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The Best Of The Monkees
''The Best of the Monkees'' is a Monkees compilation released by Rhino Entertainment. It contains 25 songs from the Monkees' repertoire, listed in chronological order by release date. Also included is a bonus karaoke CD with five tracks. Unlike previous Rhino compilations, this one does not include any material from the 1980s or 1990s reunions, focusing strictly on the band's 1960s output. ''The Best of the Monkees'' replaced ''The Monkees Greatest Hits'', released in 1995 in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary celebration the following year. The album debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 in the issue dated May 17, 2003, at number 51. It spent six weeks on the chart. Following the death of member Davy Jones on February 29, 2012, it re-entered at No. 20 with 17,000 copies sold (up 7,808 percent according to Nielsen SoundScan) for the week ending March 4, 2012. The album has since been certified Gold for selling 500,000 copies. Track listing #"(Theme From) The Monkees" ( T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Monkees
The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conceived in 1965 by television producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the situation comedy series of the same name. Music credited to the band was released on LP, as well as being included in the show, which aired from 1966 to 1968. While the sitcom was a mostly straightforward affair, the music production generated tension and controversy almost from the beginning. Music supervisor Don Kirshner was dissatisfied with the quartet's musical abilities, and he limited their involvement during the recording process, relying instead on professional songwriters and studio musicians. This arrangement yielded multiple hit albums and singles, but it did not sit well with the band members, who were facing a public backlash for not playing on the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Last Train To Clarksville
"Last Train to Clarksville" is a song by American pop rock band the Monkees. It was released as the band's debut single on August 16, 1966, and was later included on the group's self-titled album, which was released on October 10, 1966.''The Monkees Greatest Hits'' Rhino Entertainment R2 75785 Liner notes The song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, was recorded at RCA Victor Studio B in Hollywood on July 25, 1966, and was already on the Boss Radio "Hit Bounds" playlist on August 17, 1966. The song topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on November 5, 1966. Lead vocals were performed by the Monkees' drummer, Micky Dolenz. "Last Train to Clarksville" was featured in seven episodes of the band's television series, the most for any Monkees song. Composition The song was written by the songwriting duo of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Boyce has said that the song's opening guitar part (played by Louis Shelton) was an attempt to emulate the type of memorable and clearly identifiable ri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shades Of Gray (song)
"Shades of Gray" is a song which was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and recorded by The Monkees for their 1967 album ''Headquarters''. Lead vocals were shared by Davy Jones and Peter Tork, and this is the only track on the album featuring instruments performed by session musicians instead of the band members (and producer Chip Douglas) themselves (French horn and cello). The song had been recorded previously by a folk-rock trio, the Will-O-Bees, and released in 1967 on the Date Records label (Date 45 #1543). Although the Will-O-Bees' version was accorded "Chart SpotlightsPredicted to reach the HOT 100" status in Billboard Magazine's issue of December 31, 1966, the record is little known today. "Shades of Gray" has been included on several compilation albums by the Monkees, including ''Barrel Full of Monkees'', '' Re-Focus'', and ''The Best of The Monkees'' Sons of Champlin recorded the song at about the same time, but the ''Headquarters'' version was released first. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Girl I Knew Somewhere
"The Girl I Knew Somewhere" is a song by the American pop rock band the Monkees, written by Michael Nesmith and first released as the B-side to the " A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" single on Colgems Records on March 8, 1967. It was distributed in support of the group's third album '' Headquarters'', and later appeared on the reissued version of the LP. The song was recorded as the Monkees finally achieved the independence that enabled them to freely produce their own material, with the actual band members featured on both vocals and instrumental arrangements. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" peaked at #39 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, while its A-side "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" reached No. 2. Background The Monkees had enjoyed enormous commercial success with their first two albums, ''The Monkees'' and ''More of the Monkees'', both reaching No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200. However, under the direction of music supervisor Don Kirshner, the group was almost completely ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carole King
Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential musicians of all time, King is the most successful female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century in the US, having written or co-written 118 pop hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. King also wrote 61 hits that charted in the UK, making her the most successful female songwriter on the UK singles charts between 1962 and 2005. King's major success began in the 1960s when she and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote more than two dozen chart hits, many of which have become standards, for numerous artists. She has continued writing for other artists since then. King's success as a performer in her own right did not come until the 1970s, when she sang her own songs, accompanying herself on t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gerry Goffin
Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the List of Billboard number-one singles, US No.1 hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Take Good Care of My Baby", "The Loco-Motion", and "Go Away Little Girl". It was later said of Goffin that his gift was "to find words that expressed what many young people were feeling but were unable to articulate." After he and King divorced, Goffin wrote with other composers, including Barry Goldberg and Michael Masser, with whom he wrote "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" and "Saving All My Love for You", also No. 1 hits. During his career, Goffin wrote over 114 Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits, including eight Record chart, chart-toppers, and 72 UK Singles Chart, UK hits. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, with Carole K ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diane Hildebrand
Diane Hildebrand (born April 13, 1945) is an American pop singer-songwriter. She wrote for several musicians during the 1960s and 1970s, but is best remembered for her work with Screen Gems Music Publishing, penning material for the band the Monkees. In 1969, Hildebrand recorded her debut studio album, ''Early Morning Blues and Greens''. She later released two additional albums under the name Joya Diane Skye. Biography Hildebrand was born in Roswell, New Mexico in 1945. She began a songwriting career at age 13 when Hildebrand was living in São Paulo, Brazil. One of her earliest compositions, "I'm on My Way", was performed by Barbara Dane on an episode of ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' in 1963. The following year, Hildebrand penned the debut single, "He Walks Like a Man", for American country singer Jody Miller; a modest U.S. hit, reaching #66 on the Billboard Chart February 1964. The song was subsequently covered by French, Italian, and German artists. In the mid-1960s, Hildebra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Your Auntie Grizelda
"Your Auntie Grizelda" is a song recorded by the American pop rock group The Monkees. Diane Hildebrand wrote the lyrics and Jack Keller composed the music. It is the first released song of the band with Peter Tork on lead vocals. The song appeared on both the TV series and the 1967 album ''More of the Monkees.'' While originally published by Screen Gems-Columbia Music (BMI), it is now published by Colgems-EMI Music (ASCAP). Popularization Although it was never actually released as a single, "Your Auntie Grizelda" has appeared on several of the band's subsequent "Greatest Hits" albums, and the Monkees regularly performed it in their live shows. This was the first released Monkees song to feature Peter Tork on lead vocals. In the instrumental break, Tork was told beforehand to make nonsensical sounds, according to the songwriter Diane Hildebrand. Lyrics "Your Auntie Grizelda" is a general complaint about a prissy and spinsterish aunt named Grizelda. The verses condemn her as pushy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary, Mary (song)
"Mary, Mary" is a song written by Michael Nesmith and first recorded by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band for their 1966 album '' East-West''. Nesmith's band, the Monkees, later recorded it for ''More of the Monkees'' (1967). Hip hop group Run–D.M.C. revived the song in the late 1980s, with an adaptation that appeared in the U.S. record charts. The Butterfield Blues Band In 1966, Elektra Records was entering the singles market with new rock acts such as Love and the Doors. Hoping that the Paul Butterfield Blues Band would produce a hit, Elektra arranged an extended stay and recording sessions for the group in Los Angeles during the summer. It was there that producer Barry Friedman suggested that the group try a song written by guitarist Michael Nesmith of the Monkees, a group with which Friedman had been working. Butterfield guitarist Mike Bloomfield recalled: According to Bloomfield biographer David Dann, "the song was given a muscular arrangement that included backup vocals ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" is a rock song written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. It was first recorded by Paul Revere & the Raiders and appeared on their album '' Midnight Ride'', released in May 1966. The song is simple musically, with a repeating verse chord progression of E major, G major, A major, and C major, and a repeating bridge in cut time of E major, G major, A major, and G major. Monkees version "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" is best known as a hit for the Monkees. Released in November 1966, the song became the first Monkees B-side to chart, reaching #20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Musicians featured on the recording are Micky Dolenz (lead vocal), Tommy Boyce (backing vocal), Wayne Erwin and Gerry McGee (rhythm guitar), Louis Shelton (lead guitar), Bobby Hart (Vox Continental organ), Larry Taylor (bass), Billy Lewis (drums) and Henry Lewy (percussion). The single, stereo album, and mono album versions contain several differences. In the stereo version ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts: "Cracklin' Rosie", "Song Sung Blue", "Longfellow Serenade", "I've Been This Way Before", "If You Know What I Mean", "Desiree (song), Desirée", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", "America (Neil Diamond song), America", "Yesterday's Songs", and "Heartlight (song), Heartlight". Thirty-eight songs by Diamond have reached the top 10 on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Adult Contemporary (chart), Adult Contemporary charts, including "Sweet Caroline". He has also acted in films, making his screen debut in the 1980 Musical film, musical drama film ''The Jazz Singer (1980 film), The Jazz Singer''. Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, and he received ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
