The Monkees Live Almanac
  • HOME
  • '60s
    • 1966 PROMOTIONAL TOUR
    • 1966 - 1967 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • 1967 US / BRITISH TOUR
    • "HEAD" (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE) CONCERT
    • AUSTRALIA & JAPAN 1968
    • 1969 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
  • '70s
    • THE MONKEES LIVE IN 1970
    • THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart)
  • '80s
    • 1986 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1986 '20th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • THE GREEK THEATRE 1986 (all four Monkees reunited)
    • 1987 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1987 NORTH AMERICAN 'HERE WE COME AGAIN' TOUR
    • 1988 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1989 EUROPEAN TOUR
    • 1989 NORTH AMERICAN / JAPANESE TOUR
    • UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE 1989 (all four Monkees reunited)
  • '90s
    • 'MICKY AND DAVY: TOGETHER AGAIN'
    • 1996 '30th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • BILLBOARD LIVE 1996
    • 1997 UNITED KINGDOM 'JUSTUS' TOUR
    • 1997 US TOUR
  • '00s
    • 2001 US TOUR
    • 2002 NORTH AMERICAN / UNITED KINGDOM 'MONKEEMANIA' TOUR
  • '10s
    • 2011 '45th ANNIVERSARY' WORLD TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2012 TOUR)
    • A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2013 TOUR)
    • 2014 MONKEES TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (FEATURING MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK)
    • GOOD TIMES: THE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
    • THE PANTAGES THEATRE 2016 (Michael Nesmith's final Monkees concert)
    • THE MONKEES PRESENT: THE MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ SHOW
  • '20s
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES FEATURING MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ
  • GEAR
  • BLOG
  • MISC
    • HEADQUARTERS RADIO PROGRAM
    • PRINT & WEB ARCHIVE
    • LINKS
    • ABOUT

Listen to The Monkees' new single, "Me & Magdalena"

5/19/2016

13 Comments

 
​"Me & Magdalena" is the third single from The Monkees' upcoming album, Good Times!  The song was written for The Monkees by Ben Gibbard (lead vocalist and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie) and features Michael Nesmith on lead vocals, accompanied by Micky Dolenz on harmony vocals. It was previewed on NPR's World Cafe program on May 9, 2016, and Michael shared an unofficial recording of it on Facebook later that day. Andy Greene, Associate Editor of Rolling Stone, tweeted that the track "is not just their best tune since the 1960s, but one of their best ever."
"Before The Beatles, before The Velvet Underground and before punk and/or indie rock, The Monkees were the first band I truly loved. Their albums were always on in our home when I was a kid (especially Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.), and I learned to sing alongside them. I spent countless hours in front of the TV in the '80s watching Monkees reruns wishing I could climb through the screen and be in the show with them. They made being in a band seem so fun — and goddammit, it should be! For these reasons and a million others, I can say with absolutely zero hyperbole that contributing 'Me & Magdalena' to this album has been the greatest honor of my career."
-Ben Gibbard


Monkees Me & Magdalena
13 Comments
Justin
5/19/2016 14:08:03

I wonder if that's Peter on piano?

Reply
rob
5/19/2016 14:48:54

Ben that is sooo awesome!!! Me and Magdalena is such a really sweet and really emotional song.. you knocked it out of the park!!

Reply
JJ Lloyd
5/19/2016 16:08:23

Wow. Seriously...... just... wow.

Reply
Gregg McKenzie
5/19/2016 19:12:09

I've been staring at keys on my keyboard for 5 minutes now.. What can I really say to sum this one up ? It's haunting, it's beautiful, it's maybe - just maybe, the most goose bump causing piece of music that Papa Nez and Micky have ever put down. Thank you both for making this 53-year-old man an emotional wreck. Going to play this again and again and again and....

Reply
Monkees Live Almanac
5/20/2016 10:00:31

It's a great song, isn't it, Gregg? Thanks for commenting.

Reply
Gregg McKenzie
5/20/2016 18:39:46

An emphatic Yes to your obvious rhetorical question. In fact it's more than lovely it's bordering on ethereal.
David - I appreciate your observation concerning the mix of the song. It was similar to my first thoughts upon hearing the track. However, I just finished downloading the track from iTunes and am now of another mindset. Nez's vocals aren't a razor sharp and defined as Micky's, but to me that has been done purposefully to take the listener along on a rather magical ride through space and time with the narrator and Magdalena. Micky' countering harmony vocals are clear and sharp allowing us listeners to keep one foot in the present as we go back in time where "everything lost can be recovered." An amazingly for 3:33 I believe it. To me, this track is perfection.

David
5/21/2016 11:11:48

Greg,

OK, now it's starting to get downright creepy....

My ears are playing tricks on me. On my end the distortion is now gone or at the very least it has been reduced in contrast. It was very strong on the opening verse but now it sounds normal. Same file or did someone swap it in the night? One of two possibilities: What I was hearing was never there to begin with or someone caught what I perceived as a mastering goof. You made mention of the iTunes download and I am wondering if there might have been file modifications along the way.

Maybe the entertainment world waits for my every word and my posting was read by the powers in charge or it was all a dream?

Look, this reminds me of the old Steve Martin bit where he is deeply unsatisfied with the quality of his listening experience. He keeps upgrading his Stereophonic system throwing thousands and thousands of dollars at it until he has what he calls a Dodeckaphonic which he claims consists of one speaker short of infinity, only to come to an epiphany when he says "Hey, maybe it's the needle".

Thanks for acknowledging my original observation...

David
5/20/2016 11:02:18

First the good:

These new recordings are bringing me to tears. Do these guys honestly have I any idea how much they have effected our lives for so many years. They feel like old friends who have never made it over for dinner.

Now for an observation:

I am in a quandary over the vocal mix. Certainly not intending to be negative in any way but Nez sounds distorted when paired with Micky throughout the verses. Almost resembles analog tape drop-out. When he sings alone on the bridge it is beautifully clean and unaffected. I heard it first on the World Cafe Broadcast and thought it was an artifact of the compression format but here it is in living color with the same presentation. If it is in fact mixing with creative license than I stand corrected albeit disappointed. Certainly not the sweet mix of Dolenz and Nez on "While I Cry" but again it likely was not intended to be.

For the record, I feel that I am succinctly qualified to assert this criticism considering I wore the full Davy Jones in a box Halloween costume in October of 1967.

Reply
Gregg McKenzie
5/21/2016 13:27:42

David - I'm drinking the same Kool-Aid as you. The 'initial' file wasn't as clear sounding as the one 'now' available. At first, I thought maybe iTunes (and the Mastered for iTunes) had cleaned the track up a little, but now - well, gee who knows 'maybe it was the needle.' lol Anyway, the only thing that's clear is that this is another fantastic track from an album (OK - CD) that I can't wait to land. I fact, I've already been slowly adding the tracks from iTunes, have one on order from Amazon, and fully expect to make a trip to the mall next Friday to pick up the FYE version to get the bonus track by Peter.

Reply
Patrick
5/20/2016 13:20:54

What an unexpected gift, a strange but wonderful hybrid of Headquarters, As We Go Along, The Grateful Dead and the great bands of the '90's like Counting Crows. Gorgeous...goose bumps.

Reply
Robert
5/20/2016 20:58:06

Wow! What great song. I can't wait to hear the whole album.

Reply
mary
5/22/2016 09:32:04

I love the piano on this piece. Happy to hear about Nesmith being involved with the new Monkees album even though he's not currently on the 2016 Monkees tour.

Reply
Miho Oshima
5/21/2017 21:02:28

I appreciate for your song.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Available Now

    Picture
    Picture

    Blog Spotlight

    Picture

    Featured Page

    Picture

    Follow @MonkeesAlmanac
    Tweets by MonkeesAlmanac

    Categories

    All
    16 Magazine
    1966 Promotional Tour
    1967 Monkees Tour
    1967 Wembley
    1968 Australian Tour
    1968 Japanese Tour
    1968 US Concerts
    1969 Monkees Tour
    1970 Monkees Concerts
    1986 Conventions
    1986 Monkees Tour
    1987 Hollywood Convention
    1987 Monkees Tour
    1988 Chicago Convention
    1988 Monkees West Convention
    1989 European Tour
    1989 Us Tour
    1995 Platinum Awards Ceremony
    1996 Monkees Tour
    1997 ABC Special
    1997 United Kingdom Tour
    1997 US Tour
    2001 Monkees Tour
    2011 Monkees Tour
    2012 Monkees Tour
    2013 Monkees Convention
    2013 Monkees Tour
    2014 Monkees Convention
    2014 Monkees Tour
    2015 Concerts
    2016 Pantages Theatre
    2017 Appearances
    2018 Appearances
    2018 Nesmith Dolenz Tour
    2019 Appearances
    2019 Nesmith Dolenz Tour
    2020 Appearances
    2020 Mike & Micky Show
    2021 Appearances
    2021 Mike & Micky Show
    33 13 Revolutions Per Monkee
    50 Summers Of Love
    50th Anniversary
    50th Anniversary Tour
    54 Below
    '67 Concerts Photo Album
    7a Records
    Action Figures
    Album Covers
    Andrew Sandoval
    Antenna Tv
    Apps
    Articles Interviews
    Artwork Illustrations
    Backing Band
    Beatle Meets Monkee
    Billboard Live 1996
    Bill Chadwick
    Bill Martin
    Blu Ray
    Bob Rafelson And Bert Schneider
    Books
    Bootlegs
    Boyce Hart
    Cassettes
    Cereal Box Singles
    Changes
    Childhood
    Chip Douglas
    Christmas Party
    Christmas Photos Songs
    Circus Boy
    Coco Dolenz
    Colgems
    Comic Books
    Commercials
    Compact Discs
    Creem Magazine
    Current Tour Dates
    Davy Jones
    Davy Jones Japanese Photo Book
    Davy Jones Memorial
    Davy Jones The Street
    Davy Jones Zilch
    Documentaries
    Dolenz & Daughters Fine Furniture
    Dolenz Jones Boyce Hart
    Dolenz Sings Nesmith
    Don Kirshner
    Donna Quinter Dolenz
    DVD
    Early '80s Japan
    Early Monkees Concerts
    Eddie Hoh
    Elephant Parts
    Emmy Awards
    Fan Club Kit
    Fantasy Alternate Albums
    Film Treatment
    First National Band
    Flip Magazine
    Forum
    Frank Zappa
    Friday Music
    Friends
    Gary Strobl
    Gene Ashman
    Glen Campbell
    Goldmine Magazine
    Good Times!
    Good Times! Artwork
    Good Times! Plus!
    Grammy Awards
    Greatest Hits Collections
    Gretsch
    Guest Authors
    Harold Bronson Book
    Harry Nilsson
    Head
    Head Deluxe Edition
    Headquarters
    Headquarters Radio Program
    Heart And Soul
    Henry Diltz
    Hollywood Squares
    Hollywood Vampires
    Hollywood Walk Of Fame
    Iain Lee
    IFC
    Incredible!
    Infinite Tuesday: An Autobiographical Riff
    Instant Replay Deluxe Edition
    In This Generation Tour
    Jack Nicholson
    James Lee Stanley
    Japanese Photo Books
    Jim Frawley
    Jimi Hendrix
    Joey Bishop Show
    John Brockman
    Johnny Cash
    Justus
    Kelloggs
    Kool Aid
    Lester Sill
    Listen To The Band
    Live Album
    Live Almanac Birthdays
    Live Almanac Youtube Channel
    Lulu
    Lynne Randell
    Me & Magdalena
    Memorabilia
    MeTV
    Michael Nesmith
    Michael Nesmith Solo Albums
    Micky And Davy 1977
    Micky Dolenz
    Micky Dolenz MGM Singles
    Micky Dolenz Remember
    Micky Dolenz Solo
    Mickys Secret Snaps
    Mike & Micky Show Live Album
    Missing Links
    Missteps
    Modern Folk Quartet
    Monkee Business Fanzine
    Monkeemobile
    Monkees In 1970
    Monkees In 1988
    Monkees Live
    Monkees Monthly
    Monkees Present Deluxe Edition
    Monkees Tv Show
    Monkees West Publication
    Monterey Pop Festival
    More Of The Monkees
    Movies Of The Mind
    Mtv
    Nesmith Nashville Sessions
    Nesmith Tork Goffin & King Podcast
    New Monkees
    New Monks
    News & Headlines
    Nightclub
    Oliver!
    Pacific Arts
    Peter Tork
    Peter Tork Memorial
    Peter Tork Project
    Photos 1960s
    Photos 1970s
    Photos 1980s
    Photos 1990s
    Photos 2000s
    Photos 2010s
    Photos 2020s
    Photos Instruments
    Phyllis Nesmith
    Pisces Aquarius
    Podcast
    Poll Results
    Pool It
    Posters
    Radio Interview
    Rainbow Room
    Recording Studio
    Record Store Day
    Rhino Records Handmade
    Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
    Rodney Bingenheimer
    Rolling Stone Magazine
    Sam And The Goodtimers
    Samantha Juste
    Saturday Afternoon Repeats
    She Makes Me Laugh
    Shoe Suede Blues
    Singles And Picture Sleeves
    Snuff Garrett
    Social Media
    Song Of The Day
    Stand Ins
    Stephen Stills
    Stranger Things Have Happened
    Stu Phillips
    Submissions
    Tape Vault
    Television Parts
    Texas Prairie Chicken Podcast
    The Birds The Bees The Monkees Deluxe
    The Monkees Super Deluxe Edition
    The Point
    The Tonight Show
    They Made A Monkee Out Of Me
    Tiger Beat Monkee Spectacular
    Toast
    Tour Posters
    Tour Programs
    Trade Ads
    Trading Cards
    Tv Guide
    Updates
    Valerie Kairys
    VHS
    Videoranch
    Ward Sylvester
    Wichita Train Whistle Sings
    Wrecking Crew
    You Bring The Summer
    Youtube
    Zilch Podcast


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011


    RSS Feed

This website is not affiliated with The Monkees or Rhino Records
  • HOME
  • '60s
    • 1966 PROMOTIONAL TOUR
    • 1966 - 1967 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • 1967 US / BRITISH TOUR
    • "HEAD" (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE) CONCERT
    • AUSTRALIA & JAPAN 1968
    • 1969 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
  • '70s
    • THE MONKEES LIVE IN 1970
    • THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES (Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart)
  • '80s
    • 1986 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1986 '20th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • THE GREEK THEATRE 1986 (all four Monkees reunited)
    • 1987 'SOUND OF THE MONKEES' AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1987 NORTH AMERICAN 'HERE WE COME AGAIN' TOUR
    • 1988 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
    • 1989 EUROPEAN TOUR
    • 1989 NORTH AMERICAN / JAPANESE TOUR
    • UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE 1989 (all four Monkees reunited)
  • '90s
    • 'MICKY AND DAVY: TOGETHER AGAIN'
    • 1996 '30th ANNIVERSARY' NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
    • BILLBOARD LIVE 1996
    • 1997 UNITED KINGDOM 'JUSTUS' TOUR
    • 1997 US TOUR
  • '00s
    • 2001 US TOUR
    • 2002 NORTH AMERICAN / UNITED KINGDOM 'MONKEEMANIA' TOUR
  • '10s
    • 2011 '45th ANNIVERSARY' WORLD TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2012 TOUR)
    • A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT WITH THE MONKEES (THE 2013 TOUR)
    • 2014 MONKEES TOUR
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES (FEATURING MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK)
    • GOOD TIMES: THE 50th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
    • THE PANTAGES THEATRE 2016 (Michael Nesmith's final Monkees concert)
    • THE MONKEES PRESENT: THE MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ SHOW
  • '20s
    • AN EVENING WITH THE MONKEES FEATURING MIKE NESMITH & MICKY DOLENZ
  • GEAR
  • BLOG
  • MISC
    • HEADQUARTERS RADIO PROGRAM
    • PRINT & WEB ARCHIVE
    • LINKS
    • ABOUT