The Monkees Present
Encyclopedia
The Monkees Present is The Monkees
' eighth album.
By the time recording had begun in earnest for this album, the Monkees had passed their popularity peak, and as Screen Gems cared less and less about the Monkees' activities, the members were given more control over the creation of this, the second album released after the departure of Peter Tork
, and the last to feature Michael Nesmith
until 1996's Justus
. Unlike Instant Replay
, all but two of the songs were brand new, and the album was accompanied by a strong advertising push (including a cross promotion with Kool-Aid
) and a tour with 'Sam & The Goodtimers' - a seven-piece R&B backing band. This was their last attempt at commercial viability, reaching only #100 on Billboard weekly. Shortly after the album's release, Nesmith announced that he was leaving the group for a solo career.
The original plan was to release a double album which devoted one side to each member of the group, who by now were recording virtually as solo artists, but with Tork now gone, and record sales waning, the decision was made to pare the track selection down to a single disc.
The album featured two singles, ""Listen To The Band", b/w the non-LP song "Someday Man"; and "Good Clean Fun
" b/w "Mommy And Daddy", which upon release in September 1969 reached #82 in USA, but failed to chart in the UK. Both singles gave the Monkees their last hits in Australia, reaching #15 and #26 respectively.
Note: Tracks marked with * were featured on the CBS & ABC reruns of The Monkees from 1969 to 1972.
did. "Looking For the Good Times", another leftover Boyce and Hart tune from 1966, is highlighted by Micky and Davy sharing vocals.
. Ironically, "Listen to the Band" was originally performed with Peter Tork on their NBC TV Special 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee early that same year. That version differs greatly from the single or album release.
"Good Clean Fun" is a country-rock/rockabilly number; as with many Nesmith tunes the title has no obvious relation to the lyrics.
"Oklahoma Backroom Dancer", another Mike tune, boasts a honky-tonk piano and an upbeat rhythm.
"Never Tell a Woman Yes", a lilting piano-driven tale of a man who passes on a woman's invitation to travel with her, regrets it when he finds out she's rich, and then ultimately gets rewarded when she comes to find him after having been robbed by another man.
"Mommy and Daddy" finds Micky overtly tackling the political issue of the treatment of American Indians. The album version was dramatically toned down from the original, which also touched on drug use, war, sexual reproduction, social ignorance and the JFK assassination.
Micky also offers up "Little Girl", a fast-paced, jazzy tune, and the harmonica-driven "Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye". "Pillow Time", a jazzy fairytale lullaby, co-written by Micky's mother.
"Calico Girlfriend Samba" is an uptempo track that Mike reused on his solo debut, Magnetic South
.
"The Good Earth" is an anonymous poem dramatically recited by Davy.
"Listen to the Band" is presented in a highly similar earlier version.
The original version of Mommy and Daddy (mentioned above) is also included.
Finally, there is a contemporary radio ad for the album aimed squarely at a younger audience tired of parents and authority figures who don't understand them.
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,...
' eighth album.
By the time recording had begun in earnest for this album, the Monkees had passed their popularity peak, and as Screen Gems cared less and less about the Monkees' activities, the members were given more control over the creation of this, the second album released after the departure of 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...
, and the last to feature 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...
until 1996's Justus
Justus (album)
Justus is the eleventh and final studio album by The Monkees, recorded in celebration of their 30th anniversary. This album featured the return of Michael Nesmith. This was the first Monkees album since Head was released in 1968 to feature all four Monkees...
. Unlike Instant Replay
Instant Replay
Instant replay is the process of replaying previously occurred events through the use of video technology.Instant replay may also refer to:*Instant replay in American football*Instant Replay , 1969...
, all but two of the songs were brand new, and the album was accompanied by a strong advertising push (including a cross promotion with Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid is a brand of flavored drink mix owned by the Kraft Foods Company.-History:Kool-Aid was invented by Edwin Perkins in Hastings, Nebraska, United States. All of his experiments took place in his mother's kitchen. Its predecessor was a liquid concentrate called Fruit Smack...
) and a tour with 'Sam & The Goodtimers' - a seven-piece R&B backing band. This was their last attempt at commercial viability, reaching only #100 on Billboard weekly. Shortly after the album's release, Nesmith announced that he was leaving the group for a solo career.
The original plan was to release a double album which devoted one side to each member of the group, who by now were recording virtually as solo artists, but with Tork now gone, and record sales waning, the decision was made to pare the track selection down to a single disc.
The album featured two singles, ""Listen To The Band", b/w the non-LP song "Someday Man"; and "Good Clean Fun
Good Clean Fun
Good Clean Fun is a hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. who took their band name from the Descendents song of the same name.-History:...
" b/w "Mommy And Daddy", which upon release in September 1969 reached #82 in USA, but failed to chart in the UK. Both singles gave the Monkees their last hits in Australia, reaching #15 and #26 respectively.
Side 1
- "Little Girl" (Micky Dolenz) *
- "Good Clean Fun" (Michael Nesmith) *
- "If I Knew" (Bill ChadwickBill ChadwickWilliam Leroy "The Big Whistle" Chadwick was the first US-born referee to serve in the National Hockey League...
/David Jones) * - "Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye" (Micky Dolenz/Ric Klein) *
- "Never Tell A Woman Yes" (Michael Nesmith)
- "Looking For The Good Times" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart) *
Side 2
- "Ladies Aid Society" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart)
- "Listen To The Band" (Michael Nesmith) *
- "French Song" (Bill Chadwick) *
- "Mommy and Daddy" (Micky Dolenz)
- "Oklahoma Backroom Dancer" (Michael Martin MurpheyMichael Martin MurpheyMichael Martin Murphey is an American singer-songwriter best known for writing and performing Western music, Country music, and Popular music. A multiple Grammy nominee, Murphey has six gold albums, including Cowboy Songs, the first album of cowboy music to achieve gold status since Gunfighter...
) * - "Pillow Time" (Janelle Scott/Matt Willis)
Note: Tracks marked with * were featured on the CBS & ABC reruns of The Monkees from 1969 to 1972.
The Material
"Ladies Aid Society", with its falsetto choruses, is a Boyce and Hart composition left over from 1966 which was an attempt to capture the same spirit of pastoral, suburban Britain that The KinksThe Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
did. "Looking For the Good Times", another leftover Boyce and Hart tune from 1966, is highlighted by Micky and Davy sharing vocals.
Davy's Songs
After Instant Replay, Davy returns to light ballads, singing "If I Knew" and "French Song", with lounge-like instrumentation on the latter.Mike's Songs
Mike's "Listen to the Band", though not a huge hit at the time, has become a sort of theme for the group. Though Nesmith claims the lyrics weren't a plea to be judged on musical merit, people nonetheless chose to view them that way. Rhino records even chose the song's title as the name of the group's box set released in April of 1991. Mike would later re-record it with his own group The First National BandFirst National Band
The First National Band was a short-lived American collaborative band, led by former Monkee Michael Nesmith, which issued three albums in the country rock genre in 1970–1971.-Pre-First National Band:...
. Ironically, "Listen to the Band" was originally performed with Peter Tork on their NBC TV Special 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee early that same year. That version differs greatly from the single or album release.
"Good Clean Fun" is a country-rock/rockabilly number; as with many Nesmith tunes the title has no obvious relation to the lyrics.
"Oklahoma Backroom Dancer", another Mike tune, boasts a honky-tonk piano and an upbeat rhythm.
"Never Tell a Woman Yes", a lilting piano-driven tale of a man who passes on a woman's invitation to travel with her, regrets it when he finds out she's rich, and then ultimately gets rewarded when she comes to find him after having been robbed by another man.
Micky's Songs
Micky's songwriting potential comes to a head with "Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye", "Little Girl", and "Mommy and Daddy", the latter of which Peter later said he was sorry to have missed."Mommy and Daddy" finds Micky overtly tackling the political issue of the treatment of American Indians. The album version was dramatically toned down from the original, which also touched on drug use, war, sexual reproduction, social ignorance and the JFK assassination.
Micky also offers up "Little Girl", a fast-paced, jazzy tune, and the harmonica-driven "Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye". "Pillow Time", a jazzy fairytale lullaby, co-written by Micky's mother.
1995 Rhino reissue CD bonus tracks
There are two original tracks, two alternate versions, and an advertisement.- "Calico Girlfriend Samba" (Previously Unissued) (Michael Nesmith)
- "The Good Earth" (Previously Unissued)
- "Listen to the Band" (Single version)
- "Mommy and Daddy" (Previously Unissued Alternate Mix)
- "Monkees Present Radio Promo"
"Calico Girlfriend Samba" is an uptempo track that Mike reused on his solo debut, Magnetic South
Magnetic South
Magnetic South could refer to* Magnetic South Pole* South Pole* Magnetic South an album from Michael Nesmith...
.
"The Good Earth" is an anonymous poem dramatically recited by Davy.
"Listen to the Band" is presented in a highly similar earlier version.
The original version of Mommy and Daddy (mentioned above) is also included.
Finally, there is a contemporary radio ad for the album aimed squarely at a younger audience tired of parents and authority figures who don't understand them.