The Monkees: The Show, The Group, and So Forth

[ClassyCo]

The Monkees (or The Monkees if you're talking about the TV show) often strikes a cord in my enthusiasm and occasionally they will be my favorite soft-rock band.

Any fans of the show, the group?

Y'all get it rolling!

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[ClassyCo]

Strolling through Internet Land yesterday, I came across this:

It's the complete series available on Blu-ray. I'd absolutely love to have it, but at close to $200 on most websites, this might just stay in the "keep dreaming" section of my brain.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I have the series on DVD. In syndication, they used the S2 theme design for both seasons because it works better.

It's a fun series, and amazing how a made up band quickly became a real one who wound up hanging out with The Beatles,

I remember watching the show in Saturday morning reruns for what seemed like eons -- although there aren't that many episodes, and the show can have that late-'60s claw-your-neck vibe to it, depending on one's mood.

I liked Mickey at first, but it took me years to realize that Peter Tork was The Cute One...

 

[Daniel Avery]

Davy Jones actually lived close to me at the time he died (early 2012). He had bought a horse farm in the western part of the county to raise and train race horses, polo ponies, etc. Obviously he had gotten out of the "celebrity" rat-race even as he continued to rub elbows with the rich 'horsey set' of nearby Palm Beach in his retirement. When news of his death hit the papers, most of us were like "Wha---?" because virtually no one knew he had been a resident for many years.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[Willie Oleson]

I assume this is not a music thread, but I like some of their songs (never watched the TV shows).

 

[Seaviewer]

I have all their albums, even the reunions.

I liked Mickey at first, but it took me years to realize that Peter Tork was The Cute One...

Peter was my favourite as a kid, probably for the same reason that Ringo was my favourite Beatle - that he was the funny one (a role he always resented being saddled with, I found out later).
But as I got older I appreciated the music side more. Mike's talent was most obvious but I think Mickey's creativity has been grossly undervalued.

He had bought a horse farm in the western part of the county to raise and train race horses, polo ponies, etc. Obviously he had gotten out of the "celebrity" rat-race even as he continued to rub elbows with the rich 'horsey set' of nearby Palm Beach in his retirement.

Davy had been a jockey when he was younger.

 

[ClassyCo]

The Monkees is definitely a show I've got to be "in the mood for". When I get into the right mood, though, I can binge several episodes in one sitting. The only I usually run into is the channels I have to watch it on butcher the episodes down to like twenty-three minutes. I know they were longer than that back in their first-run, so I know I'm missing something in the translation.

When thinking of the musical group, I cannot help but think of "Daydream Believer" and "I'm a Believer" (which younger generations sing from watching the Shrek movies). They had a very good sound, and it was full of talented guys. They had a good run, too, there for several years ─ even after the show was cancelled in 1968 ─ but like most ensembles, egos got in the way. It fizzled out before reviving in the 1980s.

I often think of Davy Jones from his cameo in The Brady Bunch Movie, and when the big threat on SpongeBob SquarePants has occasionally been sending someone to "Davy Jones' Locker".

 

[James from London]

when the big threat on SpongeBob SquarePants has occasionally been sending someone to "Davy Jones' Locker".

That saying goes back to the 18th century, I think. I wonder if The Monkees' Davey Jones consciously named himself Davey after it? (He was called David Jones anyway, as was David Bowie).

I don't think I've seen the TV show since I was a kid, but I used to love it. What I remember most was how wacky and fun it would be for most of the ep, but then when they sang a song at the end there was often a weird urgency about it, which seemed to be at odds with the carefree tone of the rest of the show. It kind of gave the sense that they were in some way trapped inside the bubble of the series, which of course they kinda sorta were, even though I didn't know anything about that at the time. But it was a very '60s vibe - fab, exciting, fun, colourful ... and also somehow poignant in an unexplained way.

 

[TJames03]

“Daydream Believer” is iconic, but this group crashed and burned as fast as they rose....

 

[Seaviewer]

I often think of Davy Jones from his cameo in The Brady Bunch Movie,

As you may know, that was a reference to his appearance in one of the original series episodes.

 

[ClassyCo]

As you may know, that was a reference to his appearance in one of the original series episodes.

Yes. The movie is incorporates a lot of the episodes' more memorable moments in it.

 

[darkshadows38]

i love the monkees and i even met on Mickey, in (1997) i think it was? i was it in (1998) i forget which they came to Cleveland and i went with my brother and his now wife they were still dating at the time. Mickey showed off some art i forget what it's called dammit. anyways we pull in and he's right in front of us in a limo as we are behind him and he stops and gets out he waves to us. holy shit is a tall mofo he was taller than i thought he was to be honest we go in i get my headquarters booklet signed which i still have.

and we get a picture with him me and my brother. and after the show we go outside and if anyone has been to a show at the playhouse in Cleveland if you go out back and go around there's a back entrance if you walk far enough so the cast can come out after the show well we couldn't get that far as they would not let us in but that's okay.
so we hung outside and i'm standing on the sidewalk my brother and his wife are in line as there are a lot of people outside to see them come out.

i'm minding my own business and my sister-in-law yells Peter and i turn my head and it's Peter Freaking Tork standing right next to me with a oh shit look on his face. right behind me is an RV and he hops into that when i try to get his autograph. i didn't see Davey cause well look how short he is lol and Nez wasn't there though i wish he was.

here's a good monkees tune

or how about this one have you heard this one it's a favorite of mine on how really weird this song is

 

[TJames03]

The Monkees either had great songs or really bad ones. No in between.

 

[Seaviewer]

it's a favorite of mine on how really weird this song is

Is that the right speed? It sounds speeded up like The Chipmunks. (Chip-monkees?) But it's a good example of Davy's music hall style.

 

[darkshadows38]

that did sound speeded up this sounds far far better

this is a favorite of mine of Nez's Solo stuff, the monkees stuff i love the most though are the lesser known songs yeah the hits are nice and all but the lesser known songs are i think better than a lot of the hits to be honest.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Mike Nesmith has died at 78

 

[ClassyCo]

Mike Nesmith has died at 78


View attachment 32958

I saw this on my Google feed earlier. Sad news.

 

[Seaviewer]

Another of my childhood heroes. I literally shed a tear when I heard the news.
As I noted earlier in the thread, Peter was my favourite on the show but I came to appreciate Mike's musical contribution. Being a Monkee brought him fame but it also led to his abilities as a musician and songwriter being sadly undervalued.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

The Monkees should be in the R&R Hall of Fame. There are too many acts in there who are not remotely Rock n Roll, and a whole thread could be started about that.
The Monkees made many memorable songs, and have widespread recognition.