my fave monkees song! there is a band that does an amazing version of this as a tribute to Davy. really fab. ck it out. it's on their Facebook page as a sneak preview from their new cd.
Wow there is real magic in the air when Micky Mike Peter and Davy are groovin together. Pity Mike was left all that money. He might played his heart out with the rest of the Band on all the Tours otherwise. Maybe it's the Texan in him. Likes to do his own thing.
This is too good. Thanks so much for posting this! Great playing, great singing. I just wish they could have continued this way. I remember a radio interview about a year later where Mike said he just couldn't put on the Monkee suit anymore> He felt there was no creativity in covering the oldies.
There must be pro-shot footage from these shows somewhere... c'mon, Nez! The British press are b*$tards to everyone... ya didn't have to take it so hard...
Nice recovery... Nesmith was blowing the intro and Tork pulled his rump out of the oven with his keys. To his credit, nice improv by Nesmith chopping those chords and making it sound like it was intentional. Fair musicianship I would say.
Well, I was there and there was a time when The Monkees were as big, if not bigger than The Beatles. The Beatles didn't play all the instruments on Sgt. Pepper. So what? They are a huge rock band ( Monkees) with some of the best songs ever.
Yeah just look at the video from the TV show you can tell Micky and David Jones were not mimicking their instruments very well at all. I guess in all the time they had they did finally learn how so they could go on tour but a huge chunk of their recorded studio catalog is not them playing..
Let's not forget that after Headquaters ,the monkees themselves went back to an augmented form of the Don Kirshner method in that the would have studio musicians record their songs & then come in & do their own voices except this time they were the songwriters & co-producers
@bennygoods Hal and the Wrecking Crew are on some of the early Monkees recordings for sure but they weren't on even a majority of the tracks. I'm a huge fan of Hal and the Wrecking Crew. Boyce and Hart and their band played the backing on virtually the entire first album. The second was a real grab bag of sources and different backing groups. The liner notes of the Rhino reissues are very complete and we can check out who is what using that source (which utilized the union session sheets).
Read where one of the Monkees (Peter?) said that if based on actual ability, Micky would've been lead singer, Davy would've been on drums (for the show, he 'tested' better but was 'lost' behind the kit), Mike would've played bass, Peter would've been on guitar. I've got a (late) concert DVD of them (minus Mike)--it's even better than this...really high energy and right on the money. Blows me away. GREAT DVD! And yes, they're all playing.
@DoofsterDan Don Kirshner actually fired the first producer because he wanted to make Davy Jones the lead singer. Micky was always considered to be the lead singer because of his unusual voice, And he did have to take lessons just to learn to appear to be playing. He did learn to play though.
It really is an acomplishment more for Mickey Dolenz who never seen a drum, forget play one, when the Monkees show became a hit. He really became a half decent drummer just by old fasion practice! Outstanding performance considering where they came from.
I don't know if folks will disagree with this, but I think that despite his musical abilities, Mike was not a particularly strong writer. I think Mickey is a first-rate lead singer, and would have made a great front man in the musical eras before and after. Clearly Mickey and Davy aren't much as musicians (although looks like Mickey is holding his own on drums here). I don't think the material got that much better without Kirshner, actually, but I can see why they wanted out from under him.
From this 50 year old, this is DEFINATELY one of the 60s great songs. It captures the era perfectly, has a good vibe and shows that the Monkees CAN and DID sing and play their own songs.
@meandemjay Bands rarely play a song exactly the same way on stage as they do recording it. Why are people making an issue of that here? Other bands speed up or slow songs down too. Sometimes a song sounds better played a different way LIVE.
god i wish nez would of broke the old black beauty les paul and had two vox superbeatle 150s and full blast with high treble to get that classic opening riff
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I myself have always loved the monkees and eventually they did play thier own instruments but to all you dumb cunts out there the white albulm was not each individual with seemen nor was abbey road so before you shoot your worthless mouth off i suggest you read the beatles recording sessions by mark lewishon and recording the beatles by george martin and where do you get that crap about jeff lynne you must be the only wanker on the planet with that info
Mickey Dolenz is one of the doesn't get the credit he deserves for being one of the classic rock vocalists of all times. Over the years he's taken the time to become a reasonably accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Mike Neismith is a first class songwriter. It's not like the Monkees were the only band to be formed by auditions. Lots of other bands didn't perform their instrumental tracks as well. As individuals and as a group, the Monkees are wondeful entertainers, and they always have been.
We all know that The Monkees were a manufactured product for a TV show that piggy-backed musical out-put. I always loved this song and let me tell you - that guitar riff ain't no easy feat coz its way out on the off-beat. Really enjoyed this. SEE- they can do it. Well done guys.
blackmore4: too slow? It works OK for me. PVS is the closest thing to an anthem The Monkees had -- no need to rush through it. I like the alternate feel, plus it makes it easier to sing (none of us are getting any younger...). I'm not qualified to comment on the guitar sound, but thanks davyo for putting this up...great sound considering the circumstances!
According to Wikipedia David could play drums to some degree but being short he couldn't be seen behind the drum kit. The dirty trick was they put Mickey there, he could play guitar but had to learn drumming as a beginner.
Check out Wikipedia, they report that the show producers put them on instruments other those they played best.
"it should have been Tork on guitar, Nesmith on bass, and Jones on drums, with Dolenz taking the fronting role ".
I'm sorry, anyone who doesn't think the Beatles played on the White Album should be institionalized .. the Monkees were OK but they were hired as actors .. is Nimoy REALLY a Vulcan?
Too slow and why on earth did Nesmith use a damn Strat? I saw this tour and the guitar sound at the venue was as bad as it sounds here. I felt like running home to fetch my Gretsch for him. Apart from that, best group in the world!
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and the critics said they couldn't play, yeah right. What they won't tell you is that the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White album. Nothing against the the Beats but let's be honest, the Monkees could kick it with the best of em. I saw them live, outstanding!
What are you talking about, the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White Album.... You truly are talking out of your arse mate. Yes the monkees could play, they cocked up with HEAD as they wanted more creative control, and where did it get them.... it flopped big time. Yes, i respect the monkees for trying to turn a manufactured band into a real band, and I too have seen them live and really enjoyed the gig. but you really can't put them into the same league as the Beatles.Chalk and Cheese.
McCartney played drums on Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence. Ringo lost his temper a couple of days before and said I quit, but came back soon after these first two numbers were recorded. Yes, absolutely true.
i know, but i said everything on the white album, i didn't say they didn't switch instruments or something like that, i mean if i remember it right george plays lead on helter skelter but the solo is paul and so on.
I agree with you 1000% with what you say about the Monkees. But, the Beatles statement is not only over the top. But, it's exxagerated & flat out wrong. But, I think you know that.
"the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White album. Nothing against the the Beats but let's be honest..."
You're just saying that to agitate people, right? As Davy used to say, "You must be joking!" I suppose Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye & Glen Campbell secretly recorded the White Album for The Beatles? Dude, the Beatles were the kings of rock n roll, & The Monkees always acknowledged that with humility. "Most of all we'd like to thank the Beatles for starting it all up for us." -- Michael Nesmith
@joeyc09 - Er, you might want to direct that comment to freedomthinker7, whom I was quoting. As yes, freedomthinker7 IS out of his/her fucking mind! LOL! Other than things such as horns, woodwinds (if there were any), strings, and of course Eric Clapton's lead on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," the Beatles played it all.
"the beatles played every note on that lp as well as all the others", not exactly.
Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, still, respectively, members of The Move and The Idle Race. Once told of their recording engineer getting them into Abbey Road, They witness John Lennon with a group of sessmen recording "Glass Onion" and down the the hall at the same time Paul McCartney recording "Honey Pie" with another group of sessmen.
Lennon always said if people wanted a new Beatle album to take their favorite tracks from the solo albums and sequence an album, that's basicly what "The Beatles" (aka the White Album) and Abbey Road were any way.
Of course hes a real drummer. i dont wanna sound like im putting you down PeterMayer cause im not but ive been drumming for about 6 years and i could tell that at the beginning of the show he didnt know how but as the show went on he actually knew how to play.
i,on the other hand,am going to put you down. mickey dolenz has been playing drums for over 40 years,and is,rather unbelievably,a human being.....in other words,he's not a cartoon or a cardboard cut-out,douchebag
I Wish there was a better copy of this,,I'll ALWAY'S love these guy's ,old or young,,they were a pisser,and Headquarter's was the first album i ever bought...Boyce & Hart were on most of the songs,and should NOT be forgotten ,either !!
Nope. Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote the song about the town they lived in at the time, West Orange, New Jersey. The main street in West Orange is called Pleasant Valley Way.
That is a fabulous live version of the song. The Monkees silenced their critics and pulled off something that was not very easy to accomplish. They evolved from a pre-fab made-for-TV fictional music group to accomplished musicians and song writers. The start of The Monkees turnaround was with their "Headquarters" album, as well as their "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones" album which contained Pleasant Valley Sunday. Good stuff.
Other than Buddy Rich,Virgil Donati, Mike Portnoy,Dave Wreckl,Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart,Gene Krupa,Bill Bruford and Keith Moon has there ever been a better drummer than Micky Dolenz?
I'm a huge Monkees fan. Mickey was never a "great drummer", but he pulled it off. He can play. The Monkees are staple in my repeat 70's childhood. love 'em!
That is a good question. Even in the old days Mike usually stood off from the rest of the band which led to a lot of speculation by the press. Maybe he just likes room to play.
this is sad...when I was 6 I thought Mickey was so cool. I looked at the pictures on the back of the albums, and envisioned myself behind those drums. I taped paper to the bed and wrote "s" for snare, and "t" for tom and "s" for cymbal and would listen to the tunes and try to figure out what the drum parts were! I used wooden spoons for sticks. And now....I play guitar for a living. Go figure.
Other than Buddy Rich,Virgil Donati,Mike Portnoy,Dave Wreckl,Terry Bozzio,Neil Peart and Gene Krupa has there ever been a better drummer than Micky Dolenz?
Micky was an underrated drummer even by his own standards. If you want to get a taste of Micky's caliber listen to the live version of "Circle Sky" from the movie "Head". Micky just nails it and then some.
They were a big part of my childhood, and Im only 14! I wish more than anything to see them all together playing :( But what am I stuck with? An endless line of teenyboppers getting cranked through the tween machine D8< Critics can kiss my ass; I LOVE THE MONKEES.
i no what u mean even tho im the yungest and my brother and sister hate them cas i listen to them every day i used to have to listen to them to even get to sleep then my mp3 broke then my dad fix it but i cant listen to them to get to sleep
You go GardenGirl. If you recognize the tween machine, you can avoid it. I hate to say "listen to the '60s" because you've got your own path to forge, but there really was great music then -- and now, too, if you reject the "here today, gone tomorrow" junk they put out there to make quick bucks. Keep looking for music you can believe in for a lifetime. My lifeline was The Who, and I DO recommend all their music...good luck finding yours.
I agree with WileERobby, fuck ya'll if you don't get it for what it's worth! It's no mystery...none of you younger folks even try to "DIG IT", anymore! Do you expect a soft landing,... everytime that you fail?
@WileERobby most of the stuff.....the monkees are good....but Muse, Incubus, and Ben Folds.........theyre all pretty good stuff....well written and full sound.
im pissed at hell that they got slammed by the critics than mike quit they didnt even tour the states, here we are now nearly 12 years after this was done they are all in good health and i feel they should do what cream did before one of them passes on
Ageed dadadruma these guys deserve to be inducted and alive and well to see it.All these years of provong themselves and the damn critics still slam them.They sound superb in thes clips from 1997,I watch these all the time.
Amen to that. One of the biggest groups from the late sixties to be overlooked. Whether they played instruments or were a tv show band is irrelevant, they still had numerous hit records in the sixties.
The Monkees, in this lineup, were supposed to tour the U.S. after the British jaunt in 1997. This would have been the crowning achievement of their careers, to play all by themselves to all the critics live. Of course, Nesmith quit and left Micky, Peter and Davy without even a phone call; so they soldiered on as a trio...again. Which is fine. The Monkees proved time and again they didn't need Nesmith to put on a great show.
But what this says about Mike is quite definitive.
More complicated than that. Mike took exception to some more of the critics 'didn't play their instruments' crap. UK critics were mixed- some loved the obvious- others dug up the BS.
He defended them aggressively but got tired of the old arguments and the oldies only aspect of it. They all tried to push the Justus work and the people got it- the critics didn't. And because of that- we didn't get the North American tour. Our loss.
omg this is one of my favorite monkees songs :D still as far out (lol) as in the 60's at any age THE MONKEES RULE (as a side note, i think Davy and Peter were REALLY cute in the 90's. well i guess they still are though,)
there was some truth to their musicianship or lack of, but as Mickey joked in an interview, it was "on the job Training" for them & that is pretty accurate, as they really had little experience & Mickey did not play the drums, when they started, but grew to become a good drummer, what a great way to get into that, getting a paying gig, before knowing how to play, usually we musicians, go a long way to hone our craft before making any if ever decent return of $ for our dedication & time put in.
Most musicians didn't/don't have a tv show to film and act in. Most musicians don't have records to record/get out on top of that. And most actors don't end up writing some pretty amazing songs themselves. The age old argument about The Monkees was as stupid then as it is now. By pure energy and will power and with unified force and 'talent'- they were/remain an extremely impressive band.
Funny how Mickey D.was imvited into the studio for the Beatles 'All You need is love' (Check out the official video) and sat with Mick Jagger for the broadcast. Respect all round.
If you ask these guys what their fave song is this is the one I hear them say most often; and to me they play it so wonderfully together - how could ya sit still (LOL). I sure do miss them together. LOVE YA MONKEES!!!!
This is priceless! I only wish I could have seen them live. Mickey actually learned to play the drums and Davy learned the guitar. Man, what memories those guys bring to mind.
I totally agree! Especially with that new extended segue, it just makes one want to say, "Go Nez, go Nez!" At one point, when the camera went to the big screen, the look on Peter's face was one of total concentration, like he was contemplating a killer chess move! Awesome!
my fave monkees song! there is a band that does an amazing version of this as a tribute to Davy. really fab. ck it out. it's on their Facebook page as a sneak preview from their new cd.
search google
nutty jazz Facebook
videomania100 1 day ago
Wow there is real magic in the air when Micky Mike Peter and Davy are groovin together. Pity Mike was left all that money. He might played his heart out with the rest of the Band on all the Tours otherwise. Maybe it's the Texan in him. Likes to do his own thing.
Sixalienasa 3 days ago
This is too good. Thanks so much for posting this! Great playing, great singing. I just wish they could have continued this way. I remember a radio interview about a year later where Mike said he just couldn't put on the Monkee suit anymore> He felt there was no creativity in covering the oldies.
nokie2 1 week ago
Pritty dam good for live
sgwbyyy 1 week ago
One of the biggest pop/rock group of the 1960's.
jpsmart59 1 month ago
This video show's that given time, the Monkees are a really good band.
SuperEcwchampion 1 month ago
There must be pro-shot footage from these shows somewhere... c'mon, Nez! The British press are b*$tards to everyone... ya didn't have to take it so hard...
filmlikesubstance 5 months ago
Didn't Carol King write this? Peter Tork mostly plays bass on TV , Did he really play bass? It's clear he's a keybord player.
Dion1957 6 months ago
Nice recovery... Nesmith was blowing the intro and Tork pulled his rump out of the oven with his keys. To his credit, nice improv by Nesmith chopping those chords and making it sound like it was intentional. Fair musicianship I would say.
tmont007 6 months ago
Well, I was there and there was a time when The Monkees were as big, if not bigger than The Beatles. The Beatles didn't play all the instruments on Sgt. Pepper. So what? They are a huge rock band ( Monkees) with some of the best songs ever.
darcat1530 6 months ago
Peter saved that by showing ,is that Mike?,what to play.
Syzygy60 6 months ago
I sing this song every time I BBQ.... ''Charcoal burning everywhere" LOL
Especially on these holiday weekends!
HAPPY 4th of JULY!
thekeifernet 8 months ago
Yeah just look at the video from the TV show you can tell Micky and David Jones were not mimicking their instruments very well at all. I guess in all the time they had they did finally learn how so they could go on tour but a huge chunk of their recorded studio catalog is not them playing..
Brianp823 9 months ago
Wow, Didnt think Mike would have shown up. He pretty much wanted to go on his own way from the day they broke up. Good to see them all though.
itschallenger 9 months ago
Micky never lost his vocal range.
whitethronebooks 10 months ago 3
Let's not forget that after Headquaters ,the monkees themselves went back to an augmented form of the Don Kirshner method in that the would have studio musicians record their songs & then come in & do their own voices except this time they were the songwriters & co-producers
TheRyryramone 10 months ago
I was there it was amazing. My life time was realised that night. Excellent
TheLozzer56 10 months ago
Just GREAT!
Paneeks1960 1 year ago
It's Reg! Reginald Fairchild!!
iamthewalrus3654 1 year ago
Wow, I never realized Mickey could actually play drums. SInging and drumming at the same time is a bit tricky but he pulls it off quite well.
Stephanjnj 1 year ago
@Stephanjnj He only had about 30 years to learn....The great Hal Blaine is on all the Studio recordings.
bennygoods 10 months ago
@bennygoods Hal and the Wrecking Crew are on some of the early Monkees recordings for sure but they weren't on even a majority of the tracks. I'm a huge fan of Hal and the Wrecking Crew. Boyce and Hart and their band played the backing on virtually the entire first album. The second was a real grab bag of sources and different backing groups. The liner notes of the Rhino reissues are very complete and we can check out who is what using that source (which utilized the union session sheets).
dbailey62 9 months ago
@Stephanjnj He couldn't at first. He didn't even know how to set them up.
I guess having 30 years to practice has payed off. :p
tubefluid 8 months ago
Just started humming the Monkeys theme song to my new baby niece, saw this, they were groovy and funky, very groovy, very funky ! Me Likey
lucu01 1 year ago
haha wow and i thought i was bad
1125112511251125 1 year ago
haha wow
1125112511251125 1 year ago
Wow Mickey sounds the same.
cookie1176 1 year ago
I wish I could have seen them during THIS concert! FANTASTIC!
sshelget 1 year ago
i seen them live when i was younger was great!
AmericanDragonfan 1 year ago
Davy got down on one knee and sang, "I want to be free" to my wife in Vegas years ago. She will never forget it.
bil56 1 year ago
Gosh I'm dating myself but I remember Mickey D as Circus Boy on televison in the late 50's early 60's....
Oahunative59 1 year ago
@Oahunative59 You and me both!
Pat2296 1 year ago
They are singing it slower than first recorded. Sounds like they just woke up. Not very good. :(
coomason5 1 year ago
Read where one of the Monkees (Peter?) said that if based on actual ability, Micky would've been lead singer, Davy would've been on drums (for the show, he 'tested' better but was 'lost' behind the kit), Mike would've played bass, Peter would've been on guitar. I've got a (late) concert DVD of them (minus Mike)--it's even better than this...really high energy and right on the money. Blows me away. GREAT DVD! And yes, they're all playing.
DoofsterDan 1 year ago
@DoofsterDan Don Kirshner actually fired the first producer because he wanted to make Davy Jones the lead singer. Micky was always considered to be the lead singer because of his unusual voice, And he did have to take lessons just to learn to appear to be playing. He did learn to play though.
Gunfighter1b 1 year ago
It really is an acomplishment more for Mickey Dolenz who never seen a drum, forget play one, when the Monkees show became a hit. He really became a half decent drummer just by old fasion practice! Outstanding performance considering where they came from.
5inthehole 1 year ago
Oh, there he is. Sorry.
MichaelMacer 1 year ago
Where's Peter?
MichaelMacer 1 year ago
Good on them! Go Monkees!
MichaelMacer 1 year ago
I have that album " Farts of the Monkees" its a French import 12".... very cool....
variablel 1 year ago
@variablel Is that 'farts' or 'facts'?
coomason5 1 year ago
I don't know if folks will disagree with this, but I think that despite his musical abilities, Mike was not a particularly strong writer. I think Mickey is a first-rate lead singer, and would have made a great front man in the musical eras before and after. Clearly Mickey and Davy aren't much as musicians (although looks like Mickey is holding his own on drums here). I don't think the material got that much better without Kirshner, actually, but I can see why they wanted out from under him.
hummeltown 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
FUCK OBAMA
miamad 1 year ago
Much slower than the original version but great to see Micky mastering the drums. Peter looks great and in fine form here!
crapple009 1 year ago
I'm sorry, but this is GREAT!!!! Micky Dolenz has a great voice and i will always love the Monkees, watched them in the 60s and still listen to them
Thanks
jewell49707 1 year ago
@jewell49707 Mickey does have a great voice and this song is great
genericgeorge 1 year ago
Sounds fantastic!
ChampagneCraig 1 year ago
Played this in bands before, such a fun little riff to play.
lakefloor 1 year ago
This is one of the few songs from the 60's that I know could easily be turned into a heavy metal version and still sound good. Just listen to it.
hopop313 1 year ago
From this 50 year old, this is DEFINATELY one of the 60s great songs. It captures the era perfectly, has a good vibe and shows that the Monkees CAN and DID sing and play their own songs.
NYVoice 1 year ago
They are playing this song 1/2-step lower than the original version.
BullToTheShit 1 year ago
@BullToTheShit 30 years later....they're playing live and signin....i think they get a pass on the half-step....
meandemjay 1 year ago
@meandemjay Bands rarely play a song exactly the same way on stage as they do recording it. Why are people making an issue of that here? Other bands speed up or slow songs down too. Sometimes a song sounds better played a different way LIVE.
Chiselnyc 6 months ago
@Chiselnyc - right....that was my point
meandemjay 6 months ago
@BullToTheShit allot of artist tune lower when they get older.
Nazman06 1 year ago
This GREAT...they sound real GOOD!
I like this song and one of my favorites from this time.
Glad they got together again (all of them) and someone caught it on tape.
Thanks for the post..nice!
Bigum99 1 year ago
They're playing like grandpas!
njjordison 2 years ago
@njjordison ummmmm... they are!!!
briagh 1 year ago
god i wish nez would of broke the old black beauty les paul and had two vox superbeatle 150s and full blast with high treble to get that classic opening riff
dadadruma 2 years ago 7
Dolenz was good in Circus Boy (aka Braddock) abd he's still a clown with rest of 'em!!
buckley54 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I myself have always loved the monkees and eventually they did play thier own instruments but to all you dumb cunts out there the white albulm was not each individual with seemen nor was abbey road so before you shoot your worthless mouth off i suggest you read the beatles recording sessions by mark lewishon and recording the beatles by george martin and where do you get that crap about jeff lynne you must be the only wanker on the planet with that info
peterp622 2 years ago
I believe they all deserve credit for their respective parts in the song.
Seattlecarnut 2 years ago
Mickey Dolenz is one of the doesn't get the credit he deserves for being one of the classic rock vocalists of all times. Over the years he's taken the time to become a reasonably accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Mike Neismith is a first class songwriter. It's not like the Monkees were the only band to be formed by auditions. Lots of other bands didn't perform their instrumental tracks as well. As individuals and as a group, the Monkees are wondeful entertainers, and they always have been.
NewShimmer 2 years ago 7
Ever heard of Neil Diamond, Carole King,Gerry Goffin, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart? With songs written by them how could they "miss"?
oldskeptic 2 years ago
This song is so damn clever and witty.
mrgoodvibrations 2 years ago
We all know that The Monkees were a manufactured product for a TV show that piggy-backed musical out-put. I always loved this song and let me tell you - that guitar riff ain't no easy feat coz its way out on the off-beat. Really enjoyed this. SEE- they can do it. Well done guys.
Kimians 2 years ago
Hey, they play pretty well!
SenorZorrozzz 2 years ago
Did they forget how to play it? Or how they were told to play it?
lid107 2 years ago
not bad for a bunch of guys who 'had no talent' enjoyed!
wiredtojupiter 2 years ago
Thanks for posting these, davyo...they are awesome!
FlingsPooAtTheZoo 2 years ago
blackmore4: too slow? It works OK for me. PVS is the closest thing to an anthem The Monkees had -- no need to rush through it. I like the alternate feel, plus it makes it easier to sing (none of us are getting any younger...). I'm not qualified to comment on the guitar sound, but thanks davyo for putting this up...great sound considering the circumstances!
notanotheraccount 2 years ago
Good to see Davy playing more then just the maracas!
etowmom 2 years ago
According to Wikipedia David could play drums to some degree but being short he couldn't be seen behind the drum kit. The dirty trick was they put Mickey there, he could play guitar but had to learn drumming as a beginner.
Check out Wikipedia, they report that the show producers put them on instruments other those they played best.
"it should have been Tork on guitar, Nesmith on bass, and Jones on drums, with Dolenz taking the fronting role ".
njnorth1 2 years ago
I saw the Monkees in London in 97,
what was a bit of a bummer was too much JUSTUS! Stick to the oldies!
mkmfilms2009 2 years ago
I'm sorry, anyone who doesn't think the Beatles played on the White Album should be institionalized .. the Monkees were OK but they were hired as actors .. is Nimoy REALLY a Vulcan?
getthedoggie 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This guys suck!
jaraneda 2 years ago
My friend's brother had a Gretcsch. I think the Audio is all wrong for the concrt. but wish I could have seen them in person!
LYNXVAL 2 years ago
Too slow and why on earth did Nesmith use a damn Strat? I saw this tour and the guitar sound at the venue was as bad as it sounds here. I felt like running home to fetch my Gretsch for him. Apart from that, best group in the world!
blackmore4 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
and the critics said they couldn't play, yeah right. What they won't tell you is that the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White album. Nothing against the the Beats but let's be honest, the Monkees could kick it with the best of em. I saw them live, outstanding!
freedomthinker7 2 years ago
What are you talking about, the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White Album.... You truly are talking out of your arse mate. Yes the monkees could play, they cocked up with HEAD as they wanted more creative control, and where did it get them.... it flopped big time. Yes, i respect the monkees for trying to turn a manufactured band into a real band, and I too have seen them live and really enjoyed the gig. but you really can't put them into the same league as the Beatles.Chalk and Cheese.
bettsaj 2 years ago
i hope you're fucking joking, the beatles played everything on the white album, except for erics guest spot.
OropherThranduil 2 years ago
McCartney played drums on Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence. Ringo lost his temper a couple of days before and said I quit, but came back soon after these first two numbers were recorded. Yes, absolutely true.
hootenhtn 2 years ago
i know, but i said everything on the white album, i didn't say they didn't switch instruments or something like that, i mean if i remember it right george plays lead on helter skelter but the solo is paul and so on.
OropherThranduil 2 years ago
I agree with you 1000% with what you say about the Monkees. But, the Beatles statement is not only over the top. But, it's exxagerated & flat out wrong. But, I think you know that.
klwewf 2 years ago
"the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White album. Nothing against the the Beats but let's be honest..."
You're just saying that to agitate people, right? As Davy used to say, "You must be joking!" I suppose Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye & Glen Campbell secretly recorded the White Album for The Beatles? Dude, the Beatles were the kings of rock n roll, & The Monkees always acknowledged that with humility. "Most of all we'd like to thank the Beatles for starting it all up for us." -- Michael Nesmith
FlingsPooAtTheZoo 2 years ago
r u out of your fucking mind???the beatles played every note on that lp as well as all the others
i suggest you do some serious research before you make a statement like that...where did u ever hear something like that ....your way way off....
joeyc09 2 years ago
@joeyc09 - Er, you might want to direct that comment to freedomthinker7, whom I was quoting. As yes, freedomthinker7 IS out of his/her fucking mind! LOL! Other than things such as horns, woodwinds (if there were any), strings, and of course Eric Clapton's lead on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," the Beatles played it all.
FlingsPooAtTheZoo 2 years ago
"the beatles played every note on that lp as well as all the others", not exactly.
Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne, still, respectively, members of The Move and The Idle Race. Once told of their recording engineer getting them into Abbey Road, They witness John Lennon with a group of sessmen recording "Glass Onion" and down the the hall at the same time Paul McCartney recording "Honey Pie" with another group of sessmen.
njnorth1 2 years ago
Lennon always said if people wanted a new Beatle album to take their favorite tracks from the solo albums and sequence an album, that's basicly what "The Beatles" (aka the White Album) and Abbey Road were any way.
njnorth1 2 years ago
I wish I'd been there!
goodysun 2 years ago 2
Of course hes a real drummer. i dont wanna sound like im putting you down PeterMayer cause im not but ive been drumming for about 6 years and i could tell that at the beginning of the show he didnt know how but as the show went on he actually knew how to play.
mulletman223 2 years ago
i,on the other hand,am going to put you down. mickey dolenz has been playing drums for over 40 years,and is,rather unbelievably,a human being.....in other words,he's not a cartoon or a cardboard cut-out,douchebag
07504201963 2 years ago
Mickey's turned out to be a real drummer!
PeterMayer 2 years ago
I Wish there was a better copy of this,,I'll ALWAY'S love these guy's ,old or young,,they were a pisser,and Headquarter's was the first album i ever bought...Boyce & Hart were on most of the songs,and should NOT be forgotten ,either !!
Choogler1 3 years ago
bodies should remain where they belong to. but def not on stage like animals in the zoo,
bbcle 3 years ago
Um...what the hey does this mean? Never mind.
notanotheraccount 2 years ago
i was there
steve01274 3 years ago
When Goffin and King wrote it, you mean?
NorthwestProgressive 3 years ago
its a song about orange county...california
petetownshendjr 3 years ago
Nope. Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote the song about the town they lived in at the time, West Orange, New Jersey. The main street in West Orange is called Pleasant Valley Way.
NorthwestProgressive 3 years ago
yeah i know its not really about orange county it was a joke
petetownshendjr 2 years ago
sounds pretty plodding ..for what was once a breezy classic
RascalsArchives 3 years ago
This song has a lot going for it. The beat, the message and the hook. Great song!
modelleg 3 years ago
That is a fabulous live version of the song. The Monkees silenced their critics and pulled off something that was not very easy to accomplish. They evolved from a pre-fab made-for-TV fictional music group to accomplished musicians and song writers. The start of The Monkees turnaround was with their "Headquarters" album, as well as their "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones" album which contained Pleasant Valley Sunday. Good stuff.
junkie4vids 3 years ago 10
Well said
jakerandall123 3 years ago
Other than Buddy Rich,Virgil Donati, Mike Portnoy,Dave Wreckl,Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart,Gene Krupa,Bill Bruford and Keith Moon has there ever been a better drummer than Micky Dolenz?
mailuj1 3 years ago
RINGO!!!
mclarke825 3 years ago
John Bonham.
rcmusic2 3 years ago
mailuj1......
I just peed my pants. mclarke825. Ringo was and IS and excellent drummer. The body of work speaks for itself.
allegradrums 3 years ago
I'm a huge Monkees fan. Mickey was never a "great drummer", but he pulled it off. He can play. The Monkees are staple in my repeat 70's childhood. love 'em!
djkeith3984 3 years ago
LOL^2!! :-D
notanotheraccount 2 years ago
Thanks. I really enjoyed this video.
J4Mac 3 years ago
why is mike always standing off byhimself in these videos in 1997
savammy 3 years ago
That is a good question. Even in the old days Mike usually stood off from the rest of the band which led to a lot of speculation by the press. Maybe he just likes room to play.
bc191 3 years ago
this is sad...when I was 6 I thought Mickey was so cool. I looked at the pictures on the back of the albums, and envisioned myself behind those drums. I taped paper to the bed and wrote "s" for snare, and "t" for tom and "s" for cymbal and would listen to the tunes and try to figure out what the drum parts were! I used wooden spoons for sticks. And now....I play guitar for a living. Go figure.
3shiftgtr 3 years ago
Other than Buddy Rich,Virgil Donati,Mike Portnoy,Dave Wreckl,Terry Bozzio,Neil Peart and Gene Krupa has there ever been a better drummer than Micky Dolenz?
mailuj1 3 years ago
Micky was an underrated drummer even by his own standards. If you want to get a taste of Micky's caliber listen to the live version of "Circle Sky" from the movie "Head". Micky just nails it and then some.
bc191 3 years ago
Bill Bruford!
J4Mac 3 years ago
Oh, heck yes. I've always said the Monkees' best song is "Pleasant Valley Sunday", but their best performance is "Circle Sky."
CaptHayfever 2 years ago
@CaptHayfever YES! The live version of Circle Sky smokes!
lakefloor 1 year ago
Keith Moon?
Angthor92 3 years ago
LOL!!! :-D
notanotheraccount 2 years ago
Other than Buddy Rich has there ever been a better drummer than Micky Dolenz?
mailuj1 3 years ago
Virgil Donati, Mike Portnoy, Dave Weckl, Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart
fullcycle1 3 years ago
Comment removed
J4Mac 3 years ago
wow, cool to see all 4 of them playing. This song was always brilliant. Decent performance.
brywool 3 years ago
They were a big part of my childhood, and Im only 14! I wish more than anything to see them all together playing :( But what am I stuck with? An endless line of teenyboppers getting cranked through the tween machine D8< Critics can kiss my ass; I LOVE THE MONKEES.
GardenGirl59 3 years ago 5
i no what u mean even tho im the yungest and my brother and sister hate them cas i listen to them every day i used to have to listen to them to even get to sleep then my mp3 broke then my dad fix it but i cant listen to them to get to sleep
MONKeesrnumber1 3 years ago
You go GardenGirl. If you recognize the tween machine, you can avoid it. I hate to say "listen to the '60s" because you've got your own path to forge, but there really was great music then -- and now, too, if you reject the "here today, gone tomorrow" junk they put out there to make quick bucks. Keep looking for music you can believe in for a lifetime. My lifeline was The Who, and I DO recommend all their music...good luck finding yours.
(Loved the Monkees at 10, stlil do at 53.)
notanotheraccount 2 years ago
What?
No 'psyco jello' ending?
LOL
bicfetish 3 years ago
I wish there were more songs with vocal harmonies.!!
theblitz8 3 years ago
I agree with WileERobby, fuck ya'll if you don't get it for what it's worth! It's no mystery...none of you younger folks even try to "DIG IT", anymore! Do you expect a soft landing,... everytime that you fail?
rushfiend 3 years ago
He's playing a Strat here...
liontone 3 years ago
i think mike used his black beauty les paul on the studio version blasting through a superbeatle vox 100 watt amp
can u imagine what it would of sounded like through a 500 watt marshall they had just put on the market i believe in oct 66
dadadruma 3 years ago
Great performance, great tune!
DomenicDee 3 years ago
The sound of their farts is better than any crap noise that's produced today. The critics can kiss my ass.
WileERobby 3 years ago 7
Amen, Bruthah!! Would love to see all of them together again before I die!!
sahhan315 3 years ago
@WileERobby most of the stuff.....the monkees are good....but Muse, Incubus, and Ben Folds.........theyre all pretty good stuff....well written and full sound.
bwcrackhead 1 year ago
im pissed at hell that they got slammed by the critics than mike quit they didnt even tour the states, here we are now nearly 12 years after this was done they are all in good health and i feel they should do what cream did before one of them passes on
dadadruma 3 years ago 6
Ageed dadadruma these guys deserve to be inducted and alive and well to see it.All these years of provong themselves and the damn critics still slam them.They sound superb in thes clips from 1997,I watch these all the time.
ellzedd41 3 years ago 2
it sickens me to see some of the ilk in the RRHOF i dont want to mention any of the names i just got over the stomach flu he he he
dadadruma 3 years ago
Amen to that. One of the biggest groups from the late sixties to be overlooked. Whether they played instruments or were a tv show band is irrelevant, they still had numerous hit records in the sixties.
jeditwinz 3 years ago 2
They ain't fakin' it here and it sounds good to me. One of their best songs. I like it as much now as I did when I was eleven.
3bar 3 years ago 2
I don't care what people say about their musiciaNSHIP,THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF MY CHILDHOOD AND THAT;S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME
wrappindude 3 years ago 4
I'll say something about their musicianship: This ROCKS! Faithful to the original recording without being a retread. Very good stuff.
RockingJamboree 3 years ago 4
I like the harmonies - you can really pick out each vocal line
upst8 3 years ago
The Monkees, in this lineup, were supposed to tour the U.S. after the British jaunt in 1997. This would have been the crowning achievement of their careers, to play all by themselves to all the critics live. Of course, Nesmith quit and left Micky, Peter and Davy without even a phone call; so they soldiered on as a trio...again. Which is fine. The Monkees proved time and again they didn't need Nesmith to put on a great show.
But what this says about Mike is quite definitive.
crashmcbean 3 years ago
More complicated than that. Mike took exception to some more of the critics 'didn't play their instruments' crap. UK critics were mixed- some loved the obvious- others dug up the BS.
burkepota 3 years ago
He defended them aggressively but got tired of the old arguments and the oldies only aspect of it. They all tried to push the Justus work and the people got it- the critics didn't. And because of that- we didn't get the North American tour. Our loss.
burkepota 3 years ago
omg this is one of my favorite monkees songs :D still as far out (lol) as in the 60's at any age THE MONKEES RULE (as a side note, i think Davy and Peter were REALLY cute in the 90's. well i guess they still are though,)
lithkitty 3 years ago
I LOVE THIS PERFORMANCE!!! True passion, great rocker and the blow the heel out of the non-believers about their musicianship...
I wish I could have seen it live... One of my all time favorite songs...
WOW!!!
Beatleha 3 years ago
there was some truth to their musicianship or lack of, but as Mickey joked in an interview, it was "on the job Training" for them & that is pretty accurate, as they really had little experience & Mickey did not play the drums, when they started, but grew to become a good drummer, what a great way to get into that, getting a paying gig, before knowing how to play, usually we musicians, go a long way to hone our craft before making any if ever decent return of $ for our dedication & time put in.
MOSKII58 3 years ago
Thanks...
But I'm fully informed....
Beatleha 3 years ago
Most musicians didn't/don't have a tv show to film and act in. Most musicians don't have records to record/get out on top of that. And most actors don't end up writing some pretty amazing songs themselves. The age old argument about The Monkees was as stupid then as it is now. By pure energy and will power and with unified force and 'talent'- they were/remain an extremely impressive band.
burkepota 3 years ago 4
Funny how Mickey D.was imvited into the studio for the Beatles 'All You need is love' (Check out the official video) and sat with Mick Jagger for the broadcast. Respect all round.
idle44 2 years ago
If you ask these guys what their fave song is this is the one I hear them say most often; and to me they play it so wonderfully together - how could ya sit still (LOL). I sure do miss them together. LOVE YA MONKEES!!!!
monkeefan75 3 years ago
I took my kids to see the Monkees on one of their reunion tours and we all had a blast.
Love em.
RP..08
Peace
RundoeTX
rundoetx 3 years ago
they have actually gotten better...awesome thanks for posting! Brings back Saturday mornings as a kid!
Brawk 3 years ago
Interesting how relevent the lyrics still are.
People caught up in conformity and status symbols. I loved these guys as a kid. Neat to see them again.
ancestralblue 3 years ago 2
This is priceless! I only wish I could have seen them live. Mickey actually learned to play the drums and Davy learned the guitar. Man, what memories those guys bring to mind.
fredthejunkman 4 years ago
Yes I Love that Opening Riff ! Sends chills to me too~
Jubilee2 4 years ago
that opening riff was mike playing his black beauty les paul through a superbeatle vox 150
can u imagine what it would of sounded like if he had played through a marshall stack with a distortion pedal damn
dadadruma 3 years ago
i meant the studio version lol
dadadruma 3 years ago
What the hell is that on Mickey's drums? It looks like a head with long blonde hair? Did he decapitate Tom Petty?
DavidTyler1 4 years ago
So great to hear them all harmonizing 30 years after the fact. Glad you had that camera there!
upst8 4 years ago
Thanks again David for posting all of these videos from this concert. This is a true treat. These guys are so underrated! Amazing stuff!
burkepota 4 years ago
Seriously, who doesn't get chills upon hearing that opening riff....?
Monkeefan4life 4 years ago 2
I totally agree! Especially with that new extended segue, it just makes one want to say, "Go Nez, go Nez!" At one point, when the camera went to the big screen, the look on Peter's face was one of total concentration, like he was contemplating a killer chess move! Awesome!
MAMsMom97 4 years ago 3
Oh you're right! How did I miss that? I love Peter...!
This is such a great song. A Classic.
Monkeefan4life 4 years ago 2
Starting at 1:56. Isn't he so cute there?
MAMsMom97 4 years ago