Tag Archives: The Monkees

The Monkees: Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. 

On November 6, 1967, “Colgems” label released “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.”, the fourth Monkees (The) album. It was recorded April – October 1967, at “RCA Victor” in Hollywood, “RCA Victor” in New York, “Western Recorders No. 1” in Hollywood, “American Recording Company” in Studio City, “United Recorders A” in Hollywood, and was produced by Chip Douglas.

Personnel:

  • Michael Nesmith – lead and backing vocals, guitar, shaker, acoustic and electric guitar, tremolo electric guitar, percussion
  • Micky Dolenz – lead and backing vocals, harmony vocals, percussion, drums, Moog synthesizer, intro chatter
  • Davy Jones – lead and backing vocals, percussion, tambourine, intro chatter
  • Peter Tork – lead and backing vocals, spoken word, organ, keyboards, piano
  • Chip Douglas – acoustic guitar, nylon-string guitar, guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Eddie Hoh – drums, percussion, claves
  • Kim Capli – guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums, shaker, cowbell, claves, other percussion
  • Doug Dillard – banjo 
  • Bill Chadwick – acoustic guitar
  • Bob Rafelson – piano intro
  • Bill Martin – intro chatter
  • Charlie Rockett – intro chatter
  • Paul Beaver – Moog synthesizer
  • Jim Horn – baritone sax
  • Pete Candoli – trumpet
  • Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Manny Stevens – trumpet
  • Dick Noel – trombone
  • Dick Leith – bass trombone
  • Philip Teele – bass trombone
  • Bobby Knight – bass trombone
  • Ted Nash – reeds, winds
  • Tom Scott – reeds, winds
  • Bud Shank – reeds, winds
  • Vincent DeRosa – French horn
  • Ollie Mitchell – flugelhorn
  • Anthony Terran – flugelhorn
  • Leonard Atkins – violin
  • Arnold Belnick – violin
  • Nathan Kaproff – violin
  • Wilbert Nuttycombe – violin
  • Jerome Reisler – violin
  • Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • Edgar Lustgarten – cello

Track listing:

  1. Salesman – Craig Vincent Smith
  2. She Hangs Out – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
  3. The Door into Summer – Chip Douglas, Bill Martin
  4. Love Is Only Sleeping – Barry Mann, Cynthia Well
  5. Cuddly Toy – Harry Nilsson
  6. Words – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  7. Hard to Believe – Davy Jones, Kim Capli, Eddie Brick, Charlie Rockett
  8. What Am I Doing Hangin’ Round? – Michael Martin Murphey, Owen Castleman
  9. Peter Percival Patterson’s Pet Pig Porky – Peter Tork
  10. Pleasant Valley Sunday – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  11. Daily Nightly – Michael Nesmith
  12. Don’t Call on Me – Michael Nesmith, John London

The Monkees: Headquarters

On May 22, 1967, “Colgems” label released “Headquarters”, the third Monkees (The) studio album. It was recorded February – April 1967, and was produced by Chip Douglas.

Personnel:

  • Micky Dolenz – vocals, drums, zither, electric rhythm guitar, shaker, timpani
  • Michael Nesmith – vocals; electric and acoustic lead, rhythm, and 12-string guitars, steel guitar, organ
  • Peter Tork – vocals; acoustic 12-string and electric guitars; piano, organ, celeste, electric piano, bass, banjo
  • Davy Jones – vocals, percussion
  • Chip Douglas – bass, backing vocals
  • John London – bass
  • Jerry Yester – bass
  • Vincent DeRosa – French horn
  • Frederick Seykora – cello
  • Hank Cicalo – engineer

Track listing:

  1. You Told Me – Michael Nesmith
  2. I’ll Spend My Life with You – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  3. Forget That Girl – Douglas Farthing Hatlelid
  4. Band 6 – Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
  5. You Just May the One – Michael Nesmith, Bobby Hart
  6. Shades of Grey – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  7. I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  8. For Pete’s Sake – Peter Tork, Joey Richards
  9. Mr. Webster – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  10. Sunny Girlfriend – Michael Nesmith
  11. Zilch – Micky Dolanz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork
  12. No Time – Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, Hank Cicalo
  13. Early Morning Blues and Greens – Diane Hilderbrand, Jack Keller
  14. Randy Soouse Git – Micky Dolenz

Peter Tork

On February 21, 2019, Peter Halsten Thorkelson aka Peter Tork, died aged 77. He was musician (keyboards, piano, bass guitar, banjo, guitar), songwriter and actor, performed with James Lee Stanley and his band Shoe Suede Blues, recorded wit George Harrison, formed the band Peter Tork Release, but was best known as keyboards and bass player of The Monkees. As leader Tork released one album.

Michael Nesmith

On December 10, 2021, Robert Michael Nesmith died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and novelist. Nesmith was member of the bands The Strangers and The First National Band, but was known as member of The Monkees. In 1981, he won the first “Grammy Award” given for “Video of the Year” for his hour-long television show “Elephant Parts”.

Lawrence Knechtel

On August 20, 2009, Lawrence William Knechtel died aged 69. He was a musician (keyboards, bass), a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians, and the band Bread. He recorded with big number of renowned artists including Elvis Presley, The Byrds, Barbra Streisand, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Cher, Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Mamas & the Papas, The Monkees, the Partridge Family, Paul Simon, Chet Baker, Jerry Garcia, Dave mason, Nancy Sinatra, Howard Roberts, Thelma Houston, Glen Campbell, Peter Allen, Barry Mann, Lalo Schifrin, Jimmy Webb, José Feliciano, Jackie DeShannon, Brian Cadd, Bobby Darin, Art Garfunkel, Stephen Bishop, David Clayton-Thomas, Billy Joel, Barry McGuire, Paul Young, Dolly Parton, Al Kooper, Johnny Rivers, John Denver, Chet Atkins, Helen Reddy, Joan Baez, Alen Roth, and Neil Diamond. Knechtel released two solo albums.

Larry Taylor

On August 19, 2019, Samuel Lawrence Taylor aka Larry Taylor died aged 77. He was musician (bass), best known as a member of Canned Heat. He recorded and performed with a big number of musicians and bands, including The Gamblers, The Monkees, Jerry Lee Lewis, Boyce & Hart, Sunnyland Slim, Don “Sugarcane” Harris, Albert King, Leo Kotke, The Ventures, Shakey Jake Harris, Free Creek, Louis Myers, Mike “Hollywood Fats” Mann, The Grandmothers, Colin Winski, Chuck E. Weiss, John Lee Hooker, John Hammond Jr., Ry Cooder, Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Wilson, Sam Phillips, Terry Evans, JJ Cale, Randy Resnick, Al Blake, Dale Hawkins, Kelly Joe Phelps, Tracy Chapman, Wanda Jackson, Buddy Guy, Chris Murphy, Solomon Burke, Harvey Mandel, John Mayall, and Tom Waits.

The Monkees: Justus

On October 15, 1996, “Rhino” label released “Justus”, the eleventh Monkees (The) studio album.  It was recorded in celebration of their 30th anniversary, in June – August 1996, at “NRG Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith.

Personnel:

  • Michael Nesmith – vocals, guitars
  • Peter Tork – vocals, bass, keyboards
  • Micky Dolenz- vocals, drums
  • Davy Jones- vocals, percussion
  • Michael McDonald – engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Bob Bullock – engineer
  • Terry Bates, Grant Greene, Steve Mixdorf – engineer assistant
  • Tim Gerron – mixing assistant

Track listing:

  1. Circle Sky – Michael Nesmith
  2. Never Enough – Micky Dolenz
  3. Oh, What a Night – Davy Jones
  4. You and I – Micky Dolenz, David Jones
  5. Unlucky Stars – Micky Dolenz
  6. Admiral Mike – Michael Nesmith
  7. Dyin’ of a Broken Heart – Micky Dolenz
  8. Regional Girl – Micky Dolenz
  9. Run Away from Life – Peter Tork
  10. I Believe You – Peter Tork
  11. It’s My Life – Micky Dolenz
  12. It’s Not Too Late – David Jones

Glen Campbell

On August 8, 2017, Glen Travis Campbell died aged 81. He was country and rock singer, musician, songwriter, television host, and actor. Campbell released more than 70 albums; sold 45 million records and won 12 “RIAA” Gold albums, four Platinum and one double-Platinum album. In 1967 Campbell won four “Grammy Awards” in the country and pop categories. In 2000, 2004 and 2009, Campbell won “Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and in 2012, he won the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”. He also won awards for “Male Vocalist of the Year” the “Country Music Association (CMA)” and the “Academy of Country Music (ACM)”, and took the “CMA’s” top award as 1968 Entertainer of the Year. In his 50 years long career, Campbell has recorded and performed with many famous musicians including Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, The Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, Merle Haggard,  Jan and Dean, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Phil Spector, Ricky Nelson and The Beach Boys.

Hugh McCracken

On March 28, 2013, Hugh C. McCracken died aged 70. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), arranger and producer, best known as session musician. McCracken  recorded with Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Four Seasons, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, Jerry Jemmott, Dr. John, Gary Wright, Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Monkees, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Linda McCartney, Ron Carter, Rusty Bryant, Marlena Shaw, Deodato, Carly Simon and Andy Gibb. From 1969-1972, McCracken was member of Mike Mainieri’s White Elephant Orchestra.