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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.
The Monkees Albums Discography
The Monkees (1966)
More Of The Monkees (1967)
Headquarters (1967)
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (1967)
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968)
Head (1968)
Instant Replay (1969)
The Monkees Present (1969)
Changes (1970)
Pool It! (1987)
Justus (1996) |
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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.
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