Last Train To Clarksville

[TR6BILL]

1. Vietnam protest song.

2. The Monkees' (Milli Vanilli lite) first hit (none of them actually played instruments).

3. Directions to Fr. Mickey's house.

4. All of the above.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

1. Vietnam protest song.

2. The Monkees' (Milli Vanilli lite) first hit (none of them actually played instruments).

3. Directions to Fr. Mickey's house.

4. All of the above.

1. Yep

2. Yep and nope. Michael, Peter, and Mickey played guitar.

3. Close

 

[PC]

...2. The Monkees' (Milli Vanilli lite)....

Incorrect.

The Milli Vanilli brouhaha was due to "their" hit recordings not being their <span style="font-style: italic">voices</span>. The Monkees voices in all their recordings were always their own.

 

[Boink]

Now hold on. I thought that most of their LPs were done by studio musicians (and that only Nesmith was a guitarist and writer of any merit). I seem to recall that they were only given limited involvement - perhaps some singing (though Jones was a singer/actor). They did eventually put together a touring band, but not early on. I could be wrong.

 

[TR6BILL]

Yep, yep, yep, and yep.

 

[Boink]

LOL

 

[Banjo]

Great cars in some of their shows. I distinctly remember the one where they raced the Monkeymobile against a Cobra Daytona coupe.

 

[PC]

Now hold on. I thought that most of their LPs were done by studio musicians (and that only Nesmith was a guitarist and writer of any merit). I seem to recall that they were only given limited involvement - perhaps some singing (though Jones was a singer/actor). They did eventually put together a touring band, but not early on. I could be wrong.

Yep, yep, yep, and yep.

Well, technically, no, (subjective, everybody has their own personal yes or no), depends - absolutely not, yes.

Their earliest albums were controlled by Don Kirshner, legendary pop producer and control freak. He picked the songs, the session players, track orders, etc. After Kirshner left, their subsequent albums featured the boys choosing and writing songs, playing instruments, etc (and there were more of them, so technically they played instruments on and had creative control over <span style="font-style: italic">most </span>of their LPs.)

The lead vocals on all albums were always them.

If using session players on albums precludes a group from being a "real" band, an awful lot of other bands must also be disqualified (including the Beach Boys, who used the same players as the early Monkees albums.)

As to how much "merit" they had musically, feel free to draw your own conclusion. But there are plenty of bands with less talent, just as there are bands with more. There are only so many Eric Claptons to go around.

Nesmith and Tork were both making their livings (however meager) as musicians before being picked for the group. Dolenz was an actor, but was also playing in club bands. Jones had been singing in musical theater for many years (nominated for a Tony award for it too).



pc

 

[PC]

Great cars in some of their shows. I distinctly remember the one where they raced the Monkeymobile against a Cobra Daytona coupe.

Dean Jeffries, creator of the Monkeemobile, was one of Carroll Shelby's go-to guys.


pc

 

[aeronca65t]

Great cars in some of their shows......

Yes!

(I liked the Monkees. Not because of their talent but because the show was constant "stupid-fun". Sort of like watching "A Hard Days Night" over and over)

 

[JPSmit]

The lead vocals on all albums were always them.

If using session players on albums precludes a group from being a "real" band, an awful lot of other bands must also be disqualified (including the Beach Boys, who used the same players as the early Monkees albums.)

As to how much "merit" they had musically, feel free to draw your own conclusion. But there are plenty of bands with less talent, just as there are bands with more. There are only so many Eric Claptons to go around.

Nesmith and Tork were both making their livings (however meager) as musicians before being picked for the group. Dolenz was an actor, but was also playing in club bands. Jones had been singing in musical theater for many years (nominated for a Tony award for it too).



pc

Who's Eric Clapton?

 

[aeronca65t]

I distinctly remember the one where they raced the Monkeymobile against a Cobra Daytona coupe.

Yes. By the way, that particular Daytona is the famous "lost" car that was found in a storage locker a few years back. Here's that race:

(ps-I met Peter Brock, designer of the Daytona Coupe, along with his wife Gayle three weeks ago at a race. ~Here's~ proof

)

LNkt97Y" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[JPSmit]

I do love that he kept shifting and automatic transmission - particularly at about 40 seconds where it appears to be in park.

 

[TR6BILL]

As I said (or maybe I didn't), the Monkees were goofy. Didn't the lead singer just pass away?

 

[Guest]

Great cars in some of their shows. I distinctly remember the one where they raced the Monkeymobile against a Cobra Daytona coupe.

Das Klutzmobile !

 

[PC]

... Didn't the lead singer just pass away?

Davy Jones passed away in February.

Not sure if they ever actually had an official lead singer. Jones and Dolenz each sang lead on numerous songs. Without looking up who sang what on every release I wouldn't know the stats. Dolenz sang lead on more of their charting releases.

I was channel surfing and stumbled into a PBS show of music from the 50's and 60's being performed by original artists that I hadn't seen before. It looked brand new so I assumed it was. Peter Noone was hosting the show as usual but when it came time for him to sing he was introduced by... Davy Jones.

That felt pretty weird. Turns out it was record a couple months before his passing.



pc

 

[Boink]

As I said (or maybe I didn't), the Monkees were goofy. Didn't the lead singer just pass away?

Now I'm a bereaver. :laugh:

 

[Basil]

... Didn't the lead singer just pass away?

Davy Jones passed away in February.

He's in his own locker.

 

[Banjo]

Just scored a couple of original pressing Monkees 45s at a yard sale today. they were in a foot tall stack of amazing 45s in a box with a bunch of good 33.
Fats Domino, The Big Bopper, Richie Valens, Herman and the Hermits, Don Williams, The Ventures, Ray Charles (Promo record!) Beach Boys, The Royal Guardsman, Chubby Checker, and tons of others.
One of the few times I bought a stack of records, and could identify most of the songs. This was someones prized collection. not the castoffs of a larger bunch.
Also got a milk crate full of 78s for the old phonograph.

 

[PC]

Woo-hoo, score!