Category: Photos 1970s

Article examines Michael Nesmith's influence on the development of MTV

8/7/2021

Michael Nesmith in 1977

In 1977 Michael Nesmith enjoyed a moderate worldwide hit with "Rio," the lead-off track from his eighth post-Monkees album, From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing. During this period, Nez produced a promotional video for the song with director William Dear. That experience helped spur Michael's creation of the first music video television program, PopClips, which originally aired on the Nickelodeon cable network. In 1980, PopClips was sold to Warner/Amex Satellite Entertainment Company, who ultimately developed PopClips into MTV.

After leaving The Monkees in 1970, Michael's interest in production later resulted in the formation of his own corporation in 1974, Pacific Arts, to manage and develop various media projects. In the post-PopClips era, Nez released Elephant Parts on VHS and Betamax, a collection of comedy skits and music videos that won the first-ever Grammy Award for Music Video in 1981. Later in 1985, Television Parts, a comedy-variety series featuring Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Shandling, and many others debuted on NBC. Both productions were hosted and produced by Nesmith. Pacific Arts continued to flourish and by the late 1980s had become a leader in the burgeoning home video market.

As MTV celebrates its 40th anniversary this week, take a look back at the history of the channel and Michael's influence:

On MTV’s Fortieth Anniversary, Don’t Forget to Thank Michael Nesmith

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Rare 1979 Dolenz single debuts on streaming and digital platforms

2/15/2020

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In 1979, Micky Dolenz partnered with Chrysalis Records to release "Love Light"/"Alicia" as a single in the United Kingdom. According to The Monkees: A Manufactured Image, the first 1,000 copies were pressed with a picture sleeve, and the B-side happens to be a Dolenz original. Both songs were featured on the 7a Records CD edition of Micky Dolenz - The MGM Singles Collection, and they are now available to stream or download on most major media platforms:

Spotify / Amazon / iTunes

(Courtesy of Monkee45s.net)

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The Bitter Southerner speaks with Michael Nesmith

9/20/2019

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The Southern Monkee

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"Micky Dolenz: The MGM Singles Collection" on compact disc

1/11/2019

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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.

Gatefold Sleeve

Liner Notes by Mark Kleiner Biggar

(Click on liner notes to enlarge)

Updated Liner Notes for Compact Disc Release by 7a co-owner Glenn Gretlund

The Compact Disc

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Micky and Davy in the 1970s

9/9/2018

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Thanks to Written In Our Hearts on Facebook for sharing this photo of Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones taken circa 1976 or 1977:

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The First National Band live in 1970

8/5/2018

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Sing with Micky and Coco Dolenz for charity

7/13/2018

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Dates, Venues, and Ticket Information at Jodi Ritzen's Monkees Meet & Greets

(From the program for Micky's 1982 tour of Japan)

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Nez with The First National Band

5/12/2018

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L to R: John London, Red Rhodes, Michael Nesmith, and John Ware in 1970 (Photo courtesy of Ultimate Classic Rock)

(L to R: John Ware, John London, Red Rhodes, and Michael Nesmith in 1970)

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Michael Nesmith & The First National Band: "Nevada Fighter"/"Tantamount To Treason" compact disc

3/23/2018

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In 2000, after issuing Michael Nesmith & The First National Band's first two RCA albums on compact disc, BMG/Camden continued to highlight Michael's solo career when they released both Nevada Fighter and Tantamount To Treason as a two-in-one CD package:

Michael Nesmith Nevada Fighter Tantamount CD

(Front cover of booklet)

Liner notes (Click each image to enlarge)

Michael Nesmith 1970 First National Band

(Back cover of the CD booklet)

(Back of the compact disc)

The BMG/Camden reissues of Michael's RCA albums are readily available on Amazon:

Magnetic South / Loose Salute

Nevada Fighter / Tantamount to Treason

And the Hits Just Keep on Comin' / Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash

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Michael Nesmith & The First National Band: "Magnetic South"/"Loose Salute" compact disc

2/17/2018

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Ever since Michael Nesmith reconstituted the First National Band for a series of exclusive concerts last month, I have received many inquiries asking where to find the music of the First National Band, and in particular, which releases were best to seek out. For my money, the late 1990s/early 2000s compact discs by BMG/Camden are the superior representations of Michael's RCA work. The label released the albums as two-in-one reissues. Below are scans of the Magnetic South/Loose Salute CD from 1999.