After hearing "Steppin' Stone"... I am now a fan for life lol. That. was. awesome. I don't even care what comments this will get. That was a good ass song lol. Do you have any other suggestions by them that might be like that?? Lol
'Randy Scouse Git' was written by Micky Dolenz. It's about his time in London. There are studio, versions, live in later life versions, mimed ones for the show (very funny to see them taking the P***) I found a really interesting 'Raw' version. The scat part done by Micky is so so good in that. It's less muffled, lacks the added production 'boost' but as a lifelong Monkees lass it was a breath of fresh air as most raw versions are.
Yep it is a great one. Honestly there are hardly any bad ones. I think you need to hear a song by Mike. He brings a little bit more of a country flair to his music. Some of my favorites of his are: Papa Gene's Blues The Kind of Girl I Could Love You Told Me You Just Might Be the One The Girl I Knew Somewhere Love is Only Sleeping What Am I Doing Hanging Around Circle Sky Carlisle Wheeling
@@SnoopySnoops1 Randy Scouse Git is great. From my understanding Mickey says that this is specifically about a party in London that had them, The Beatles and The Mamas and Papas among others. Could you imagine all these legends in one place. Must been one hell of a party.
Monkees always welcome to this 70 year old. I was just the right age for their silliness and psychodelia. Would like to hear 'Pleasant Valley Sunday'... here in status symbol land.
Definitely Randy Scouse Git ( also known as Alternate Title in the UK) I was 9 when the tv series started and just loved them and loved the show. One of my favourites was You Just Might Be The One.
Wait til you hear Micky RAPPING on "Goin' Down" or Davy singing about groupies on "Star Collector" or the psychedelic "Porpoise Song" or Mike and Micky killin' it on the 2016 "Birth of an Accidental Hipster!" This is gonna be fun!
A tune I think you would dig is The Girl I Knew Somwhere written by Mike Nesmith. It's the first song they released in which they play all the instruments and a great song.
Oh that was so much fun. I enjoyed watching you jamming out to the Monkees. 🎵 Hey hey! We're the Monkees.🎵 When we heard that we all ran to the TV to go watch The Monkees
In 1966 they sold more singles than The Beatles and Stones combined that year!! The band had very good writers like Carole King and Neil Diamond and among the cool people you wouldn't say you liked the Monkees but I think most people have fond memories and songs like these and "I'm a believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" were fantastic!!
True. There was the fact that the Monkees on top of being a mostly American group, they also had going for them the fact that, in addition to appealing to teenaged girls, they also played to the pre-teen and younger crowd. The fact that 1966 also saw the Monkees tv show debut and the Beatles quit touring made the Monkees more accessible. I'm not trying to detract from the Monkees, they had enough unfair derision because critics perceived the way they came together as a lack of ability. They were a talented group. Some forget that Mike Nesmith wrote Different Drum which was recorded by the Stone Ponies. That, of course, was the first hit song that helped propel Linda Ronstadt 's career. I only point out the obvious. Simply saying the Monkees outsold the Beatles is like the fact Led Zeppelin knocked the Beatles out of number one. They did, but a) by that time the Beatles album had been out nine weeks, b) although Led Zeppelin knocked them from first to number two, the Beatles returned the favor the next week before Led Zeppelin reclaimed number one. It's just a later of perspective.
I'm happy to learn that you are becomming a fan of The Monkees. I have always been since day one and still am. I watched their TV show every week and owned all their albums. I see "Steppin' Stone" requested a lot and I don't dislike it, but if I'm being honest it's not one of my favorites of theirs. Some that are among my favorites are "Early Morning Blues And Greens", "Dream World", "Shades Of Gray", "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?", "For Pete's Sake", "Words", "You Just May Be The One", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "When Love Comes Knockin' At Your Door" and I could go on and on since they have so many great songs. Actually I plan to make two of them my Patreon request in the future.
my 2 younger brothers and I all were fans like you from the first show, first record... I miss our youth. Last Monday the 21st... the middle brother passed away.... We had been in bands mostly together for the last 45 years and bought a triplex 12 years ago so we could have a studio..... I cried listening to this today.... he was 66 years old... and I am 67....
@@L33Reacts thank you. my brother and I watched your reactions for about a year or so and he always enjoyed seeing your reaction to stuff we had listened to for over 40 years... thanks
Stepping stone is one of my favorites. I unabashedly love the Monkees. I was a kid buying their albums and watching the TV show. We didn’t have a lot of peripheral stuff going on then. No cable, no Internet, and so at a young age we had words and music. We had the radio and our record players. The Monkees were created as an act that pretended to be a band. Only the actors were mostly musicians and singers and the act became a band. They allowed Mike to write a song or two per album. Things changed when the Monkeys refused to sing Sugar Sugar. It would have been their biggest hit but they felt it was too syrupy, to bubble gum and so the war between the act and the band had begun. My favorite song is She. I may have been eight but the words were powerful to me. At that age it wasn’t about a girlfriend to me. It was about mistreatment from my sisters. We fought a bit. Here are bits of the lyrics: She, she devoured all my sweet love Took all I had and then she fed me dirt Or And now I know just why she Keeps me hangin' 'round She needs someone to walk on So her feet don't touch the ground. I thought this was awesome. You’re awesome too. Keep it up. You bring fun to our daily lives. Which is cool because we do have distractions everywhere now.
Great pick L33! Was singing and dancing around my kitchen listening to this one! Forgot just how much Stepping Stone Rocked! And thanks past L33 for the replay! 🚫🦶🪨🔥🙊🙉🙈🐵-☮️❤️🎶
More likely Wrecking Crew. No judgment, just facts. This is true for many other “bands” of the mid to late ‘60’s, like the Association, and even groups like the Byrds snd Simon & Garfunkel used session players. Hal Blaine, the drummer in the Wrecking Crew, once played on 6 consecutive Grammy Record of the Year winners, for groups that included Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, the 5th Dimension, & Simon & Garfield. I was a middle schooler watching the Monkees, and didn’t care who was playing if it sounded good. ✌️❤️🎶
Yeah they honestly have a varied output in their genres too.. I know that’s because they have different folks writing for them for different tracks… but I dig it. This rocked so hard lol
I was almost six years old when Last Train To Clarksdale started playing everywhere and adds for the TV show were promoting them. Of all the rock bands that effected my life, as first impact goes, The Monkees were one of the firsts. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone was covered by the Sex Pistols; as was No Fun from The Stooges. Both songs have similarities although completely different mindsets. Am glad you liked it. It's one of my favorites too. Regarding other songs to check out, the hits are generally sung by Mickey Dolenz or Davy Jones. But notice Mike Nesmith who writes his own songs and they are generally rock leaning strongly towards country and western. Peter Tork is more famous for For Pete's Sake, which was used as the TV shows closing theme.
One of the greatest pop bands of all-time. They recorded as much material as The Beatles (although much of it remained unreleased for decades) in half the time, 4 years! 9 albums!
John Denver was hipper--and more talented--than any ten "flavor of the month" singers in his day! A tad nerdy, like a lot of us out here, but an awesome human being and a fantastic singer/songwriter!
Steppin' Stone is actually a cover version of the English group The Liverpool Five release that was recorded in early 1966 but not released until that summer. Paul Revere and the Raiders released their version in May 1966 and the Monkees version was released in November of 1966. Great song covered by many groups.
So I was 13 when this Stepping Stone came out, and was staying that summer with some cousins that we hadn't visited for a few years, one of the sisters was 14 and the other 12, and we would hang out in a spare room they called the conservatory, and listen to records on one of those old suitcase record players. This particular 45 featured prominently because both my cousins really liked it, and whenever they played it they would dance around the room to the song. I'll never forget watching the older sister dancing and twirling in front of the large window, with the afternoon sun coming in and showing her silhouette through her dress as she danced, and that being of the first erotic moments of my young life. I've always had a fondness for this song ever since.
Tremendous musicianship by the great session players known as "The Wrecking Crew," who played on loads of hit rock tracks in the '60s (including the Beach Boys').
The album cover in the video brought back some memories. That was the second album I ever had (the first was Tijuana Brass - The Lonely Bull. My mom got the me Monkees second album for my Birthday. I was 8 years old.
The farther into their catalogue you get, the more you'll get of the band writing and playing their own stuff - and as much I love this Boyce & Hart/Don Kirshner version of the band, the later stuff gets even better, IMO. Keep on with it, but definitely hit some later tracks like "Goin Down", "Randy Scouse Git" and "For Pete's Sake" - which became the show's *closing* theme in the second season.
Listen, as I was a teen then I can tell you I looked forward to the Monkees show but with an attitude because I was a Beatles freaking lover (saw them live in 66) and these guys seemed like wanna be Beatles. However, it ended up being fun and some of their songs were quite good. People like Carole King and Neil Diamond wrote songs for them. And when Day Dream Believer came out I was a fan. I think my friend bought an album. And although I did not hang their photos up I enjoyed them. They had a lot of great fans and I do not think they were overrated. I think they were a nice little band.
I've had so many arguments with self-righteous fellow musicians on the topic of the Monkees. People want to slag them as "frauds". But they had the best songwriters working for them and top studio musicians - no different from most pop acts in the 60's (and many more who had session guys cut tracks behind the scenes without credit). The boys could genuinely sing quite well. They were the pioneers of blending rock and country. Many tremendous songs. An off the top of my head top 10 (in no particular order): Randy Grouse Git For Pete's Sake You Just May Be The One Pleasant Valley Sunday Daydream Believer The Door Into Summer What Am I Doing Hanging 'Round Valleri Zor and Zam Porpoise Song
I was a teeny-bopper when this album came out. I liked it for a while. We danced to it at the sock hop. That was before I heard Hendrix, Zappa, Spirit, and Quicksilver (and got high). After that "bubble gum" tunes became seriously un-cool. Now I can enjoy it because it holds memories from the "days of my youth"...were "I was taught what it means to be a man" LZ Peace
Jimi Hendrix covered I'm not your stepping stone Check it out 🎸 Btw I seen Jimi Hendrix open for the Monkees at the Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium in Fort Worth Texas
Thanks! Like this song ever since it came out! Micky Dolenz (aka Circus Boy) had a really good singing voice! Nicely crafted songs Boyce and Hart, Neil Diamond, etc.
The Monkees are fun and not altogether bad! Take it for what it is and was...a good thing. 😊 Personality, I really like Micky's vocals over Davie. The song is good and it really does hold up lyrically. Peace! ❤
Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith were actual musicians. Nesmith was a songwriter. Their peak third and 4th albums were largely self-produced. The Monkees weren't a fluke. Frankly, multiple producers, songwriters, a mix of hired guns and in house musicians are the way most music is recorded today. Nothing's changed. However, The Monkeeys could project quality stuff. Dolenz turned out to be a top tier rock/pop vocalist.
I saw The Monkees live at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1986 during their 20th anniversary tour. It was not during the state fair, but was a standalone concert . The Monkees (minus Michael Nesmith) were the headliners with opening performances by The Turtles, Herman's Hermits, The Grass Roots and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. The Monkees all played their own instruments and they sounded GREAT!
This came out at the same time as The Beatles were still doing bubblegum pop. My sister had The Beatles albums, while I was hooked on The Monkeys. They could rock when they wanted to and had that dark side that The Beatles didn't have yet.
Love the Monkees. Add to the list "I'm a Believer", "Daydream Believer" & "Pleasant Valley Sunday". Your reaction is hysterical, because we never know what music will strike our fancy. It's okay to like happy go lucky tunes, who cares? Blessings all. Rock on!
Coming back to The Monkees many years later I discovered I preferred Mickey led songs to those sung by Davey (sorry Davey). Alternate Title/Randy Scouse Git is a favourite also the way too short Listen to the Band by Mike Nesmith with him singing. It has a Country vibe going on. I always have to listen to it twice. 😄
the JC Penny look forever immortalized...had this album as a young'un...still sounds snappy!...and look at Davey on that cover...no wonder his pics from Tiger Beat magazine was on every girl's walls
As an early "veteran" Beatles fan from '62, by age 8 or 9 transplanted to Canada, I had been unacquainted with the feeling, nevermind the concept of a guilty pleasure, which is what the pre-fab four presented. The catchy pop hits, the fun and highly watchable TV show and peripheral marketing like bubble-gum trading cards made them an inescapable part of life and kid-culture. 🐵🐵🐵🐵 ✌🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
A lot of 60s social commentary was sneaked into the Monkees (originally a studio created band) song book, presumably because the execs were asleep at the wheel.
I remember them back then. we are the Monkeys. Sorry to say this but we had a good laugh. They were supposed to be Americas answer to the Beatles. Even bigger laugh.
The Monkees didn’t get their due respect because they used studio musicians (so did many other bands in he 60’s, check out the Wrecking Crew documentary). Mickey Dolenz is the most underrated singer of the 60’s
Omg these guys answered an ad, just like every other hungry musician in Hollywood. The people who put them down, don't understand how four strangers made such a strong historic band.
Boyce and Hart were on an episode of I Dream Of Jeannie playing musicians, if you want to see them in the flesh. They had a large role and didn't just have a cameo.
they did some great songs like ' What am I doing hanging round' or ' Shades of Grey', 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' or 'Valeri' to name a few. I got loads of their records. Love them to bits.
The Monkees Theme song became their theme song of course. A short version opened each half hour show. ended each show in the first season. Then they switched to the closer song by Peter Tork, called "For Pete's Sake."
Davy Jones was also a child actor in the UK, he played the legendary En's Sharples' grandson in Coronation Street, the world's longest running soap opera. He was only in it briefly, but to be Edna Sharples grandson means he goes down in British cultural history.
one day in 1980 or so I walked into local college bar and punk band was doing this song a little faster and rowdier of course...but I thought, lol, "The Monkees invented punk rock music?"...none of the younger kids knew this was a Monkees Song which made me laugh my ass off."(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" by the Monkees reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was released in November 1966 and was the first Monkees B-side to chart. It was the flip side of I'm a Believer. Micky, the drummer sang lead on this as well. studio musician Billy Lewis played drums on the Monkees' "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone".
After hearing "Steppin' Stone"... I am now a fan for life lol. That. was. awesome. I don't even care what comments this will get. That was a good ass song lol. Do you have any other suggestions by them that might be like that?? Lol
'Randy Scouse Git' was written by Micky Dolenz. It's about his time in London. There are studio, versions, live in later life versions, mimed ones for the show (very funny to see them taking the P***) I found a really interesting 'Raw' version. The scat part done by Micky is so so good in that. It's less muffled, lacks the added production 'boost' but as a lifelong Monkees lass it was a breath of fresh air as most raw versions are.
Yep it is a great one. Honestly there are hardly any bad ones. I think you need to hear a song by Mike. He brings a little bit more of a country flair to his music. Some of my favorites of his are:
Papa Gene's Blues
The Kind of Girl I Could Love
You Told Me
You Just Might Be the One
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
Love is Only Sleeping
What Am I Doing Hanging Around
Circle Sky
Carlisle Wheeling
@@SnoopySnoops1 Randy Scouse Git is great. From my understanding Mickey says that this is specifically about a party in London that had them, The Beatles and The Mamas and Papas among others. Could you imagine all these legends in one place. Must been one hell of a party.
@@akadros310 Yes, that seems to be the facts behind it! I bet the neighbours loved it :D
Oh God, now he's into 60's bubblegum! Lol, the tunes are good aren't they?
Pleasant Valley Sunday. Written by Carol King. IS a good one of theirs.
One of the best.
I second that!
Another good Monkees song, "I'm a Believer".
Yesss A Neil Diamond song
Yes ... I"m A Believer ... Mickey has a great voice
I’m a believer is my favorite. Close time with last train to Clarksville but I’m a believer is it 😃
Monkees always welcome to this 70 year old. I was just the right age for their silliness and psychodelia. Would like to hear 'Pleasant Valley Sunday'... here in status symbol land.
and the Carole King demo of it as the chaser track.
Pleasant Valley Sunday is one of the Monkees best. I’m also 70, thanks for reminding me.
Steppin Stone is one of the hardest rockin' songs of the Monkees and one of my favorites! Mickey's voice is perfect for their rockin tunes.
In A Day in the Life Beatles video, you can spot Mike Nesmith hanging out.
The Monkees were THE hottest thing for a year or two. Like, stratosphere level.
It would seem so… they have a huge devoted fan base still to this day. That isn’t an accident!
Words and Mary,Mary are my favorite Monkees songs.
i love Words!
What a great way to start the day. I love the Monkees. Thank you.
It is a great way to wake up.
Definitely Randy Scouse Git ( also known as Alternate Title in the UK)
I was 9 when the tv series started and just loved them and loved the show.
One of my favourites was You Just Might Be The One.
Also, "What Am I Doin Hangin Round".
Wait til you hear Micky RAPPING on "Goin' Down" or Davy singing about groupies on "Star Collector" or the psychedelic "Porpoise Song" or Mike and Micky killin' it on the 2016 "Birth of an Accidental Hipster!" This is gonna be fun!
Watch "Head" !
"Daily, Nightly" is a very groovy song, it's the Monkees foray into psychedelic music.
Thank you for the suggestion! I will add it to my list
@@L33Reacts th-cam.com/video/SCWRjWOowkc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=DzHfQ3jeikR5WG5l youtube video
A VERY cool song indeed. First use of a synthesizer if I remember correctly.
Mickeys vocals are heavenly ❤❤❤
A tune I think you would dig is The Girl I Knew Somwhere written by Mike Nesmith. It's the first song they released in which they play all the instruments and a great song.
Absolutely!
Oh that was so much fun. I enjoyed watching you jamming out to the Monkees.
🎵 Hey hey! We're the Monkees.🎵
When we heard that we all ran to the TV to go watch The Monkees
In 1966 they sold more singles than The Beatles and Stones combined that year!! The band had very good writers like Carole King and Neil Diamond and among the cool people you wouldn't say you liked the Monkees but I think most people have fond memories and songs like these and "I'm a believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" were fantastic!!
True. There was the fact that the Monkees on top of being a mostly American group, they also had going for them the fact that, in addition to appealing to teenaged girls, they also played to the pre-teen and younger crowd. The fact that 1966 also saw the Monkees tv show debut and the Beatles quit touring made the Monkees more accessible. I'm not trying to detract from the Monkees, they had enough unfair derision because critics perceived the way they came together as a lack of ability. They were a talented group. Some forget that Mike Nesmith wrote Different Drum which was recorded by the Stone Ponies. That, of course, was the first hit song that helped propel Linda Ronstadt 's career.
I only point out the obvious. Simply saying the Monkees outsold the Beatles is like the fact Led Zeppelin knocked the Beatles out of number one. They did, but a) by that time the Beatles album had been out nine weeks, b) although Led Zeppelin knocked them from first to number two, the Beatles returned the favor the next week before Led Zeppelin reclaimed number one. It's just a later of perspective.
Steppin' Stone is a great song. Another song to explore is Randy Scouse Git. Thanks again for the music.
Goin Down is a great one too!
I had many Monkees 45 that were my older brother and sisters back in the day!!! They Rock!!❤ Valerie is my personal fave!!😎💪🎶💯🔥
Valerie should be his next one :)
@@ceeceerider from your lips to Lee's ears..Lol!!! 💯🎶🔥💪😎♥️
@@scottyhotty1003 To Lee's monitor, then to his ears. :)
@@Tarkus7 Lol whatever gets it done 🤣🎶💯♥️
You need to do "Daily Nightly" The Monkees excursion into deep Psych.
PLEASE play more. You won't be disappointed ❤
Play "Going Down," B-side of "Daydream Believer." You will be even more surprised.
Back in the day I dismissed that one because it just didn't seem "Monkees"like. Revisited many years later and Damn! What a great performance
I loooove Going Down!! Such a terrific song.
My older sister and brother actually have a tape of me maybe 5 or 6 yrs old singing this theme song as it was my favorite song..lololol❤💯🎶🔥
I'm happy to learn that you are becomming a fan of The Monkees. I have always been since day one and still am. I watched their TV show every week and owned all their albums. I see "Steppin' Stone" requested a lot and I don't dislike it, but if I'm being honest it's not one of my favorites of theirs. Some that are among my favorites are "Early Morning Blues And Greens", "Dream World", "Shades Of Gray", "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?", "For Pete's Sake", "Words", "You Just May Be The One", "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "When Love Comes Knockin' At Your Door" and I could go on and on since they have so many great songs. Actually I plan to make two of them my Patreon request in the future.
my 2 younger brothers and I all were fans like you from the first show, first record... I miss our youth. Last Monday the 21st... the middle brother passed away.... We had been in bands mostly together for the last 45 years and bought a triplex 12 years ago so we could have a studio..... I cried listening to this today.... he was 66 years old... and I am 67....
@@drmorqWarrenProject My sincere condolences. I'm 68. So many of us are Monkee fans.
I am sorry my friend… I hope this brought you a modicum of comfort. Thank you for watching
Thank you for all the suggestions Donna!!
@@L33Reacts thank you. my brother and I watched your reactions for about a year or so and he always enjoyed seeing your reaction to stuff we had listened to for over 40 years... thanks
One of their best songs. I like mike's voice the best.
Mickey Dolenz sings lead here...not Mike Nesmith.
@@andreaschmall5560 I think Colleen meant in other songs, not these. I love Mike's voice and songs too. His songs are among the best.
Songwriters Tommy Boyce & Bobob Hart, part of the soundtrack of my youth.
They are very good songwriters. So damn catchy
“Take a Giant Step” was a really good song off their first album. Thanks Lee!
Stepping stone is one of my favorites. I unabashedly love the Monkees. I was a kid buying their albums and watching the TV show. We didn’t have a lot of peripheral stuff going on then. No cable, no Internet, and so at a young age we had words and music. We had the radio and our record players. The Monkees were created as an act that pretended to be a band. Only the actors were mostly musicians and singers and the act became a band. They allowed Mike to write a song or two per album. Things changed when the Monkeys refused to sing Sugar Sugar. It would have been their biggest hit but they felt it was too syrupy, to bubble gum and so the war between the act and the band had begun. My favorite song is She. I may have been eight but the words were powerful to me. At that age it wasn’t about a girlfriend to me. It was about mistreatment from my sisters. We fought a bit. Here are bits of the lyrics:
She, she devoured all my sweet love
Took all I had and then she fed me dirt
Or
And now I know just why she
Keeps me hangin' 'round
She needs someone to walk on
So her feet don't touch the ground.
I thought this was awesome. You’re awesome too. Keep it up. You bring fun to our daily lives. Which is cool because we do have distractions everywhere now.
''Steppin Stone'' is a fantastic song..I love the lyrics.
I agree!! It was so good!
I believe that the, "Wrecking Crew" is the band behind the Monkees.
I kinda thought so too.
And the best part of the Beach Boys
It was The Candy Store Prophets, not The Wrecking Crew. Any Boyce and Hart song was done by The Candy Store Prophets.
I like the anger of this song.
the theme song was shortened for the show just one verse.
Great pick L33! Was singing and dancing around my kitchen listening to this one! Forgot just how much Stepping Stone Rocked! And thanks past L33 for the replay! 🚫🦶🪨🔥🙊🙉🙈🐵-☮️❤️🎶
"Words" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" are two more great ones
More likely Wrecking Crew. No judgment, just facts. This is true for many other “bands” of the mid to late ‘60’s, like the Association, and even groups like the Byrds snd Simon & Garfunkel used session players. Hal Blaine, the drummer in the Wrecking Crew, once played on 6 consecutive Grammy Record of the Year winners, for groups that included Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, the 5th Dimension, & Simon & Garfield. I was a middle schooler watching the Monkees, and didn’t care who was playing if it sounded good. ✌️❤️🎶
The Monkees were just pure fun. I watched them in early reruns as a kid and just enjoyed the hell out of them. Wonderful memories.
Yeah they honestly have a varied output in their genres too.. I know that’s because they have different folks writing for them for different tracks… but I dig it. This rocked so hard lol
Quick note ... In one of their episodes they thank The Beatles "for getting it all started." Love it, my young friend.
Great reaction Lee, really enjoyed, thanks :)
Thanks robin! Thank you for watching
I was almost six years old when Last Train To Clarksdale started playing everywhere and adds for the TV show were promoting them. Of all the rock bands that effected my life, as first impact goes, The Monkees were one of the firsts. I'm Not Your Stepping Stone was covered by the Sex Pistols; as was No Fun from The Stooges. Both songs have similarities although completely different mindsets. Am glad you liked it. It's one of my favorites too.
Regarding other songs to check out, the hits are generally sung by Mickey Dolenz or Davy Jones. But notice Mike Nesmith who writes his own songs and they are generally rock leaning strongly towards country and western. Peter Tork is more famous for For Pete's Sake, which was used as the TV shows closing theme.
I always considered Steppin Stone one of the first punk rock songs. It was not only covered by the Sex Pistols but also by Minor Threat.
This takes me back to a much better time. ❤
Valleri❤
This song was also done by Paul Revere & The Raiders.
You should check them out.
No one reacts to them and they had some great songs. Kicks is my favorite.
@@andreaschmall5560 They were a really great band.
One of the greatest pop bands of all-time. They recorded as much material as The Beatles (although much of it remained unreleased for decades) in half the time, 4 years! 9 albums!
They had the best writers and musicians of their time, and Don Kirshner's hand in it.
I forgot how good that first track was. Thank you for playing it twice. You make this fun.
Watching reaction videos in which the reactor becomes a fan is so much more fun that listening alone.
He is so good at it ❤
Yes I remember watching their show. They had some pretty good hits!
Some great Nesmith, folk/country/rock tunes from them, You Told Me, Salesman, and Door Into Summer.
There were people who didn't like them because of the origin story. There were people who hated John Denver because he was popular.
John Denver was hipper--and more talented--than any ten "flavor of the month" singers in his day! A tad nerdy, like a lot of us out here, but an awesome human being and a fantastic singer/songwriter!
@@newodkin
😢 R.I.P. John Denver 😢
"The Truman Show" - a great analogy.
Steppin' Stone is actually a cover version of the English group The Liverpool Five release that was recorded in early 1966 but not released until that summer. Paul Revere and the Raiders released their version in May 1966 and the Monkees version was released in November of 1966. Great song covered by many groups.
Last Train to Clarksville, Pleasant Vally Sunday and I'm a Believer. Just for fun Peter Persival's pet pig
We just did Clarksville last week. But the others I will keep in mind, thank you!
You know what he did? He popped
So I was 13 when this Stepping Stone came out, and was staying that summer with some cousins that we hadn't visited for a few years, one of the sisters was 14 and the other 12, and we would hang out in a spare room they called the conservatory, and listen to records on one of those old suitcase record players. This particular 45 featured prominently because both my cousins really liked it, and whenever they played it they would dance around the room to the song.
I'll never forget watching the older sister dancing and twirling in front of the large window, with the afternoon sun coming in and showing her silhouette through her dress as she danced, and that being of the first erotic moments of my young life. I've always had a fondness for this song ever since.
Tremendous musicianship by the great session players known as "The Wrecking Crew," who played on loads of hit rock tracks in the '60s (including the Beach Boys').
Great song! I'm a Believer is probably their most famous song, also great
Naturally it's "great" - it was written by
Neil Diamond.👍❤🎵❤️🎵❤️🖖
Happy happy music. I can remember crowding around the tv every Saturday evening to watch the show… great stuff
My first ever concert was The Monkees.
My granddaughter's first concert on their last tour. I know it was only Mike and Micky but she loved it.
The album cover in the video brought back some memories. That was the second album I ever had (the first was Tijuana Brass - The Lonely Bull. My mom got the me Monkees second album for my Birthday. I was 8 years old.
The farther into their catalogue you get, the more you'll get of the band writing and playing their own stuff - and as much I love this Boyce & Hart/Don Kirshner version of the band, the later stuff gets even better, IMO. Keep on with it, but definitely hit some later tracks like "Goin Down", "Randy Scouse Git" and "For Pete's Sake" - which became the show's *closing* theme in the second season.
Listen, as I was a teen then I can tell you I looked forward to the Monkees show but with an attitude because I was a Beatles freaking lover (saw them live in 66) and these guys seemed like wanna be Beatles. However, it ended up being fun and some of their songs were quite good. People like Carole King and Neil Diamond wrote songs for them. And when Day Dream Believer came out I was a fan. I think my friend bought an album. And although I did not hang their photos up I enjoyed them. They had a lot of great fans and I do not think they were overrated. I think they were a nice little band.
I've had so many arguments with self-righteous fellow musicians on the topic of the Monkees. People want to slag them as "frauds". But they had the best songwriters working for them and top studio musicians - no different from most pop acts in the 60's (and many more who had session guys cut tracks behind the scenes without credit). The boys could genuinely sing quite well. They were the pioneers of blending rock and country. Many tremendous songs. An off the top of my head top 10 (in no particular order):
Randy Grouse Git
For Pete's Sake
You Just May Be The One
Pleasant Valley Sunday
Daydream Believer
The Door Into Summer
What Am I Doing Hanging 'Round
Valleri
Zor and Zam
Porpoise Song
It's a deep cut, not one of the most popular tunes they did, but I really like "Love Is Only Sleeping" with Mike Nesmith on lead vocals.
Great single.
I was a teeny-bopper when this album came out. I liked it for a while. We danced to it at the sock hop. That was before I heard Hendrix, Zappa, Spirit, and Quicksilver (and got high). After that "bubble gum" tunes became seriously un-cool. Now I can enjoy it because it holds memories from the "days of my youth"...were "I was taught what it means to be a man" LZ Peace
The Monkees were huge in 66 and 67. 4 consecutive #1 albums.
Goin' Down, She and Listen to the Band are all top quality songs I'd recommend. Many 'cool' people are secret Monkees fans, and that's OK 😉
They were fun, no matter what. I loved their show when I was a kid, totally silly. Thanks Lee, you are awesome!
Great songs. They didn't get respect at the time, but the music stands the test of time.
This is absolutely my favorite Monkees song. Mickey's voice is killer.
Jimi Hendrix covered I'm not your stepping stone
Check it out 🎸
Btw I seen Jimi Hendrix open for the Monkees at the Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium in Fort Worth Texas
"We want the Monkees!" was often heard while Jimi opened.
Thanks! Like this song ever since it came out! Micky Dolenz (aka Circus Boy) had a really good singing voice! Nicely crafted songs Boyce and Hart, Neil Diamond, etc.
The Monkees are fun and not altogether bad! Take it for what it is and was...a good thing. 😊
Personality, I really like Micky's vocals over Davie.
The song is good and it really does hold up lyrically.
Peace! ❤
Valleri and She too good ones.
Absolute Bangers.
Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith were actual musicians. Nesmith was a songwriter. Their peak third and 4th albums were largely self-produced. The Monkees weren't a fluke. Frankly, multiple producers, songwriters, a mix of hired guns and in house musicians are the way most music is recorded today. Nothing's changed. However, The Monkeeys could project quality stuff. Dolenz turned out to be a top tier rock/pop vocalist.
Steppin Stone x 2 - let's go! 🔥
Wooooooo
Valerie is another solid one. For something trippy, check out "Tapioca Tundra" which Mike sings.
Louie Shelton is an amazing guitarist! I used to think Mike played the intro to Valerie.
I saw The Monkees live at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1986 during their 20th anniversary tour. It was not during the state fair, but was a standalone concert . The Monkees (minus Michael Nesmith) were the headliners with opening performances by The Turtles, Herman's Hermits, The Grass Roots and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. The Monkees all played their own instruments and they sounded GREAT!
Good songs today. A nice mix up.
This came out at the same time as The Beatles were still doing bubblegum pop. My sister had The Beatles albums, while I was hooked on The Monkeys. They could rock when they wanted to and had that dark side that The Beatles didn't have yet.
Love the Monkees. Add to the list "I'm a Believer", "Daydream Believer" & "Pleasant Valley Sunday". Your reaction is hysterical, because we never know what music will strike our fancy. It's okay to like happy go lucky tunes, who cares? Blessings all. Rock on!
Another great song follows the Monkees theme on the first album "Saturdays Child" surprisingly written by David Gates of Bread
Stepping Stone is a bona fide banger, I mean even the Sex Pistols recorded a decent cover of it in the mid 70’s that is worth checking out
Steppin stone is possibly their most popular song.
Coming back to The Monkees many years later I discovered I preferred Mickey led songs to those sung by Davey (sorry Davey). Alternate Title/Randy Scouse Git is a favourite also the way too short Listen to the Band by Mike Nesmith with him singing. It has a Country vibe going on. I always have to listen to it twice. 😄
the JC Penny look forever immortalized...had this album as a young'un...still sounds snappy!...and look at Davey on that cover...no wonder his pics from Tiger Beat magazine was on every girl's walls
As an early "veteran" Beatles fan from '62, by age 8 or 9 transplanted to Canada, I had been unacquainted with the feeling, nevermind the concept of a guilty pleasure, which is what the pre-fab four presented. The catchy pop hits, the fun and highly watchable TV show and peripheral marketing like bubble-gum trading cards made them an inescapable part of life and kid-culture. 🐵🐵🐵🐵
✌🏼😊🎶❤️🍁❤️✨️🕊
🌸 I love these guys- they're so fun! and this is actually a really good song one of my favorites from them....
A lot of 60s social commentary was sneaked into the Monkees (originally a studio created band) song book, presumably because the execs were asleep at the wheel.
I remember them back then. we are the Monkeys. Sorry to say this but we had a good laugh. They were supposed to be Americas answer to the Beatles. Even bigger laugh.
The Monkees didn’t get their due respect because they used studio musicians (so did many other bands in he 60’s, check out the Wrecking Crew documentary). Mickey Dolenz is the most underrated singer of the 60’s
Dude his voice was awesome here! I absolutely loved it
Born in the 60's, now in my 60's, I still love The Monkees! I've still got a few of their albums, including the ones shown in your thumbnail. :-D
Omg these guys answered an ad, just like every other hungry musician in Hollywood. The people who put them down, don't understand how four strangers made such a strong historic band.
Boyce and Hart were on an episode of I Dream Of Jeannie playing musicians, if you want to see them in the flesh. They had a large role and didn't just have a cameo.
They also did an episode of Bewitched, titled "Serena stops the show."
@@QueenFornis oh yeah. Serena rocked!
I'm not is by far their "hardest" song. My favorite BTW
Dude really? I’m there hahah
WE love you lee❤😂 you keep digging! You're cool! Thanks so much for your entertaining videos!
Take a Giant Step
What Am I doing Hangin' 'Round
"Any time, anywhere, you'll find me standing, in my underwear" is what my brother and I would sing lol
Monkees was a TV show, not a band. But with good somgwriters giving them material, and Top notch studio musicians, They had a bunch of good songs.
they did some great songs like ' What am I doing hanging round' or ' Shades of Grey', 'Pleasant Valley Sunday' or 'Valeri' to name a few. I got loads of their records. Love them to bits.
Stepping Stone is a killer song. Bangin' cover version by the Sex Pistols.
The Monkees Theme song became their theme song of course. A short version opened each half hour show. ended each show in the first season. Then they switched to the closer song by Peter Tork, called "For Pete's Sake."
Mickey Dolenz was a child TV star⭐️ (then as billed as Mickey Braddock), played the title role in the TV series Circus Boy in 1956-57.
I used to watch that show or so my mother told me. I don't remember. I was only two years old.
Davy Jones was also a child actor in the UK, he played the legendary En's Sharples' grandson in Coronation Street, the world's longest running soap opera. He was only in it briefly, but to be Edna Sharples grandson means he goes down in British cultural history.
Sorry, spellchecker hasn't heard of ENA Sharples..
try Peter Purcival's Pet Pig Porky *LOL* .. do the porpoise song
one day in 1980 or so I walked into local college bar and punk band was doing this song a little faster and rowdier of course...but I thought, lol, "The Monkees invented punk rock music?"...none of the younger kids knew this was a Monkees Song which made me laugh my ass off."(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" by the Monkees reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was released in November 1966 and was the first Monkees B-side to chart. It was the flip side of I'm a Believer. Micky, the drummer sang lead on this as well. studio musician Billy Lewis played drums on the Monkees' "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone".