COMING SOON: Monkees Album Release Dates (comparing them with The Beatles, Beach Boys...)

It likely won't take days or all that many hours, but after seeing the common quote from media interviewing some of The Monkees, talking about how they outsold The Beatles and BB's (or The Rolling Stones?) combined.

It makes me want to look back at release dates of The Monkees albums and when certain Beatles, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones..maybe Hendrix and The Who (and Pink Floyd and Zeppelin perhaps)

Also some of the British Invasion and West Coast Psych/Jam bands. CSNY for example per Peter Tork's friendship with Stephen Stills.

I know the Monkees guys went over to England when The Beatles were making Sgt.Peppers, so the thought might be, what was the latest Monkees album out at that time?

I also may try and look at TV Air Dates with the likes of Star Trek (TOS) and maybe Batman as those are 2 shows The Monkees show sort of get associated with. I think some of the scenes were shot at the  same studio, and the same production company? etc.

I may even check out the ole tviv.org with TV Lineups when the show aired.

Curiosity and recreational research I guess.

hopefully sooner than later (maybe before the Mike and Micky show on 3/14?)

Meaningful Songs: The Monkees - A Better World (PETER TORK)

The Monkees - A Better World

Ever since learning of Peter Tork's death the other day I and maybe even moreso my wife thought of him and THIS SONG.

See, my Monkees-lifer wife felt that THIS song "A Better World" was actually the best or her favorite track from the much praised Good Times! from 2016.

And it seems to receive very little to no love or attention!

It's really wonderful. The string arrangement, the sort of sad, cynical and in some way optimistic way it sounds and the lyrics specifically.

And so in thinking about Peter, this tune does not seem to leave my head. 


IT WASN'T EVEN ON THE STANDARD GOOD TIMES! BUT ONLY A BLEEPING BONUS TRACK!

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I dunno, I love a lot of Good Times!

Birth of an Accidental Hipster, You Bring the Summer, She Makes Me Laugh, Me and Magdalena and some others...

but I may be siding with my wife now.

This is such a haunting, sad, beautiful tune.

And Peter never performed it live, I don't think. Not with The Monkees anyway, maybe at 1 of those solo shows he did in 2016 or 2017? I'd have to look it up.

It is kind of haunting me now..like his or his brother Nick's feeling about food and Global Food supplies. Why are people starving when there's more than enough food to go around.

It reminds me of "Earth Song" from Michael Jackson or a conversation I had with Johan Hallgren of Pain of Salvation in 2002 or 2004 at ProgPower USA.

In this song, it seems we are in a "Better World" and like Star Trek alludes to, starvation and famine are gone. A thing of the distant past, etc.

"Joytown" from Kevin Gilbert also comes to mind. Sort of a dream/fantasy utopia in some ways.

Rest in Peace Peter. Hopefully this song will reach even just more Monkees fans now posthumously.
I'm sure now you are living in this "Better World."

Maybe your brother Nick will at least be around to see that.


Bonus track from The Monkees' 2016 album GOOD TIMES
Credits Written by Nick Thorkelson
Peter Tork – Vocals, Guitars and Percussion
Micky Dolenz and Coco Dolenz – Backing Vocals
Joe Boyle – Lead Guitar, Bass and Backing Vocals
Sturgis Cunningham – Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals
Katlin Wolfberg, Corinne Olsen, Emily Elkins and Eliza James – String Quartet


A Better World"

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken-hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start, so start

The way we live is funny
Anyone can see it’s gonna
Take more than money
It’s gonna take all we got
The way we live is tragic
Anyone can tell it’s gonna
Take more than magic
But believe it or not

There’s more than enough
To feed all the hungry
With enough heart and soul
And if we don’t tire
We can bring this about
It’s not just my imagination
It’s not just you and me
And it’s not just two or three
It’s the whole wide world
On fire

You’ll get your money back
Your heart’s desire

A better world is needed
I believe anyone can see it
A better world is coming
If we live as we believe
A better world is started
No need to be broken hearted
No need for longing
We can have all we need

There’s more than enough (There’s more than enough)
To feed all the hungry
To mend every broken heart
We can bring this about
If we mean it
It’s not gonna be easy
So start, so start

Whole wide world
On fire
Whole wide world
On fire

Rest in Peace PETER TORK

article



Rest in Peace Peter Tork aka Peter Thorkelson from The Monkees.

He had a form of Throat Cancer I guess, for many years.

2009 per Wikipedia anyway.

So my wife is a LIFER Monkees fan (and Michael Nesmith), and ever since meeting her in 2011, I have been brought-in to the world of The Monkees beyond the casual knowledge and experience I had had previously.

And when Davy Jones passed away in 2012, while Davy was her least favorite of the band, she still took it hard. Still to this day it seems they have been missing Davy a lot, even if the full Monkees lineup with Nesmith only happened once on tour in 1996 in Europe.  The American leg Mike left and so for those looking to finally see Nez with The Monkees in the States, it didn't happen, etc.

And Mike was planning on returning as he did in 2012.

Anyway, Peter while hardly a favorite of her and I suppose myself now, was always someone to like. My favorites from him are Can You Dig It! Shades of Gray and For Pete's Sake off the top of my head.

Peter was like Mike, one of the experienced/trained musicians in the band. And I always get that sense about him with the music. The music and songwriting was important, especially after they wrote the majority of their tunes.

Also the fact he attended college at Carleton gives Peter Tork(elson) a local connection.

I guess I am very saddened to hear about this, but at least he's at peace now. I can only imagine how difficult it got at times, living with that condition for a decade.

I wonder if on the upcoming Mike and Micky shows (including March 14th at Mystic Lake in Prior Lake, MN) if they will pay homage/tribute to Peter. Maybe play some of HIS songs live. Even perhaps a video montage.

He's up there in heaven jamming with Davy now.

Rest in Peace Peter!

Rest in Peace John Wetton

Teamrock.com


The progressive rock and classic rock have a lot of aging musicians unfortunately, although with John Wetton, his medical battles have been well chronicled for many years. On more than 1 occasion I know he had to bow out of gigs with Asia in the last 10 years.

I guess beyond the Cancer he just succumbed to, Alcoholism and Heart Disease.

Because he has been such a beloved talent spanning talents with King Crimson, U.K., Asia and I was unaware, Uriah Heap and Roxy Music among others.

He had a big, deep voice, that you always knew was him. His bass playing also came among his talents, just within the Crimson work he did.

I sadly never got to see him, but I may have to pursue more of the Crimson and U.K. live work.

Greg Lake, Keith Emerson and now John...and Chris Squire. 3 of the most recognizable bassists in progressive rock have left us in less than 2 years.

And all to Cancer no less.

And for that matter, 2 of the vocalists from King Crimson. I hope Adrian Belew is okay.

I would like to make a list of living musicians and/or celebrities with Cancer and try and celebrate them now, while they are still alive. Peter Tork for example.

I wonder with Lake and Wetton passing, might that push some ability to have King Crimson get on the Rock Hall ballot next Fall? or ELP of course as well (Keith Emerson's loss adding to that as well). it shouldn't take something like this, but it might at least give some kind of consolation.

Rest in Peace John Wetton. I'll sadly never get to see U.K. live either, =\.

The Monkees (per 2016 50th Anniv): Working with Andy Partridge (XTC) and others?

1966 was the year The Monkees released their 1st album and the TV Show premiered in September. So, 2016 is the 50th Anniversary of that.

So, obviously the thought is, for a 50-year anniversary they may be planning to do something special. Obviously it could be a tour or 2, with Mike, but Mike has done that a couple of times in the last couple of years. So another thought is, they'll record some new music, something they haven't done in 20 years, since 1996's Justus.

So a few weeks ago my Monkees-aholic fiancee noticed Adam Schlesinger post a pic with Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz. And so the idea of The Monkees recording a new album with a producer perhaps, and perhaps it being Adam came up.

And now just today, Andy Partridge of XTC posted the below post about writing songs for The Monkees on twitter.

So, it begs the question or questions, what does this mean? Could they make a new album like they did in the 60's, with top-notch songwriters of today (or recent day, XTC of course was most active/well-known for their work in the 80's. Fountains of Wayne even has been a bit out of the game the last 10 years).

And Andy Partridge likely is someone Mike would be familiar with, at least stylistically, XTC and Andy's stuff is odd and quirky, even if it is still poppy.

I guess we'll see, but as a Monkees fan, and being engaged to a rather fanatical Monkees fan, this is certainly intriguing news. Who else could they be working with? Matt Mahaffey? Ben Folds? Dug Pinnick? (he's also been pictued  backstage at 1 a show with Christian and Mike Nesmith) Michael Stipe? (known fan)..my 1st choice might be Casey Crescenzo, although the odds I'm sure are very unlikely.

I also can't help but think if Kevin Gilbert were alive, he would have a chance to work with them, and the results could have been through the roof, at least in potential

XTC's twitter link

The news from the Monkees camp is positive on the songs I wrote for them,will keep you posted on how things go.



per Facebook




Adam Schlesinger with Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz, pic posted on January 17th.

edit: and per progressivears.com, another link was shared in reaction talking about Andy and Andrew Sandoval exchanging twitter posts recently and Andy's love on The Monkees

from monkeesconcerts.com 

The Monkees with Michael Nesmith in Minneapolis TONIGHT (11/15/12)

11/15/12
The day has FINALLY come. Hopefully a review will follow soon after.

edit:: (late, after the show) A long review, should come tomorrow, I just have too much to deal with my back and sleep right now. But if all goes well, a review, could be 1 of those tangent/hyberbole/storytelling perspective-filled diatribes, given the significance of this show.

But for now, it was a great show, epic, yet it also flew by leaving me wanting more, or to see another show on this tour. The gf's friend is tomorrow in Chicago.. I hope the more enjoyed experiences Mike has, the more thought of a solo tour of the US in 2013 could be a real possibility.

I believe this is the setlist (as it is from the Greek Theater on Sunday)

Last Train to Clarksville
Papa Gene's Blues
Your Auntie Grizelda
She
Sweet Young Thing
I'm a Believer
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
I Wanna Be Free
(Davy on video)
You Told Me
Sunny Girlfriend
You Just May Be the One
Mary, Mary
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
For Pete's Sake
Early Morning Blues and Greens
Randy Scouse Git
Daily Nightly
Tapioca Tundra
Goin' Down
The Porpoise Song (Theme Song From "Head")
Daddy's Song
(Davy on video)
Can You Dig It?
As We Go Along
Circle Sky
Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?
Daydream Believer
(Vocals sung by audience)
What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?
Encore:
Listen to the Band
Pleasant Valley Sunday 

11/16/12 9:50PM

When I was a kid, I loved sports. Probably Baseball the most. In fact, no question, Baseball was MY thing. I collected baseball cards religiously. I even at my Bar-Mitzvah, made a silly plea to ask to become a major league baseball player someday. I told my folks, I want to play baseball in the Summer, and be a Rabbi in the Winter, lol.

I'm not sure when my love of Baseball, and maybe later sports like NFL (and Fantasy) Football, NCAA and NBA Basketball and then PGA tour golf. As well, NHL Hockey, especially when I got a Sega Genesis and the NHL'93 video game addiction came to me and my friends. But what I am getting at is, I LOVED that stuff, but I suppose my passion for it did PEAK. I'm not sure what my ultimate goal was, other than maybe doing it professionally, but it sadly in some ways, is not what it was then. And I think a big reason behind that is how my love and addiction to music replaced it.

Over the years, which years probably refers to about 1990 to the present, I have gotten into many bands very passionately. Led Zeppelin, Rush, Marillion, Dream Theater, King's X, Fates Warning, Pain of Salvation, Yes, Renaissance, Genesis, Kevin Gilbert, dredg, Ours, The Dear Hunter and so on. And I have managed to see most of them live, thankfully. Of course the ones that are dead, or bands that are broken up or inactive, are sort of always in the category knowing I'll never see them anyway, but I can love their recordings, and even find live recordings. Plus tributes I suppose.

I suppose in October of 2004, when I finally got to see Marillion in Chicago, I had been a fan for 9 and 1/4 years, and had many times doubted if I'd ever get to see them live. I almost got to the point of thinking I would fork over $1000 or more to 1 of the conventions in either Montreal or Holland. But they did finally come, and I made the most out of my experience, meeting the whole band, even taping the show, etc.
I was at times in tears literally that night, really in disbelief. And ever since, I've come to believe, these things that seem like they will never happen, can and do happen.

I met my girlfriend Joyce, in January of 2011 at KFAI radio. She gave me shit, which has its appeal. Her music taste, while being an important thing to her, didn't match mine incredibly well. She told me her favorite musician of all-time was Michael Nesmith, and her favorite band was The Monkees. I of course knew The Monkees in limited amounts from the tv show and their hits. I had even seen Davy Jones at Taste of Minnesota in 2008, after seeing Roger Hodgson of Supertramp.

But I'll admit, there was a ton more to The Monkees and Michael Nesmith I knew nothing about, before meeting her. So, we started seeing each other a few months later in March. And we of course had countless conversations about music and concerts. While Joyce loved music, and compared to her friends, she was the music addict, but she wasn't really used to knowing someone like myself, who attends 50 or more concerts a year, etc.

So, eventually the topic of seeing what are our "Bucket List" concerts, and she of course said Michael Nesmith with or without The Monkees. But she was convinced it would never happen for her. When Mike did the reunion shows in LA in the 80's she was just a kid and couldn't fly out for it. When Mike went to Europe in 1997, she had tickets for the following leg in the US, which included a show in Minneapolis at The State Theatre in August of 1997. But Mike bailed on the US part of that tour, after seeing a lot of negative reviews from the shows he did in Europe.

See, for those who don't know, Mike left The Monkees in the late 60's to pursue a solo career. He released 3 records shortly after, that was a lot of music he had written that was for, but never made it on any Monkees records. And he had a successful solo career, ever evolving, and pursuing things like music with Video (which he played a big part in the development of MTV in fact). And he didn't struggle financially, unlike the other Monkees perhaps, partially due to the fact he inherited a good amount given his mother was credited for inventing liquid paper aka Whiteout.

So, doing a reunion or touring with The Monkees, was never something he needed to do. The others perhaps like Peter Tork or Micky Dolenz. So, as I came to learn, post late 1960's, The Monkees were either a 2-headed band (Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones) or 3-headed band (adding Peter Tork).

Also the fact Davy and Mike I guess were kind of at odds, which this tour that is happening now, one could guess, likely would not have had Mike if Davy was involved. There's an interview with the whole band on Youtube from the UK in 1997, in which you notice between Mike and Davy it seemed kind of obvious, how Davy was not all that welcoming to Mike's sense of humor.

But that's purely speculation of course.

So, Joyce, having become a fan of The Monkees in 1986 (back when I was in my Baseball addict days), had waited and doubted seeing Michael Nesmith would ever happen. He was getting up there in age, as she said to me "He's going to eventually kick the bucket, and I'll be sitting there thinking, all these years, and I never got to see him, not once."

I told her, probably more than once, with that mentality, you probably will not ever see him. However, instead, maybe if you just didn't dwell on that fact, it might actually happen. It's sort of like the old girlfriend thing for myself. Whenever I felt like I'd never find a girlfriend, I would keep aggressively looking for one. But when I didn't care, or didn't think about it much, it sort of popped into my lap.

So, then this show gets announced, after Mike was oddly posting on Facebook frequently this year. It may have been partially due to Davy's passing which got Mike to become a little more proactive. Mike also did have Cataract surgery in 2011, so his lack of presence online/his website likely had something to do with that. But once he started posting away, almost daily, something was up.

He even recorded some new songs and made them for sale on his Video Ranch site.

So, for Joyce, this was finally it. Her belief is now finally seeing Mike live, just once, she can rest in peace. The rest of her life is just gravy.

And as far as the show, as the setlist above shows, they did a bevy of tunes, featuring much of Headquarters and Head. They had a large Video screen sync-ed up throughout more or less the entire show. The videos even ran between songs, which had a lot to do with the fact they had no set break.

We sat in the 9th row, 9 and 10 seats in from the middle, in front of Mike. It really was about as perfect a location for her. Now the whole debacle I dealt with, having purchased 3 tickets from Ticketmaster the instant the "pre-sale" happened, and then ended up in the Balcony, is an entirely other blog entry to get into another time. But the silver lining I guess is, I learned my lesson. I did manage to sell 1 ticket for $25 at least, which was more than some others outside trying to get anything for their extra tickets.

The band played a bunch of Nesmith's solo tunes, which I'll admit to barely knowing. I knew "Listen to the Band" and 1 or 2 others, but I imagine doing some of his own music was part of what brought him out for this tour.

And "Circle Sky" was possibly the biggest highlight of the night. That is Mike, maybe at his finest. It's just such a tight, memorable piece. I wonder if he has played it live when he has played solo shows. I suppose seeing that, along with Mike playing songs like "Pleasant Valley Sunday" meant a lot to Joyce and myself, as well as the many Nesmith fans who came out.

Now, about the music media. This show was not sold out, after it initially looked like it would in just a few days. Why the media in this town gave it no publicity is frankly, both baffling and appalling. It's MIKE NESMITH. for fucking sake, that people like Jon Bream and the people at Citypages don't seem to grasp how significant it is to have him here. Not to discount, that this is ONLY A 12-DATE tour, and We (being Minneapolis), got 1 of those 12 select shows.

As I was telling Joyce, having seen this happen with the buffoons that have positions of influence in the Music community in this town, I do wonder if there is some un-revealed, undiscovered CONSPIRACY with the music media in Minnesota. It's like, if Pitchfork doesn't shove it down your throat, or they aren't showing up at The Grammy's, it's not "current" enough to cover and give publicity to.

In a parallel dimension or fantasy of mine, I would find some way to spread my message, beyond this little blog, to the people who run those music sources. But that's not how this world works. Perhaps someone else will find a way to change that potential conspiracy. Someone from the next generation, that is smart enough not to kiss the ass of Owl City or Bob Mould for the ump-teenth billionth time.

But, all in all, this show will go down historically for her and myself. It really did fly-by, though. I suppose it's like a fun weekend or vacation, it seems to be over before it even starts. But I think that speaks to how significant and enjoyable it was.

Now that Joyce has Mike off her bucket list, she only has him as a solo act. Which as I wrote last night above, I hope the pleasure he seems to be experiencing at these shows from playing with Micky and Peter and the rest of the band (including my fellow prog/Kevin Gilbert fanatic and his son Christian Nesmith), and the adoration from the fans, he may be able to actually look into doing a solo tour in the States. He just did the 4 shows in the UK, which seemingly went rather well. And he has new music which he could promote on a tour here.

Joyce has mentioned to me more than once, how Mike is sort of alone now, given he is not with the 3rd woman he married anymore. He may be divorced, I'm not sure. But he has a dog (or dogs?), and his children, who are all grown up of course, doing their own thing. And friends of his like Douglas Adams and Frank Zappa of course are not around anymore. So, while Mike wouldn't necessarily need to tour for money, he may find touring could fill an empty part of his life now.

I guess it comes down to after this tour is over, and into the new year, if Mike is still posting away on Facebook like he has most of 2012, it could happen. To expect it to happen would be silly. But if it does happen, even if he plays like 5 dates, just in LA, NYC, and 1 or 2 others..perhaps Chicago too, if the timing works out, Joyce and I will certainly try and go. And if a tour happens, and it does end up in Minnesota, of course Joyce and I as well as most of last night's crowd would go. The music media in Minnesota probably wouldn't say much about it either, but of course, I wouldn't expect them to.

But as far as Joyce, we have this little battle now, now that she's seen her 26+ year wait come to an end. I am sort of in the front, given I never saw Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd (or any of the members save for John Paul Jones). But she likes to kill that possibility given I knew John Bonham was dead the day I became a fan of Led Zeppelin in 1990.

The Kevin Gilbert 'Shaming show coming in January in Milwaukee may finally end my wait to see Kevin's music played live. But even if that happens and counts, my live bucket list is limited. But to just list of some (if not all) the names..mostly 2nd/3rd levels of passion for me.

Fish
John Arch
Andre Matos (doing Angra or his other work)
Shadow Gallery
Faith No More
Peter Gabriel
Jeff Buckley (tribute)
Imogen Heap
Bend Sinister
Neverending White Lights
Godspeed You Black Emperor
The River Empires
Janelle Monae
Foals
Hotel of the Laughing Tree
Pepe Deluxe
Vuvuzela

reunions?
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Jellyfish
Apes and Androids
Soundscape
Oceansize
Pure Reason Revolution
Kiss Kiss

Christian Nesmith and the Theme Music Players - Kevin Gilbert tribute

A large amount of irony for myself seeing this. Not so much because these are covers/tributes to Kevin Gilbert, as there are certainly a handful of those out there on Youtube and other places. I recall when I 1st got into Kevin Gilbert, his website had a handful of tribute songs available to download (which they still may, I haven't looked for them in years there).

But the irony is, Christian Nesmith is the oldest son of Michael Nesmith, who of course was in The Monkees and has an extensive solo career since the early 1970's. And I recently have discovered enjoyment for Michael Nesmith's solo music. But also my girlfriend is about as big of a Michael Nesmith and Monkees fan out there, and she has been exposed to Kevin's music ever since knowing me of course.

Tying the 2 together is unexpected, but now thinking about it, it's not so odd. Kevin was a big Monkees fan. Peter Tork I guess once attended a private event Kevin's band Kaviar played not long before his death. And Kevin along with Marc Bonilla I recall, did a cover of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" live on a radio show which is streamable on Kevin's site I think. It was shortly after Toy Matinee had come out.

These versions are pretty faithful to the originals, although pretty nice visual parts with "Suit Fugue" including using some "A&R Women."

I suspect Christian attended The Shaming of the True tribute show back in June in Southern California. Had I been there and met him or even Mike, my girlfriend would have freaked, haha. Maybe another time.