"Circle Sky" is a song written by

Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the Monkees and co-star of their The Monkees (TV series), TV series of the same name (1966–1968) ...

which appeared on

The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

' sixth album, the ''Head'' soundtrack, and also in the film ''

Head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...

'' as a live concert performance.

Background and inspiration

The song is written and performed in style reminiscent to the work of musician

Bo Diddley Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy ...

, staying mostly on a single chord (A Major), while strumming barre chords (from B Major to E Major) down the guitar neck for the intro, outro, and breaks, and from B minor to D minor for the bridge. The lyrics are impressions of sights and sounds on a Monkees tour, while "Hamilton's smiling down" refers to a

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

music stand, used for rehearsals and recording.

Release

While the movie included the song performed live by the Monkees in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 17, 1968 during a free show at the Valley Music Hall, the original soundtrack album instead substituted a studio recording, made by Nesmith and session musicians (an unexplained decision that became a major source of tension in the group). The film version intercut

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

footage with concert footage and featured several mirrored shots of the band onstage. A lo-fi transcription of the concert version was included on '' Monkeemania (40 Timeless Hits)'', a compilation from the early 1980s, and an alternate studio take appeared on '' Monkee Flips'' in 1984. A stereo recording of the concert version appeared on '' Missing Links Volume Two'' in 1990. A reworked version of the song opened the Monkees's 1996 reunion album ''

Justus Justus (died on 10 November between 627 and 631) was the fourth archbishop of Canterbury. Pope Gregory the Great sent Justus from Italy to England on a mission to Christianise the Anglo-Saxons from their native paganism; he probably a ...

'', featuring a rare performance by Davy Jones on guitar.

Personnel

Studio version: *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar, organ, percussion *Keith Allison - guitar *Bill Chadwick - guitar *Eddie Hoh - drums, percussion Live version (May 17, 1968): *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar *Davy Jones - percussion, organ *Peter Tork - bass *Micky Dolenz - drums, percussion ''Justus'' version: *Michael Nesmith - lead vocal, guitar *Davy Jones - guitar *Peter Tork - bass *Micky Dolenz - drums

References

{{authority control The Monkees songs 1968 songs Songs written by Michael Nesmith