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50 years ago today, The Monkees commenced work on "Pleasant Valley Sunday." Andrew Sandoval documented the June 10, 1967 session at RCA Hollywood, one day after The Monkees' triumphant concert performance at the Hollywood Bowl, in his book, The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the '60s TV Pop Sensation: Gerry Goffin & Carole King's "Pleasant Valley Sunday" is one of Chip Douglas's most complex productions for The Monkees. Sadly, session tapes will not survive for this landmark date so it is impossible to follow this wonderful creation step-by-step. The basic track is most likely recorded with Chip Douglas and Eddie Hoh forming the rhythm section of bass and drums while Michael and Peter perform on electric guitar and piano. Union documents indicate Micky is also present for this session, and it is quite possible that he contributes some acoustic guitar to the track. Additional guitar overdubs will be recorded tomorrow. Chip Douglas: "Mike played the lead guitar. That was my riff that I threw in there and taught to Mike. Not many guitar players can play it the right way. ... It's kind of an offshoot of the Beatles song 'I Want To Tell You' but in a different tempo and with different notes. "I wish I could hear the original demo, because I can't recall if I got a [lyric] line right or not. It's in the bridge, 'creature comfort goals can only numb my soul and make it hard for me to see.' For 'make it hard for me to see,' for some reason I had the impression that I didn't do the right line in there, or changed it possibly. I couldn't understand that line, or something like that. One of those great mysteries. "I do remember seeing Carole King up at the Screen Gems office from across the room after we did 'Pleasant Valley Sunday.' She kind of gave me this dirty look. I thought, 'Was it that line that I got wrong, perhaps? Or didn't she like the guitar intro?' It was faster, definitely, than the way she had done it. She had a more laidback way of doing stuff." Michael Nesmith: "I remember that we went after the guitar sound. Everybody was trying to get that great big present guitar sound - Beatle [amplifiers] in the studio, playing really loud trying to get the sound, and it just ended up sounding kind of ... like it does. Kind of wooden. There was a tube-type of limiter/compressor called a UREI 1176, and boy you could really suck stuff out of the track. That was the first time that we really could do it. I think everybody got a little carried away with the 1176 on that record." On June 11 and 13, 1967, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" was treated to overdubs, including backing vocals from all four Monkees.  (Session credits from "The Monkees 50" compilation) In a 1982 interview with Bruce Pollack, Peter Tork discussed the blending of Micky and Michael's voices throughout "Pleasant Valley Sunday": "A notion of mine that I was really pleased with took over at one point, and that was having two guys sing in unison rather than one guy doubling his own voice. So you've got Mike, who was really a hard-nosed character, and Micky, who's a real baby face, and these two voices blended and lent each other qualities. It's not two separate voices singing together, it's really a melding of the two voices. Listening to that record later on was a joy. " "Pleasant Valley Sunday" was issued as Colgems single #1007 on July 10, 1967, right in the middle of The Monkees' ultra-successful summer tour that year. It was backed with "Words," written for the group by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. The single is considered to be one of their most successful (certified Gold just four days after release), and it's worth noting that radio gave attention to both sides. As a result, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" peaked at #3 in Billboard while "Words" topped out at #11. The songs were later featured on The Monkees' fourth album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.  (Original 1967 Colgems picture sleeve)
11 Comments
rob
6/10/2017 19:43:19
Peter has some really amazing insights re everything Monkees... I was actually listening to the song earlier today. In fact it's quite a production for 1967... There's a youtube video out there where Jerry Garcia is asked about the Monkees, to paraphrase Jerry, "Their records sound pretty good". and Jerry mentions something about what makes a hit song referring to the first 12 notes of a song which can make a hit song which I believe he's kind of referring to the Monkees. 6/10/2017 22:00:57
I've been listening to this track since it came out. I bought the single and later the LP. But it wasn't until I recently put the headphones on and was listening to it that I realized (perhaps I realized it years ago, but have forgotten - everything old is new again?) it is indeed Mike and Mickey exchanging lines near the end of the song. I always felt that Mickey had the best voice of the group, but Mike had the most distinctive vocals. I can't imagine The Monkees without his voice. Songs like "What Am I Doing Hanging Round?" and "Salesman" really make his voice shine. In fact, their Pisces album is a showcase for Mike. Yes, the nostalgia factor is there with Mickey's voice and good grief can that guy sing. My favorite vocal performance for Mickey was "Goin' Down". Incredible. Even Davy got a bit edgier on that album. He grinds it out pretty darned good on "She Hangs Out". Well, anyway the guys should be in the HOF. But the snobs at the HOF are idgits.
John H
6/10/2017 22:56:12
I was pretty disappointed when Mike rejoined the band in 2012 but didn't recreate the ending call-and-response with Micky on PVS during their shows.
Joe Cogan
6/10/2017 23:17:46
It's probably pretty much out of Mike's range at this point. Most of his own songs were taken down a whole step for the shows I've seen since he rejoined. Micky, God bless him, still sings everything at the original pitch, and if anything, his voice has gotten even stronger over the years.
dean
6/10/2017 22:41:45
Ha! I just listened to this for the first time on headphones! Pretty cool.
Janice Payne
6/11/2017 01:21:57
Micky since had voice lessons later in his life that is why he still sings so well at age 70+.
Suzanne
6/16/2017 07:48:27
I saw Micky and Peter at the Keswick in Glenside, PA last year. Gotta say--Micky sang his face off. He has amazing stamina for his age, or for any age. His retention of his range is impressive, but I do miss the easy high notes. (IMO "She Makes Me Laugh" sounds forced.)
Suzanne
6/16/2017 07:41:56
It's just another thing that's genius about this song. It's like they're laughing at the neighbors.
Jeff
6/11/2017 11:09:43
The 1176 is a solid state compressor. I wonder if he meant ua 176?
Berta
6/13/2017 15:01:17
I'd forgotten just how groovy this tune is.
Suzanne
6/16/2017 07:36:06
This is such a great song. Everything about it is genius. The lyrics, the melody, that riff, the doubling of Mickey and Mike on the chorus melody, mike on higher harmony on the verse, Davy sounds very clean on the backing vocal (I can't hear Peter very well though). When I feel nostalgic for the mike and Micky back and forth at the end, I watch the boys do the song At The Greek in 86. Leave a Reply. |
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