More of The Monkees is the second full-length album by The Monkees. It was recorded in late 1966 and released on Colgems label #102 on January 9, 1967.
Monkeemania had reached full swing by the time the album was released. The Monkees' second single, "I'm a Believer", held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 and they were about to embark on a highly successful concert tour, breaking records at nearly every stop.
As a collective unit, the group began to grow concerned over their musical output, since this album and their debut, The Monkees, featured them limited to just vocals with scattered instrumental contributions. Musical supervisor Don Kirshner had a strict rule that The Monkees were to provide only vocals on his productions, though separate sessions produced by Michael Nesmith himself usually featured Peter Tork on guitar.
Another factor added to the tension between the band and Kirshner. Unbeknownst to the four members, More of The Monkees was rushed to be released (to cash in on the band's popularity) while the group was out of town. Individual members of the band, particularly Nesmith and Tork, were upset with the songs selected for the record, leading Nesmith to later say that More of The Monkees was "the worst album in the history of the world." The public did not seem to mind, as the album later went on to sell more than five million copies, becoming their most successful album in sales.
Musical content
The musical content of More of The Monkees was assembled by Don Kirshner from a total of 34 songs. With twelve slots to fill the competition to land a spot on the album was fierce.
The second of the band's four consecutive US number-one albums in a 12-month period, More of The Monkees remained at the top for 18 weeks and, like their debut, hit number one in the UK. The album includes Neil Diamond's "I'm a Believer" – one of the biggest-selling singles of the decade – and another notable Diamond composition, "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)". The album kicks off with the gutsy track "She", which rests squarely in the pop-rock camp, as does Boyce and Hart's 1960s garage-rock classic "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone". The tune gets a ferocious treatment from Micky Dolenz.
The Monkees rebel
Within weeks of the release of More of The Monkees, Nesmith lobbied successfully with the group's creators, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, for The Monkees to be allowed to play their instruments on all forthcoming records, effectively giving the quartet clear and complete artistic control. To make his point clear to Kirshner, who was balking at the idea, Nesmith proceeded to punch a hole in the wall of the Beverly Hills Hotel during a group meeting with Kirshner and Colgems lawyer Herb Moelis, declaring to the latter: "That could have been your face!". This outburst came after Moelis snapped to Nesmith "You'd better read your contract," when Nesmith threatened to quit. Kirshner was later unceremoniously dumped from the project altogether.
The source of the Monkees' ire over the album was less the musical content than the way it was created and released (without their input or knowledge), as Micky Dolenz would acknowledge in liner-note interviews for the album's later re-releases. The cover photo, montaged together from pictures of the band wearing JC Penney clothes, also did not sit well with them.
Original album track listing
Side 1
- "She" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart)
- "When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)" (Carole Bayer Sager/Neil Sedaka)
- "Mary, Mary" (Michael Nesmith)
- "Hold On Girl" (Billy Carr/Jack Keller/Ben Raleigh)
- "Your Auntie Grizelda" (Diane Hildebrand, Jack Keller)
- "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart)
Side 2
- "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" (Neil Diamond)
- "The Kind of Girl I Could Love" (Roger Atkins/Michael Nesmith)
- "The Day We Fall In Love" (Sandy Linzer/Denny Randell)
- "Sometime In The Morning" (Gerry Goffin/Carole King)
- "Laugh" (Phil Margo/Mitch Margo/Hank Medress/Jay Siegel)
- "I'm a Believer" (Neil Diamond)
Session information
"She"
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Mickey Dolenz
- Backing vocals: Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones & Peter Tork
- Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, and Louie Shelton
- Organ: Bobby Hart
- Bass: Larry Taylor
- Drums: Billy Lewis
- Percussion: Norm Jefferies
- Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, August 15, 1966
- Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Covered by The Dickies in 1978 on their debut LP The Incredible Shrinking Dickies.
"When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)"
- Written by Neil Sedaka and Carole Bayer Sager
- Lead vocal by Davy Jones
- Guitar: Al Gafa, Willard Suyker and Donald Thomas
- Piano: Neil Sedaka
- Bass: Russell Savakus
- Drums: Herbert Lovell
- Recorded on November 23, 1966 along with The Girl I Left Behind, which popped up on The Monkees' Instant Replay album in 1969
- Produced by Neil Sedaka and Carole Bayer
- Engineered by Ernie Olerich
"Mary, Mary"
- Written by Michael Nesmith
- Lead and backing vocal by Micky Dolenz
- Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Michael Deasy, and Don Peake
- Piano: Michael Cohen
- Bass: Larry Knechtel and Bob West
- Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon
- Percussion: Cary Coleman
- Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, July 25, 1966
- Arrangement: Don Peake
- Produced by Michael Nesmith
- "Mary Mary" appeared on the Paul Butterfield Band's "East-West" release a year before the Monkees' version was released.
- "Mary, Mary" became a rap hit for Run-DMC in 1988
- The initial CD, released by Arista, featured a much longer fade than on either original mono or stereo Colgems LPs.
"Hold on Girl"
- Written by Jack Keller, Ben Raleigh and Billy Carr
- Lead vocal by Davy Jones
- Backing vocals by Mickey Dolenz
- Other personnel unknown
- Produced by Jeff Barry and Jack Keller
- Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, September 10, 1966 and American Studios, Studio City, October 23, 1966
- Slower version can be found on Missing Links Vol. 2
"Your Auntie Grizelda"
- Written by Jack Keller and Diane Hilderbrand
- Lead vocal by Peter Tork
- Other personnel unknown
- Produced by Jeff Barry and Jack Keller
- Engineered by Richard Podolor
- Recorded at American Studios, Studio City, October 23, 1966
"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Mickey Dolenz
- Backing vocal: Tommy Boyce
- Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
- Organ: Bobby Hart
- Bass: Larry Taylor
- Drums: Billy Lewis
- Percussion: Henry Levy
- Produced and Arranged by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Recorded at Western Recorders, Studio #1, Hollywood, July 26, 1966
- Appeared on the flip side of "I'm a Believer"
- Reached number 20 on the pop charts, making it the first Monkees b-side to chart
- The original mono and stereo mixes differ slightly in two spots. On the stereo mix, Micky's vocal is dubbed in at the end of the instrumental bridge just before the second verse; this vocal bridge does not appear on the mono mix. During the fade, Micky's repeated, "Not your steppin' stone" begins sooner on the stereo mix than on the mono mix. The mono single fades out earlier than the track from the mono album, despite that both versions are shown with a playing time of 2:25.
"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)"
- Written by Neil Diamond
- Lead vocal by Davy Jones
- Backing vocals by Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz & Peter Tork
- Other personnel unknown
- Produced by Jeff Barry
- Recorded in New York City, October 15 and 23, 1966 (studio unknown)
- First of the two Neil Diamond songs performed by The Monkees on this album
"The Kind of Girl I Could Love"
- Written by Michael Nesmith and Roger Atkins
- Lead vocal by Michael Nesmith
- Backing vocals by Michael Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones & Peter Tork
- Guitar: James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Michael Deasy, and Don Peake
- Bass: Larry Knetchtel and Bob West
- Drums: Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon
- Percussion: Gary Coleman
- Arrangement: Don Peake
- Produced by Michael Nesmith
- Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, June 25, 1966
- Last Nesmith collaboration with another composer
"The Day We Fall in Love"
- Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
- Lead vocal by Davy Jones
- Guitar: Al Casey
- Harpsichord and Organ: Don Randi and Michael Rubini
- Bass: Carol Kaye and Ray Pohlman
- Drums: Hal Blaine
- Percussion: Frank Capp and Julius Wechter
- Violin: Louis Haber, Irving Spice, and Lousi Stone
- Viola: David Sackson and Murray Sandry
- Cello: Seymour Barab
- Conductor: Arthur Butler
- Arranged and Produced by Jeff Barry
- Engineered by Ray Hall
- Recorded at RCA Victor Studios Hollywood, October 28, 1966 and RCA Victor Studio B, New York, November 23, 1966
"Sometime in the Morning"
- Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
- Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
- Backing vocals by Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones & Peter Tork
- Other personnel unknown
- Produced by Gerry Goffin, Carole King and Jeff Barry
- Recorded at New York City, October 13 and 25, 1966 (studio unknown)
"Laugh"
- Written by Hank Medress, Phil Margo, Mitchell Margo and Jay Siegal
- Lead vocal by Davy Jones
- Guitar: Al Casey
- Harpsichord and Organ: Don Randi and Michael Rubini
- Bass: Carol Kaye and Ray Pohlman
- Drums: Hal Blaine
- Percussion: Frank Capp and Julius Wechter
- Produced and Arranged by Jeff Barry
- Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, October 28, 1966
"I'm a Believer"
- Written by Neil Diamond
- Lead vocal by Micky Dolenz
- Backing Vocals by Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones & Peter Tork
- Guitar: Neil Diamond
- Drums: Buddy Salzman
- Other personnel unknown
- Produced by Jeff Barry
- Recorded in New York City, October 15 and 23, 1966
- Reached number 1 on the pop charts
1994 CD Bonus Tracks
"Don't Listen to Linda" (Previously Unissued Version)
"I'll Spend My Life With You" (Alternate Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Unused until Headquarters, when it was re-recorded by The Monkees
"I Don't Think You Know Me" (Previously Unreleased Version)
- Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
- Lead vocal by Peter Tork
- Backing vocals: Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz and Mike Nesmith
- Intended for use for the television series, but never broadcast
"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" (Previously Unreleased Version)
- Narration by Peter Tork
- Intended by Jeff Barry to give Peter a bigger role on the album
"I'm a Believer" (Previously Unreleased Early Version)
- Take 4A, which is slightly slower and features raw vocals from Micky
2006 Bonus Tracks
"Apples, Peaches, Bananas & Pears"
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Featured on Missing Links Volume 1
"Ladies Aid Society" (Original Mono Mix)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Davy
- Previously Unissued
"I'll Spend My Life With You" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Unused until Headquarters, when it was re-recorded by The Monkees/On the 1994 reissue
"I Don't Think You Know Me" (Second Recorded Version)
- Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King
- Lead vocal by Peter Tork
- Backing vocals: Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Mike Nesmith
- Intended for use for the television series, but never broadcast/On the 1994 reissue
"Through The Looking Glass" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Backing vocal by Davy
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 3
"Don't Listen To Linda" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Backing vocal by Davy
- Originally on the 1994 reissue
"Kicking Stones"
- Written by Lynn Castle and Wayne Erwin
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 1, titled "Teeny Tiny Gnome."
"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" (With Peter's Narration)
- Included on the 1994 reissue.
"I'm a Believer" (Alternate Mix)
- Same track from 1994 reissue, but in stereo and different studio chatter.
"Mr. Webster" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
"Valleri" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Davy
- Backing vocal by Micky
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
"Words" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
- Lead vocal by Micky and Peter
- Backing vocal by Davy
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
"Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" (TV Version)
- Written by Neil Diamond
- Lead vocal by Davy
- Backing vocal by Micky and Peter
- Originally featured on the Music Box set, remixed in stereo.
"I'll Be Back Up On My Feet" (TV Version)
- Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
"Tear Drop City" (Alternate Mix)
- Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Later sped up (and mixed in stereo) for Instant Replay in 1969. Previously unissued.
"Of You" (Mono Mix)
- Written by Bill and John Chadwick
- Lead vocal by Mike
- Originally featured on the Music Box set.
"Hold On Girl" (First Recorded Version)
- Written by Jack Keller, Ben Raleih, and Billy Carr
- Lead vocal by Davy
- Backing vocal by Micky and Davy
- Later re-recorded for More of the Monkees.
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
"(I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love"
- Written by Michael Martin Murphy
- Lead vocal by Micky
- Originally featured on Missing Links Volume 2.
- Two sessions for Micky's vocals were made. The second (which Micky believed was "terribly out of sync") came in October 1966 and was the basis for the song's 1990 release. A different vocal by Micky was recorded earlier that summer.
Other personnel
- Music supervisor: Don Kirshner
- Music coordinators: Lester Sill and Emil LaViola
Chart positions
Miscellanea
- The liner notes to the Rhino Records CD reissue state that "The Day We Fall In Love" was the only song from the album not to be featured in the television series. This is not true; two other songs ("When Love Comes Knockin' At Your Door" and "Hold On Girl") also received no television exposure. The former song is listed in the end credits of the episode "Monkees at the Movies", but there is no evidence it was ever actually used in that or any other episode.
- "Your Auntie Grizelda" was the first released Monkees track to feature a lead vocal by Peter Tork, who was distinctly unhappy with the song's novelty flavor. The vocal track by Peter was completed in one take.
- The cover photo for More Of The Monkees was pieced together from two separate shots. The Monkees were wearing clothes from J.C. Penney, in an attempt by that store to increase the popularity of their clothing line.
- "I'm a Believer" was intended to be sung by Mike, and a vocal session was held at RCA Studios in October 1966 with Mike singing lead and Micky, Peter, and Davy on backing vocals. A photo from that session was used on the album's original back cover.
- The album had advanced sales of 1.5 million prior to its release.
- The album had a previously unheard of nine producer credits.
References
- More of The Monkees CD liner notes
- The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation by Andrew Sandoval
