I have been a record collector for more than 50 years, and I haven't been this excited about a new release in years.
As you might have noted during my personal birthday salute last Thursday, I posted a link to a YouTube video which accompanies the Monkees new single, "She Makes Me Laugh" from their upcoming 50th anniversary album, "Good Times!" which is due out on May 27.
The song is bouncy, has a terrific hook, and is the perfect antidote for the musical wasteland that permeates the airwaves today.
That doesn't mean that it is going to be a hit--although all indications are that the Monkees might have their first hit in decades with this tune--but it at least gives this Baby Boomer some hope that it will get some airplay on both Top 40 and even rock and roll radio.
The song was written by Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, and I think it talks about a guy reminiscing about his relationship either with his daughter or one of the other female loves of his life. To me, it kind of sounds like "Pulling Mussels From a Shell" by Squeeze.
Whatever it is about, I think the Monkees nailed it here, and what a surprise that was!
Then yesterday, they released another track off the new album, a surprising song called "You Bring the Summer," written by XTC's Andy Partridge.
It is more a Beach Boys song than a real Monkees song, but that doesn't diminish its appeal one iota ... in fact, it is quite good, and give the song a whirl, because the last minute or so of the tune really makes it memorable.
So, the Monkees have now given us, what in another lifetime, is the A and B sides of the album's first single. I do hope they eventually release this as an actual 45 for all of us that love that format, but for now, we will have to settle for a digital release only.
The two songs tell me that the new album really will be a celebration of what made the Monkees so popular--great songs written by great songwriters with strong vocals, deep hooks and excellent production.
The album will be a celebration of that era--roughly 1966 through 1968--when the Monkees were among the top recording acts in the world, in particular 1967, the year of the so-called "Summer of Love," when the Monkees outsold the Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.
And even in today's musical world--where I have to question the musical talent displayed by younger artists during a time when older music is outselling newer music by a substantial amount--the Monkees--Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, and yes, Davy Jones is on this album--can stand up there with the likes of Beyonce and Kanye West and get themselves noticed.
Again, I don't know if the initial single will even make Billboard's Hot 100, but if it does, it will be an accomplishment. If it doesn't, it really doesn't matter that much, because the target audience for that single--Baby Boomers like me--have heard it, and it has hit the bull's-eye with us.
I do expect the album to do very well, and that might be, at this point, a better indication about the success of this project than the single is. In today's digital world, you will actually be able to buy the album as a CD and a vinyl recording, as well as get it digitally, so that might be the best indication of its success, rather than what amounts to a digital file which has no weight other than being a digital sound bite of music on this album.
Whatever the case, I am quite please with what has thus far been released, and it proves that the Monkees live on well past their due date ... it is incredible that a project that had such a short shelf life has lived on for 50 years, and "Good Times!" seems to be a testament to their longevity and popularity among fans both young and old ...
And I look forward to seeing them--Dolenz and Tork--in concert in June.
If Paul and Ringo went on tour, would they call it The Beatles? So how is it they can call it Monkees without Davy and Mike?
ReplyDeleteMike is participating in the album, and Davy is on the album. Paul and Ringo could call themselves "The Beatles" if they wanted to. I assume they own the name. It took the Monkees many years to own their name (through the auspices of Rhino Records), and now, with just the two of them touring together, they have every right to call themselves "The Monkees" if they want to. It has been well advertised that Mike won't be with them--perhaps for one or two shows, but generally, he is not touring with them this time around--and since Davy is gone, there is no fraud involved. As these types of performers get older, as long as the public isn't being willfully misled, they can go on as they are best known, and if it is "The Beatles," "The Monkees," "The Rolling Stones" (people also say that it hasn't been the Rolling Stones since Brian Jones died and Bill Wyman retired) or whatever, they can do it.
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