Hi guys! Sorry for not posting in a while, but as you know, life gets in the way. Let's keep going with the list!
35. St. Matthew (Missing Links Volume 2, 1990; Originally recorded for Head, 1968)
34. Little Girl (The Monkees Present, 1970)
33. Nine Times Blue (Missing Links, 1987; Originally recorded for Headquarters, 1967)
Okay, technically, there are four versions of this song: The demo version, the Missing Links version, the Johnny Cash Show performance (my personal favorite), and the version on Michael Nesmith's first real solo album, Magnetic South. However, since that last one isn't really a Monkees recording, I'm just going to put the first three here.
32. Salesman (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones Ltd., 1967)
31. Circle Sky (Head, 1968)
This one's a little different, because there's one version that's on the soundtrack album, and one that's in the movie. Nez himself prefers the movie version (which has only the Monkees playing on it!), so we'll just put those both here. There's also a version from Justus that was recorded in 1996...but I think most of us can agree that version's not necessary when we have these.
30. Sweet Young Thing (The Monkees, 1966)
29. Words (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones Ltd., 1967)
(I'll link both the TV/Kirshner version and the final album version here.)
28. I'll Spend My Life With You (Headquarters, 1967)
(Again, I'll give you the Boyce/Hart produced version, along with the final, Chip Douglas produced version.)
27. Tear the Top Right Off My Head (Missing Links Volume 3, 1996; Originally recorded for The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees, 1968)
(Also, here's the lovely live snippet performed by Peter and Micky in the episode "Hitting the High Seas".)
26. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone (More of the Monkees, 1967)
That's all for now folks! Hopefully, I'll have #25-16 up soon.
45. Midnight Train (Changes, 1971, and Missing Links Volume 3, 1996; Originally recorded for Headquarters, 1967)
Okay, I'm not gonna lie to you, this song is really only here for the demo version from 1967. The Changes version is a little bit too camp/cheesy for my liking, though I don't necessarily mind it, and it's grown on me over time. I will admit that I was at the first Monkees concert where this song was played live, and I lost it when Micky and Coco started singing it, so I guess I can't speak too lowly of it. Anyway, listen to both and enjoy.
44. Come On In (Missing Links Volume 2, 1990; Originally recorded for The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees, 1968)
43. Mommy and Daddy (The Monkees Present, 1970)
42. Carlisle Wheeling (Missing Links, 1987; Originally recorded for The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees, 1968, and Instant Replay, 1969)
There are two known Monkees' era recordings of this song, and I love them both equally, so I'm gonna share both of them here.
41. The Girl I Knew Somewhere (B-side to "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", 1967)
40. She (More of The Monkees, 1967)
39. Our Own World (Good Times!, 2016)
38. She'll Be There (Missing Links Volume 3, 1996; Originally recorded for Headquarters, 1967)
37. Sometime in the Morning (More of The Monkees, 1967)
36. Auntie's Municipal Court (The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees, 1968)
That's all for now! Hopefully, I'll have #35-26 up soon. Thanks for reading!
Alright, friends! Let's keep The Monkees countdown going!
55. Gotta Give It Time (Good Times!, 2016)
54. I'm a Believer (More of The Monkees, 1967)
53. Star Collector (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones Ltd., 1967)
52. How Insensitive (Missing Links Volume 3, 1996; Originally recorded for Head, 1968)
51. (I Prithee) Do Not Ask For Love (Released in too many versions to type out without writing a paragraph, but recorded in 1966 and 1968)
Okay, so this one was recorded numerous times at different points during The Monkees' career, so I'm just going to give you the four different versions that have been officially released. The versions Peter sings on are my personal favorites.
50. No Time (Headquarters, 1967)
49. Rosemarie (Missing Links, 1987; Originally recorded for The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees, Head, Instant Replay, 1968 and 1969)
Okay, honestly, if I split up the two versions, I'd probably have the Missing Links version higher and the Birds/Bees and 1969 versions probably wouldn't be on the list, to be honest. I decided to compromise on it, put it here, and give you all three versions.
48. Early Morning Blues & Greens (Headquarters, 1967)
47. Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again? (Head, 1968)
46. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (Single, 1967)
That's all for now! Hopefully, I'll have #45-36 up soon. Thanks for reading!
Hello, loves! It's been a while!! I'm sorry that I've left you hanging since March, but I was busy finishing up the school year, then working over the summer, then starting school up again. It's no secret that recently, it was the 50th anniversary of the debut of the Monkees TV series, and fans found plenty of ways to celebrate. One way we all celebrated was through viewing this hilariously awkward and sort of amazing video that was posted on The Monkees' Facebook page.
As you may have been able to tell from the title of the post, I'm counting down my 66 favorite Monkees songs (because the Monkees first aired in 1966!!!! Get it?? I crack myself up honestly.), number 66 to number 1 over the course of seven posts. I know the amount of songs per post will seem off, since 66 isn't exactly divisible by seven, but this should be the only one with eleven, and all the others will have ten, apart from the top five. I know it seems unorganized, but it works in my convoluted mind, so let's just go with it. I also had to establish some guidelines for this whole thing to keep me from going crazy, or at least crazier than I've been about the whole ordeal already.
Standalone, random tracks from things like The Headquarters Sessions that aren't FORMAL, AUTHENTIC demos are no-go (that means no "I Was Born in East Virginia" or "Monkee Chat". Trust me, I debated over this one for a while, but it's for the best).
All Missing Links tracks are fair game.
All Good Times! tracks are fair game.
No counting multiple versions of one song as different numbers/entries on the list, so for example, I can't put the Missing Links version of "Nine Times Blue" at #36, and then the Johnny Cash Show version of "Nine Times Blue" at #29. I will, however, share my favorite versions of the song once I get to it.
As a side note, I'll start writing little blurbs on each song when we get to #25. So, without further ado, let's Monkee around!!
66. Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day (The Monkees, 1966)
65. She Makes Me Laugh (Good Times!, 2016)
64. Magnolia Simms (The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees, 1968)
(Here's an acoustic version if you don't enjoy all the vintage production madness going on in the studio version.)
63. I'll Be Back Up On My Feet (The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees, 1968)
(Also, here's my personal favorite version that aired on the show.)
62. Forget That Girl (Headquarters, 1967)
61. Cuddly Toy (Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd., 1967)
60. Daydream Believer (The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees, 1968)
I know I'm probably going to get side-eyed glances from some of you for the relatively low ranking of this song, and trust me, I really do love Davy and this song is a pop classic, but I'm a little sick of hearing it, to tell you the truth. It's a favorite of mine when played in moderation.
59. You Just May Be the One (Headquarters, 1967)
(Here's also the original version that was used in the first season of the TV show. I personally prefer the studio version, but you decide for yourself.)
58. I Was There (and I'm Told I Had a Good Time) [Good Times!, 2016]
57. Mr. Webster (Headquarters, 1967)
(Again, just to give you some options, here's the original version recorded before the band earned their "freedom". I know some fans prefer it to the final version, so here you go.)
56. Down the Highway/Michigan Blackhawk (Missing Links, 1990; Originally recorded for The Monkees Present in 1969)
Just to give some background on why this song has two titles, here's Wikipedia: ""Michigan Blackhawk" is mistitled; the song included here is a Goffin/King/Stern song tiutled "Down The Highway"; recorded on June 5, 1969; the mistitling comes from the use of the title "Michigan Blackhawk" on an unfinished Nesmith track recorded on June 10, 1969."
That's all for this post! Hopefully I'll have #55-46 up soon. Thanks for reading!
Few artists create as many "overrated or underrated?" arguments as The Doors have over the last 49 years, since their original skyrocket to fame on the strength of their hit "Light My Fire". Those who argue for the former very rarely have heard the band's non-hits, and I've constantly been shocked by how few Doors songs the general public actually knows. I'm here to change that, or at least attempt to, by sharing my favorite gems that have been tossed aside in recent years. Comment if you have any favorites I've skipped over. In the meantime, keep breaking on through. "End of the Night" (from The Doors, 1967) Since "Light My Fire" and "The End" are often lauded as the highlights of The Doors' debut release, people think it's okay to just skip over the other tracks. I've even seen several people on RateYourMusic relate to this track as filler. Ugh, how I loathe that word. One man's filler is another man's treasure, as I always say. This slinky, noir-shaded number is not only a great showcase for Jim's crooning voice, but Robby's woozy guitar is absolutely killer here. How this gem has been ignored for so long is beyond me.
"Hyacinth House"
(from L.A. Woman, 1971)
This one's quite strange, even for The Doors. With almost comical lines such as "I see the bathroom is clear" and unsettling harmonies, this number is often seen as an ode to Jim's longing to escape fame, and according to semi-reliable source of Lyric Genius, it was based off of the Greek Myth surrounding the origin of hyacinths. I'm really not a fan of the L.A. Woman album as a whole (cue gasp from Doors diehards everywhere), but this has always been a highlight for me.
"Love Street"
(from Waiting For The Sun, 1968)
At first, I felt like I was cheating with this one, because I assumed that most Doors fans knew the story of the infamous house on "Love Street" in Laurel Canyon. Nevertheless, it's too near to my heart not to share it here. It's a rare incident where The Doors aren't their usual, bluesy-sounding selves, and they instead toy around with dreamy, sunshine pop, and musically, they do a wonderful job with it. The sound of Robby's guitar lines interweaving with Ray's piano lines is to die for. The fact that it's about Pam (Morrison's girlfriend from The Doors' origins to his death) is probably the real reason why I'm so attached though.
"Moonlight Drive"
(from Strange Days, 1967)
Jesus, everything about this song deserves praise. Every instrument, including the vocals, is absolutely perfect, note-for-note. The lyrics are great, the song's buildup is kick-ass, the solo is amazing. What else can I say?
"My Eyes Have Seen You"
(from Strange Days, 1967)
This is another track that I've seen labelled as "filler", but when I listen to it, I feel like it's a quintessential Doors track that anyone interested needs to hear. Again, it's musically great, and almost verges on being psychedelic. It's songs like these that make you realize how ahead of the curve The Doors were.
"Queen of the Highway"
(from Morrison Hotel, 1970)
If someone were to take me to the chair, and make me pick a single Doors song to be my favorite, I might just say this one. That decision is probably just sentimental, but the keyboard in this song is phenomenal, Jim's songwriting is at its best, the musical break is on point, the guitar near the ending is great, the outro is wonderful...so it can't just be me. So much beauty in only 2 and a half minutes. Untouchable.
"Runnin' Blue"
(from The Soft Parade, 1969)
This tribute to Otis Redding gets a lot of shit from fans, mostly due to the country-ish verses sung by Robby. I don't necessarily see that part as a negative thing. It's more like something that makes the song unlike anything The Doors ever made before, which it is. If anything, this is the band at its most experimental. It's pretty cool, and to the naysayers, it could be a lot worse.
"Shaman's Blues"
(from The Soft Parade, 1969)
I'll be the first to admit that The Soft Parade is a little bit of a mess. In my opinion, this song saves it almost single-handedly. Stop saying it's "boring" and "underwhelming", because I think it's honestly one of the best things The Doors ever did. It's emotional agony wrapped up into a five-minute blues-rock song, and for a band that doesn't get emotional that often, this aches in an absolutely wonderful way. I've been listening to it endlessly lately, and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. Robby and Jim are great here as usual, but I think John Densmore gets the MVP award for this one. How is he still not regarded as one of the greatest drummers in rock?
"The Spy"
(from Morrison Hotel, 1970)
I was surprised to see some hate for this one online, since I've always regarded it as a highlight on my favorite Doors album. The instrumentation is near-perfect, as usual, but Jim's delivery completely makes the entire thing. If you've never gotten chills during that climax, I sincerely don't know how. It's just magic. I've also always wondered what would've happened if they had made this the last song on Morrison Hotel. Instead of just rolling your way out on "Maggie M'Gill", imagine Jim near-whispering "I can see/what you do/and I know..." being the last thing you hear on the record. It makes the whole mood even more intense. Alas, what's done is done. It's still great, either way.
"Strange Days"
(from Strange Days, 1967)
Psychedelic, man. The organ is fantastic, the drumming is great, Jim's delivery is great, the lyrics are cool, the baseline is cool, and the chord progression is kick-ass. There's really nothing to complain about. The echo on the vocals that make you feel like you're in space when you're listening to it is the cherry on top.
"Twentieth Century Fox"
(from The Doors, 1967)
How this song never became one of The Doors' biggest hits is beyond me. To begin with, it's an ear-worm in the best possible sense, the keys, guitar, and drums are all superb, and it makes you want to get up and dance, man. Okay, the lyrics get cheesy at a few points, but Jim pulls it off. This one came up often on the various "Underrated Doors Songs" lists on the internet, and with good reason. I mean, just listen to that chorus!
"Unhappy Girl"
(from Strange Days, 1967)
Another great example of how ahead of their time The Doors really were. That intro is woozy and off-kilter in the best sense, and the keys, guitar, and mystical lyrics weave together perfectly to create this wonderfully odd pop confection. At first, I was going to say that if I have any complaint, it's that it's much too short. I now retract that statement, since it would probably lose the magic had it gone on for much longer. Part of what makes it wonderful is how it's here and gone in a flash, leaving you in its path as dizzy as the song itself. An actual perfect song.
"Who Do You Love?"
(from Absolutely Live, 1970)
This might actually be the best cover of this classic Bo Diddley song I've ever heard (aside from Stephen Stills' 30 second acoustic rendition, of course). It was never recorded by the band in-studio, but the versions that exist truly stand as a testament to what a great live band The Doors really were. Jim's vocals are great, the whole band is solid, and you can feel the energy any time anyone starts playing. That's what any good band should feel like, in my opinion.
"Who Scared You?"
(non-album single, B-side of "Wishful Sinful", 1969)
There are people who will never get over the fact that The Doors didn't put this song on The Soft Parade, and I am admittedly one of those people. It's a solid song to begin with, and unlike several of the songs on the album, its horn accompaniment actually suits it and enhances the song as a whole. At least eventually got its due and made it onto Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine.
"You Make Me Real"
(from Morrison Hotel, 1970)
Speaking of great energy, this is probably the most energetic studio performance The Doors ever committed to tape. The song grooves the whole way through, and really drives home to attitude that the band was done with some of the bullshit that had ensued during The Soft Parade era, and now The Doors were back to doing what they do best: great, driving blues-rock. They certainly deliver that here.
"You're Lost, Little Girl"
(from Strange Days, 1967)
We end the list on a mysterious and slightly somber note, with this little gem that has been lost itself over time. Though the lyrics themselves are simple, the melody and chord progression are magnificent, and Robby and Ray both get a chance to really shine on their respective instruments. Another song that just screams "The Doors" when you hear it. Beautiful in the strangest and most troubled way possible.
Sometimes, after listening to some of Lou Reed's solo material, even (what is, in my opinion) his masterpiece, Berlin, I find myself extremely tired. Some of his work is just exhausting to me, and that's the only way I can describe it. It's not a bad thing...just a lot to take in, between over-the-top production, menacing lyrics that grab you by the throat and don't let go, tragic operas, and terrifying character portraits. Let's just say that Lou Reed's music as a whole is not for the weak of heart. His early days in The Velvet Underground have always been, for me, a different entity all together; really, it's the Lou Reed that I identify the most with. It disheartens me to know that he would probably hate me for even attempting to review his work, knowing his absolute disgust for, and abuse towards, those involved in analyzing or writing about his work. However, I might go as far as saying that this album has more or less changed my life, and my perspective on music, so I'm writing this anyway. This album, like all other Velvet Underground albums, is completely different from the every other album they did, and really quite different from a lot of what was popular at the time. It was, without a doubt, their most quiet, personal album, with Lou's most personal lyrics. Besides being made up of some killer songs, it's the minimal production, fits of spontaneous laughter audible throughout, delicate vocals by Reed, Doug Yule, and even Moe Tucker, and constant experimentation that make this album, in my opinion, the best that the band ever did. I'll try to express my love for without getting too sentimental. It's hard when you've held something so close to you for so long. We're trying. A1) "Candy Says" This could be it right here: my overall favorite song on the album. The fact that it's about Warhol "superstar", transgender Candy Darling, makes it even more heartbreaking. Anyone who suggests Lou was a heartless asshole has obviously never listened to this album. Doug Yule, who claimed he didn't know what he was singing about at the time, does a beautifully convincing job on the vocals. The instrumentation is gentle, making room for the lyrics, and don't even get me started on the "do, do-wahs" at the end; just sheer gorgeousness. For a while, I had this little arts and crafts thing on my wall that I made from magazine clippings that said, "What do you think I'd see if I could walk away from me?" I'm sorry now that I took it down. 5/5
A2) "What Goes On"
I'll warn you now: it's nothing like the Beatles song of the same name that has Ringo on lead vocals and it (in my opinion) the worst song on the otherwise impeccable Rubber Soul. This is a lot better. It's also one of the heavier tracks on the album. Along with just being a good rock song, it's also subtly experimental, taking two guitar solos, one dubbed over the other, and having them playing at the same time. The result is a headache-inducing, drone-like, sort of amazing guitar sound. I will also admit that this is constantly stuck in my head. I've discovered that there's no shame in succumbing to it. 4/5
A3) "Some Kinda Love"
I have a strange history with this song. The first time I heard it, I remember thinking, "Why does anyone like this? It's so boring! All it is is Lou muttering nonsense over some repetitive acoustic guitar." Ah, how young and foolish we all are at one time or another. The truth is, Lou's delivery makes the entire song. From the way he drawls "and of course, you're a boreeeee," in his native New York accent (as a fellow native New Yorker, I appreciate this), to the little "ooohs" he sicks in between random phrases, to the way you can hear the smile in his voice when he sings certain lines, I've come to like this song a lot. I sent it to a couple of different people on the day that gay marriage was made legal in all 50 states. It seemed to fit perfectly: "And no kinds of love/are better than others". 4.5/5
A4) "Pale Blue Eyes"
This song is easily the most popular song on the album, and I think I know why. It's repetitive, but there's a delicate, childlike quality to it that you don't get out of a whole lot of Velvet Underground songs, which could make it appealing to even someone who wasn't a VU fan. Lots of people have covered this, especially in the past few years in the wake of Lou's death, including one of my other songwriting heroes, Paul Simon, who was good friends with Mr. Reed. What sort of pissed me off about his live performance of the song, which otherwise was lovely, is that he cut out the entire last verse, which, for lack of a better term, is the whole punchline! If you ask me, it's the thing that makes the song uniquely Lou's; there always has to be a blemish in the world that appears to be perfect at first. If anything, it makes the song even more heartbreaking, and certainly more memorable than it would've been without. 4/5
A5) "Jesus"
I know I said "Candy Says" was my favorite song on this album, but this one always rivals it for me. I once read an article that described this song as "achingly ethereal", which might sound pretentious, but that's how it feels to me: completely blissful and calm, with a current of angst and sadness running underneath. If you've ever gone to sleep crying, and then woken up the next morning feeling serene and slightly less sad, but still sad nonetheless, that's what I think this sounds like. The delicate harmony vocals and wonderful guitar break are the perfect finishing touch to this masterpiece of a pop song, and this masterpiece of an album side. 5/5
B1) "Beginning to See the Light"
After that first, mostly acoustic, kind of sullen first side, it's a good idea to start off the second side with something fun. This song is not necessarily Lou's best songwriter, but he sounds like he's having the time of his life, as far as his playing and singing go; every "ALRIGHT!", "OOOOH!" and giggle is absolutely infectious. The line "There are problems in these times/But, woo!/None of them are mine!" should say it all. The "How does it feel..." outro is a nice touch, too. 4/5
B2) "I'm Set Free"
This is another one that I didn't completely get at first. I guess I thought it was boring or something, but now when I listen to it, it's kind of extraordinary. It sounds like freedom, plain and simple. The crescendos and decrescendos separating the verses from the choruses accent the mood perfectly. The sound of the guitar during the solo might've been what sold me; it cuts through all other sound, and the result is beautiful. The gentle backing vocals that start during the second verse are another subtle touch that just bring the song to the next level. Beautiful. 4.5/5
B3) "That's the Story of My Life"
If anything qualifies as filler on this album, it's this song. Not bad, but forgettable in general. 3/5
B4) "The Murder Mystery"
This experimental track often gets a lot of hate from fans, mostly the ones who think "Sister Ray" from White Light/White Heat are the end-all, be-all of anything VU ever did. I personally find this song far more interesting than that track, due to the ramblings that make up the lyrics, of which there are four sets, read or sung by each of the four members. This showed everyone who thought that the band would be nothing without John Cale that Reed hadn't completely lost his appetite for avant-garde experimentation. 4/5
B5) "After Hours"
Can you imagine this album being closed out by any other song? I certainly can't. Maureen Tucker has shared the story of this song's recording many a time, saying how nervous she was to sing by herself for the first time, and insisted she and Lou record together rather than overdubbing her voice later. Despite her nerves, Moe absolutely nails it in the most splintered, imperfect way. Lou said he never could've sung it himself, and I do agree that Maureen brings an extra element of childlike wonder to the song. It also helps that the song itself is lovely to begin with; I personally enjoy this one more than Moe's other, slightly more famous vocal on "I'm Sticking With You". It's really kind of beautiful in the strangest way, and I love it. 5/5
Final Grade: A
Thanks for reading!!! Comment what I should review next!!
