Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.


Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. is the fourth album by the Monkees. It was released on November 6, 1967, when the Monkees were exerting more control over their music and had started to play many of the instruments themselves, something that their record company had previously forbidden. Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. sold more than three million copies and was also the band's fourth consecutive album to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard 200.

History

The group did employ studio musicians to a greater extent than their previous album, Headquarters, on which the four musicians played almost entirely on their own. Guitarist Michael Nesmith is heard vocally on this album more than ever before, singing lead on five cuts; conversely, Micky Dolenz sings lead on only three tracks after dominating the group's first three albums. The album's single, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" b/w "Words", was a double-sided hit.
The album was among the earliest to make use of the Moog synthesizer, which Dolenz introduced to the group and played in the studio; he owned one of the first twenty ever sold. Along with the Doors' September 1967 album Strange Days, Their Satanic Majesties Request by the Rolling Stones in December, and the Byrds' January 1968 album The Notorious Byrd Brothers, Pisces was one of the first commercial recordings featuring the Moog to reach a wide audience. Dolenz plays the synthesizer on "Daily Nightly", while electronic musician Paul Beaver plays the Moog on "Star Collector".
Two additional songs, which eventually became the single "Daydream Believer" b/w "Goin' Down", were recorded during the album sessions. Released in October 1967 as a prelude to the Pisces album, it would be the group's last single.
The album's title stems from each band member's respective astrological sign: Dolenz is Pisces, Peter Tork is Aquarius, and both Nesmith and Davy Jones are Capricorn. However, since Nesmith and Jones share the same sun sign and birthday, Jones' last name was placed at the end of the title to avoid confusion.
The album's cover features a drawing by Bernard Yezsin of the four Monkees, their facial features blank, standing in a field of flowers with the group's guitar logo half-buried. The drawing was based on a photo of the group Yezsin had taken.
In 2007, Rhino issued a two-disc deluxe edition of the album. The CD set featured original album artwork, as well as a booklet of essays and session information by Monkees historian Andrew Sandoval. The discs contain both the stereo and mono mixes of the album, remastered, as well as alternate mixes and outtakes.

Aborted single

The original single to precede the album, "Love Is Only Sleeping" b/w "Daydream Believer", was canceled, due to fears that the title of the A-side might be too risqué. "Daydream Believer" was instead switched to the A-side, with "Goin' Down" placed on the B-side.

Track listing

Original 1967 Colgems vinyl issue

;Side 1
;Side 2

Aborted track listing

The original track lineup for the album, compiled on October 9, 1967, included the following songs:
;Side 1
  1. "Special Announcement"
  2. "She Hangs Out"
  3. "Salesman"
  4. "Cuddly Toy"
  5. "Words"
  6. "Don't Call on Me"
  7. "Goin' Down"
;Side 2
  1. "The Door Into Summer"
  2. "Hard to Believe"
  3. "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?"
  4. "Daily Nightly"
  5. "Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"
  6. "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
  7. "Star Collector"

    1995 Rhino CD reissue

Tracks 1–13: Original album in stereo

1996 Sundazed vinyl reissue

;Disc one
Tracks 1–13: Original album in stereo
;Disc two
Tracks 1–13: Original album in mono

Session information

"Salesman"
"She Hangs Out"
"The Door into Summer"
"Love Is Only Sleeping"
"Cuddly Toy"
"Words"
"Hard To Believe"
"What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?"
"Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky"
"Pleasant Valley Sunday"
"Daily Nightly"
"Don't Call on Me"
"Star Collector"
"Special Announcement"
"Goin' Down"
Salesman
"The Door Into Summer"
"Love Is Only Sleeping"
"Daily Nightly"
"Star Collector"

Album

Single

Certifications