The Monkees
Paul Rance Selects The Monkees Best 10 Songs

Wahay with The Monkees. Yes, indeed. America's answer to The Beatles, though containing one Brit, weren't quite in The Beatles league in terms of musical talent, but they were more gifted than they were given credit for. Micky Dolenz once said that "drumming isn't brain surgery", and it was probably that lack of pretentiousness, and their downright wackiness, which counted against them in the eyes of the critics.

Memorable songs that still endure include 'Monkee's Theme', 'I'm A Believer', 'Last Train To Clarksville', 'Daydream Believer', 'A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You', 'Pleasant Valley Sunday', and in the strange but true category, a song The Sex Pistols covered gloriously, '(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone'. The latter being one of The Monkees darker songs - they weren't always light and fluffy!

Obviously helped by having songwriters of the calibre of Neil Diamond, Goffen and King, Boyce and Hart, Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, and Micky Dolenz were a manufactured mix that had more than a modicum of talent - unlike most manufactured bands today. Nesmith, in particular, being a gifted songwriter.

The Monkees, as well as their massively successful TV show, and recording career, also starred in the weird, Jack Nicholson-inspired 1968 film, 'Head', which was acclaimed by many critics.

As a kid growing up in England in the '60s, The Monkees remain in my affections, because, everytime I heard that theme tune start up on their TV show, I knew it was gonna be funtime!

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

Facts about The Monkees

'I'm A Believer' was the top-charting American single of 1967.

David Bowie changed his name, David Jones, to avoid confusion with Davy Jones of The Monkees.

The Monkees outsold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined in 1967.

The Monkees are the only act to have began their career with four number one albums in the US.

The Monkees were the first music artist to win two Emmy awards.