Tag Archives: The Monkees

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.

The Monkees: Same

the_monkees-first-album

On October 10, 1966, “Colgems” label released the self-titled, debut  Monkees (The) album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller and Michael Nesmith. The album has been certified 5 Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith – lead vocals
  • Davy Jones – lead and backing vocals
  • Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, James Helms, Don Peake Louie Shelton – guitars
  • Larry Taylor, William Pitman, Bob West – bass
  • Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey – bass
  • Billy Lewis, Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, Jim Gordon – drums
  • Gene Estes, Gary Coleman, David Walters, Jim Gordon – percussion
  • Bobby Hart – organ
  • Jack Keller, Larry Knechtel – piano
  • Michael Rubini – harpsichord
  • Bob Cooper – oboe
  • Keith Allison – harmonica
  • Bobby Hart – glockenspiel
  • Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure – violin
  • Myra Kestenbuam – viola
  • Fred Seykora, Joseph Ditullio – cello
  • Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Gerry McGee , Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. (Theme from) The Monkees – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  2. Saturdays’s Child – David Gates
  3. I Wanna Be Free – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  4. Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day – Tommy Boyce and Steve Venet
  5. Papa Gene’s Blues – Michael Nesmith
  6. Take a Giant Step – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  7. Last Train to Clarksville – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  8. This Just Doesn’t Seem to Be My Day – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  9. Let’s Dance On – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  10. I’ll Be True to You – Gerry Goffin, Russ Titelman
  11. Sweet Young Thing – Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Michael Nesmith
  12. Gonna Buy Me a Dog – Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

 

Earl Palmer

On September 19, 2008, Earl Palmer died aged 84. He was musician (drums),  in his long career has worked with The Beach Boys, Little Richard, Frank Sinatra, Ike And Tina Turner,The Monkees, Fats Domino, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, The Righteous Brothers, Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Buckley, Little Feat and Elvis Costello.