I am kind of a moderate fan of this group as well, albeit with a couple of ins, which is kind of why I would like a poll - no pressure! - as an excuse for a deeper dive.
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 00:03 (three years ago) link
The one band from that list I would unhesitatingly put ahead of them would be the Buffalo Springfield. I wouldn't call them a singles band, though--one big hit, nothing else inside the Top 40.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 January 2021 00:06 (three years ago) link
If we're evaluating the Monkees as a "singles band" they might blow everybody on that list out of the water. They just have so many carefully-crafted gems by so many great professional songwriters. OTOH they'd fall beneath most or all of the Motown heavy-hitters.
― Doctor Casino, Friday, 1 January 2021 12:37 (three years ago) link
Old Lunch: I'd say Odessey and Oracle puts the Zombies ahead, there's no single Monkees album as consistent as that.
Clemenza: that's certainly a fair take, Buffalo Springfield were definitely highly ambitious. I find all their records spotty (never heard the box set), and Richie Furay is a null to me.
Doctor Casino: By "singles band" I didn't mean I was evaluating only their singles, I mean I was avoiding comparing them to e.g. Quicksilver Messenger Service or Country Joe and the Fish (who are both a lot weaker than the Monkees). A lot of Monkees singles are more irritating than catchy to me.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 1 January 2021 14:27 (three years ago) link
I like all of those bands, apart from the Hollies, who I've never paid any attention to.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Friday, 1 January 2021 14:31 (three years ago) link
The Troggs are lower tier though, much as they have some real bangers.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Friday, 1 January 2021 14:32 (three years ago) link
The Monkees, by their very nature, are much more eclectic than any of the bands on the list - I mean, you're talking about an entity that contained both Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith. The Turtles are probably the closest to the Monkees, I'd say.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Friday, 1 January 2021 14:35 (three years ago) link
I like all of these bands too, but rank them all below the best of the era. To me, the Hollies are not well-represented by their compilations, it wasn't until I heard albums like Butterfly that I understood the appeal of Graham Nash.The Move are also pretty eclectic, despite having only one songwriter, but at some point that shades into wondering if they know what they actually want to do.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 1 January 2021 15:18 (three years ago) link
@ Halfway - fair enough! I also don't know a lot of those bands as well as I know the Monkees, so off the top of my head I think I could name 3-4 singles by the Association, of which I like 1-2.
― Doctor Casino, Friday, 1 January 2021 15:27 (three years ago) link
I went through the list of top 60s acts on Acclaimed Music to jog my memory for this list.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 1 January 2021 16:41 (three years ago) link
Paul Revere & the Raiders are a pretty good comp for the Monkees.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:12 (three years ago) link
Stylistic yeah, and they even did some of the same songs. One, at least. But did they put out as much material?
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:23 (three years ago) link
yah there are at least six full-lengths!
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:26 (three years ago) link
I was misinformed!
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:28 (three years ago) link
My vote would definitely go to the Monkees' run of singles, but the Raiders had at least three I love: "Just Like Me," "What's It Gonna Be," and "Tighter." (Not that big on "Hungry.") They seem really similar in terms the way they were marketed (and treated by whatever rock press existed) as novelties, and by the jangly power-pop of their best songs. I'm blanking out on the song they shared.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:39 (three years ago) link
The Sex Pistols did it too. The Raiders did it first, but The Monkees had the hit.
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:41 (three years ago) link
"Stepping Stone," right.
― clemenza, Friday, 1 January 2021 17:41 (three years ago) link
Raiders had a much lengthier career, from early 60s to well into the 70s, many hit singles and albums, and a TV show, yet I don’t think they’re remembered/loved in the same way as The Monkees.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Friday, 1 January 2021 17:48 (three years ago) link
Don't know them very well, had them pegged as "garage rock" (more than the Troggs, who had several ballad hits).
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 1 January 2021 18:08 (three years ago) link
I only know the hits: "Kicks," "Just Like Me," and then "Indian Reservation" and "Arizona," probably forgetting a few others.
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:13 (three years ago) link
"Steppin' Out" is great too!
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:16 (three years ago) link
scott seward LOVES the Raiders/Paul Revere/Mark Lindsey, I'm sure there are good posts by him abt them somewhere
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:17 (three years ago) link
Also worth emphasizing that the Monkees (and Nesmith solo, too, for that matter) feature some all time Wrecking Crew playing. Peak Wrecking Crew could be Nesmith's "The Wichita Train Whistle Sings" album.
Whoever came up with the guitar lick of "Pleasant Valley Sunday," man ... that's on par with "Paperback Writer" (which it's probably referencing).
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 1 January 2021 18:18 (three years ago) link
It's not Louie Shelton?
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:24 (three years ago) link
Hm. Seems like it might be Mike Nesmith himself.
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:26 (three years ago) link
Never heard Paul Revere & the Raiders but I think that's something I share with the entire population of the UK.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:42 (three years ago) link
Paul Revere & The Raiders are great! Worth exploring imo
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 1 January 2021 18:45 (three years ago) link
“Let Me” is a great rocker from later in their career, 1969. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIL7YT9asO0
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Friday, 1 January 2021 19:46 (three years ago) link
Somebody mentioned The Wrecking Crew but an interesting thing, to me anyway, is that during the Kirshner era lots of tracks were also recorded in NYC with Brill Building musicians/streetteam
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 1 January 2021 22:21 (three years ago) link
Here's a Spotify recreation of the "all the Monkees you will ever need" 70-song double C90 mixtape I put together around 1990 after Missing Links, Vol. 2 came out.
https://open.spotify.com/user/hideouslump/playlist/7HuOSVKchQ2PsJyaMXqPhn
To give you an idea of how good the Missing Links collections are, there's 11 tracks from Vol. 1* and 3 from Vol. 2**.
TAPE 1, SIDE 1I Wanna Be FreeI'll Be Back Up On My FeetDaddy's SongLast Train To ClarksvilleYou Told MeLong Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over AgainGood Clean FunWordsLook Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)SalesmanShades Of GrayThe Porpoise SongNine Times Blue*Mary MaryYou Just May Be The OneThrough The Looking GlassListen To The Band(Theme From) The Monkees
TAPE 1, SIDE 2Star CollectorDaily NightlySt. Matthew**SheDon't Call On MeAs We Go AlongForget That GirlOklahoma Backroom DancerAll Of Your Toys*If You Have The Time*I'm Not Your Steppin' StoneCircle SkyLove Is Only SleepingTime And Time Again*Your Auntie GrizeldaI Can't Get Her Off Of My MindI'm A Believer
TAPE 2, SIDE 1Sunny GirlfriendAuntie's Municipal CourtCuddly ToyValleriThe Kind Of Girl I Could LoveAll The King's Horses**I Don't Think You Know Me At All*Pleasant Valley SundayMy Share Of The Sidewalk*Lady's Baby*LaughSaturday's ChildOf You*I Love You BetterDaydream BelieverSweet Young ThingWar Games*Gonna Buy Me A Dog
TAPE 2, SIDE 2Randy Scouse GitEarly Morning Blues & GreensTake A Giant StepShe Hangs OutZor And ZamCome On In**Papa Gene's BluesSomeday ManA Girl I Knew SomewhereCarlisle Wheeling*A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit YouThe Door Into SummerTear Drop CityGoin' DownParty*Tapioca TundraFor Pete's Sake
― Hideous Lump, Saturday, 2 January 2021 05:45 (three years ago) link
Thanks!
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 2 January 2021 05:46 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H84WlVbCCdo
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 2 January 2021 07:17 (three years ago) link
this revive has gotten me totally re-obsessed, I need those Missing Link LPs
― howls of non-specificity (sleeve), Monday, 4 January 2021 00:34 (three years ago) link
Love these guys (Monkees) but it's always gotten on my nerves when Mickey slips into that faux "British" enunciation. I know it was a thing but for some reason I have always cringed a little inside.
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 11:35 (three years ago) link
When does he do that?
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 11:58 (three years ago) link
"Clarksville", "Randy Scouse Git" to name a couple off the top of my head. Probably just those two but they've always stuck out for me. Haven't listened to them in years so maybe no longer a big deal.
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 12:44 (three years ago) link
I can't say I've ever noticed any especially British enunciation, I just thought that was his voice! But then, I'm not American, so maybe I wouldn't notice.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 12:57 (three years ago) link
Can kinda hear "Lahst train to clahksville".
― peace, man, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:06 (three years ago) link
it's the way he says "again" in that one that does it, i think.
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:08 (three years ago) link
That too, although it seems necessary to get it to rhyme with "train". By the end of the song, his r's sound more distinct.
― peace, man, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:11 (three years ago) link
Maybe, I just thought of him as a singer with very good diction!
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:23 (three years ago) link
Lol
― Dog Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:33 (three years ago) link
To be fair, the title of the song is "Randy Scouse Git."
― On average, this critic grades 8.3 points lower than other critics (Eric H.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:38 (three years ago) link
Well, yes, he's obviously hamming it up a bit in that song.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:40 (three years ago) link
can’t believe the monkees singer would be so inauthentic
― real muthaphuckkin jeez (crüt), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:45 (three years ago) link
Didn't Mickey affect a fake British accent in the show sometimes, kind of a military thing?
― clemenza, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 13:49 (three years ago) link
i'd be kinda shocked if they didn't do like fifty "British" bits --- surely they did a Bond spoof moment at some point, some kidding about the "British Invasion," etc.?
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 5 January 2021 14:04 (three years ago) link
Mickey was the Funny One, so I'm sure he did all sorts of accents.
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 14:12 (three years ago) link
Also, they were the Prefab Five, the show was I believe modeled after the British new wave. It was kind of in the air.
― On average, this critic grades 8.3 points lower than other critics (Eric H.), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 14:14 (three years ago) link
― Eggbreak Hotel (Tom D.), Tuesday, January 5, 2021 7:23 AM (fifty-one minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
That would be Nesmith, who I generally love but who has an annoying habit of really hammering home the enunciation at times. Particularly the gerunds. He gets a touch Mark E Smith-ish, as well. 'All the games you are play-ENG-ah'.
― Telly Salivas (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 5 January 2021 14:17 (three years ago) link