Micky's early 1970s singles, originally released on the MGM label, were collected for the first time ever in 2015 courtesy of Iain Lee and Glenn Gretlund of 7a Records, both longtime Monkees fans and co-producers of Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection.

The set, originally available as a gatefold vinyl and digital download but later released on compact disc, featured the A and B-sides of Micky's tenure at MGM as well as his collaboration with Michael Lloyd (Starship) that yielded the 1972 single "Johnny B. Goode"/"It's Amazing to Me." The CD version contained a plethora of bonus tracks, including Micky's late '70s/early '80s singles and collaborations with Christian Nesmith and Circe Link.

Micky placed his stamp of approval on the project, and conducted several interviews in support of it. "It's really a great package," Dolenz told Examiner.com. "Over the years, I've had versions of those songs, one on a tape here, on a disc here, on a demo here," he said. "It's nice to have them all in one package."

The MGM Singles Collection is a stellar release that is highly recommended by the Live Almanac. Bolstered by the photography of Henry Diltz and superb liner notes (by Mark Kleiner Biggar) and mastering, the set is available on Amazon US and Amazon UK and is also downloadable on iTunes. You can take a look inside the compact disc package below, thanks to Ben Belmares, and read more about Micky's career at MGM in the archives of the Live Almanac. 

Pre-order via Amazon US and Amazon UK

Last summer, 7a Records released the very first official collection of Micky Dolenz's early 1970s singles on vinyl and later as a digital download. And now here's an exclusive look at their next project - The MGM Collection on compact disc, along with a plethora of bonus tracks! Look for it this October, and you can pre-order via Amazon US and Amazon UK.
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​Thanks a lot to Iain Lee of 7a for passing along the press release to the Live Almanac.

A few notes on the bonus tracks:

In 1979, Chrysalis Records in the UK released "Love Light"/"Alicia" as a single there. According to The Monkees: A Manufactured Image, the first 1,000 copies were pressed with a picture sleeve. The B-side is a Dolenz original.

Micky toured Japan in January 1982. The Monkees had experienced a massive revival there when "Daydream Believer" was used in a television commercial in 1980. "To Be Or Not To Be" was released as a single in Japan to coincide with the tour, and was backed by Micky's own "Beverly Hills."

Earlier this year, two long lost Dolenz solo tracks, "Chance of a Lifetime" and "Livin' On Lies," were issued as a 7" vinyl single on Record Store Day exclusively in the UK. A limited edition release in the US quickly followed.

"Porpoise Song," "Good Morning Good Morning," "Crying in the Rain," and "Randy Scouse Git" were performed by Micky, Christian Nesmith, Circe Link, and company during a special 2015 online concert event. A limited edition vinyl EP arrived in July.

Read more about Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection in the Live Almanac's archives

Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval's work on Robin Gibb, Saved by the Bell: The Collected Works 1968-1970 was also acknowledged.

​Micky's early 1970s singles, originally released on the MGM label, were recently collected for the first time ever courtesy of Iain Lee and Glenn Gretlund of 7a Records, both longtime Monkees fans and co-producers of Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection.

Released in the summer of 2015, the set (made available as a gatefold vinyl and digital download) featured the A and B-sides of Micky's tenure at MGM, including his collaboration with Michael Lloyd, dubbed Starship, that yielded the 1972 single "Johnny B. Goode"/"It's Amazing to Me." Micky placed his stamp of approval on the project, and conducted several interviews in support of it. "It's really a great package," Micky told Examiner.com. "Over the years, I've had versions of those songs, one on a tape here, on a disc here, on a demo here," he said. "It's nice to have them all in one package."

Despite the lack of chart success for Micky's output during this era, the tracks are remarkably diverse and have stood the test of time. In the most recent Live Almanac poll, fans were asked to choose their two favorite songs from the collection, and "Oh Someone" took top honors. Written by Monkees associate (and Davy's stand-in on the TV show) David Price, the song is notable as the first collaboration between Micky and Peter since Peter left The Monkees in late 1968. Coincidentally, "Oh Someone" came together after a chance encounter Price had with Peter in 1971. The superb liner notes of the MGM Singles Collection, written by Mark Kleiner Biggar, elaborated on the meeting. "I was walking down the street in Hollywood when I looked up and there was Peter," said Price. "We hadn't seen each other in a while, and he said, 'I'm recording up at Micky's; why don't you come up?'" The song took a few hours to record, and featured Price on rhythm guitar, Peter on bass, and Micky behind the drums. A scorching lead guitar part by Price's friend B.J. Jones finished off the proceedings.

"Daybreak" was composed by Micky's close friend, Harry Nilsson. Nilsson, of course, had contributed "Cuddly Toy" and "Daddy's Song" to The Monkees years before, and both he and Micky were members of the infamous late night Los Angeles party group The Hollywood Vampires in the early 1970s. "Daybreak" featured former Monkees producer Chip Douglas on bass, who also compiled a video for the song that ultimately was not circulated at the time of the single's release in 1973. It surfaced on YouTube this past summer via Iain Lee as a promotional vehicle for the MGM Singles Collection. 

You can order Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection on a couple of different formats. The gatefold vinyl LP is available on Amazon UK and via Amazon in the United States. The vinyl is also for sale (at a great price) through online retailer Ernie B's. You can also download it digitally on both Amazon and iTunes, with bonus tracks. And even better news, the MGM Singles Collection is slated for release on compact disc in the future!

The latest project from 7a Records showcases Bobby Hart's first solo album, which is also now available.

Micky's early 1970s singles, originally released on the MGM label, have been collected for the first time ever courtesy of Iain Lee and Glenn Gretlund, longtime Monkees fans and co-producers of Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection. You can order this release on a couple of different formats. A vinyl LP set is available on Amazon UK and via Amazon in the United States. The vinyl is also for sale through online retailer Ernie B's. And now, the collection is ready for download on both Amazon and iTunes, with bonus tracks!
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To top off everything, the extremely informative liner notes for the MGM Singles Collection (written by Mark Kleiner Biggar) features rare and previously unseen photographs from iconic rock and Monkees photographer, Henry Diltz. The liner notes are worth the price alone.

The Monkees Live Almanac is proud to endorse this release. Be sure to check it out!

The set will arrive on iTunes shortly!

Here's the latest from Iain Lee and 7a Records, which was posted on Facebook earlier today:

For years, Monkees fans have clamored for compilations highlighting the solo efforts of Micky, Davy, Michael, and Peter. Outside the readily available works of Michael Nesmith, and the reissue of Davy's albums from 1965 and 1971, little else can be found on the marketplace.

But now, Micky's early 1970s singles originally released on the MGM label are being collected for the first time ever. You can order Micky Dolenz: The MGM Singles Collection, a vinyl LP set, on Amazon UK and via Amazon in the United States. It's also available through online retailer Ernie B's, at a much better price. (A digital release is planned for a later date.)

A big thanks goes to both Iain Lee and Glenn Gretlund, co-producers of the MGM Singles Collection, for single-handedly making this project become a reality. To top off everything, the set features rare and previously unseen photographs from iconic rock and Monkees photographer, Henry Diltz.

Iain was kind enough to share with me the expertly crafted liner notes, written by Mark Kleiner Biggar, which are highly informative. And don't forget, Iain conducted an exclusive interview with Micky that appears in the gatefold. 

In the meantime, check out this footage from Iain, who recently posted a video unveiling the package.

Here's the description of the video from YouTube: