Rolling Stone: Micky Dolenz Plots Solo Record of Michael Nesmith Covers (UPDATED X3)

8/11/2020

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.

Read more from Rolling Stone: Dolenz Sings Nesmith will be packed with songs Nez wrote throughout his long career, including Monkees classics

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:

UPDATE 2/13/2021: Christian Nesmith posted the following on his Facebook page regarding the latest update about Dolenz Sings Nesmith:

Micky with Christian Nesmith (Photo courtesy of Micky Dolenz on Twitter)

24 Comments

Jennifer

8/11/2020 12:35:29

I would love that

Edd

9/16/2020 21:23:57

It would be great if they could include a version of the unrecorded song ‘Don’t Cry Now’. An instrumental version was released on The Wichita Train Whistle Sings but a version with vocals has never been released to my knowledge.

Louis Colli

8/11/2020 13:03:53

I would prefer it to be a cover of Nesmith songs that still haven't been released. He recorded some during his time with the Monkees that never got a lead vocal. Give me those :)

Craig Murphy

8/12/2020 00:59:47

How bout Dolenz sings 10 NEW Nesmith songs and they call it a Monkees album

8/13/2020 19:00:34

Yes!

Dan

8/14/2020 16:49:37

This is the obvious way to go, do an Everly-Monkees album... Mike & Micky Show already laid the groundwork, get the FNB Redux or the Touring musicians in the studio, and create something like a whole album worth of Me & Magdelana / BOAH tier songs.

Guy Smiley

8/17/2020 23:39:41

Do you really think anyone’s going to coax 2-3 new songs out Nez anymore, let alone TEN??

8/18/2020 13:29:18

Well, Nez hasn't written a really good - great song since... Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma? Tropical Campfires had some good material on it, but wasn't that mostly covers?

His contribution to GoodTimes was good... if slight. I would rather have them do a Monkees duo album of songs that were included on the lesser known Nez solo records from Pacific Arts. Or maybe unreleased Monkees tracks from the original colgems pressings.

For example, St Matthew was awesome, and never saw an original Monkees release in 69. Re-record the Nashville sessions with Mike & Micky? Re-record the best stuff from Micky's solo career (like Oh Someone or LoveLight)?

David Cox

8/12/2020 08:14:25

Christian better let his Dad play guitar!

Roy

8/12/2020 16:38:40

It's great to see these guys continue find opportunities to bolster the soundtracks of fans' lives. How about an "unplugged" CD with Mike and Micky on guitar? Are you up to the challenge 7a?

david

8/12/2020 17:10:13

I was thinking the same thing... Mike and Micky on guitar... possibly augmented by the Nesmith boys instrumentally and Coco vocally - family affair!

My song choices:
While I Cry
Crippled Lion
Little Red Rider
Hello Lady
Grand Ennui
Nevada Fighter
Mama Rocker
Propinquity
Listening
Love's First Kiss
The Other Room
Carioca
Juliana

Roy Brockie

8/12/2020 17:31:59

I thought of the Nesmith sons, but I didn't think of Coco. Great suggestion.

Gregg McKenzie

8/12/2020 19:57:53

This is going to sound harsh (yea, I know why post it - right?). While I think it's a great idea (I'd buy Micky singing is favorite zip codes), it is a great idea to hep both secure fund$ from not being able to tour. Micky earn$ his performer royalitie$, Nez from being the $ongwriter, Andrew from hi$ producer credits, Chri$tian from being a musician/arranger. I'd love to have the folks at 7a reach out to us to suggest some titles.

Eric Andrews

8/12/2020 20:12:34

This sounds like it could be fun, but the big question is, WILL MICKY TAKE OFF THE FEDORA? Maybe trade it for a Stetson?

Peter Cunningham

8/18/2020 03:50:16

Here s a idea why not have nes sings some of Dolenz songs then it would be the monkees sing the monkees or maybe six song each (NEW) AND AS ,I.VE SAID BEFORE WHY NO USE MIKE VIDEO RANCH

William Byron

8/24/2020 04:46:35

At this point Monkees fans should simply be grateful for getting new content in 2020-2021, really. Every person is going to (understandably) have a suggestion or feeling for what they *should* do- well, they're nearing 80, they're not gonna do it so just accept this.

8/27/2020 16:31:32

"they're nearing 80, they're not gonna do it so just accept this."

Sweet Jesus - you're right. That was such a sobering post. With Micky eternally flawless vocals, it's easy to forget that. I really hope that they begin to lay down some tracks soon. As a long time fan, I've known of far too many projects that were discussed that never came to fruition.

Mr Babcock

9/5/2020 16:11:57

Didn’t Micky say that they had 50-60 songs still in the vault? Why not release Missing Links 4 and 5?

scott catton

9/14/2020 11:43:35

YES! A really great idea!..you have our "Blessing",Micky! :).

Ted Lesser

10/20/2020 18:25:32

Byrds be darned. With the possible exception of the Beatles and Beach Boys no voices weaved better than Dolenz and Nes in the 60s. I hope Nes will at least participate a little and Micky will sing ‘Nine Times Blue’, the greatest love song ever written.

11/10/2020 07:14:36

I would like to hear joanne micky has a fantastic country voice there is one song of his ive being trying to find on youtube but for the life of me cant remeber the title its pure c, & w any idaes

11/10/2020 08:47:04

You may be thinking of "Quite Desperation" from Micky's Remember album.

11/30/2020 03:57:09

your so right i found it on you tube its an album i have not got but it must be the rares micky album going by the prices its going for is it on any other micky dolenz release

ROy

11/30/2020 08:14:22

I see it occasionally on ebay for around 30. It's a high production LP, definitely one of his best. Very diverse. Worth the investment. You might want check mickydolenz.com.

Rolling Stone: Micky Dolenz Plots Solo Record of Michael Nesmith Covers (UPDATED X3)

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