"Reimagining The Post-Peter Albums" by Patrick Zappi (Part 2)

This is the sixth in a series of guest articles that have been submitted to The Monkees Live Almanac in celebration of the group's 50th Anniversary.

Banner designed by Al Bigley

In Part 1 of this series, I constructed a new version of The Monkees Present, the second LP released after the departure of Peter Tork.  In doing so, I created a track listing that combined songs which appeared on the album in its original form in 1969, but then substituted some of what I considered to be weaker tracks with those that were available at the time, but remained unreleased.

When the Missing Links albums appeared in the late 1980s and 1990s, showcasing songs The Monkees recorded during their original incarnation but were never issued, it baffled me how many great tracks were left in the Monkee vaults in the 1960s.  And although we've now heard all of those songs thanks to subsequent archival releases through the years, I was still inspired to take another look at the 1969-1971 era of The Monkees' recorded history and put my own spin on it.  Having been pleased with Instant Replay, (the first post-Tork Monkees album), and with a revamped Present LP now complete, next up is Changes, released by Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones in 1970.  The sessions for Changes also marked the return of Jeff Barry, the producer of "I'm a Believer" and most of More of the Monkees.

"Changes" album cover

When reimagining Changes today, let's say Michael Nesmith decided to soldier on as a Monkees instead of leaving the group as he did in early 1970.  Let's also allow the songwriting partnership between Davy Jones and Bill Chadwick to play out, too. (Their songs "If I Knew" and "French Song" appeared on The Monkees Present, and "You and I" on Instant Replay.)  Unlike my version of The Monkees Present, the newly retooled Changes is meant to be more rollicking and less serious. 

Perhaps this mock cover of Changes with Nez included (created by Michelle_66 in her series of Alternate Reality Monkees albums) will help you get ready for a fresh look at an old album.

(Used with permission of Michelle_66 - click to enlarge)

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Side 1: Changes (Reimagined)

1. Oh My My
(Written by Jeff Barry & Andy Kim / Produced by Jeff Barry)

2. You're So Good To Me
(Written by Jeff Barry & Bobby Bloom / Produced by Jeff Barry)

3. Little Red Rider
(Written & Produced by Michael Nesmith)

4. If You Have the Time
(Written & Produced by Davy Jones and Bill Chadwick)

5. Down the Highway
(Written by Carole King & Toni Stern / Produced by Michael Nesmith)

("Down the Highway" was mislabeled upon its release on Missing Links Volume 2 in 1990 as "Michigan Blackhawk.")

6. Tell Me Love
(Written & Produced by Jeff Barry)

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In the same vein of my fantasy track listings, Michelle_66 created her very own picture sleeve for "Oh My My" (the first and only single from Changes), with Nez still a part of the group at that time:

(Used with permission of Michelle_66)

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Side 2: Changes (Reimagined)

7. I Love You Better
(Written by Jeff Barry & Andy Kim / Produced by Jeff Barry)

8. Do You Feel It Too?
(Written by Jeff Barry & Andy Kim / Produced by Jeff Barry)

9. Good Clean Fun
(Written & Produced by Michael Nesmith)

10. Midnight Train
(Written & Produced by Micky Dolenz)

11. Oklahoma Backroom Dancer
(Written by Michael Martin Murphey / Produced by Michael Nesmith)

12. Time and Time Again
(Written & Produced by Davy Jones and Bill Chadwick)

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Stay tuned for Part 3 which imagines an album that never existed: a final Jeff Barry-produced Monkees LP featuring Dolenz & Jones that was released in 1971.