The Monkees (album)

For the TV series, see The Monkees (TV series).

The Monkees
Studio album by The Monkees
Released	October 10, 1966
Recorded	July 1966
Genre	Rock
Length	30:00
Label	Colgems (US) RCA Victor (UK) (Canada)
Producer	Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller, Michael Nesmith
The Monkees chronology
The Monkees (1966) More of the Monkees (1967)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Answers.com

The Monkees is the first album by the band The Monkees. It was released in October 1966 by Colgems Records in the United States and RCA Records in the rest of the world. It was the first of four consecutive U.S. number one albums for the group, taking the top spot on the Billboard 200 for 13 weeks. It also topped the UK charts in 1967. The Monkees has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, with sales of over five million copies.

The song "Last Train to Clarksville" was released as a single shortly before the release of the album and went to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the only hit single from the album. "I'll Be True to You" was previously released as a single by The Hollies in January 1965 under the title "Yes I Will".

Album cover

Misprint

Early pressings of the album cover and Side 1 label featured a misspelling of "Papa Gene's Blues" as "Papa Jean's Blues".

Front cover photo

The front cover shows (l-r) Mike, Micky, Peter and Davy. While the latter three are smiling, Mike Nesmith appears to be either scowling or talking. He was starting to get impatient as the photo session was taking longer than expected. There are two accounts as to the end result. One is that Mike told the photographer to wait until he counted to three to take the photo; as he started saying "three", the photo was snapped. The other account is that Mike gave the photographer a count of ten to take the photo or he was leaving; the photo was snapped as Mike was saying "six".

Back cover

The photos in the "film strip" on the left side of the back cover are from two episodes of The Monkees' TV show. The first three photos are from "Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers", the other two are from the episode "The Spy Who Came In From The Cool". Also included are brief stats of the Monkees.

When the album was reissued in 1969 the Colgems symbol replaced the word "Colgems" on the bottom right-hand corner of the reverse side.

Original album track listing

All tracks composed by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, except where indicated

Side 1

1. "(Theme From) The Monkees"
2. "Saturday's Child" (David Gates)
3. "I Wanna Be Free"
4. "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" (Boyce, Steve Venet)
5. "Papa Gene's Blues" (Michael Nesmith)
6. "Take a Giant Step" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King)

Side 2

1. "Last Train to Clarksville"
2. "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day"
3. "Let's Dance On"
4. "I'll Be True to You" (Goffin, Russ Titelman)
5. "Sweet Young Thing" (Goffin, King, Nesmith)
6. "Gonna Buy Me a Dog"

1994 Rhino reissue CD bonus tracks

13. "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (Previously unreleased early version)
14. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Previously unreleased early version) (Goffin, King)
15. "(Theme from) The Monkees" (Previously unreleased early version)

2006 Rhino deluxe edition CD bonus tracks

The following tracks were included on the 2006 deluxe edition of the album. Some were previously unreleased, while others were on the 1994 Rhino reissue or the Missing Links series. Studio chatter is included between some bonus tracks.

Disc One

Tracks 1-12: Original Album in Stereo

Tracks 13-21: Bonus Tracks

13. "(Theme From) The Monkees" (Second Recorded Version)
14. "The Kind of Girl I Could Love" (Alternate Mix)
15. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Micky's Vocal)
16. "So Goes Love"
17. "Papa Gene's Blues" (Alternate Mix)
18. "I Can Get Her Off My Mind"
19. "(I Prithee) Do Not Ask for Love" (Alternate Mix, Davy's Vocal)
20. "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" (Backing Track)

Disc Two

Tracks 1-12: Original Album in Mono

Tracks 13-20: Bonus Tracks

13. "Kellogg's Jingle"
14. "All The King's Horses"
15. "You Just May be The One" (TV Version)
16. "I Wanna Be Free" (Fast Version)
17. "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Mike's Vocal)
18. "I Won't Be the Same Without Her" (Mono Mix)
19. "Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care)" (Demo Version)
20. "(Theme From) The Monkees" (TV Version)

Session information

"(Theme From) The Monkees"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 5, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"Saturday's Child"

• Written by David Gates (later a member of the band Bread)
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Tambourine: Gene Estes
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"I Wanna Be Free"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Acoustic guitar: Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton
• Harpsichord: Michael Rubini
• Violin: Bonnie Douglas and Paul Shure
• Viola: Myra Kestenbuam
• Cello: Fred Seykora
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 19, 1966 (2– 7:30 PM)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Steve Venet
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
• Electric guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Harmonica: Keith Allison
• Tambourine: unknown
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"Papa Gene's Blues"

• Written by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Harmony Vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, James Helms and Don Peake
• Bass: William Pitman
• Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, and Jim Gordon
• Percussion: Gary Coleman
• Recorded at Western Recorders Studio 2, Hollywood, July 7, 1966 (8– 11:30 pm)
• Produced by Michael Nesmith

"Take a Giant Step"

• Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
• Electric guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes
• Glockenspiel: Bobby Hart
• Piano: Jack Keller
• Harpsichord: Michael Rubini
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• An alternate mix of this song, with different backing vocals and with Micky's lead not double-tracked, was featured on the TV series episode "The Chaperone."

"Last Train to Clarksville"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
• Electric Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes and David Walters
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7 pm-3 am)
• Released as a single, reached number 1 on the pop music charts
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

"This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes
• Cello: Joseph Ditullio
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 6, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller
• A slightly longer version of this song, featuring an extended instrumental break in the middle of the song, was used in the episodes "The Chaperone" and "The Royal Flush."

"Let's Dance On"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
• Backing Vocals by Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce and Ron Hicklin
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Organ: Bobby Hart
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 6, 1966 (2– 7:30 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller

"I'll Be True to You"

• Written by Gerry Goffin and Russ Titelman
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Glockenspiel: Bobby Hart
• Percussion: Gene Estes
• Unknown Backing Vocals
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, July 9, 1966 (2-9 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller
• The mono version features Davy's vocals double-tracked, reduced to a single track for the stereo version
• This was the only track from this album not to be featured in any episodes of the TV show
• Originally titled "Yes I Will".
• A slightly different version appears on the Rhino/Flashback CD "Last Train From Clarksville And Other Hits".

"Sweet Young Thing"

• Written by Michael Nesmith, Gerry Goffin, Carole King
• Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
• Backing vocals by Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork
• Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey and Michael Deasy
• Fiddle: Jimmy Bryant
• Bass: Bob West
• Drums: Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, and Jim Gordon
• Percussion: Gary Coleman
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 18, 1966 (8 pm-12 am)
• Produced by Michael Nesmith

"Gonna Buy Me a Dog"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocals by Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton
• Organ: Bobby Hart
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio #1, Hollywood, July 23, 1966 (2-8 pm)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• At the very end of the song, Davy can be heard to sing "They're Coming to Take Us Away, Ha Ha.." referring to the July 1966 novelty hit by Napoleon XIV, "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!", which radio stations were beginning to ban from airplay.

CD bonus tracks

"I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (alternate take)

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal by Davy Jones
• Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gery McGee, and Louie Shelton
• Piano and autoharp: Bobby Hart
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes and David Walters
• Recorded at RCA Victor studios, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7 pm-3 am)
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Later re-recorded by The Monkees and used on Headquarters

"I Don't Think You Know Me"

• Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
• Lead vocals by Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith
• Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, and Al Casey
• Organ: Larry Knechtel
• Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon
• Unknown backing vocals
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, July 25, 1966 (7:30 pm– 12:15 am)
• Produced by Michael Nesmith
• Two mixes were made of this song. The first featured Micky on vocals and was mixed by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Mike recorded his own vocals later that year.

"(Theme From) The Monkees"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Vocals by Micky Dolenz, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Other personnel unknown
• Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• In another key than the album version
• Recording info unknown

"You Just May Be The One"

• Written and produced by Michael Nesmith
• Lead vocals by Mike Nesmith
• Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, and Al Casey
• Bass: Robert West
• Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
• The song features the doubling of regular bass with Danelectro or "dano" bass, played by one of the other guitarists; the dano bass' distinctive twang gave Mike's 1966 tracks a country flavor. The doubling of bass proved difficult to master as some 35 takes were needed before the backing track was completed.
• The song was featured on three episodes of the TV series - "The Chaperone," "One Man Shy," and "Monkees A La Mode."

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1966	Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200)	1
1967
1967	UK Albums Chart	1

Other personnel

• Engineered by Hank Cicalo and David Hassinger
• Music Supervisor: Don Kirshner
• Music Coordinators: Lester Sill and Emil LaViola
• Cover Photo by Bernard Yeszin

References

• Liner notes, 2006 reissue of The Monkees
• The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation by Andrew Sandoval

Preceded by Dr. Zhivago (soundtrack) by Maurice Jarre	Billboard 200 number-one album November 12, 1966 - February 10, 1967	Succeeded by More of The Monkees by The Monkees
Preceded by The Sound of Music (soundtrack)	UK Albums Chart number-one album February 4, 1967 - March 18, 1967	Succeeded by The Sound of Music (soundtrack)

External links

• The Monkees (1966)