Last October, fans pushed The Monkees over the top when the vinyl-only label Run Out Groove placed the group's 1966 debut album in the running to be pressed as an expanded deluxe edition double LP featuring previously unreleased songs and mixes. Though that release (in both yellow and black vinyl) has been delayed until July 9, Monkees enthusiasts now have the opportunity to vote once again, this time for the group's #1 multi-platinum sophomore album, More of the Monkees, to also be issued as an expanded 2-LP set.

Run Out Groove has provided more details about this proposed release, including a track listing:

The Monkees have some competition for Run Out Groove's next project, so be sure to cast your vote by July 18:

​Peter Mills is the author of the exceptional 2016 book, The Monkees, Head, and the '60s, and a friend of the Live Almanac. A while back, Peter relayed that he had to leave an abundance of material for his book on the cutting room floor, including an examination of Michael Nesmith's work with Ian Matthews in the early 1970s.

And now, Peter is sharing more of his shelved research, this time focusing on one of The Monkees' most iconic songs, "Goin' Down." Enjoy Peter's essay, linked below:

With the recent release of Dolenz sings Nesmith and the announcement of a Monkees Farewell tour in May, Zilch host extraordinaire Ken Mills welcomes back Andrew Sandoval as he talks about the tour and Micky's new solo album, as well as his upcoming book, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story, and much, much more.

​"We have a lot to celebrate right now," Andrew said.

​Indeed.

Back in February, Monkees fans received the news they had long been anticipating: Andrew Sandoval officially announced the brand new edition of his groundbreaking book on the group, The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story. Now set to ship in August, Andrew's original work has been thoroughly rewritten, redesigned, and expanded to an incredible 740 pages!

Andrew initially asked customers to reserve a copy of the book which acted as an intention to order. Now the time has come to formally pre-order and provide payment. The deadline for pre-orders is June 30, 2021.

​Remember that the various editions of Day-By-Day will be produced in limited combined quantities (2,000 total to be exact). There is no plan to keep this book in print perpetually and an electronic version will not be offered.

Andrew has provided a detailed update on Facebook,  including why the release date was pushed back, a breakdown on shipping options, and much more. You can read his message below and also watch a brand new video that provides a sneak peek inside the book.

Happy ordering!

 The good news is The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story is in production after last minute additions and polishing. It is now 740 pages! For those who reserved the super deluxe edition, the supplement has swelled to 40 pages – it really looks great! You can see samples of the 3 different editions of the book at Beatland Books  – I will try and upload some further videos later in the weekend.

The increased size means that all of the costs of the book went up, but I will of course honor the original prices if you pre-order your book between now and June 30th. Now the not so great news: although production is on schedule to be completed in June as promised, the books will not arrive at the Port of Long Beach (where they filmed Head in April 1968) until July and the printer is estimating it may take a full 3 or 4 weeks for the container to make a short trek to the nearby shipping center. This is due to increased traffic in the port since the pandemic. That means late July or early August shipping for the preorders.

Many people have written and wondered why they would need to preorder if they already reserved a book. The fact of the matter is that no one has actually paid for their books yet (that is except for me)! So, if you are sincere about buying a book, the store is now open. We will keep track of all orders and anyone who doesn’t pre-order will lose their reservation on June 30th. You may chose to wait to order if any stock is left on the books, but the prices will go up $25 on each edition (to reflect my increased production costs). I am only making 2,000 books and will suspend all sales in September when I focus fully on producing the Monkees’ tour. This is it! I have no plans to keep the book in print – I will NOT be doing a digital version. It is a limited edition collector’s book that should retain its value.

My team and I actually took extra time with not only the contents of the book, but also how it would ship to you. This book will be shipped by a professional facility and not by me personally. Because of the physical size of the book, shipping outside of the United States is quite expensive. I was in shock when I first saw the rates and went the extra mile to get better prices wherever I could, but I do not set the rates of shipping or fuel or control the universe. I know!

These are the simple facts:

740 page Flexibound Open Edition weighs 11 pounds – boxed 14x10x3.5 inches

740 page signed & numbered Deluxe Edition in a Slip Cover weighs 13 pounds – boxed 14.5x10x3.5 inches
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740 page signed & numbered Super Deluxe Edition with extra 40 page booklet weighs 16 pounds – boxed 15.5x11x4.5 inches

You may now turn your reservation into a preorder at our shop. This is the only way to guarantee you will get one of the 2,000 books being produced. Note: If you do not act on your reservation by June 30, 2021 it will be considered abandoned. If you wish to change your order or quantity at this time, you may do it in your pre-order. If you signed up for our waitlist, you may also preorder now and we will take you off of the waitlist.

Because so many people changed their reservations and made excessive multiple reservations, we are not sending out individual invoices. Pick what you want from the shop and we will consider your reservation fulfilled. If you do not preorder a book by June 30th we will know you do not wish to keep your reservation and we will release more books for preorder.

How much do the books cost? Preorder prices are $75 for the flexibound/$175 for the Deluxe in Slipcover/$225 for Super Deluxe in clamshell case with additional 40-page book. Shipping and tax are calculated once you place the book(s) in your cart.

We do not offer combined shipping; each book comes individually boxed and with Priority mail on the Flexibound and Deluxe, we found the Medium flat rate box was the best option, but it only allowed one book per box. There is no other flat rate box that fits this book and no flat rate box that fits the Super Deluxe. Media Mail is also an option in the United States.

I think you will love the book! I showed the samples to Michael & Micky and they were both shocked at the size and price (they each told me I didn’t charge enough - lol)! Looking forward to you having your book – let the preorders begin - visit Beatland Books.

This Friday, Dolenz sings Nesmith, the highly anticipated new release from 7a Records, will be available worldwide on CD, vinyl, and as a digital download. The album features Micky Dolenz reimagining select tracks from the songbook of his longtime friend and bandmate, Michael Nesmith. Pre-orders are now available, and be sure to take advantage of the great prices being offered by Import CDs.

Collected below are recent articles and interviews with Micky about this long-simmering project, along with some early (and glowing) reviews!

Micky Dolenz Sings Choice Cuts from the Michael Nesmith Songbook (Insite Atlanta)

​Monkee Do! (Parade)

The Monkees' Micky Dolenz enjoying grandpa life, making solo LP (RIFF)

Micky Dolenz: Too Much Monkee Business (Mojo)

Micky Dolenz on the Monkees' Farewell Tour, New LP 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' (Rolling Stone)

Micky Dolenz Previews the Final Monkees Tour (Billboard)

Micky Dolenz Finally Gets His Wish; Singing Michael Nesmith Songs on New Album (New York Independent)

Micky Dolenz's new album a prelude to Monkees farewell tour kickoff in Spokane (Yahoo News)

​Micky Dolenz On The Music Of Mike Nesmith And The Earliest Days Of The Monkees (Forbes)

Micky Dolenz on Why the Monkees Are Doing a Farewell Tour and His New 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' Album (Variety)

​'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' debuts on iTunes chart (7a Records Facebook)

Monkee Time: Micky Dolenz Album of Mike Nesmith Songs Unexpectedly Sells Out at Amazon, Reorders Coming (Showbiz 411)

"Breakfast With The Beatles" with special guest Micky Dolenz (KLOS-FM)

Interview with Christian Nesmith, producer of 'Dolenz sings Nesmith' (The Rhino Podcast)

Micky Dolenz sings the songs of Monkees bandmate Michael Nesmith in latest solo album (Cleveland.com)

Micky Dolenz Sings Melodic Gold on 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' (NYNJ.com)

Interview with Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (Life of Brian podcast)

Andrew Sandoval and Micky Dolenz From The Monkees Talk New Album "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" (Music Vibes with DC Hendrix podcast)

The great Micky Dolenz talks "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" (The Rhino Podcast)

I’m Still Standing: Micky Dolenz on 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith,' the Monkees Farewell Tour & More (Rock Cellar)

Micky Dolenz makes the old sound new with 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' (RIFF)

 Monkees singer/drummer covers cohort's back pages on first solo LP in nine years (Mojo)

Micky Dolenz of The Monkees releases amazing album 'Dolenz Sings Nesmith' (Digital Journal)

 Dolenz Sings Nesmith (The Suburban)

An Unexpected Career Highlight – "Dolenz Sings Nesmith" by Micky Dolenz Surpasses All Expectations And Gives 7a Records Its Crown Jewel (Records, CDs and Music)

Micky Dolenz album instills Monkee Mike Nesmith's songs with new relevance in age of Covid-19 (New York Independent)

"Dolenz Sings Nesmith" - Monkees Business Brings Mick Back on the Road (The Beat)

And if that's not enough to get you excited about the album, a pre-release party was held this past weekend on Zoom where hosts Tim Powers and Jodi Ritzen welcomed 7a's Glenn Gretlund, Christian Nesmith (who produced the album), Circe Link, Andrew Sandoval, and Micky himself! Check out the entire session below, which also features samples from each track on Dolenz sings Nesmith.

UPDATE 6/7/2021: More great news about Dolenz sings Nesmith from 7a Records:

UPDATE 5/18/2021: Courtesy of Videoranch, here's another review of Different Drum, this time from Record Collector:

The Monkees' kicked off their 1969 concert tour, the first as a trio after Peter Tork left the group in late 1968, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, BC, Canada on March 29, 1969. These photos of Davy, Michael, and Micky are courtesy of Photos by Vlad:

In what surely will be a bittersweet moment for many fans, The Monkees Tour Facebook page has just posted the news that Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz will conduct a "Monkees Farewell Tour" beginning in September 2021, capping a storied career while also marking five and a half decades of Monkeemania.

Opening night of Michael and Micky's final curtain call will occur in Spokane on September 10, two days shy of the 55th anniversary of the debut of The Monkees television show on NBC. The tour is currently slated to visit 43 cities and will conclude in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre on November 14, site of several triumphant Monkees concerts since the 1980s. 

Nesmith and Dolenz last toured in 2019 and were scheduled to return to the road in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in multiple postponements. The list of "Farewell" dates include some of the shows originally planned for that tour.

The official press release and a confirmed list of concert dates appear below. Tickets and VIP packages for select stops on "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are currently available, while most others go on sale on Friday, May 7.

Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees will embark on their farewell tour in September 2021. Commemorating 55 years of Monkeemania, the tour will embrace major markets in North America through the fall, launching on September 10 in Spokane and ending back where it all began in Los Angeles at The Greek Theatre on November 14. Their critically acclaimed concerts feature the voice of Dolenz (who sang The Monkees' biggest hits: "I'm A Believer," "Last Train To Clarksville," "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Steppin' Stone") and the group’s primary songwriter, Nesmith (who wrote such classics as "Mary, Mary," "Papa Gene's Blues," "You Just May Be The One" and "Listen To The Band," to name but a few).

Tickets and VIP packages for some dates of "The Monkees Farewell Tour" are on sale now, with more going on sale later this week. Most shows will NOT have VIP Soundchecks, and the presale code is FRODIS. (Update: VIP Soundchecks will be occurring only at the postponed 2020 dates.)

"The Monkees Farewell Tour" will feature songs that span the band's entire career – from their 1966 self-titled debut album to 2016's Good Times! Their most recent release, The Monkees – The Mike & Micky Show Live, was issued in April 2020 and became their 17th Billboard charting album release. In addition to their hits, their farewell shows will spotlight songs featured on their Emmy-winning TV series ("The Girl I Knew Somewhere," "You Told Me," "Randy Scouse Git," "Goin' Down" and "For Pete's Sake") as well as music from their feature film Head ("Circle Sky" and "As We Go Along"). Plus some rarely performed deep cuts (such as "Auntie's Municipal Court") and tracks from their most-recent studio album, 2016’s Good Times! ("Me & Magdalena" and "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster").
​
This farewell tour will mark the end of a unique project that began in 1965 when four young men were cast in a television show about a struggling rock band that was inspired by The Beatles' A Hard Day’s Night. Few could have predicted the impact The Monkees would have on music and pop culture at large, one that still reverberates more than 50 years later.

​The Monkees are photographed below during a break in filming "It's a Nice Place to Visit," which ultimately became the first episode of the second season of their Emmy award-winning television show.

This week, fans will get a preview of Micky Dolenz's forthcoming solo album when "Different Drum"/"Propinquity" debuts as the lead single from Dolenz sings Nesmith, a collection featuring Micky singing the songs of Michael Nesmith.

​While you wait for this Friday's single release, take a listen to the latest episode of Zilch where Glenn Gretlund of 7a Records is joined by the album's producer, Christian Nesmith, and the two chronicle the project with host Ken Mills, along with exclusive track samples to boot!

Adam Schlesinger, who produced The Monkees' 2016 album Good Times! and Christmas Party (2018), passed away on April 1, 2020 at age 52 from complications of COVID-19.

Adam was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who was a member of the bands Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, along with the supergroup Tinted Windows, whose song "This Is The Day" was featured in There's Something About Mary. His notable achievements also included TV and film songwriting, which stretched from That Thing You Do to Music and Lyrics to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Fountains of Wayne was perhaps best known for the early 2000s hit single "Stacy's Mom," which was nominated for a Grammy. 

​Adam will be celebrated by a virtual concert show that will stream live at 8 p.m. ET on May 5, 2021 with all ticket proceeds benefitting MusiCares and The Bowery Electric, the Manhattan venue that recently reopened and where portions of the concert were filmed​. Micky Dolenz is one of many special guest performers, which also include Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Sean Ono Lennon, Courtney Love, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze), Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Drew Carey, Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5), and Adam's Fountains of Wayne bandmate Jody Porter, who spearheaded this tribute concert.

You can purchase your ticket to the virtual show now and read more about this special event below:

Last month The Monkees Pad video podcast debuted and was a resounding success, welcoming its first-ever guest, Monkees historian and author Andrew Sandoval. Now host Joe Russo has returned in Episode 2, featuring none other than Chip Douglas!

​Long revered by Monkees fans, Douglas acted as producer of two of the group's most acclaimed albums, Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., along with some of their best single sides, including "Daydream Believer," "Goin' Down," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "Words," and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere." Joe's brand new interview is all the more special since Chip has granted relatively few interviews in recent years. Highlights include an inside look at the recording sessions for Headquarters, original video, plus an exclusive airing of an unreleased vintage Davy Jones recording, "Bright Sunny Day."

​Listeners can look forward to a "Part 2" of the interview where Chip discusses his work on the Pisces album and much more. For now, enjoy Joe's conversation with Chip Douglas below, and don't forget to follow The Monkees Pad podcast on Facebook. You can also read more about Chip in the archives of The Monkees Live Almanac.

By the time The Monkees' fifth million-seller album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees was issued by Colgems in April 1968, stereo had become the preferred listening experience and albums issued in mono were quickly being phased out of production. As a result, the mono mix of the Birds album was extremely limited in quantity and today is a highly, highly sought-after collectible due to its exclusive mixes and all around unique listening experience. The mono mix of The Monkees' eclectic 1968 LP was finally issued on compact disc in 2010 as part of Rhino's 3-CD deluxe edition.

To delve further into the uniqueness of the mono mix of The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees, check out this recent episode of Mixology: The Mono/Stereo Mix Differences Podcast hosted by Frederick James French-Pounce:

​In the summer of 1987, Rhino Records delighted Monkees fans when it delivered Missing Links, the first album to officially assemble unreleased Monkees songs long stored away in the vaults at RCA. Except for "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" and "If You Have the Time," both of which had been aired on the Saturday morning repeats in the early 1970s, and "Nine Times Blue," performed live by Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, and Davy Jones on The Johnny Cash Show in 1969, the remainder of the tracks were largely unheard (though some had floated around previously on bootlegs). Missing Links also featured what at the time was widely considered The Monkees' most famous lost song, "All of Your Toys," recorded during the Headquarters era and later shelved because of a publishing dispute. Initially available on LP and cassette, the collection was expanded in compact disc form in December 1988 with bonus tracks.

Two more Missing Links volumes followed: Volume Two arrived in 1990 and Volume Three in 1996. Volume Two, issued on cassette and compact disc only, included more previously unreleased tracks as well as versions of songs originally heard only on The Monkees TV show that were ultimately re-recorded by The Monkees under their creative control (the first recorded takes of "You Just May Be The One," "Valleri," and "Words," to name a few). Volume Three, available on CD only, continued this same approach of unreleased material and alternate versions. Bill Inglot and Andrew Sandoval's deep dive of the vaults that resulted in these finely crafted collections remain fan favorites.

​All these years later, the original Missing Links trilogy is now slated to make a comeback for an exclusive, limited edition release on July 17 as part of a pandemic-adjusted Record Store Day 2021. Friday Music, which has previously tackled various Monkees reissues, announced today that all three Missing Links albums will be available on 180 gram audiophile vinyl in multiple color variations, limited to 2,000 copies for each volume. Of note, Volume 1 will contain the CD bonus tracks that were not part of the original vinyl and Volume 2 will feature the CD bonus tracks not found on the original cassette. This release also marks the premiere appearance of the second and third Missing Links installments on vinyl. Notably, the original cover of Volume 2 has been altered.

Record Store Day was founded in 2007 and has become an annual tradition. With a stated purpose of celebrating the culture of the independently owned record store, bands and labels will press unique items that are distributed exclusively to shops participating in the event. Thanks to Rhino Records, The Monkees have had several Record Store Day releases, all of which are collected in the archives of The Monkees Live Almanac. ​Be sure to search a list of this year's participating stores where you can pick up your selections, but be aware that the color of the vinyl inside your Missing Links copy will be a surprise.

Micky Dolenz will make his first large-scale public appearance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 when he appears at Steel City Con outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this June. For more details and to purchase tickets, click the link below:

"The Girl I Knew Somewhere" has long been considered one of the most significant songs in The Monkees' canon. It was first attempted at RCA Hollywood on January 16, 1967, a significant day in Monkees history as it marked their first true "group" recording session and helped fuel an already bourgeoning internal power struggle between The Monkees and Don Kirshner.

Written by Michael Nesmith, and featuring Peter Tork's whimsical harpsichord performance, the song went through different iterations in the recording studio, including lead vocals from both Nesmith and Micky Dolenz. On its own merits, it reached the Billboard Top 40 as the flipside of "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" and was featured prominently on The Monkees' television show.

Check out this recent piece by Stephen Lewis where he examines what is probably the Live Almanac's favorite Monkees song, and enjoy a few different versions of "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" in the videos below!

(Master backing track)

Monkee Mania Radio is coming to Live365!

Earlier this week, a Kickstarter campaign was announced to help fund the first-ever Monkees internet radio station with an initial goal of raising $5,000. Pledges to the campaign are necessary to cover costly licensing fees and other startup-related expenses, all in an effort to create a channel dedicated to the music of The Monkees, their solo careers, related programming, and much more.  

Launched in 1999, Live365 is an internet radio broadcasting and listening network where users are able to create their own online radio stations. You can listen to Live365 channels on your phone or computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mobile apps for the station are available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Monkee Mania Radio hopes to begin webcasting on the first day of summer, June 21, or even earlier. And there's still time to donate to the Kickstarter campaign! 

Congratulations to Alan Williams, Jodi Ritzen, Scott Catton, Charles Rosenay, and Marty Ross as they embark on this exciting new endeavor for the Monkees community!