Category: Elephant Parts

Videoranch alerts fans to upcoming re-release of "Elephant Parts"

3/9/2018

(Image courtesy of Videoranch)

Elephant Parts is a collection of comedy skits and music videos made in 1981 by Michael Nesmith. Nez produced and distributed the one hour long video through his company Pacific Arts. In 1982, Michael was the first to be awarded a Grammy for Video of the Year for Elephant Parts. The award was reserved for "video cassettes or discs in any format created specifically for the home video market."

Videoranch announced on Facebook today that Elephant Parts will soon be restocked featuring a new digital video transfer from the master tapes, along with new bonus features. Videoranch is taking a poll on Facebook asking fans which format is preferred: DVD or Blu-ray. Take a minute to vote in the poll below!

2 Comments

Michael's audio and video career highlighted on official YouTube channel

11/19/2017

0 Comments

Michael Nesmith's Videoranch on YouTube

0 Comments

"Elephant Parts" DVD with Nez commentary now available from Videoranch

8/28/2016

0 Comments

UPDATE 8/30/2016:

0 Comments

A Farewell to Bill Martin

1/28/2016

19 Comments

Bill Martin, an extended member of the Monkees family, has passed away. Martin was a musician, songwriter, screenwriter, comedic actor, and voice actor.

Brought into The Monkees' orbit by his friend Michael Nesmith, Martin's initial contribution to the group came in the form of "All of Your Toys," a song recorded in early 1967 during the very first sessions to feature The Monkees supporting themselves instrumentally in the recording studio. Unfortunately for Martin, Screen Gems was unable to acquire the rights to "All of Your Toys" from its original holder, Tickson Music, for which Martin worked. "All of Your Toys" remained unreleased until it was finally aired on the Missing Links compilation in 1987. After Martin eventually signed with Screen Gems, The Monkees recorded another of his compositions, "The Door Into Summer," which found a home on 1967's Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. album and stands today as one of the LP's finest cuts. Martin later collaborated on songs with an assortment of artists, including Harry Nilsson ("Rainmaker," covered by Michael on his third solo effort, Nevada Fighter), Dan Fogelberg, and The Turtles. He also performed with a variety of bands throughout his career, including playing keyboards for Linda Ronstadt.

In the early '80s, Bill appeared in Nesmith's Elephant Parts and then co-wrote the screenplay to the 1987 movie Harry and The Hendersons (with Steven Spielberg as executive producer). In 1997, he made a cameo appearance in The Monkees' ABC television special (as the refrigerator tour guide). Martin lent his voice to various animated series throughout the years, too, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and multiple Star Wars video games.

When The Monkees played in Seattle, Washington on their 2013 summer tour, Michael dedicated that evening's performance of "The Door Into Summer" to Bill.

In 1989, Martin was interviewed by Paris Stachtiaris and John Di Maio on the Headquarters radio program:

Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval took a moment to remember Bill Martin on Facebook:

"Davy Jones used to like to go around quoting his favorite Martinism: 'Hummus where the heart is.'
All four Monkees loved him..."

19 Comments

Parts of an Elephant

6/20/2015

0 Comments

(1996 Trading Cards)

This is one of my favorite scenes from Elephant Parts:

0 Comments

Nez talks gasoline prices in a clip from "Elephant Parts"

12/1/2014

1 Comment

Michael Nesmith profiled in Music Connection magazine

9/23/2013

0 Comments

A big thanks to Jeff Gehringer for submitting this September 1986 article to the Live Almanac! It covers a wide variety of topics, including the 1986 Monkees revival, Nez watching Micky, Davy, and Peter in concert from the audience in Texas that year, MTV, Elephant Parts, Television Parts, the video magazine Overview, as well as the movies Square Dance, Timerider, and Repo Man.

For easier reading, click on each image and then click on it again.

0 Comments

Michael Nesmith & Jack Nicholson

2/9/2013

0 Comments

Years after working together on the only Monkees feature film, Head, Michael is reunited with Jack Nicholson at a promotional event for Michael's Elephant Parts (circa 1981).

0 Comments

Nesmith Article Series #5

1/15/2013

0 Comments

Published on June 16, 1981, this article talks more about Elephant Parts, Popclips, and music videos.

For easier reading, click on the image to enlarge.

0 Comments

Nesmith Article Series #4

1/13/2013

0 Comments

The fourth in the series, this article was published in September 1981. A few sentences are missing here and there, but there is more discussion of Elephant Parts (and Popclips, which led to MTV) and the movie Lyle Swann, which eventually became Timerider.

For easier reading, click on the image to enlarge.

0 Comments

<<Previous

Videoranch alerts fans to upcoming re-release of "Elephant Parts"

Michael's audio and video career highlighted on official YouTube channel

"Elephant Parts" DVD with Nez commentary now available from Videoranch

A Farewell to Bill Martin

Parts of an Elephant

Nez talks gasoline prices in a clip from "Elephant Parts"

Michael Nesmith profiled in Music Connection magazine

Michael Nesmith & Jack Nicholson

Nesmith Article Series #5

Nesmith Article Series #4

Recap: Monkees Farewell Tour

Dolenz sings Nesmith

Blog Spotlight

Featured Page

Categories

Archives