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I'm not a Monkees fan, I think of them as a C level artist with occasional B level work. But I saw Sandoval's book at the library the other day. It's patterned just like the Beatles book Lewisohn did covering every single day, including studio sessions, live shows, and more. The format's very similar, you'd easily mistake it as being written by the same author.

I read pieces of it, mostly from the last two years when Peter Tork left, then Nesmith, and how the band basically just faded out. They didn't really break up in one stroke, I get the impression months after the fact, Dolenz could've been thinking, "Are the Monkees finally finished or do I have to do more publicity crap for the TV show reruns?"

If you're a fan, I think you'll REALLY like this book. I'm not, but I still have to admit it's done very well. Any punk, alternative, or hip-hop artist
would be real fortunate if someone like Sandoval gave them a book like this.

MK wrote:I'm not a Monkees fan, I think of them as a C level artist with occasional B level work.

I'd just like to chime in with some agreement. Man, talk about a band generally unworthy of a critical reevaluation! I recall a sh.tv thread a few moons ago which asked, essentially, "why do people hate the Monkees so much?" Uhhh, lesse.

Don't get me wrong; I *like* some of their output. I think "Head" is pretty nifty, and I enjoy chunks of Headquarters/Picsces and others. But c'mon. If you want to elevate bullshit entertainment, look at Paul Revere and the Raiders, who're far more deserving of that sort of attention.

They're a fun band to collect. They've got more mix variations than practically anyone on the planet.

I like plenty of their stuff too - particularly Nesmith's material. Though, I don't think anyone will ever accuse them of being trend setters. Like the Raiders, they pretty much mined whatever sound was out there at the moment.

Yet, I'd personally take them in a heartbeat over the Raiders...who were shameless to the point of aggravation for me.

I always though "Him Or Me" sounded like an obvious nod to the Monkees anyway.

Yet, how ironic is it that when the Monkees had their revival in '86...they chose to record "Kicks"...lol.

Mike Hunte wrote:They're a fun band to collect. They've got more mix variations than practically anyone on the planet.

Hah. Really? I think Zappa beats 'em, piece o' cake. You're right, though; they have a surprising amount of variation for a band you wouldn't expect to be so disorganized. Every time I see those budget discs that have unique mixes of one or two tracks, I have to remind myself that I don't care...

Yet, I'd personally take them in a heartbeat over the Raiders...who were shameless to the point of aggravation for me.

I think what helps the Raiders for me is their pedigree...in some incarnation, they were a real band even pre-Beatles. I like Mark L's voice far more than I like Davey Jones's. I also happen to think "Spirit of '67" is a genuinely good album, and while the Raiders were never that good before or after, I think that one excellent slab of plastic sells it for me (and yes, I realize it's all session musicians).

I always though "Him Or Me" sounded like an obvious nod to the Monkees anyway.

Perhaps. Actually, on one of the Fuzz, Flakes and Shakes comps, there's a band where the single is clearly trying to do a Mickey Dolenz. I should see if I can find it.

Yet, how ironic is it that when the Monkees had their revival in '86...they chose to record "Kicks"...lol.

Indeed.

Xenu wrote:
You're right, though; they had a surprising amount of variation for a band you wouldn't expect to be so disorganized. Every time I see those budget discs that have unique mixes of one or two tracks...

Particularly in the vinyl realm. About ten years ago Andrew Sandoval did an interview for Goldmine. The author later sent me the unedited text and, reading it, I was shocked at just how many vinyl variations there actually were; Mono vs stereo, foreign pressing differences, weird edits, one-off mixes on vinyl comps, etc.

I think what helps the Raiders for me is their pedigree...in some incarnation, they were a real band even pre-Beatles. I like Mark L's voice far more than I like Davey Jones's.

Davy Jones....yuck. His contributions are easily the low-point of each Monkees album for me.

Davy wrote a few good tunes. "You and I" is a standout, with some biting Neil Young guitar work.