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.
Michael Nesmith died on December 10, 2021, in Carmel Valley, California.
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)
Monkee's Theme
The Monkees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Monkees
Your local rock group down the street
Is trying hard to learn this song
To serenade the weekend squire
Just came out to mow his lawn
Another pleasant valley sunday
Charcoal burnin everywhere
Rows of houses that are all the same
And no one seems to care
See Mrs. Gray she's proud today
Because her roses are in bloom
And Mr. Green he's so serene
He's got a TV in every room
Another pleasant valley sunday
Here in status symbol land
Mothers complain
About how hard life is
And the kids just don't understand
Creature comfort goals
They only numb my soul
And make it hard for me to see
My thoughts all seem to stray
To places far away
I need a change of scenery
(Ta ta ta ta....)
Another pleasant valley sunday
Charcoal burning everywhere
Another pleasant valley sunday
Here in status symbol land
Another pleasant valley sunday (repeat)
The Monkees's song "Pleasant Valley Sunday" seems like an ordinary, cheerful song about a lazy Sunday afternoon, but it is rich in metaphors and critiques the superficiality of middle-class suburban life. The first stanza describes a rock band practicing music for the "weekend squire," who is portrayed as a wealthy man who doesn't have to work on Sundays. The image of a lawn being mowed enhances the idea that he has nothing to worry about, and the band is trying to please him. The second stanza describes the suburbs as a dull, monotonous place where people live in identical houses that all look the same. Although it seems like a "pleasant valley," there's a sense of unease in the air, as "no one seems to care."
In the third stanza, the lyrics start to take a more critical tone. Mrs. Gray is praised for her beautiful roses, while Mr. Green is described as serene because he has a TV in every room. These characters represent the aspirations and attractions of suburban life, which are superficial and hollow. The fourth stanza deepens this critique, with the line "Mothers complain about how hard life is, and the kids just don't understand," pointing out the disconnection and lack of understanding that exists in suburban life. The fifth stanza expresses the singer's desire for something more than creature comforts and a change of scenery.
Line by Line Meaning
Your local rock group down the street
The band near your locality is attempting to learn this tune
Is trying hard to learn this song
They are making attempts to master this melody
To serenade the weekend squire
The objective is to entice the homeowner who only tends to his lawn on weekends with song
Just came out to mow his lawn
His outward appearance implies that he is content with tending to his lawn and nothing else
Another pleasant valley sunday
This is yet another day amidst the sameness of society
Charcoal burnin everywhere
Aroma of barbecues is all over the neighborhood
Rows of houses that are all the same
An unexciting monotonous existence prevails all over the community due to uniformity of houses
And no one seems to care
Nobody is bothered enough or willing to do anything about it
See Mrs. Gray she's proud today
Mrs. Gray is overjoyed today as her flowers have bloomed well
Because her roses are in bloom
Her roses are currently in a state of full bloom and she's proud of it
And Mr. Green he's so serene
Mr. Green is very calm and collected
He's got a TV in every room
Mr. Green has a television in every part of his home
Here in status symbol land
This place is a prime example of a locality with conventional-class association
Mothers complain
Females responsible for raising children always whine
About how hard life is
Their state of despair is due to the challenges they face every day
And the kids just don't understand
Children are much too naive to comprehend parental trouble
Creature comfort goals
Our existence has become primarily centered around indulging in worldly pleasures
They only numb my soul
Pursuit of these materialistic desires causes soul numbness
And make it hard for me to see
Luxuriating in these pleasures has made it difficult for me to see
My thoughts all seem to stray
My mind frequently wanders
To places far away
I often think about places that are very different from where I am
I need a change of scenery
I have a strong inner craving to move out of this tedious place
Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on Words
A good and catchy song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on D.W. Washburn
A good song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
A good song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on That Was Then, This Is Now
This is a great Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on Last Train to Clarksville
A good Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You
An excellent Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on Daydream Believer
A great Monkees song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm a Believer - 2006 Remaster
This song is amazing.
Philip Kassabian
on Listen to the Band
Yet another classic song by The Monkees.
Philip Kassabian
on Pleasant Valley Sunday
I've always loved this song ever since I heard it when I was a kid.