Background
In late 1965, a pilot for the TV series ''The Monkees (TV series), The Monkees'' was approved by Screen Gems, the television branch of Columbia Pictures. Producers Bob Rafelson and Bob Schneider (also known as Raybert Productions)'s idea on a sitcom about a garage band, inspired on Richard Lester's A Hard Day's Night (film), ''A Hard Day's Night'' and Rafelson's own experiences as a musician, was initially to gather funds to produce experimental movies. After advertising an open casting call on Variety (magazine), Variety magazine and doing several applications with 437 aspirants, actor/sometimes musician Micky Dolenz, British singer Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, recording artist and songwriter Michael Nesmith and Greenwich Village folkie Peter Tork impressed Raybert enough to be chosen as the Monkees in September 1965. Despite their different backgrounds and initial tensions, the Monkees got along during the filming rehearsals. Before the pilot was filmed in November 1965, songwriters Boyce and Hart, Tommy Boyce and Boyce and Hart, Bobby Hart were brought to the project by their songs publisher, Screen Gems head of music division Don Kirshner, and commissioned by Raybert to score the episode. There were vague promises that Nesmith and Tork would record their own music. Boyce and Hart then composed and recorded four songs that were used on the original pilot. In February 1966, Columbia ordered 32 episodes of the show after the second screening of the pilot was a sucess. Soon after, Rafelson and Schneider called Kirshner to be the musical supervisor over the show, because he could supply music enough to the weekly episodes with his extensive portfolio of Brill Building songwriters in his publishing firm. Dubbed "the Man with the Golden Ear", Kirshner viewed potential in merging television and music, and initially favored Mickie Most, Snuff Garrett, and Carole King for producing the Monkees, but sessions with them did not work well, so Boyce and Hart were called back. Kirshner then negotiated a partnership between Screen Gems and RCA Victor to enter into a joint venture called Colgems Records primarily to distribute Monkees records.Recording
The album was recorded in several separate sessions around Los Angeles from July 5–25, 1966. Early sessions were produced by the trio of Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, and Jack Keller; later sessions were produced by Boyce and Hart. Michael Nesmith produced two sessions scheduled around the work done by Boyce, Hart, and Keller. Famously, the Monkees were not permitted by their management to function as a working band for this album. Although the album cover credits the band as playing instruments (drums for Dolenz; guitar for the other three members), the group's actual contributions were limited almost entirely to vocal tracks. Eight of the original album's 12 tracks feature one lone Monkee singing lead vocal over instrumentation and backing vocals recorded entirely by a group of session musicians which varies from song to song. Other tracks feature multiple Monkees singing over session players; only on the two tracks produced by Michael Nesmith does a Monkee (Peter Tork) play an instrument (guitar). (Nesmith wrote or co-wrote these two tracks.) No tracks on the original album feature all four Monkees.Artwork
The photos in the "film strip" on the left side of the back cover are from two episodes of The Monkees (TV series), ''The Monkees' TV series. 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 on each band member (height, weight, age). Early pressings of the LP cover, as well as side 1 of the label, featured the misspelled song "Papa Jean's Blues" (Catalog number COM/COS 101). This was soon corrected as "Papa Gene's Blues" (Catalog number COM/COS 101 RE). It was standard practice for RCA to add an "RE" when any one side of a record or sleeve had a revision. Open copies of both versions are easy to find. In addition, when the album was reissued in 1968 the Colgems' logo replaced the word "Colgems" on the bottom right-hand corner of the reverse side (Catalog number COS 101 RE2).Track listing
Original 1966 Colgems vinyl issue
;Side 1 ;Side 21994 Rhino CD reissue
''Tracks 1–12: Original album in stereo'' #1996 Sundazed vinyl reissue
Bonus track at the end of Side 1: "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (Prev. unissued early version) – 2:552006 Rhino Deluxe CD reissue
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'' #2014 Rhino Super Deluxe CD reissue
Disc 1Session information
"(Theme from) The Monkees" * Written by Boyce and Hart, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin * Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Tambourine: Gene Estes * Organ: Bobby Hart * Finger snaps: Unknown * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 5 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.) and 9, 1966 * Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller "Saturday's Child" * Written by David Gates * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin * Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louis Shelton * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Tambourine: Gene Estes * Organ: Bobby Hart * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 9, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.) * Produced by Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jack Keller "I Wanna Be Free" * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones * Acoustic guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Harpsichord: Michel Rubini * Violins: Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure * Viola: Myra Kestenbuam * Cello: Fred Seykora * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 19, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.) * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" * Written by Tommy Boyce and Steve Venet * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce * Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Harmonica: Gerry McGee * Percussion: Unknown * Recorded at RCA Victor Studio #1, Hollywood, California; July 23 (2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) and 26, 1966 * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart "Papa Gene's Blues" * Written by Michael Nesmith * Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith * Harmony vocal: Micky Dolenz * Guitars: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey (rock & roll guitarist), Al Casey, Jim Helms * Bass: Bill Pitman, William Pitman * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon (musician), Jim Gordon (vibraslap) * Recorded at Western Recorders Studio 2, Hollywood, California; July 7 (8:00 p.m.–11:30 p.m.), 16 and 30, 1966 * Producer: Michael Nesmith * First album pressing features title incorrectly listed as "Papa Jean's Blues" "Take a Giant Step (song), Take a Giant Step" * Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Ron Hicklin and unknown * Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Harpsichord: Michael Rubini * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Percussion: Gene Estes * Oboe: Bob Cooper * Recorded at RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood, California; July 9, 1966 (2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.) * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart * Arranger: Leon Russell * Alternate mix appears in ''The Monkees'' episode "The Chaperone," featuring single vocal track and different backing vocals "Last Train to Clarksville" * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Backing vocals: Peter Tork and Davy Jones * Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce * Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin and Gerry McGee * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Percussion: Gene Estes * Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, California; July 25, 1966 (7:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.) * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart "This Just Doesn't Seem to be My Day" * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Davy Jones * Backing vocals: Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Wayne Erwin, Ron Hicklin * Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Percussion: Gene Estes * Cello: Joseph Ditullio * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 5, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)Some sites like th1994 bonus tracks session information
"I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" (first recorded version) * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Davy Jones * Backing vocals: Ron Hicklin and unknown * Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Tack piano: Bobby Hart * Autoharp: Bobby Hart * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Marimba: Gene Estes * Recorded at RCA Victor studios, Hollywood, California; July 25, 1966 (7:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.) * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart * Re-recorded for ''Headquarters (the Monkees album), Headquarters'' "I Don't Think You Know Me" (Micky Dolenz vocal version) * Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Harmony/backing vocals: Michael Nesmith and unknown * Guitars: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey * Organ: Larry Knechtel * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon * Bass: Bob West * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; June 25, 1966 (7:30 p.m.–12:15 a.m.) * Producer: Michael Nesmith * Arranger: Don Peake * An alternate mix featuring Michael Nesmith on lead vocals and an alternate version featuring Peter Tork on lead vocals also exist. "(Theme from) The Monkees" (second recorded version) * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Harmony vocals/producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart2006 bonus tracks session information
"I Don't Think You Know Me" (Michael Nesmith vocal version) * Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King * Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith * Harmony/backing vocals: Micky Dolenz and unknown * Guitars: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey * Organ: Larry Knechtel * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon * Bass: Bob West * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; June 25, 1966 (7:30 p.m.–12:15 a.m.) * Producer: Michael Nesmith * Arranger: Don Peake * An alternate mix featuring Micky Dolenz on lead vocals and an alternate version featuring Peter Tork on lead vocals also exist. "So Goes Love" (second recorded version) * Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King * Lead/backing vocals: Davy Jones * Guitars: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Jim Helms * Bass: Bill Pittman * Drums: Hal Blaine * Electric Piano: Billy Preston * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon * Recorded July 7–25, 1966 * Producer: Michael Nesmith * Arranger: Don Peake * Meant for use in the episode "The Monkees A La Mode", but replaced with "Laugh" at the last minute. "(I Prithee) Do Not Ask for Love" (alternate mix) * Written by Michael Martin Murphey * Lead vocal by Davy Jones * Harmony vocal by Micky Dolenz * Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasy * Bass: Bob West * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon * Piano: Michael Cohen, Larry Knechtel * Produced by Michael Nesmith * Recorded on November 17, 1966 "All the King's Horses" * Written by Michael Nesmith * Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz * Harmony vocals: Michael Nesmith * Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork * Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey * Bass: Larry Knechtel, Bob West * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Jim Gordon * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California;June 25, 1966 (7:30 p.m.–12:15 a.m.) * Producer: Michael Nesmith "You Just May Be the One" (first recorded version) * Written by Michael Nesmith * Lead vocals: Michael Nesmith * Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz * Backing vocals: Michael Nesmith and unknown * Guitars/dano basses: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasy * Bass: Bob West * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Garry Coleman, Frank DeVito * Piano: Larry Knechtel * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 18, 1966 (8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.) * Producer: Michael Nesmith * The song features the doubling of regular bass with Danelectro or "dano" bass; the dano bass' distinctive twang gave Nesmith'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 first-season episodes of ''The Monkees'': "The Chaperone," "One Man Shy," and "Monkees a La Mode." "I Wanna Be Free" (fast version) * Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart * Lead vocals: Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz * Guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton * Bass: Larry Taylor * Drums: Billy Lewis * Tambourine: Gene Estes * Organ: Michel Rubini * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 19, 1966 (2:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.) * Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart "I Won't Be the Same Without Her" (mono mix) * Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King * Lead/backing vocals: Michael Nesmith * Harmony vocals: Micky Dolenz and unknown * Guitars/dano basses: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasy * Bass: Bob West * Drums: Hal Blaine * Percussion: Gary Coleman, Frank DeVito * Piano: Larry Knechtel * Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, California; July 18, 1966 (8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.) * Producer: Michael NesmithCharts
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