Category: Lester Sill

The Monkees with Don Kirshner, Boyce & Hart, and Lester Sill

9/9/2018

In the photograph below, The Monkees pose with Don Kirshner, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and Lester Sill during filming of the first season of The Monkees television series:

2 Comments

'Magnetic South' LP

7/1/2016

7 Comments

Magnetic South was the first solo album released by Michael Nesmith after his departure from The Monkees. Arriving in June 1970, the LP featured The First National Band: Red Rhodes (pedal steel), John Ware (drums), and John London (bass). It was the first in a trilogy of albums by the group, containing brand new material along with many songs that were recorded during the Monkees era but ultimately passed over for release on Monkees albums. Tracks like "Calico Girlfriend," "Nine Times Blue," "Little Red Rider," and "Hollywood" were re-recorded and reinterpreted during sessions for Magnetic South.

The first single, "Little Red Rider," failed to chart, but "Joanne" became a hit, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite this success, Magnetic South would only reach #143 on the Billboard Top LPs chart.

Loose Salute followed in late 1970, and the trilogy was completed with Nevada Fighter in 1971.

Michael Nesmith Magnetic South back cover

(Click to enlarge)

Note the dedications made by Nez on the back cover: to his fellow Monkees, Lester Sill, Bert Schneider, Jack Nicholson, and Mimi. The "Tomorrow Man" is thought to be a sly reference to Don Kirshner, who was producing a group named Toomorrow at the time (which featured Olivia Newton-John as one of its members).

Last year, Monkees fans voted Magnetic South as their favorite Nesmith solo album.

As always, thanks a lot to Ben Belmares for providing the front and back cover images, along with the labels, that are seen above!

7 Comments

Lester Sill Takes Over for Don Kirshner

6/25/2016

0 Comments

This article concerning the power struggle between The Monkees and Don Kirshner most likely comes from a trade magazine (probably Billboard) in early 1967.

0 Comments

Micky and Lester Sill

9/14/2015

0 Comments

(From the March 1969 issue of Monkees Monthly)

There's more about Lester in the archives of the Live Almanac's blog, including an insightful interview with him conducted by the Headquarters radio show in 1988.

0 Comments

"Why The Monkees Work So Hard For You"

4/9/2015

0 Comments

(From the April 1968 issue of Flip magazine)

0 Comments

Letters from Davy's archives

9/5/2014

0 Comments

Check out these two letters published in Davy's 1987 autobiography, They Made a Monkee Out of Me. The first is from Bert Schneider to Lester Sill and shows Schneider's concerns about royalties The Monkees will receive from sales of their records (along with his concerns about then recent recording sessions conducted by Boyce & Hart - perhaps referencing material like "Kicking Stones" and "Ladies Aid Society"???). The second letter is addressed to Ward Sylvester (sender unknown) and concerns the 'controversy' over the title of the song "Randy Scouse Git," which was being prepped for single release in England in 1967.

(Click to enlarge)

0 Comments

Peter in the studio with Lester Sill

4/25/2014

0 Comments

Leter Sill was the original music coordinator for The Monkees, overseeing the recording process under the helm of Don Kirshner. When Kirshner was sacked in early 1967, Sill took over as musical supervisor. He later became president of Colgems Records.

(From the April 1968 issue of Flip)

0 Comments

Lester Sill recalls his years with The Monkees

4/22/2014

0 Comments

Longtime record executive Lester Sill was involved with the Monkees project from the very start. In the early days, Sill was the music coordinator for the group, overseeing the recording process under the helm of Don Kirshner. When Kirshner was sacked in early 1967, Sill took over as musical supervisor. He later became president of Colgems Records.

In this frank two part interview that originally aired in July and August 1988 on the Headquarters radio show, Sill discusses many topics, including how he got started in the music business, the Beverly Hills Hotel incident, The Monkees as musicians, his impressions of Michael, Peter's recording techniques for "Lady's Baby," traveling and recording during the 1967 summer tour, the Head soundtrack mylar cover, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, his regret on releasing "D.W. Washburn" as a single in 1968, and much more.

(Both episodes also contain some unique audio, too, including "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" from the Mobile, Alabama '67 bootleg, Davy performing in Japan in the early '80s, live material from the 1987 US tour, etc.)