There's a lot to be said when it comes to the first two records by the Monkees!
On the one hand, there's some really great melodies, some solidly written songs and some really fun, Beatles-influenced bubblegum pop! On the other, music purists might argue that these two albums are more representative of clever marketing rather than artistic music-making. Hmmm?
Here on "Vinyl in the Valley" we'll leave these arguments to the intellectuals because tonight we know what side of the Monkee Bars we're swinging on!
The Monkees - The Monkees (1966)
Eleven of the twelve songs on the The Monkees' eponymous debut are written by non-Monkees. Pretty much every track features either Micky Dolenz or Davy Jones singing with a band of session musicians who provide the backing music. It does have the superhits: "(Theme from) The Monkees" and "Last Train to Clarksville"; the sappy, "I Wanna Be Free"; the sole Nesmith composition, "Papa Gene's Blues"; and the fantastic, Stonesy, "Saturday's Child" (written by David Gates of Bread fame.)
Plus, I always enjoyed Mike Nesmith's scowl on the otherwise smiley cover photo! What's wrong Mike Nesmith? Is that hat making you itchy?
RATING: 4 itchy hats out of 5
Click for More of the Monkees...
The Monkees' second LP, More of the Monkees, was released a year later at the height of their popularity. Anchored by the Neil Diamond-penned single "I'm a Believer", this follow-up has more of the "Hollywood Beatles"-sound with songs written by a who's who of Brill Building alum (Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Boyce & Hart, etc.)
Once again, the music is still largely being played by session musicians, although Nesmith did get to pen two of the twelve songs ("Mary, Mary" & "The Kind of Girl I Could Love").
Like with their debut LP, some of the songs seem a little forced and dated, but overall the album is a barrel full of fun! Regardless of who wrote the songs or who played the actual instruments, songs like "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" still sound great all these years later!
So put that in your (itchy) hat and smoke it!
RATING: 4 Davy Jones' lockers out of 5
Speaking of which, RIP Davy Jones (1945 - 2012)...
Plus, I always enjoyed Mike Nesmith's scowl on the otherwise smiley cover photo! What's wrong Mike Nesmith? Is that hat making you itchy?
RATING: 4 itchy hats out of 5
Click for More of the Monkees...
The Monkees - More of the Monkees (1967)
Once again, the music is still largely being played by session musicians, although Nesmith did get to pen two of the twelve songs ("Mary, Mary" & "The Kind of Girl I Could Love").
Like with their debut LP, some of the songs seem a little forced and dated, but overall the album is a barrel full of fun! Regardless of who wrote the songs or who played the actual instruments, songs like "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" still sound great all these years later!
So put that in your (itchy) hat and smoke it!
RATING: 4 Davy Jones' lockers out of 5
Speaking of which, RIP Davy Jones (1945 - 2012)...
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