Blog - Monkees Live Almanac

Sandoval analyzes Monkees' 1966-1967 musical era (UPDATED WITH PART 2)

3/21/2022

Listen to an engaging and spirited conversation with Monkees author and producer Andrew Sandoval as he joins hosts Joe Kennedy and Dave Gebroe on an episode of the Discograffiti podcast. The trio assess the recorded works of The Monkees beginning with their 1966 debut all the way through 1967's Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., and everything in between. And be sure to stay tuned for Part 2!

UPDATE 3/28/2022: Andrew Sandoval joins Joe and Dave to continue the saga of The Monkees, covering the years 1968 to the present:

Classic Monkees album arrives on colored vinyl as part of annual Rhino event

1/16/2022

Rhino's Start Your Ear Off Right campaign is back for 2022. Each Friday through this month Rhino is releasing limited edition vinyl titles, including The Monkees' fourth consecutive number one album, 1967's Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. Pressed on translucent green vinyl, it's available only at participating brick and mortar retail outlets, but can also be purchased through online vendors like Bull Moose.

Thank you to longtime Live Almanac contributor Ben Belmares for sharing his scans of the album!

Monkees Pisces Rhino green vinyl

(Click images above to enlarge)

Monkees Pisces green vinyl

Monkees Pisces vinyl translucent green vinyl

Preview another track from "The Mike & Micky Show Live"

3/20/2020

Earlier this month, a teaser from the upcoming concert album The Mike & Micky Show Live arrived when "Last Train to Clarksville" was issued on YouTube, as a digital download, and via streaming services. And now, a live version of "The Door Into Summer," a classic track from The Monkees' fourth album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., has been released on all platforms. You can watch video of the performance below!

The Mike & Micky Show Live will be issued on compact disc and via streaming and digital services on April 3. A 2-LP vinyl edition is slated for release on July 10. You can pre-order now! And don't forget, in most markets, every ticket purchased for Michael and Micky's summer tour, "An Evening With The Monkees," includes your choice of a CD or digital copy of The Mike & Micky Show Live.

Cash Box predicts success for Monkees' new single

12/22/2019

The July 15, 1967 issue of music industry trade magazine Cash Box featured an ad for The Monkees' double-sided smash single, "Pleasant Valley Sunday"/"Words":

Monkees Pleasant Valley Sunday

The Monkees photographed during filming of musical vignettes in 1967

4/13/2019

The Monkees 1967

Filming "Star Collector"

4/6/2019

Monkees 1967

The Monkees in "Pisces" silhouettes

2/15/2019

Monkees Pisces silhouette

(Original artwork by Bernard Yeszin / Above reinterpretation by Rob Silva)

Monkees fan celebrates wedding in style

1/19/2019

Congratulations to Renny Simno on getting married last evening, and take a look at the groom's cake!

Monkees cake

Japanese label reissues "Pisces" on compact disc

10/27/2018

Last week, the Japanese label Oldays Records reissued The Monkees' classic fourth album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. on compact disc with bonus tracks. Read more about this release and take a look inside the package at Monkee45s:

Japan CDs @ Monkee45s: "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd."

Monkees Pisces Old Days Japan compact disc

Filming the "Star Collector" video

4/21/2018

(Photo courtesy of eBay)

"Pisces" recording sessions with Davy & Micky

1/12/2018

Monkees recording studio

(From the January 1968 issue of Flip)

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Monkees' fourth album

11/15/2017

On November 14, 1967, Colgems Records issued Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.:

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd, the Monkees' Sgt. Pepper, Came Out 50 Years Ago

"What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?"

9/23/2017

(Screenshot courtesy of The Sunshine Factory)

The Monkees dedicate "The Door Into Summer" to Bill Martin

9/14/2017

A Farewell to Bill Martin

The "Salesman" romp

9/2/2017

Only a few seconds of video has ever surfaced for the clip filmed at Chicago's Fred Niles Studios (better known to Monkees fans as the Rainbow Room) for "Salesman," the lead-off track from The Monkees' fourth LP, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. Those shots, seen below, can be viewed in the second season episode "The Devil and Peter Tork."

I was hoping more footage had been unearthed for last year's Blu-ray set, but unfortunately, it seems nothing survives. The Rainbow Room sessions on August 2, 1967 were featured throughout many second season episodes, showcasing songs like "Randy Scouse Git," "Daydream Believer," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" and more.

Michael Nesmith sunglasses

Nez performing "Salesman" in the Rainbow Room

Peter Tork Guild bass Davy Jones maracas

Davy and Peter performing "Salesman" in the Rainbow Room (Screenshots courtesy of The Sunshine Factory)

"The Door Into Summer"

7/20/2017

Bill Martin's "The Door Into Summer" is one of many standout tracks on The Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. "The title came from the Robert Heinlein book The Door Into Summer, which was about time travel," Martin told Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval in the liner notes of the 1991 Listen to the Band box set. "The song is about the search for happiness, and is basically an anti-war song." Bill Martin also discussed the unique circumstances surrounding the recording of the song: "Micky tried singing it, and Mike tried it a couple of times also. They didn't like the echo at RCA, so they strung a mike from Studio A to the men's bathroom. Mike did his vocal in there to achieve the right effect."

Mike Nesmith bathroom recording

The photo above was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Carmel Magazine and was denoted as being from Michael's personal collection. It seemingly shows Nez recording the vocal for "The Door Into Summer" in the men's room as Martin had recollected. (Michael's appearance also seems to match the August/September/October 1967 time frame in which the song was recorded.) However, in speaking with Andrew Sandoval about the story behind the photo, he neither confirmed nor rejected the idea that it was taken during the "Door" session, saying it was from Michael's archive and that he was unable to officially confirm its veracity.

An alternate mono mix of the song was made available on the 2007 deluxe edition of the Pisces album, which some believe features the men's room vocal take:

"She Hangs Out" in the Rainbow Room

6/21/2017

(Screenshot courtesy of Sunshine Factory)

Melody Maker reviews "Pisces" LP

6/20/2017

Thanks a lot to Peter Mills for sharing this vintage review of The Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. And if you haven't already, make sure to check out Peter's excellent book, The Monkees, Head, and The '60s.

Peter during filming of video clips for the TV show

6/16/2017

The Monkees filmed two unique segments that were featured on various episodes during the second season, highlighting two key tracks from Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. - Daily Nightly" and "Star Collector."

Andrew Sandoval highlights the songs of Mann & Weil on today's "Come to the Sunshine" (UPDATED)

6/12/2017

Listen here today at 6pm EST

UPDATED @ 8pm EST: A great show by Andrew, and be sure to listen to Barry Mann's demo for "Love Is Only Sleeping" (at 5:26), a song The Monkees recorded in 1967, and appearing on their fourth LP, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.