 Exhausted by the events of 2020? Fear not. Monkees fans have something to anticipate in the new year! Andrew Sandoval, Monkees archivist, author, and producer, has confirmed that an updated edition of his 2005 book, The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation, is set for publication in spring 2021. Long considered the ultimate source for the most complete story of The Monkees' television, theatrical, recording, live concert, and public appearance career, the book has not been simply updated, it has been thoroughly rewritten! Andrew spoke with the Live Almanac this week to provide insight into his latest project. "In 2019, I decided to revise my book: The Monkees Day-By-Day Story. I began the process of working on the years from 1971-2019, filling in details and researching the eras I did not cover in the original book. I had hoped to make some corrections and updates in the original book text and move forward." But then Andrew revealed a tidbit that will be sure to pique the interest of Monkees fans worldwide, one that ultimately altered the vision of the project itself. "My plans changed dramatically with the discovery of more than 2,000 pages of documents covering the years 1965-1970. When I approached integrating these into the original text, I realized the book would need to be completely rewritten. So much of what I understood in my original research about The Monkees' formation and struggle for musical independence was completely changed through my new discoveries." Andrew continued to expound on just how different the revamped edition of his tome will be upon its release. "New recording information, shooting dates for the series, personal appearances, and literally hundreds of unpublished images will be included. A special emphasis is placed on the later years from 1969-1971. However, the biggest expansion of information is in the year 1967 (as well as the pre-Monkees years). I look forward to sharing more when I have definitive details." Since the publication of Andrew's book fifteen years ago, Monkees fans have often expressed a desire to see an updated version that dives into the '70s all the way through the current day. Andrew explained why the initial era of the group remained his first priority. "I began rewriting the entire text from Peter's birth in 1942 through The Monkees' final contractual movements in 1971. What has developed is the most unique picture of their original incarnation. I had to make a choice timewise if I should be chasing celebrity tennis match dates of the 1970s or documenting how the Monkees became a group. I felt the latter was more important in the long run." But rest assured, telling the complete story of The Monkees through the ensuing decades remains on the horizon. "I will tackle the later years in a separate volume sometime in the future," Andrew told the Live Almanac. Andrew's first Monkees-related project came to fruition in 1990 when he acted as co-producer (along with Bill Inglot) for 1990's Missing Links Volume Two collection, which also featured liner notes penned by Sandoval. Since then, he has produced numerous Monkees releases for Rhino Records, including CD reissues, multiple box set treatments of Monkees music, and DVD and Blu-ray collections of the group's 1960s television series and feature film, Head. He is responsible for The Monkees' triumphant return to the concert stage in 2011 and went on to produce subsequent tours for the group throughout the last decade, as well as the "The Mike & Micky Show" that was a hit at venues in North America, Australia, and New Zealand in 2018 and 2019. Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz were set to return to the road in the spring of 2020, but COVID-19 altered those plans. When speaking with the Live Almanac, Andrew also relayed details about the proposed layout of the book, his plan for publishing it, and more. "The book will be completely redesigned with all new photos and graphics. The original book's photos will mostly not be carried over. I am currently completing the text and it will go into print sometime in November. Printing will likely take three to four months, so the book will be available in early spring." And this time around, readers will be able to purchase the finished product directly from Andrew, rather than at your local bookstore or online outlet. "The book will only be available directly from me via mail order. I do not know of the price yet because the book is still growing in size. There will be no digital version of the book. It will not be available through Amazon. I will be shipping internationally. The books will be deluxe hardbacks, numbered, and signed." "I am aware that a lot of people enjoyed my original book and were able to find it used or at a reduced price," Andrew said. "I am not presently in a position to offer my work in this way, though I do know it limits my audience. The new book will be available for pre-order when I have a definitive page count, price, and delivery date." While we all anxiously await Andrew's book, be sure to listen to his wonderful internet radio show, Come to the Sunshine, and check back with The Monkees Live Almanac for future updates! 
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 Monkees fans have the opportunity to vote for the group's multi-platinum #1 debut album to be issued as an expanded deluxe edition double LP featuring previously unreleased songs and mixes, courtesy of Run Out Groove, a vinyl only label that, according to its website, "caters specifically to music fanatics, pressing limited edition titles made by music fans for music fans." Run Out Groove provided more details about the proposed release, noting that Monkees producer and archivist Andrew Sandoval would be a part of the project: [Mastering engineer] Kevin Grey and Andrew Sandoval would cut lacquers for the original album from the analog stereo tapes for the first time since original release in 1966! Proposed Track Listing:   VOTE FOR THE MONKEES!UPDATE 10/10/2020:The Monkees won the vote for Run Out Groove's latest promotion, and just like that, an exclusive transparent yellow color vinyl has sold out!  But good news! Fans can still order the black vinyl edition, which features the same packaging and content, through November 9, 2020.  
For years, Micky Dolenz has spoken about his admiration for Michael Nesmith, including his song catalog stretching from the Monkees era all the way through Nez's varied solo output. And their well-known camaraderie was on full display during the recent "Mike & Micky Show" tours. "Way back in the day when we were in the recording studio, Nez and I fell into this wonderful harmonic vocal blend I called 'The Everly Monkees,' as exemplified by the beautiful song 'Me & Magdalena,'" Micky wrote in the liner notes of the The Monkees Live: The Mike & Micky Show. "On the set of The Monkees TV show, we would fall into some ad-lib riff and totally crack each other up. We often joked about one day having 'The Mike & Micky Show'!"
Those 2018-2019 dates were a critical and commercial success, performing to audiences in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Although Micky and Michael's most recently scheduled tour has twice been postponed due to COVID-19, Rolling Stone delivered some welcome news today that Micky Dolenz will record an album covering the works of his longtime friend and musical partner Michael Nesmith. "I've always been a huge fan of his songs,” Micky told Rolling Stone. "He's just so prolific." According to Rolling Stone, recording has not commenced for Dolenz Sings Nesmith and there's no firm track listing, but Christian Nesmith, Michael's oldest son, will be producing the project while Monkees manager and historian Andrew Sandoval will be handling A&R duties. 7a Records, the British-based label fronted by Glenn Gretlund and well-known to fans for its Monkees-related releases over the last several years, will issue the album.
UPDATE 11/23/2020: Micky is currently recording the album in Los Angeles, and 7a's Glenn Gretlund has informed the Live Almanac that a tentative release date is set for March 2021.
UPDATE 11/28/2020:
Micky with Christian Nesmith (Photo courtesy of Micky Dolenz on Twitter)
 (Courtesy of Rhino Records) Micky Dolenz speaks with Forbes.com about Frank Zappa, playing drums, missing Davy & Peter, and more8/7/2020  (Photo by Sherri Hansen)  And listen to Iain Lee and Glenn Gretlund from 7a Records as they discuss their latest project on the Zilch podcast. Click the image below to listen!   The final episode of the first season of The Monkees, "Monkees on Tour," was a documentary that chronicled the group's appearance at Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona on January 21, 1967 during their earliest live performances:  Have you heard the latest episodes of Mark Kleiner's podcast Nesmith Tork Goffin & King??? Mark's series on The Monkees' 1987 album Pool It!, as highlighted in a previous post on the Live Almanac's blog, continues below, along with much more! Listen: Monkee Wash, Donkey RinseMark is in conversation with New York Times writer John Leland about The Monkees in the 1980s, and Keith Allison recalls writing and recording "Auntie's Municipal Court" and explains why he's often uncredited. This episode also features a rare Peter Tork live performance of "Lady's Baby" from 1979, as well as a live rendition of "Right Now" as performed by Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart at the Cleveland Agora on June, 10, 1976. Finally, Mark talks to Matt Harris, who provided background vocals on Pool It!  Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones at Cherokee Studios, Hollywood, in 1987 (Photo by Roger Bechirian) Listen: Love in a Space: The Making of ‘Pool It!’ (Part II)In this episode, Mark continues his retrospective of Pool It! featuring exclusive interviews with producer Roger Béchirian and music supervisor Lou Maxfield, along with two integral musicians on the sessions, Mark Christian and Michael Egizi. And, Rhino Records legend Bill Inglot offers insight into the podcast's ongoing inquiry of the "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" remix mystery. You can also hear a rare live "50s Medley" as performed by Davy Jones and Peter Tork during their 1986 Sounds of the Monkees Australian Tour.  "Pool It!" session guitarist Mark Christian with Peter Tork at Cherokee Studios, Hollywood (Photo courtesy of Mark Kleiner) Listen: Love Without Even the Little Hint of a Trace: The Making of ‘Pool It!’(Part III)Enjoy the third installment of NTGK's profile on Pool It! featuring never-before-revealed studio moments from producer Roger Béchirian, music supervisor Lou Natkin, session musicians Mark Christian and Michael Egizi, plus the world premiere of the demo for "The Weight of Love," an original Bobby Hart/Dick Eastman composition submitted for consideration for inclusion on the Pool It! album.
Listen: I Was There (And I'm Told I Had Crab Cakes)1980s Arista Records executive Roy Lott shares a behind-the-scenes perspective on the alleged second single from Then & Now ... The Best of the Monkees ("Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere") that threatens to rewrite the entire historical record, and culminates in a party at Quincy Jones' mansion for Whitney Houston.  "Then & Now ... The Best of The Monkees" cassette (Courtesy of Monkee45s.net)  (T-shirt sold on The Monkees' 2012 tour)
Thanks much to Bill Weimer for submitting this vintage piece examining The Monkees' 1968 album, The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees, as published in the June 23, 1968 issue of the Chicago Tribune. Some clichés abound, but author Robb Baker provides an interesting examination of the group's fifth million-seller.
(Click image to enlarge)
Listen to The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees courtesy of The Monkees' official YouTube channel:
On April 3 Rhino Records issued The Monkees Live: The Mike & Micky Show, featuring performances from the duo's concerts recorded throughout March 2019, on compact disc and via streaming services. A 2-LP vinyl edition will be available on July 10. The Live Almanac highly recommends this very worthwhile document of a unique era in Monkees history, and a big thanks to longtime site contributor Ben Belmares for sharing the scans of the CD package seen below!                Ed Reilly is a first generation Monkees fan, collector, and author who co-published one of the principal books about The Monkees during the group's 1980s revival. Ed is also known for his long running column in (the now defunct) Monkee Business Fanzine. Entitled "Star Collector," Ed would break down a wide range of Monkees memorabilia, including everything from toys, trading cards, records, and much more. In 1986, Ed co-produced the Monkees convention in Philadelphia that summer. In the article linked below, published last week on Monkee45s, Ed examines possible intentions of The Monkees' label, Colgems, during the waning days of the group in its original incarnation. Check it out!  "Greatest Hits" album cover issued in Canada "The primary purpose of the SoCal Music Hall of Fame is to honor, promote and commemorate California's musical heritage. Micky Dolenz of The Monkees is more than worthy of this coveted recognition."   The former Monkeesmixography website, which classified every Monkees track by mix/master/remaster, and more, is being converted into a book by Craig Smith and Derek Miner. Mixing Links: The Monkees on Disc doesn't have a release date, but fans can now review another excerpt that was recently revealed on their website! Featured in this update is "Goin' Down," originally issued as the B-side to "Daydream Believer" in October 1967. And don't forget to follow Mixing Links on Facebook! "Goin’ Down" started life as a jam following a take of "She Hangs Out" on June 21, 1967. Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork played electric guitar with a rhythm section of "Fast" Eddie Hoh on drums and producer Chip Douglas on bass. The original tracking was recorded to 4-track tape, though it is most likely the recording was transferred to 8-track for later overdubs. The brass parts were recorded September 15, 1967, both a 12-piece accompaniment (which may have been recorded to just one mono track!) plus saxophone and trumpet solos. It is unclear if the vocals were added before or after this instrumentation.  (Sheet music) Thanks to John at Monkee45s.net for the images seen above!
 (Photo courtesy of SF Sketchfest) Earlier this year, San Francisco's Sketchfest paid tribute to The Monkees by hosting Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith, who took part in a panel discussion with author Paul Myers. First held in 2002, Sketchfest has grown into a nationally recognized comedy festival that mixes national headliners, local favorites, and the best up-and-coming groups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up, and alternative comedy. Micky and Michael's conversation with Myers from January 12 at Marines' Memorial Theatre will be available to rent online later this month. According to Sketchfest, proceeds will go toward "helping to keep our small business afloat, to the performers featured, and to select charities and fundraisers for fellow independent artists and venues in our comedy community." Watch the trailer below, and a big thanks to Neil D. for alerting the Live Almanac about this opportunity to watch Micky & Nez!
In late 2019, it was announced that Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz would return to the concert stage for a tour dubbed "An Evening With The Monkees," with dates scheduled to be played throughout April 2020. But when the coronavirus pandemic landed on the shores of North America, the April tour was postponed until summer 2020.
And now, with the pandemic continuing to uproot people's daily lives and much more, "An Evening With The Monkees" has once again been delayed, this time until the spring of 2021. But good news! Additional dates will be added to the tour in the coming weeks. Below you can find the revised tour schedule along with links to purchase tickets. The Monkees Live Almanac hopes everyone stays safe and healthy! ALL DATES BELOW SCHEDULED FOR 2021
March 18: Commodore Ballroom / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
March 21: Moore Theatre / Seattle, Washington March 23: The Crest Theatre / Sacramento, California March 24: San Jose Civic / San Jose, California March 26: Fox Performing Arts Center / Riverside, California March 27: The Magnolia / El Cajon, California March 28: Celebrity Theatre / Phoenix, Arizona April 1: Tobin Center For The Performing Arts / San Antonio, Texas April 2: Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater / Austin, Texas April 3: Majestic Theatre / Dallas, Texas April 12: Schermerhorn Symphony Center / Nashville, Tennessee
Here is the official announcement posted a couple of hours ago on The Monkees Tour Facebook page:
The following venues and cities, which were previously scheduled dates on the tour, are no longer listed as part of the current itinerary:
Verizon Theatre / Grand Prairie, Texas
Iron City / Birmingham, Alabama (The Monkees Tour Facebook page says the following about Birmingham: "It is possible that show will be rescheduled in 2021; we are awaiting word from the venue of our new date.") IP Casino Resort & Spa / Biloxi, Mississippi (The Monkees Tour Facebook page says the following about Biloxi: "It is possible that show will be rescheduled in 2021; we are awaiting word from the venue of our new date.") Golden Nugget Grand Event Center / Lake Charles, Louisiana 
(Courtesy of Andrew Sandoval)
Peter Mills, author of The Monkees, Head, and the '60s, recently reviewed The Mike & Micky Show on his blog, Pete Sounds:  (Click image above for links to order)  |
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