1968 - April: The Monkees "The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees"
1968 was a year of disappointments for the Monkees. During this year their television series was cancelled, their first motion picture effort failed at the box office, and band member Peter Tork would leave the group at the end of the year. Despite all this they would still find success in their fifth studio album, The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees. This album would chart at number 3 in the United States and would sell over a million copies.
Members Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork had gained artistic control and the right to play their own instruments by 1967, and all band members were credited as producers for the songs on this album. However, much of the music on this album was created by members going their own separate ways and working with session musicians to create the tracks, with few collaborative efforts represented on the album. Nevertheless, the album shows a diverse range of styles from broadway pop, to country & western, to psychedelia. Songs from Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith are represented on the album, and only Peter Tork is excluded. Tork would contribute piano work to the song “Daydream Believer,” but little else on the album.
Friend of the show Mike Fernandez brings us this album in Wayne's absence.
Daydream Believer
John Stewart of the Kingston Trio wrote this song, and it was originally performed by the Monkees with Davy Jones singing lead. It hit number 1 on the US charts. The original lyrics were “and now you know how funky I can be,” but “funky” was changed to “happy” due to concerns that funky might have drug or other unsavory references.
Auntie's Municipal Court
Mickey Dolenz sings lead on this track composed by Michael Nesmith and Keith Allison. We feel it has a “jangle pop country feel.” The title doesn't appear in the lyrics, and writer Michael Nesmith has no recollection why it was named as it was. It was not the only song whose title was not referenced in the song.
Valleri
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote this song with Davy Jones on lead. It reached number 3 on the US charts and would be the last top 10 showing for the Monkees. Guitar work is done by Louie Shelton, a session guitarist with the Wrecking Crew.
Zor and Zam
Bill and John Chadwick penned this track, sung by Mickey Dolenz. It is an unusual anti-war song in the Monkee's catalogue. The lyrics describe preparation for a war between two kingdoms, but no one shows up when the war is supposed to happen. This psychedelic track closes the album.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main theme from the television series “The Andy Griffith Show”
This long running series on the life and time of Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, North Carolina ended its run in this month.
STAFF PICKS:
Kiss Me Goodbye by Petula Clark
Brian's leads off the staff picks with a Les Reed and Barry Mason composition. This song would reach number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and would be the last time Petula Clark reached into the top 30 on that chart.
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) by The First Edition
Bruce brings us a psychedelic rock song recorded by the First Edition as their second single, and the first to feature Kenny Rogers on lead vocals. It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Charts and was Rogers' first top 10 hit. The solo is played by Glen Campbell with heavy compression and tremolo to get the psychedelic feel. The lyrics are a warning about the dangers of LSD.
Lady Madonna by the Beatles
Rob's staff pick is a well-known tune. This was written by Paul McCartney, and marked a change into a more rock sound from the psychedelic sound they had previously explored. It talks about a working class mother who has something to do every day of the week.
A Beautiful Morning by the Rascals
Mike features a very optimistic tune from a prolific group. This easy breezy song was written by Rascals members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, Jr. in Honolulu, Hawaii, where beautiful mornings are a common occurrence.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
2001: A Space Odyssey (Also Sprach Zarathustra by Ricard Strauss)
Stanley Kubrick would make this Richard Strauss theme famous in his epic science fiction movie based on the Arthur C. Clarke book. The film as released this month in 1968....and we couldn't pronounce it either!!
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