More of the Monkees


More of the Monkees is the second studio album by the American pop rock band the Monkees. It was recorded in late 1966 and released on Colgems label #102 on January 9, 1967. It displaced the band's debut album from the top of the Billboard 200 chart and remained at No.1 for 18 weeks—the longest of any Monkees album. Combined, the first two Monkees albums were at the top of the Billboard chart for 31 consecutive weeks. More of the Monkees also went to No.1 in the UK. In the U.S. it has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA with sales of more than five million copies. More of the Monkees is also notable for being the first pop/rock album to be the best-selling album of the year in the U.S.

History

Monkeemania had reached full swing by the time the album was released. The Monkees' second single, "I'm a Believer"—included on this album—held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 and they were about to embark on a highly successful concert tour.
The release of More of the Monkees was rushed to capitalize on the band's popularity, catching even its members by surprise. The band learned of the album's existence while on tour in Cleveland, Ohio, discovering it had already been released. They were dismayed by the cover image of them and offended by production overseer Don Kirshner's liner notes, which praised his team of songwriters before mentioning, almost as an afterthought, the names of the Monkees. The band, particularly Nesmith, was also furious about the songs—selected for the record from 34 that had been recorded—leading Nesmith to later tell Melody Maker magazine that More of the Monkees was "probably the worst album in the history of the world".
The group began to grow concerned over their musical output, since this album and their debut, The Monkees, featured them limited to just vocals with scattered instrumental contributions. Kirshner had a strict rule that the Monkees were to provide only vocals on his productions, though separate sessions produced by Michael Nesmith himself usually featured Peter Tork on guitar. More of the Monkees has Nesmith limited to one song as lead vocalist.
Within weeks of the release of More of the Monkees, Nesmith lobbied successfully with the group's creators, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, for the Monkees to be allowed to play their instruments on future records, effectively giving the quartet artistic control. To make his point clear to Kirshner, who was balking at the idea, Nesmith proceeded to punch a hole in the wall of a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel during a group meeting with Kirshner and Colgems lawyer Herb Moelis, declaring to the latter: "That could have been your face!". This outburst came after Moelis snapped to Nesmith, "You'd better read your contract", when Nesmith threatened to quit. Kirshner was later dropped from the project altogether.

Artwork

The original pressing catalog number is COM/COS 102. When the album was reissued in 1969 the Colgems symbol replaced the word "Colgems" on the bottom right-hand corner of the reverse side. It was standard practice for RCA to add an "RE" when any one side of a record sleeve had a revision. There were no mono copies issued in 1969 as they were phased out altogether in 1968.

Track listing

Original 1967 Colgems vinyl issue

1994 Rhino CD reissue

Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo
  2. "Don't Listen to Linda" – 2:28
  3. "I'll Spend My Life with You" – 2:30
  4. "I Don't Think You Know Me" – 2:19
  5. "Look Out " – 2:53
  6. "I'm a Believer" – 2:53

    1996 Sundazed vinyl reissue

Bonus track at the end of Side 1: "I Don't Think You Know Me" – 2:19

Bonus track at the end of Side 2: "Don't Listen to Linda" – 2:28, "I'll Spend My Life with You" – 2:30

2006 Rhino deluxe CD reissue

The following tracks were included on the 2006 deluxe edition of the album. Some were previously unreleased, while others were on the 1994 Rhino reissue or the Missing Links series. Studio chatter is included between some bonus tracks.
Disc one
Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo
  2. "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" – 02:18
  3. "Ladies Aid Society" – 3:27
  4. "I'll Spend My Life with You" – 2:28
  5. "I Don't Think You Know Me" – 2:20
  6. "Through the Looking Glass" – 2:31
  7. "Don't Listen to Linda" – 2:28
  8. "Kicking Stones " – 2:32
  9. "Look Out " – 3:08
  10. "I'm a Believer" – 2:51
  11. "Mr. Webster" – 2:47
Disc two
Tracks 1-12: Original album in mono
  2. "Valleri" – 2:30
  3. "Words" – 2:58
  4. "Look Out " – 2:50
  5. "I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" – 2:37
  6. "Tear Drop City" – 2:18
  7. "Of You" – 2:01
  8. "Hold on Girl" – 2:44
  9. " Do Not Ask for Love" – 02:59

    Session information

"She"
"When Love Comes Knockin' "
"Mary, Mary"
"Hold on Girl"
"Your Auntie Grizelda"
" Steppin' Stone"
"Look Out "
"The Kind of Girl I Could Love"
"The Day We Fall in Love"
"Sometime in the Morning"
"Laugh"
"I'm a Believer"
"Don't Listen to Linda"
"I'll Spend My Life with You"
"I Don't Think You Know Me"
"Look Out "
"I'm a Believer"
"Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears"
"Ladies Aid Society"
"I'll Spend My Life with You"
"I Don't Think You Know Me"
"Through the Looking Glass"
"Don't Listen to Linda"
"Kicking Stones"
"Look Out "
"I'm a Believer"
  • Same track from 1994 reissue, but in stereo and different studio chatter.
  • Produced by Jeff Barry
"Mr. Webster"
  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
  • Backing vocal: Micky Dolenz
  • Acoustic Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
  • Bass: Larry Taylor
  • Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
  • Percussion: Alan Estes
  • Oboe: Norman Benno
  • Cello: Maggie Aue
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, September 10, 1966
  • Originally featured on Missing Links Volume Two
"Valleri"
  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal: Davy Jones
  • Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
  • Bass: Larry Taylor
  • Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Percussion: Gene Estes
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, August 6, 1966
  • Originally featured on Missing Links Volume Two
"Words"
  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocals: Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork
  • Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Tommy Boyce, Wayne Erwin, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
  • Bass: Larry Taylor
  • Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Percussion: Norm Jeffries
  • Flute: Ethmer Roten
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Recorded in October, 1966
  • Originally featured on Missing Links Volume Two
"Look Out "
  • Written by Neil Diamond
  • Same mix on 1994 release
  • Featured on Music Box, remixed in stereo.
  • Produced by Jeff Barry
"I'll Be Back Up on My Feet"
  • Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
  • Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
  • Backing vocal: Unknown
  • Guitar: Al Casey, Carol Kaye
  • Bass: Ray Pohlman
  • Drums: Hal Blaine
  • Percussion: Frank Capp, Julius Wechter
  • Piano: Don Randi, Michel Rubini
  • Produced by Jeff Barry
  • Recorded on October 26, 1966
  • Originally featured on Missing Links Volume Two
"Tear Drop City"
  • Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
  • Backing vocals: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
  • Bass: Larry Taylor
  • Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Percussion: Gene Estes
  • Produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, October 26, 1966
  • Later sped up for Instant Replay. Previously unissued.
"Of You"
  • Written by Bill and John Chadwick
  • Lead vocal: Michael Nesmith
  • Guitar: Peter Tork, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, Mike Deasey
  • Bass: Bob West
  • Drums: Hal Blaine
  • Percussion: Gary Coleman and Jim Gordon
  • Piano: Michael Cohen and Larry Knechtel
  • Produced by Michael Nesmith
  • Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, July 25, 1966
  • Originally featured on Music Box. A stereo mix with harmony vocals from Micky Dolenz was issued on Missing Links.
"Hold on Girl"
  • Written by Jack Keller, Ben Raleigh and Billy Carr
  • Lead vocal: Davy Jones
  • Backing vocals: Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Ron Hicklin
  • Guitar: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
  • Bass: Larry Taylor
  • Drums: Billy Lewis
  • Percussion: Alan Estes
  • Oboe: Norman Benno
  • Harpsichord: Michel Rubini
  • Produced by Jeff Barry and Jack Keller
  • Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood, September 10, 1966
  • Later re-recorded for More of the Monkees
  • Originally featured on Missing Links Volume Two
" Do Not Ask for Love "'

Album

Singles

Certifications