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In Reply to: Hey, ain't nothing wrong with the Monkees ... posted by SamA on March 29, 2007 at 14:43:21:
It's a ridiculous argument. First of all, I don't care if it's the Monkees, the Beach Boys, or friggin' Milli Vanilli--if the listener enjoys the music, ultimately that's more important than anything else. Second, sessions musicians need work, too: in this age where it would be considered a breach of integrity for an act to not play their instruments on their records, many session musicians are struggling to find work. I believe I saw an interview, or even just a blog rant, with Steve Lukather, I think it was? Not too long ago. There's no work for the session guys. I think I heard subsequently that there will be a Toto reunion tour? Coincidence?Third, the only reason the Monkees--with the exception of Davey Jones--didn't play on their records is because Don Kirshner wouldn't allow it. Does that mean those records are no good? It wasn't all that long ago I got laughed at by someone who has different priorities than me when it comes to music. I actually have to like the music. I happen to like the Monkees more than the Doors--a lot more. I try not to hate the Doors, but I find them tough to take, in spite of a few good tunes, what with their leader & his cult & not enough in the way of what I consider good music for me to think any higher of them. This guy's argument wasn't really based on the merits of the songs either band had, it was all about, the Doors played on their records & the Monkees didn't. When I brought up the Beach Boys not playing on Pet Sounds that was dismissed because to his way of thinking, the Beach Boys were little more than a boy band anyway. Oh, the humanity.
Mike Nesmith's work with the First National Band is pretty good to my ears. Can't say I've heard anything much from the Monkees since they cashed in on their reunion, but Head is an incredible film, and this here segment puts the lie to the idea that they didn't or couldn't play.
Follow Ups:
The Monkees didn't play on the first two albums. It might have been Kirshner, or it might have been a time factor with the television show depending on which liner notes you read, but that really doesn't matter. And they did play on the concert tours.
Then they fired Kirshner and did play all the instruments except some horns and keyboards on the next two albums.
After that, they were rarely ever in the studio together. Each Monkee was given his own studio time and they usually recorded with their own groups of studio musicians.
The First National Band albums have always been essential part of my own music stash.
And according to the liner notes for the Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man Legacy series remastered CD, the only Byrd that played on that album was Roger McGuinn. The ubiquitous Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew played everything else.
There are good reasons why bands record with sessions players. Just because sessions men play on albums doesn't degrade the music's legitimacy.
The Monkees were pure fabrication, but they did want to be a real band at one point and tried pretty hard to get there. The Nesmith, Goffin/King, and Boyce/Hart songs were pretty damned good (as long as Davey didn't sing them), and IMO Headquarters would be considered a lost power pop classic had it been recorded by any one other than the Monkees.
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I don't recall ever really "hearing" it, so it'll be neat to hear it on decent gear.Davey Jones wasn't that bad, though. I say that only to defend a "neighbor." He lives in the next town over from me here in Central Pa. Has a horse farm.
He does local gigs once or twice a year and, often enough, uses the show as a fundraiser for some local need.
Some of the locals still talk about meeting Davey at the local Lowe's hauling a sink up to the checkout counter for payment.
Davey seems like he'd be pretty cool, but his voice kind of grates and he always seemed to get the cheesier songs on the albums.
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