up watching reruns because they were a bit before my time. I totally fell in love with Davy Jones. 😍 Back in the day some of their music (mostly Mickey Dolenz songs) took a while to grow on me. However, now I really love all of their tunes. There is no wrong song for me. Especially Mickey’s songs like: Randy Scouse Git, Words, Going Down and She. Jay, I think you’d definitely like these songs especially Going Down. Anyway, thanks for this reaction I always enjoy The Monkees. 🐒😉👍🏽
Going Down is my favorite! He's so amazing on it!! I met him and his sister Coco who has sung backup with them in the studio since she was a teenager. Back in 2011, saw them in concert and was in front after the show I got the nerve and walked up to him and he said Boy your a real fan aren't you? He said he saw me singing every song word for word down in front! I couldn't believe it, he noticed me! Anyway he introduced his sister we talked a while, I tried to not act like a crazy fan and they were so cool and down to earth! And Peter was talking to fans too, Davey was with his daughter's so I didn't wanna bug him. These guys are so amazing to their fans!
This song slaps
I played in a bar band in college in the late 80s/early 90s. One day I suggested that we play a cover of this and no one in the band was very thrilled with the suggestion (it was a bit of a departure from the type of stuff we normally played). But the first time we played it live the crowd freaking LOVED it.
Glad to see a reaction to the Monkee's a fun sixties group who did some really catchy songs.I used to watch their TV programme-showing my age! Another good one is 'A little bit me,A little bit You'. I like this song myself, Jay is hard to please! For more fun 6o's , The Kinks song 'Dedicated follower of Fashion' is good.
Carole King has created magnificent music for 65+ years. This is an excellent song. It is deep. It is about life.
You need to check out "Goin' Down" by The Monkees - Mickey barely has time to BREATHE in that one!! SO GOOD!!! Cheers, Love & Hugs! j*
Love it that you reacted to this song! I love this song too. Micky Dolenz is the lead in this song. This song was written for the Monkees show by George Goffin and Carole King, describing suburban life and not digging it is what we got out of it, well, I had my older brother to explain it to me as I was just too young to understand that at the time and it is mixed in with a description of a pleasant day with people grilling outdoors; just keep in mind their songs will have references from the era they were in and you just might miss out on the meaning. So the two who wrote the song were not happy with living life in the suburbs. It happens. Not every song will be bouncy pop rock music you are used to listening to, there are also easy mellow rock songs of that era too so just know there will be songs like this no matter who the band is. Try reacting to this song "Steppin' Stone by The Monkees! Once again Micky Dolenz is the lead singer in that song. Oh and the guy on the keyboard is Peter Tork I enjoyed your reaction! ☮💕
Carole King and her ex husband wrote this one..
A large problem the Monkees faced was accusations that none of them could play a musical instrument, because the music on *their first records was mostly made by studio musicians.* Nesmith and Dolenz played guitar, and Dolenz took drum lessons, so he could play drums on camera. Tork played guitar, keyboards and banjo.
Rob usually seems to feel that an artist should only have one sound, but I love it when an artist gives you something different and unique from the same thing all the time.
Odd he should feel that way considering he likes The Beatles who are musically all over the place!
@@PhysicalMediaPreventsWea-bx1zm Agree!
@@wickamo .. By the way, his name is Jay, short for Jordan. "Rob" is an abbreviation for their family name Robinson
Let's see. I was 10 years old in 1967 when this song came out. I loved the Monkees and even had a Monkee mobile model (you know, the models you put together with glue back in the day.) Blast from the past. Daydream Believer was my favorite song.
Such a beautiful song. And Mickey - one of the most recognizable voices in music.
Do you like the song,"Going Down"?
Love this song. The phrase "Pleasant Valley Sunday" has become part of my internal lexicon to describe a nice day.
This was their biggest hit!!😮😊
Not sure what you mean. This one only hit #3 on Billboard, while Clarksville, I'm a Believer, and Daydream Believer all hit #1.
Hey the Monkees were killing it on this tune from 67. Imagine these guys on your TV back in the day. I was a young 7yr old when they released this song. I loved growing up in the 60's and 70's.
I think The Monkees are great. What I really find awesome is listening to Amber say how 'groovy' the music is and how much she digs it. 😊😊😊
That, more than anything, brings me back to the days of my youth. I LOVE IT!!!
❤❤
Yep Carole King. This is perhaps her deepest song. Forget the fact that it was written for a fictional band and for a television series. Look at the lyrics. “There’s Mrs Gray she’s proud today because her roses are in bloom. There’s Mr Green, he’s so serene, he’s got a TV in every room. Another Pleasant Valley Sunday. Here in status symbol land.” And Dolenze sings it so well.
Never knew the deep meaning of these lyrics. “Another pleasant valley Sunday here in status-symbol land.” Great line!
"Shades Of Gray, Randy Scouse Git, She, Words, Goin' Down, As We Go Along (which features Stephen Stills and Neil Young on guitars)" so many more
I loved all their songs, and still do.
The inspiration for the song was when Carole King and husband moved into a suburban housing community in West Orange, NJ. Interestingly, the name comes from Pleasant Valley Way, a road that stretches most of the way through West Orange and into Verona. Another story is that it's about a mental institution, which would have been Greystone, which it wasn't.
Other Monkees songs you should give a listen to are "Mary, Mary", "Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow", "The Door Into Summer", "Words", "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", "Randy Souse Git", "What Am I Doing Hanging Round", "Papa Gene's Blues", "You Just May Be The One". All of them demonstrate the vast and diverse talent this group had.
who can not like the Monkees? Each song is full of fullness of life and is a feel good song. I can imagine many parents say the kids still dont understand and vice versa! I was only about six when this 30 minute new show came on and i guess my folks didnt mind it too much else they wouldnt have watched it. It was so unlike any other show because of the hip music! And similar to the Marx brothers in humor although i had never heard of the marx brothers then and besides that these Monkees really were cute and funny. Much more lively than the Dick Van Dyke show. I they were my first crush. i begged mom to buy the fan mags and i cut out the monkees pictures and put them up in my little closet door.
This came out at about the time the Monkees were rebelling against being a cardboard band releasing singles on which session men played all the backing. The single which preceeded this was "Randy Scouse Git" (release in the UK as "Alternate Title" for lunatic reasons) this was their first single that was not some kind of love song and it has that "freak out" ending - all signs that they were no longer content to be the pre-fab four. That intro riff is very hard to play - there are whole videos here on TH-cam offering guidance on how to play it. Mike Nesmith was a very underrated musician.
One thing about the great groups of the 60s and 70s is that they weren't stuck in a single formula or sound. Expext diversity in their catalog... it's part of what makes them great.
Love thus song
As a kid growing up in the 60s, this song captures what our sunmer Saturday evenings were like perfectly.
The singer on this one was Mickey Dolenz (who also sang lead on "I'm a Believer," which, incidentally, was written by Neil Diamond). I grew up watching the series (as reruns; I was only born in 1975 after all, but my mother was a huge fan so I became one as well). Having seen every episode of the show and owning every one of their albums on the original vinyl (handed down from my mother), I could sit here typing suggestions of The Monkees for quite a while, but I always try to limit myself to suggesting only one song per video. That said, there are two of their songs that I am having SO MUCH TROUBLE choosing between! I think for now that I'll go with the one that it's less likely anyone else will recommend. A really good song called "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day." I think you'll both enjoy that one quite a bit!
In my opinion, it’s their best song so there you go 😎✌️👍southside OG
As a group thrown together for a TV series, they weren't usually allowed to really play their own instruments as they wanted to. The concept was two actors who could sing and two singers who could act. Each was picked to play a role similar to The Beatles and they played a variety of styles to appeal to a wide audience.
* Davy Jones (the short British guy) could play guitar, tamborine, and a little bit of drums. He was an actor who could sing and was signed on for his Pop Sound and was 'The Cute One'
* Mike Nesmith (the tall - 'wool cap') played guitar and bass guitar (his mother invented liquid white out and he went on to create MTV & CMT and owned major stock in the Country Music industry - by far the most financially successful one). He was a musician first and actor second. He was the Country Sound and played the role of 'The Smart One'.
* Mickey Dolenz (the drummer) only played drums a little, and had his set up left-handed, even though he was right-handed, and keyboard. He was often placed on drums and became one of the first Drummer/Singers. He was also an Actor turned Singer. He was actually really good at scat and could also do a pre-rap style flow. Check out 'Going Down' and 'Randy Scouse Git' by them.
* Peter Tork - on the keyboard - was an amazing musician! He played 8 instruments and was the only one allowed to play on their Album Recording Sessions for their first couple of albums. He was a Folk Musician with a following in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district and New York's Greenwich Village Folk Scene. He played the role of 'The Shy One'. After The Monkees, he became a High School Teacher.
Starting to get into some deep cuts now, a few suggestions:
Sometime in the Morning
A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
When Love Comes Knockin
My favorite Monkees song is A Little Bit, A Little Bit you, penned by Neil Diamond.
Davy Jones was Rockin that bass! Hell they all are! Coming in not knowing how to play at all but learning for the TV show, then evolving into fine musicians, it really is amazing.
The Monkees was my very first rock concert!! I was a little kid and my parents took me...1967 or 68..I can't recall. I distinctly remember that the girls screamed so loud, it was hard to hear the music!
All the vocal harmonies and all the instruments played by studio musicians. Great vocal Micky!
I loved watching "The Monkees" TV show reruns when I was a kid. And consequently I fell in love with the band and their music. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" is my absolute favorite song by them. And, as many others have pointed out, the song was written by Carole King. A song really of its time; peppy, bright music combined with thought provoking lyrics of social commentary. And overall, the song is colored with the tone of the 60s psychedelic era it was born in. Love the harmonies between Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith, accented with Davy Jones's vocalizing. A most excellent, near perfect pop/rock song from The Monkees.
You've done some Linda Ronstadt reactions, so to put a name with a song, Michael Nesmith (the guitar player) wrote the song Different Drum that was one of her early hits. By the way, his mother also invented Liquid Paper (the typewriter correction fluid) so his family ended up very wealthy.