Mike Nesmith and The First National Band - Joanne - Nice Early 70's Pop / Country Ballad

[Superniceone11]

Another masterwork...

[ollieoxen27]

This song inspired the Eagles and the Flying Burrito Brothers among others.

[theseventhprotocol]

What a great song writer and singer.His C&W songs are wonderful.He should've been a Nashville star !

[Beatlesgeek12]

I cant stop listening to this... i cried the first time i heard it :') mike is amazing! :)

[jerrodsdad]

Ah, the music of my youth. Music like this was another great reason to grow up in the 60's and 70s.

[gto66solstice08]

I may be wrong, but wasn't Mike the only true musician in the "Monkees"?

[kystars]

@gto66solstice08 the Monkees were a tv band, a tv show put together. as Mike Nesmith once said, there seems to be a lot of confusion about the Monkees.. we were a make believe band that actually played.... they all did play eventually, but I think he was the only true talent. of course Davy Jones could sing as well as Micky and Mike. Peter not so much :)

[kjemradio]

@gto66solstice08 No. They all were. Micky started off on classical guitar then switched to drums as a youth. Peter I believe also played a variety of instruments. Davy was a singer. He did focus a lot on being a jockey and actor for some time, but singing was still in him.

[tyguy335]

Absolutely beautiful song!!!!God Bless Mike for sharing his talent with us!

[johnnyw12]

Michael Nesmith doing Country Rock!!

[scoach1999]

An amazing ballad. Loved it on the first listen -- mesmerized, and ever since. Amazing. So soulful. The musicianship couldn't be more perfect. Shows Mike at his best musically -- and I think he knew it.

[snaedwiev]

This was an early "Country Rock" song ... when Country Rock ACTUALLY HAD A SOUL

He wrote some very beautiful music, in spite of his stint with the Monkees. He was actually funny on that shrink wrapped pop band farce.

Honestly, some of their songs really ere amazing, thanks to the real band behind the curtain.

[cultfilmfreakreviews]

sounds like the music they used to kill the aliens in MARS ATTACKS

[PJDooWop]

LOL it sort of does. 

[kystars]

@PJDooWop haha well I don't think so at all. that song in the movie MARS ATTACKS, was by Slim Whitman, a Canadian singer that did the yodeling type of singing on most of his songs.

[kystars]

@PJDooWop ok actually it does more than I thought haha here is the link .. the song on Mars attack was by Slim Whitman INDIAN LOVE CALL you will find it here on youtube :)

[thedoorsareblue]

@cultfilmfreakreviews Thank's alot. It was one of my faves because of the steel guitar. Now all that I do is sit here and laugh my ass off thinking of Mars Attacks every time I play the song.

[TomGilfillan69]

I love this song and .....I married a Joanne...best move I ever made

[shatchett0]

It's about a cow.

[PJDooWop]

I heard about that. He mentioned it during a BBC performance in the 70's but said it may or may not have been true and for the audience to decide.

[shatchett0]

@PJDooWop He is an odd fellow so it could go either way.

[stonewall857]

aah beautiful man

[jwaysouth]

For me, this work encapsulates the late sixties: the hippy thing, the cultural revolution that followed on the coattails of both psychedelics and the national consciousness and consensus that war would no longer be tolerated as a "sport of kings"...King Richard, as it was then...a paranoid would-be dictator who feared his own children, i.e., you and me.

[FTWEVERYONE]

@GREAT Song,I remember it from 1970.

[51emcee]

great song!!! nice change of pace from the monkees.

[Rfreidenbloom]

This takes me back to the 70's

[Rfreidenbloom]

simply beautiful!



[TheClam88]

Reminds me of Sept/Oct 1970 at Chanute AFB cold autumn winds. great great song.

[williamc1]

Beautiful imagery in the lyrics. My Joanne was in an apartment - in Denver, in the late 60s.

[MaceMn]

God, this tune just sent me back to 1970... most brilliantly awesome.

[TheLongTimeObserver]

timeless

[fatboy1958]

Hauntingly beautiful, lilting ballad that I have loved ever since I owned the recording on 8 track tape "back in the day", How rarely one hears the "western", Bakersfield-ish sound anymore. Who has the artistic courage to un-self-consciously yodel in a ballad today? Thanks, Mike Nesmith! And... thanks PJDooWop for this fine post!

[PJDooWop]

Thanks for thre very thoughtful comment

[HarmonizeTheWind]

One of my favorites from NEZ and the First National Band. Thank you for posting it. BTW, looking for "How could you kiss me?" by NEZ :)

[TheNestling]

I could never understood why this touching song never made it big. It has always made me cry. Good work Mike.

[nsxt2000]

While serving in Viet Nam a fellow in my platoon's wife was named Joanne and he frequently played this song on a small recorder. It's a great song and every time Ihear it I think of him.

-Mike S.

[jimisback]

@nsxt2000 That is really special. I hope many people have those type memories.

[loisannfisher]

Billy Bob Thornton's band "The Box Masters" do a good version of this song. Not as good as this one, but pretty damn good. check it out.

[999YORK]

Always loved this song. Remember it from High School.

[atisaseret]

Actually Mike Nesmith wrote this song under the Pen Name of MIKE BLESSING originally as well as Linda Ronstadt's hit with The Stone Ponys 'DIFFERENT DRUM'.

Mike Nesmith is a very talented Singer/Songwriter/Musician, and this song is beautifully haunting.

[thueron]

Beautiful song-I remembered it from years ago when I first heard it. Wish I had a voice like Nesmith's!

[TheMadRocker]

I was a kid when this came out, and may still have the 45. Talk about a blast from the past

[HonestBrokerBoston]

Such a great vocal. I'm surprised it wasn't nominated for just that. It's also a great song. I always loved it.

[mikestraw]

Loved it then and still do. Something about it just stays with you.

thanks

Mike

[PJDooWop]

I couldn't agree more Mike

[jimmatera]

one of the nicest songs--ever--maybe that should be-its never been worn out--just folks that love a good song--remember it.

[40warhawkp]

This is a poem put to music. I like it a lot.

[rleddington]

Mike has such a soothing voice.

I could listen to this all day.

He was truly talented.

[Balthesia]

My name's Joanne and I was born in 1967 and I found this lovely song recently. Thanks Mike :-) xx

[Jimboyc21]

Always liked this song and yes it does sound like Glen but no it was the guy who monkied around with real talent! Mike was great!

[Lucifernio]

Cancion perfecta.

[vinny498]

Reminds me of an old girlfriend! I miss those years.

[TheUltimatestar1]

I had forgotten this song by mike. Thank you very much for posting this. It sounds great!

[Maxwell1901]

I never knew he could yodel.

[PJDooWop]

Even people that aren't named Joanne love this song. I'm sure she adored it

[WhatWouldZappaSay]

My Mom loved this song (her name was Joanne) when it came out, and long afterwards. I'm smiling just thinking of how much she got pleasure from it.

[PJDooWop]

It is a wonderful song, and it seems to have touched a lot of people. Glad you found it

[Soupy2323]

Reminds me of my youth.....great Song.

A frined named JOANNE too! :-) Thanks!

[PJDooWop]

You're welcome

[billchew450]

This song came out in August 1970 when I was first learning to appreciate country and bluegrass.

[NYDutch1968]

I remember this well. I was never a fan of the Monkees, but my opinion of Mike Nesmith (who was with Linda Rondstadt on the Stone Ponys "Different Drums") changed forevermore when I heard this song. Any song that sings about light through a prism has to be great. "....While staying with her and my little bit of wisdom, broke down her desires like a light through a prism, into yellows and blues, and a tune that I could not have sung".

[PJDooWop]

I agree with you on that. This record has some really deep lyrics. It takes at least 4 or 5 close listens to really start to understand how deep this song is

[angelofbebop]

Just beautiful - love the chorus! Love the steel guitars so much! 5 stars/favs! Thanks PJ!

[PJDooWop]

I appreciate it. I found this record in a collection. I had never heard it before that

[13loomisst]

I remember this quite well. Good song. It's very reminiscent of Paul Siebel, perhaps "Then Came the Children" or "Bride 1945." Thanks very much.

[PJDooWop]

Interesting. I don't know those songs but I will look into it

[three185]

That one record out of ten thousand that earns

its spurs in the halls of GREATNESS!!

[PJDooWop]

I agree