Chip Douglas
Encyclopedia
Douglas Farthing Walter Hatlelid, better known as Chip Douglas, is a songwriter
, musician
(bass, guitar
and keyboards), and record producer
, whose most famous work was during the 1960s. He was the producer of some of the Monkees biggest hits, including "Daydream Believer
" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday
".
. During a trip to California, they were discovered by a well-known booking agency and signed by RCA/Camden to record an album at their studios in Hollywood.
The group dissolved and Douglas, along with Cyrus Faryar
and noted rock photographer Henry Diltz
, formed the Modern Folk Quartet
(along with musician Jerry Yester
) in Los Angeles. They were signed by Warner Bros.
and recorded two albums: "The Modern Folk Quartet" and "Changes". They also appeared as themselves in a nightclub scene for the Warner Bros. movie "Palm Springs Weekend" starring Connie Stevens
and Troy Donahue
(1963). MFQ spent the next several years touring the U.S. playing college concerts.
MFQ was signed by legendary producer Phil Spector
in 1966, and recorded a song, "This Could Be The Night", co-written by Spector and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson
. Unfortunately, the record was not released at that time, but Douglas and Nilsson became friends. In the latter half of 1966, Douglas was a member of the short-lived Gene Clark
Group, a band featuring the ex-Byrd The Byrds
Gene Clark
, ex-Grass Roots
Joel Larson
, and Bill Rinehart, formerly of The Leaves
. Clark disbanded the group at the end of that year without having recorded or released any records.
' bassist Chuck Portz was fired from the band, Douglas was asked to take his place. His first record with them was "Happy Together
", which they'd decided to record after hearing a well-worn demo that had been passed on by numerous other artists. Douglas played bass and did the arrangement that was recorded, and it became a huge hit for The Turtles, ousting The Beatles
' "Penny Lane" from the #1 single position on the American pop charts.
Seeing The Turtles perform at Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go
in early 1967, The Monkees
Michael Nesmith
approached Douglas and asked if he'd like to become the new producer for The Monkees, who were tired of the "manufactured" recording setup they'd used thus far. Douglas answered candidly "I've never produced a record in my life." Nesmith (who had produced album tracks for the group, but had little pull with their label Colgems Records
) assured him "Don't worry; if you're willing to quit The Turtles, I'll show you everything you need to do."
(who both produced The Monkees series and controlled their music publishing). Douglas' next Monkees project was their Headquarters
album. Recorded over six steady weeks of sessions at the RCA Studios in Hollywood, Headquarters was the first album to feature The Monkees playing on every track, to refute the accusation that they couldn't play their own instruments, and was regarded by all four members as their 'first album'. Douglas contributed a song, "Forget That Girl", and joined them on bass guitar in the studio, freeing Peter Tork
to play keyboards and guitar. Other sidemen rounded out the sound, but the core was The Monkees themselves. The album was released in the spring of 1967, and began a steady climb up the charts, eventually reaching #1 on Billboard's album chart, but was displaced by the latest Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
.
No singles from Headquarters were issued in the United States, but Douglas nonetheless scored hits working with The Monkees that year, first with "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (written by Gerry Goffin
and Carole King
), which featured an innovative guitar intro composed by Douglas and played by Nesmith. Later, Douglas became aware of a song, "Daydream Believer
", written by his friend John Stewart. He thought would be perfect for Davy Jones
, and Tork gave its memorable piano intro. The song became the band's all-time second-biggest single and was included on the next album, 1968's “The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
”. Douglas was pleased to have made hit records with The Monkees, but was disappointed that they weren't able to erase the common misconception that The Monkees weren’t actually musicians, and that the press took little notice of their accomplishments.
Douglas next produced their album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd., on which he also played bass. Unlike “Headquarters”, it was done in several different studios around the U.S. between Monkees tour dates, and was played by the band and augmented by session musicians. He also introduced the Monkees to Harry Nilsson, who played them a selection of his original songs, and became friends with the band. One of the songs, "Cuddly Toy", was covered by The Monkees, and featured on both the “Pisces” album and an episode of their TV series. Douglas has been quoted as saying, “I like to think I gave Harry his big break, which resulted in a record deal with RCA”.
Douglas later performed the song with Gene Clark in 1966, while he was a member of The Gene Clark Group. Originally an uptempo number, the slow, moody arrangement came about by accident. Douglas was demonstrating the song for vocalists Howard Kaylan
and Mark Volman
, on an organ whose bellows was broken, requiring him to play it slowly. Douglas told them "This isn't the way it's supposed to sound," but Kaylan and Volman disagreed, thinking the new tempo would be perfect — correctly, as it happened.
on vocals. The song appeared in reruns of their TV show.
In 1976, Douglas re-teamed with Dolenz, Jones and Tork to record the single, “Christmas is My Time of Year”, co-written by Douglas and Howard Kaylan. By then, Nesmith was no longer affiliated with the group.
In 1986, a Monkees reunion tour reawakened interest in the band, and Rhino Records reissued all their original albums, including their work with Douglas.
Douglas has appeared in several documentaries about The Monkees, reminiscing about his work with the band.
, to back him in his solo act. In the eighties, MFQ recorded several albums for a Japanese record company. They've also toured Japan, where they remain popular (2003 and 2011).
Douglas continues to write and produce records in a variety of genres, and divides his time between California and Hawaii.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
(bass, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboards), and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, whose most famous work was during the 1960s. He was the producer of some of the Monkees biggest hits, including "Daydream Believer
Daydream Believer
"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. The song was originally recorded by The Monkees, with Davy Jones singing lead vocals. The single hit the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four...
" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday
Pleasant Valley Sunday
"Pleasant Valley Sunday" is a song by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, most famous for the version recorded by The Monkees in 1967. Goffin's and King's inspiration for the name was a street named , in West Orange, New Jersey where they were living at the time. The road follows a valley through several...
".
Early career
Douglas was raised in Hawaii and began his musical career with a folk group he formed in high school, "The Wilcox Three", modeled after The Kingston TrioThe Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
. During a trip to California, they were discovered by a well-known booking agency and signed by RCA/Camden to record an album at their studios in Hollywood.
The group dissolved and Douglas, along with Cyrus Faryar
Cyrus Faryar
Cyrus Faryar is an American folk musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was active in musical, theatrical, and performance events in high school. After graduating from high school and attending college, he became involved in the entertainment industry, opening the first coffee house in...
and noted rock photographer Henry Diltz
Henry Diltz
Henry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
, formed the Modern Folk Quartet
Modern Folk Quartet
The Modern Folk Quartet recorded two albums of folk revival music in the early 1960s, with an emphasis on group harmonies, and have subsequently re-formed more than once and made further recordings....
(along with musician Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester is an American folk rock musician, record producer, and arranger.Growing up in Burbank, California, Yester formed a duo with brother Jim Yester, the Yester Brothers, and starting playing folk clubs in Los Angeles in 1960...
) in Los Angeles. They were signed by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and recorded two albums: "The Modern Folk Quartet" and "Changes". They also appeared as themselves in a nightclub scene for the Warner Bros. movie "Palm Springs Weekend" starring Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens is an American actress and singer, best known for her roles in the television series Hawaiian Eye and other TV and film work.-Early life:...
and Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue was an American actor, who was active between the late 1950s and late 1990s.-Life and career:...
(1963). MFQ spent the next several years touring the U.S. playing college concerts.
MFQ was signed by legendary producer Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
in 1966, and recorded a song, "This Could Be The Night", co-written by Spector and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
. Unfortunately, the record was not released at that time, but Douglas and Nilsson became friends. In the latter half of 1966, Douglas was a member of the short-lived Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
Group, a band featuring the ex-Byrd The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
Gene Clark
Gene Clark
Gene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
, ex-Grass Roots
The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots is an American rock band that charted between 1966 and 1975 as the brainchild of songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.In their career, The Grass Roots achieved two gold albums, one gold single and charted singles a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they...
Joel Larson
Joel Larson
Joel Larson is a rock drummer and percussionist from California. He was born on April 29, 1947 at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. He lived near Lincoln Park until he was 12 years old. He took up drumming at the age of 12 and moved near Avalon Park until he was 17. During these five years he...
, and Bill Rinehart, formerly of The Leaves
The Leaves
The Leaves were an American garage band formed in California in 1963. They are best known for their version of the song "Hey Joe", which was a hit in 1966. Theirs is the earliest release of this song, which became a rock standard.-History:...
. Clark disbanded the group at the end of that year without having recorded or released any records.
The Turtles
When The TurtlesThe Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
' bassist Chuck Portz was fired from the band, Douglas was asked to take his place. His first record with them was "Happy Together
Happy Together (song)
"Happy Together" is a 1967 song from The Turtles' album of the same name. Released in February 1967, the song knocked The Beatles' "Penny Lane" out of the #1 slot for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group's only chart-topper. "Happy Together" reached #12 on the UK Singles Chart in...
", which they'd decided to record after hearing a well-worn demo that had been passed on by numerous other artists. Douglas played bass and did the arrangement that was recorded, and it became a huge hit for The Turtles, ousting The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Penny Lane" from the #1 single position on the American pop charts.
Seeing The Turtles perform at Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in early 1967, The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
Michael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith
Robert Michael Nesmith is an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, best known as a member of the musical group The Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name...
approached Douglas and asked if he'd like to become the new producer for The Monkees, who were tired of the "manufactured" recording setup they'd used thus far. Douglas answered candidly "I've never produced a record in my life." Nesmith (who had produced album tracks for the group, but had little pull with their label Colgems Records
Colgems Records
Colgems Records was a record label which existed from 1966 to 1971. It was a joint venture between Screen Gems, the television division of Columbia Pictures, and RCA Records, to issue records by The Monkees and other artists affiliated with Screen Gems. The label would also issue soundtrack...
) assured him "Don't worry; if you're willing to quit The Turtles, I'll show you everything you need to do."
The Monkees
Douglas accepted Nesmith's offer, and joined The Monkees in the studio, first to create a new single with all four Monkees playing. Unfortunately, it couldn't be released because of a publishing restriction imposed by Screen GemsScreen Gems
Screen Gems is an American movie production company and subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group that has served several different purposes for its parent companies over the decades since its incorporation....
(who both produced The Monkees series and controlled their music publishing). Douglas' next Monkees project was their Headquarters
Headquarters (album)
HeadquartersThe sleeve and record both render the title as The Monkees' Headquarters. was the third album issued by The Monkees and the first written and recorded primarily by the four members of the group, rather than by session musicians and professional songwriters...
album. Recorded over six steady weeks of sessions at the RCA Studios in Hollywood, Headquarters was the first album to feature The Monkees playing on every track, to refute the accusation that they couldn't play their own instruments, and was regarded by all four members as their 'first album'. Douglas contributed a song, "Forget That Girl", and joined them on bass guitar in the studio, freeing Peter Tork
Peter Tork
Peter Tork is an American musician and actor, best known as a member of The Monkees.-Early life:Tork was born Peter Halsten Thorkelson in Washington, D.C.. Although he was born in 1942, many news articles report him as born in 1944 in New York City as this was the date and place given on early...
to play keyboards and guitar. Other sidemen rounded out the sound, but the core was The Monkees themselves. The album was released in the spring of 1967, and began a steady climb up the charts, eventually reaching #1 on Billboard's album chart, but was displaced by the latest Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
.
No singles from Headquarters were issued in the United States, but Douglas nonetheless scored hits working with The Monkees that year, first with "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (written by Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin
Gerry Goffin is an American lyricist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 with former songwriting partner and first wife, Carole King. he has co-written six Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.-Career:Goffin enlisted with the Marine Corps Reserve after graduating from...
and Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
), which featured an innovative guitar intro composed by Douglas and played by Nesmith. Later, Douglas became aware of a song, "Daydream Believer
Daydream Believer
"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. The song was originally recorded by The Monkees, with Davy Jones singing lead vocals. The single hit the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four...
", written by his friend John Stewart. He thought would be perfect for Davy Jones
Davy Jones (actor)
David Thomas "Davy" Jones is an English rock singer-songwriter and actor best known as a member of the Monkees.-Early life:...
, and Tork gave its memorable piano intro. The song became the band's all-time second-biggest single and was included on the next album, 1968's “The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees is the fifth studio album by The Monkees released in April 1968. The first Monkees album not to reach Billboard's number one, instead charting at number three and eventually selling over a million copies.-History:...
”. Douglas was pleased to have made hit records with The Monkees, but was disappointed that they weren't able to erase the common misconception that The Monkees weren’t actually musicians, and that the press took little notice of their accomplishments.
Douglas next produced their album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd., on which he also played bass. Unlike “Headquarters”, it was done in several different studios around the U.S. between Monkees tour dates, and was played by the band and augmented by session musicians. He also introduced the Monkees to Harry Nilsson, who played them a selection of his original songs, and became friends with the band. One of the songs, "Cuddly Toy", was covered by The Monkees, and featured on both the “Pisces” album and an episode of their TV series. Douglas has been quoted as saying, “I like to think I gave Harry his big break, which resulted in a record deal with RCA”.
The Turtles, Revisited
As 1967 ended, The Monkees wanted to take full control of their music, and said farewell to Douglas, who returned to producing The Turtles. The first project was “The Turtles Present The Battle of the Bands” album, the name of which was taken from the title track, co-written by Douglas and Harry Nilsson. It also included two more Turtles’ chart toppers: “Elenore” and “You Showed Me,” which was the last Turtles’ hit.Douglas later performed the song with Gene Clark in 1966, while he was a member of The Gene Clark Group. Originally an uptempo number, the slow, moody arrangement came about by accident. Douglas was demonstrating the song for vocalists Howard Kaylan
Howard Kaylan
Howard Kaylan is an American rock and roll musician, best known as a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s band, The Turtles, and "Eddie" of 1970's rock band Flo & Eddie.-Early days:...
and Mark Volman
Mark Volman
Mark Volman is an American rock and roll singer, best known as a founding member of the 1960s band The Turtles. At times during his career he has used the pseudonym "The Phlorescent Leech"...
, on an organ whose bellows was broken, requiring him to play it slowly. Douglas told them "This isn't the way it's supposed to sound," but Kaylan and Volman disagreed, thinking the new tempo would be perfect — correctly, as it happened.
The Monkees, Revisited
Douglas kept in touch with The Monkees and returned in 1969 to record his composition "Steam Engine", with Micky DolenzMicky Dolenz
George Michael "Micky" Dolenz, Jr. is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a member of the 1960s made-for-television band The Monkees.-Biography:...
on vocals. The song appeared in reruns of their TV show.
In 1976, Douglas re-teamed with Dolenz, Jones and Tork to record the single, “Christmas is My Time of Year”, co-written by Douglas and Howard Kaylan. By then, Nesmith was no longer affiliated with the group.
In 1986, a Monkees reunion tour reawakened interest in the band, and Rhino Records reissued all their original albums, including their work with Douglas.
Douglas has appeared in several documentaries about The Monkees, reminiscing about his work with the band.
Post Monkees
The Modern Folk Quartet reunited in 1975 and began to perform again, often appearing at the famed Ice House in Pasadena, California. For several years, they teamed up with ex-Kingston Trio member, Dave GuardDave Guard
Donald David "Dave" Guard was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio.Guard was educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Punahou School in what was then the pre-statehood U.S....
, to back him in his solo act. In the eighties, MFQ recorded several albums for a Japanese record company. They've also toured Japan, where they remain popular (2003 and 2011).
Douglas continues to write and produce records in a variety of genres, and divides his time between California and Hawaii.