STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - THE MONKEES - THE MONKEES

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Good Tuesday morning to you all and welcome back to Stuck In The Vinyl Again. It was this week in 2019 (02/21/19), that Washington. D.C. born bassist, composer, and actor, Peter York, best known for his work in The Monkees passed away at age 77, from cancer. With him in mind, we spotlight The Monkees' self titled debut record. The Monkees was released October 10, 1966 on the Colgems label and produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller, and  Michael Nesmith. It peaked at #3 in Australia and Norway and #1 in Canada, Finland, the UK, and the Billboard 200.  "Last Train to Clarksville" was released as the album's sole single, and it reached #16 in South Africa, #14 in Australia, #6 in New Zealand, #5 in Ireland, and #1 in America on the Hot 100. As the story goes, the members were prohibited from playing instruments on the album (even though they are credited here and there) and basically provide lead and backing vocals, letting session musicians back them up. Our copy does not have a cover but I'll provide a stock photo, so we know what we're looking at. 

1. "(Theme From) The Monkees" Micky Dolenz 2:18

2. "Saturday's Child" (David Gates) Micky Dolenz 2:43

3. "I Wanna Be Free" Davy Jones 2:39

4. "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" (Tommy Boyce, Steve Venet) Micky Dolenz 2:39

5. "Papa Gene's Blues" (Michael Nesmith) Michael Nesmith 1:57

6. "Take a Giant Step" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) Micky Dolenz 2:33

Side 2

1. "Last Train to Clarksville" Micky Dolenz 2:44

2. "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day" Davy Jones 2:09

3. "Let's Dance On" Micky Dolenz 2:30

4. "I'll Be True to You" (Gerry Goffin, Russ Titelman) Davy Jones 2:50

5. "Sweet Young Thing" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Michael Nesmith) Michael Nesmith 1:56

6. "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones 2:41

"(Theme from) The Monkees"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Tambourine: Gene Estes
Organ: Bobby Hart
Finger snaps: Unknown
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 5 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.) and 9, 1966
Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller

"Saturday's Child" written by David Gates
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louis Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Tambourine: Gene Estes
Organ: Bobby Hart
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 9, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)
Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller

"I Wanna Be Free"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Acoustic guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
Violins: Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure
Viola: Myra Kestenbuam
Cello: Fred Seykora
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 19, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.)
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart

"Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Steve Venet
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Harmonica: Gerry McGee
Percussion: Unknown
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio #1, Hollywood, California; July 23 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) and 26, 1966
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart

"Papa Gene's Blues"

Written by Michael Nesmith
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Harmony vocal: Micky Dolenz
Guitars: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Jim Helms
Bass: William Pitman
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon (vibraslap)
Recorded at Western Recorders Studio 2, Hollywood, California; July 7 (8:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m.), 16 and 30, 1966
Producer: Michael Nesmith
First album pressing features title incorrectly listed as "Papa Jean's Blues"

"Take a Giant Step"

Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Ron Hicklin and unknown
Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Harpsichord: Michael Rubini
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Gene Estes
Oboe: Bob Cooper
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, California; July 9, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Arranger: Leon Russell
Alternate mix appears in The Monkees episode "The Chaperone," featuring single vocal track and different backing vocals

"Last Train to Clarksville"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Peter Tork and unknown
Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Gene Estes
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, California; July 25, 1966 (7:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.)
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart

"This Just Doesn't Seem to be My Day"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin
Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Gene Estes
Cello: Joseph Ditullio
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 5, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)[7]
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller
Longer mix with an extended instrumental break featured in The Monkees episodes "Royal Flush" and "The Chaperone"

"Let's Dance On"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin
Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Organ: Bobby Hart
Drums: Billy Lewis
Percussion: Gene Estes
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 5, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)[7]
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller

"I'll Be True to You"

Written by Gerry Goffin and Russ Titelman
Lead vocal: Davy Jones
Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Glockenspiel: Gene Estes
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, California; July 9, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.)
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller
Mono mix features double-tracked vocals
Originally titled "Yes I Will".
This is the only track from the original album not to be featured on the TV show.
Different version appears on Rhino/Flashback CD Last Train from Clarksville and Other Hits

"Sweet Young Thing"

Written by Michael Nesmith, Gerry Goffin, Carole King
Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and unknown
Guitars: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Michael Deasy
Bass: Bob West
Dano bass: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, Jim Gordon
Violin: Jimmy Bryant
Percussion: Gary Coleman, Frank DeVito
Piano: Larry Knechtel
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 18 (8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.) and 27, 1966
Producer: Michael Nesmith

"Gonna Buy Me a Dog"

Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones
Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
Organ: Bobby Hart
Bass: Larry Taylor
Drums: Billy Lewis
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio #1, Hollywood, California; July 23, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.)
Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Davy can be heard saying "They're coming to take us away, ha ha..." at end; this refers to the July 1966 novelty hit by Napoleon XIV, "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!"