The Monkees assembled to be the stars of an American television series of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1966 to 1968. The original lineup was: Micky Dolenz (drums, vocals), Michael Nesmith (guitar, vocals), Davy Jones (percussion, vocals) and Peter Tork (bass, keyboards, vocals) . The Monkees were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California and initially disbanded in 1970 at the conclusion of their recording contract. At their peak they were competing with The Beatles for the top spot on album charts. Read Full BioThe Monkees assembled to be the stars of an American television series of the same name, which ran on NBC from 1966 to 1968. The original lineup was: Micky Dolenz (drums, vocals), Michael Nesmith (guitar, vocals), Davy Jones (percussion, vocals) and Peter Tork (bass, keyboards, vocals) . The Monkees were formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California and initially disbanded in 1970 at the conclusion of their recording contract. At their peak they were competing with The Beatles for the top spot on album charts.
In the years since their original disbanding, the group has reunited in various incarnations, mostly involving Dolenz, Tork and Jones, but not Nesmith. The first reunion began in 1986 and at first featured only Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Davy Jones joined the others and a new album was released before they split again in 1989.
The next regrouping took place between 1993 and 1997 and featured a new album that included the particpation of all four members. A further reunion between 2001 and 2002, was followed by another reunion in 2011 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the television show. This reunion was cut short before 2011 had ended due to scheduling problems with the anniversary tour.
The unexpected death of Davy Jones at the beginning of 2012 prompted the most recent reunion tour, this time featuring Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith.
Created by producers of a TV series to be an American Beatles, the antics of the Monkees band members on the television series were very reminscent of Beatles' antics in films like 'Help' and 'Hard Day's Night'. Indeed, in songs like 'Forget that Girl...', the band and even the lead singer could sound just like the Beatles. With songs provided by Don Kirshner from such writers as Neil Diamond and Carole King, among others, the Monkees were assured of pop success. However, in the beginning, the four group members were hired only as actors to front the band and to provide the vocals whilst studio musicians recorded the backing music. These recordings were provided by Kirshner. Things changed though after the success of the single Last Train to Clarksville, the first hit, leading to demands that the band play live gigs. Having learned to play the music, the band became angry when the second LP was recorded (by Kirshner) by studio musicians, without their knowledge or musical input. They therefore demanded and obtained control of the music.
Nesmith who revealed that the band did not perform on their records was also instrumental in getting Don Kirshner sacked. the next album Headquarters was recorded by The Monkees alone, using hand picked producer Chip Douglas. While not as successful as their first two albums it made it to number one, only to be replaced a week later by The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album. The Monkees eventually settled on a formula of using their own talents as well as those of studio musicians. After two seasons the network and the group could not reach agreement on the format of a third season and the show was canceled even though the ratings were still high. A feature film named Head co-written by The Monkees, Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson) followed.
Peter Tork was the first to leave the band, in 1968, during 1969 The TV show went into Saturday morning reruns and the three remaining Monkees recorded two more albums. in 1969 Nesmith departed and began a serious foray into merging country and rock music. He also eventually developed a format that became MTV. By the way his mother invented a product called Liquid Paper, sold it to the Gillette Company for $47 million dollars then died a year later leaving the money to her only son. The remaining two Monkees Dolenz and Jones recorded one last album named Changes in late 1969.
There has, however, been a resurgent interest in The Monkees' music Rhino Records has been instrumental in restoring all their albums, adding bonus tracks, and equipping them with complementary liner notes and stories.
Davy Jones died on February 29, 2012 in Indiantown, Florida.
Peter Tork died on February 21, 2019, at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut.
DISCOGRAPHY (from www.themonkees.net):
The Monkees (1966)
More of The Monkees (1967)
Headquarters (1967)
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967)
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968)
Head (1968)
Instant Replay (1969)
The Monkees Present (1969)
Changes (1970)
Then & Now...The Best of the Monkees (1986)
Pool It! (1987)
Live 1967 (1987)
Justus (1996)
Good Times! (2016)
In the years since their original disbanding, the group has reunited in various incarnations, mostly involving Dolenz, Tork and Jones, but not Nesmith. The first reunion began in 1986 and at first featured only Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Davy Jones joined the others and a new album was released before they split again in 1989.
The next regrouping took place between 1993 and 1997 and featured a new album that included the particpation of all four members. A further reunion between 2001 and 2002, was followed by another reunion in 2011 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the television show. This reunion was cut short before 2011 had ended due to scheduling problems with the anniversary tour.
The unexpected death of Davy Jones at the beginning of 2012 prompted the most recent reunion tour, this time featuring Dolenz, Tork and Nesmith.
Created by producers of a TV series to be an American Beatles, the antics of the Monkees band members on the television series were very reminscent of Beatles' antics in films like 'Help' and 'Hard Day's Night'. Indeed, in songs like 'Forget that Girl...', the band and even the lead singer could sound just like the Beatles. With songs provided by Don Kirshner from such writers as Neil Diamond and Carole King, among others, the Monkees were assured of pop success. However, in the beginning, the four group members were hired only as actors to front the band and to provide the vocals whilst studio musicians recorded the backing music. These recordings were provided by Kirshner. Things changed though after the success of the single Last Train to Clarksville, the first hit, leading to demands that the band play live gigs. Having learned to play the music, the band became angry when the second LP was recorded (by Kirshner) by studio musicians, without their knowledge or musical input. They therefore demanded and obtained control of the music.
Nesmith who revealed that the band did not perform on their records was also instrumental in getting Don Kirshner sacked. the next album Headquarters was recorded by The Monkees alone, using hand picked producer Chip Douglas. While not as successful as their first two albums it made it to number one, only to be replaced a week later by The Beatles' Sgt Pepper album. The Monkees eventually settled on a formula of using their own talents as well as those of studio musicians. After two seasons the network and the group could not reach agreement on the format of a third season and the show was canceled even though the ratings were still high. A feature film named Head co-written by The Monkees, Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson) followed.
Peter Tork was the first to leave the band, in 1968, during 1969 The TV show went into Saturday morning reruns and the three remaining Monkees recorded two more albums. in 1969 Nesmith departed and began a serious foray into merging country and rock music. He also eventually developed a format that became MTV. By the way his mother invented a product called Liquid Paper, sold it to the Gillette Company for $47 million dollars then died a year later leaving the money to her only son. The remaining two Monkees Dolenz and Jones recorded one last album named Changes in late 1969.
There has, however, been a resurgent interest in The Monkees' music Rhino Records has been instrumental in restoring all their albums, adding bonus tracks, and equipping them with complementary liner notes and stories.
Davy Jones died on February 29, 2012 in Indiantown, Florida.
Peter Tork died on February 21, 2019, at his home in Mansfield, Connecticut.
DISCOGRAPHY (from www.themonkees.net):
The Monkees (1966)
More of The Monkees (1967)
Headquarters (1967)
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967)
The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968)
Head (1968)
Instant Replay (1969)
The Monkees Present (1969)
Changes (1970)
Then & Now...The Best of the Monkees (1986)
Pool It! (1987)
Live 1967 (1987)
Justus (1996)
Good Times! (2016)
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Daydream Believer
The Monkees Lyrics
7-A
What number is this, Chip?
7-A
Okay, know what I mean, like don't get excited man
It's 'cause I'm short, I know
Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But six rings and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shaving razor's cold and it stings
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Oh and our good time starts and ends
Without dollar one to spend
But how much, baby, do we really need?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean to a
Daydream believer and a
Homecoming queen?
Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
ACE
Oh I could hide 'neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings
The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and I rise
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes
My shavin' razor's cold and it stings
Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
You once thought of me
As a white knight on his steed
Now you know how happy I can be
Whoa and our good times start and end
Without dollar one to spend
But how much baby do we really need
Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
Cheer up sleepy Jean
Oh what can it mean
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen
regould221
Don't forget to give credit to the ''wrecking crew" for the music.
Other Personnel on the recording:
Lead/backing vocals: Davy Jones
Harmony vocal: Micky Dolenz
Electric guitar: Michael Nesmith
Piano: Peter Tork
Producer/bass/percussion: Chip Douglas
Bell: Bill Martin
Drums: Eddie Hoh
Violin: Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Alex Murray, Erno Neufeld
Trumpet: Pete Candoli, Al Porcino, Manuel Stevens
Piccolo trumpet: Manuel Stevens
Trombone: Richard Noel
Bass trombone: Richard Leith, Philip Teele
Arrangement: Shorty Rogers
Anthony B.
RIP Micheal Nesmith. Believe it or not, back in the 80s they were still showing reruns of the Monkees on Saturday mornings after cartoons. What a treat. Kids who stream will never understand nor the satisfaction of Saturday mornings.
Liz
Nick at Night played it and I LOVED it
Queen Lazy Eye
Anthony B. What they don't have to wait a week for a new episode? They don't have to sit through commercials? I'm 27, I remember Saturday morning cartoons and let me tell you, I prefer streaming. The 70's are gone, get over it.
Boban Milisavljevic
I was a kid in the 80s and i definitely remember the monkeys
Lu Ann Abbate
RIP Mike for sure. At first I was attracted to the "cute one", but Mike was the cynical one, which I attracted myself to. Mike was a true visionary.. Taking the $$ his Mom left for creating "White Out" and creating the first music video channel, which years later, MTV finally acknowledged he created. Here's to you GOD Mike!!!
WEDO VATO LOCO!
Love this song, love The Monkees. This jam never gets old no matter how many times I play it. Sure miss my childhood and watching these guys TV show. Thank you guys!
Rebecca Traverso
Hang in and stay positive. My song is 'I wanna be Free.. Oh, sushi and pizza with cold anchovies. Later.
avocado
I watched this show and always loved this song. I miss those days too.
Robert Justice
Old Brit bloke, couldn’t have said it better. Loved those boys.
aisha daisuki
vatos locos forever essay!