The Monkees were a pop rock band based in Los Angeles in the year 1965 as they were intended to be part of a TV Drama called The Monkees. The first lineup included Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. All four of them were from different backgrounds of music, acting and comedy. Although The Monkees TV show produced their early music with the help of professional songwriters and musicians, later on, the band accomplished creative autonomy over their music with an imprint in pop culture.
As the producers of the TV show Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were inspired by the Beatles’ movies “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!”,They aimed to create a television show about a band that mimicked the energy and humor of the Fab Four. This led to the creation and open auditions for 1965 where over three hundred and fifty people were auditioned and given a chance of acting as a musician. The rest of the band were good in their auditions for only having some musical talent, They were able to develop chemistry.
Their NBC television show premiered in September 1966, and instantly gained popularity because of its humor, surreal cutaway scenes, and fast paced catchy tunes. It became an instant cultural phenomenon with the theme song, “(Theme From) The Monkees” setting a tone for what was to come. As the band’s commercial success grew, music supervisor Don Kirshner and Brill Building songwriters such as Neil Diamond and Carole King were helping to craft the music. Early hits like “Last Train to Clarksville” and “I’m a Believer,” which peaked at #1 for seven weeks, were key to their meteoric rise into the pop music scene.
But hooh boy, did things take a turn after that. Especially when it was reported studio musicians performed almost all of the music on The Monkees first two albums. Critics labeled The Monkees as a “manufactured” band because the members did not play any instruments on their records. This led to further backlash. In response to growing backlash, the group attempted to gain creative control. By 1967, they had fired Kirshner and recorded Headquarters, an album which featured the band playing their own instruments, finally earning the respect of fans and musicians.The group’s unifying tensions were colliding with their producers. Dolenz was leaning toward psychedelic pop. while Tork wanted a more unified band and Nesmith a country rock aesthetic. Their cohesiveness continued to weaken over time. Their television series was cancelled after two seasons in 1968. Their film, Head, was commercially unsuccessful despite bold artistic choices. This led to a slow group disbandment with Tork leaving in late ‘68 followed by Nesmith in 1970. Dolenz and Jones released the album Changes and then disbanded as a duo in 1970.
Interest was revived in 1986 with MTV’s broadcast of their original show followed by a successful reunion tour. This revival allowed for the release of new recordings. With the release of the single “That Was Then, This Is Now,” the 1987 album Pool It! was also released. The band began sporadically reunitig in the following years. They released Justus in 1996, featuring all four members for the first time since 1968 as performers and producers. Good Times! was released in 2016 celebrating their 50th anniversary alongside the well received album.
Dolenz is the last surviving member after Jones, Tork, and Nesmith passed away in 2012, 2019, and 2021, respectively. Dolenz keeps touring to ensure that the legacy of Monkees remain alive. With their unique combination of television and music, The Monkees created a lasting influence on the show business as the first pop multimedia group.
Top Songs
- “Last Train to Clarksville” (1966) – Their debut single, a Vietnam-era anti-war tune wrapped in jangly pop.
- “I’m a Believer” (1966) – Penned by Neil Diamond, it became one of the biggest hits of the 1960s.
- “Daydream Believer” (1967) – A chart-topping single with one of the most recognizable choruses in pop history.
- “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (1967) – A sharp critique of suburban life, written by Goffin and King.
- “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” (1966) – A gritty, proto-punk track covered by numerous punk bands.
- “Valleri” (1968) – A Boyce and Hart tune showcasing the band’s transition into self-production.
- “The Porpoise Song” (1968) – A psychedelic standout from the film Head, praised for its experimentation.
- “Listen to the Band” (1969) – A Nesmith-penned anthem merging rock and country with brass arrangements.
Discography
Studio Albums:
- The Monkees (1966)
- More of the Monkees (1967)
- Headquarters (1967)
- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (1967)
- The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees (1968)
- Head (1968)
- Instant Replay (1969)
- The Monkees Present (1969)
- Changes (1970)
- Pool It! (1987)
- Justus (1996)
- Good Times! (2016)
- Christmas Party (2018)
Top Albums
- The Monkees (1966) – Spent 13 weeks at No. 1, launching the band’s recording success.
- More of the Monkees (1967) – Held the No. 1 spot for 18 weeks; third best-selling album of the decade.
- Headquarters (1967) – The first album where the band played most of the instruments.
- Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (1967) – Featured Moog synthesizer experimentation and classic singles.
- Good Times! (2016) – A critically acclaimed comeback album charting in the Billboard Top 20.
Awards
- Grammy Nominations (1967–1968)
- Best Contemporary Recording – “Last Train to Clarksville”
- Best Performance by a Vocal Group – “I’m a Believer”
- Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2007)
- Inducted into the Pop Music Hall of Fame (2014)
- Outstanding Achievement Award by the Music Business Association (2016)
- Rolling Stone: “The 25 Greatest Soundtracks” – Head (2013)
The Monkees Singles List
| Year | Single | US Chart Position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Last Train to Clarksville / Take a Giant Step | #1 | The Monkees |
| 1966 | I’m a Believer / (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone | #1 | More of the Monkees |
| 1967 | A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You / The Girl I Knew Somewhere | #2 | Non-album single |
| 1967 | Randy Scouse Git (UK: Alternate Title) | UK #2 | Headquarters |
| 1967 | Pleasant Valley Sunday / Words | #3 | Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. |
| 1967 | Daydream Believer / Goin’ Down | #1 | The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees |
| 1968 | Valleri / Tapioca Tundra | #3 | The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees |
| 1968 | D. W. Washburn / It’s Nice to Be with You | #19 | Non-album single |
| 1968 | Porpoise Song / As We Go Along | #62 | Head |
| 1969 | Tear Drop City / A Man Without a Dream | #56 | Instant Replay |
| 1969 | Listen to the Band / Someday Man | #63 | The Monkees Present |
| 1969 | Good Clean Fun / Mommy and Daddy | #82 | The Monkees Present |
| 1970 | Oh My My / I Love You Better | #98 | Changes |
| 1971 | Do It in the Name of Love / Lady Jane | — | Non-album single |
| 1986 | That Was Then, This Is Now / (Theme from) The Monkees (live) | #20 | Then & Now… The Best of The Monkees |
| 1987 | Heart and Soul / MGBGT | #87 | Pool It! |
| 1996 | Regional Girl / You and I | — | Justus |
| 2016 | She Makes Me Laugh | — | Good Times! |
| 2016 | You Bring the Summer | — | Good Times! |
| 2018 | Unwrap You at Christmas | — | Christmas Party |