THE GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF THE MONKEES
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
June 1975 - August 1976
"Some promoter wanted us to do a Far East tour, Southeast Asia tour . . . and everyone said, 'Why not? Let's try it.' So, in the meantime, in the year it took before that Southeast Asia tour came up, another promoter in town heard and said, 'I can book you in the States.' So, we toured that for a year, every amusement park known to man."
-Bobby Hart
-Bobby Hart
THE SET LISTLast Train to Clarksville
Medley: Valleri/Daydream Believer/A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight? (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone I Wanna Be Free I Remember the Feeling Savin' My Love for You Medley: Come a Little Bit Closer/Pretty Little Angel Eyes/Hurt So Bad/ Peaches 'N' Cream/Something's Wrong With Me/Keep on Singing Pleasant Valley Sunday A Teenager in Love Right Now She Alice Long I Love You (And I'm Glad That I Said It) Action I'm a Believer (Theme from) The Monkees Cuddly Toy I'm a Believer (reprise) DJBH setlists varied from show to show. "Out and About" was performed at various stops. |
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THE TOUR SCHEDULE
For years there was no accurate information available regarding when and where Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart performed. In 2016, Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval revealed for the first time a list of DJBH tour dates in The Monkees' 50th Anniversary Tour program:
1975
June 21: Six Flags Over Mid-America, Eureka, Missouri
June 22: Bel Rae Ballroom, New Brighton, Minnesota
June 24 - 25: Spectrum Club, Madison, Wisconsin
June 26: Gibbons Ballroom, Gibbons, Minnesota
June 27: Paradise Ballroom, Maconia, Minnesota
July 27: Country Aire, Appleton, Wisconsin
August 17: Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
August 19: Houston Music Hall, Houston, Texas
August 21: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
August 29: Marshfield, Wisconsin
August 31: Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio
September 12 - 13: Knott's Good Time Theatre, Buena Park, California
October 8: Mar Vista High, Imperial Beach, California
October 11: De Anza College, Cupertino, California
October 15: Santa Maria High, Santa Maria, California
October 16: Roosevelt High, Fresno, California
October 17: Barstow High, Barstow, California
October 18: San Luis Okis Po High, San Luis Okis Po, California
October 20: Chico High, Chico, California
October 21: Shasta High, Redding, California
October 22: Sheldon High, Eugene, Oregon
October 23: McNairy High, Salem, Oregon
October 24: Yakima Valley, Yakima Valley, Washington
October 28: Spokane Community College, Spokane, Washington
October 29: University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
October 31: Brigham Young College, Provo, Utah
November 4: Dixie College, St. George, Utah
November 5: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
November 6: Yuma High School, Yuma, Arizona
November 8: University of California, Santa Barbara, California
November 22: Swing Auditorium, San Bernadino, California
December 15: Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
December 20: Cable, Wisconsin
December 21: Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois
December 25: Bel Rae Ballroom, New Brighton, Minnesota
December 26: Northstar Ballroom, Carlton, Minnesota
December 28: Paradise Ballroom, Waconia, Minnesota
December 31: Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri
June 22: Bel Rae Ballroom, New Brighton, Minnesota
June 24 - 25: Spectrum Club, Madison, Wisconsin
June 26: Gibbons Ballroom, Gibbons, Minnesota
June 27: Paradise Ballroom, Maconia, Minnesota
July 27: Country Aire, Appleton, Wisconsin
August 17: Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
August 19: Houston Music Hall, Houston, Texas
August 21: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
August 29: Marshfield, Wisconsin
August 31: Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio
September 12 - 13: Knott's Good Time Theatre, Buena Park, California
October 8: Mar Vista High, Imperial Beach, California
October 11: De Anza College, Cupertino, California
October 15: Santa Maria High, Santa Maria, California
October 16: Roosevelt High, Fresno, California
October 17: Barstow High, Barstow, California
October 18: San Luis Okis Po High, San Luis Okis Po, California
October 20: Chico High, Chico, California
October 21: Shasta High, Redding, California
October 22: Sheldon High, Eugene, Oregon
October 23: McNairy High, Salem, Oregon
October 24: Yakima Valley, Yakima Valley, Washington
October 28: Spokane Community College, Spokane, Washington
October 29: University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
October 31: Brigham Young College, Provo, Utah
November 4: Dixie College, St. George, Utah
November 5: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
November 6: Yuma High School, Yuma, Arizona
November 8: University of California, Santa Barbara, California
November 22: Swing Auditorium, San Bernadino, California
December 15: Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
December 20: Cable, Wisconsin
December 21: Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois
December 25: Bel Rae Ballroom, New Brighton, Minnesota
December 26: Northstar Ballroom, Carlton, Minnesota
December 28: Paradise Ballroom, Waconia, Minnesota
December 31: Chase Park Plaza Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri
1976
January 2 - 3: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
April 12 - 17: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
April 20 - 25: Riverboat, New York, New York
April 16 - May 2: The Golden Banana, Peabody, Massachusetts
May 30: Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas
June 1 - 5: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey
June 9: Tomorrow Theatre, Youngstown, Ohio
June 10: Agora Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio
June 11: Masonic Temple, Scranton, Pennsylvania
June 12: Calderone Theatre, Hempstead, New York
June 13: Pine Knob Music Theatre, Detroit, Michigan
June 26 - 27: Worlds of Fun Amusement Park, Kansas City, Missouri
July 4 - 9: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
July 19: Shimizu City Hall, Shizuoka, Japan
July 20: Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
July 23: Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan
July 24: Suzuran Park, Nagoya, Japan
July 29: Singapore
July 30 - 31: Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
August 23 - 27: Six Flags Over Mid-America, Eureka, Missouri
April 12 - 17: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
April 20 - 25: Riverboat, New York, New York
April 16 - May 2: The Golden Banana, Peabody, Massachusetts
May 30: Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas
June 1 - 5: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey
June 9: Tomorrow Theatre, Youngstown, Ohio
June 10: Agora Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio
June 11: Masonic Temple, Scranton, Pennsylvania
June 12: Calderone Theatre, Hempstead, New York
June 13: Pine Knob Music Theatre, Detroit, Michigan
June 26 - 27: Worlds of Fun Amusement Park, Kansas City, Missouri
July 4 - 9: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
July 19: Shimizu City Hall, Shizuoka, Japan
July 20: Yubin Chokin Hall, Tokyo, Japan
July 23: Koseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan
July 24: Suzuran Park, Nagoya, Japan
July 29: Singapore
July 30 - 31: Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
August 23 - 27: Six Flags Over Mid-America, Eureka, Missouri
Note: In 1976, Creem published a review of a Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart show that took place at the Col Ballroom in Davenport, Iowa. This particular concert date was not included with those listed above.
The Monkees in the mid-1970s
In 1975, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork gathered together (most likely on more than one occasion) to consider several offers to reunite The Monkees. "We met up at my house, up in the Hollywood Hills," Micky told Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval. "I think it was William Morris [agency] or something expressed an interest in putting the act back together. Everybody was very enthusiastic about it on the surface. You know, 'Oh great, great idea,' but when it got down to the nitty-gritty there were too many conflicting feelings and attitudes. Actually I remember it being really exciting. We all got together for the first time in quite a few years in the same room and there was a hell of a buzz."
Davy also spoke about a potential Monkees reunion at the time with reporter Ivor Davis. "We did try to get together again. We could have picked up £100,000 [pounds] to reunite for just one hamburger commercial. Peter and Mike said no." But Davy was also upbeat about seeing his former partners. "We are all a lot closer than we ever were, right now," he told KRUX Radio in New Mexico. "We're ten years older, all of us have gone through being married and divorced, and having children. We learned from different peoples' reactions to what we were, and who we are now. The one thing I said when we all got together recently was, 'As long as we all think about each other the same way as we think about ourselves, I'm in and I'll work with you.'"
Despite friendly discussions between the ex-Monkees during this time period, the group ultimately did not reform. "They wanted to do something different and new," said Jones of Nesmith and Tork to Steve Hoffman in September 1976. "They forgot the audience has been waiting out there for The Monkees to return." However, Micky and Davy were interested in teaming up once again and instead turned to Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.
Davy also spoke about a potential Monkees reunion at the time with reporter Ivor Davis. "We did try to get together again. We could have picked up £100,000 [pounds] to reunite for just one hamburger commercial. Peter and Mike said no." But Davy was also upbeat about seeing his former partners. "We are all a lot closer than we ever were, right now," he told KRUX Radio in New Mexico. "We're ten years older, all of us have gone through being married and divorced, and having children. We learned from different peoples' reactions to what we were, and who we are now. The one thing I said when we all got together recently was, 'As long as we all think about each other the same way as we think about ourselves, I'm in and I'll work with you.'"
Despite friendly discussions between the ex-Monkees during this time period, the group ultimately did not reform. "They wanted to do something different and new," said Jones of Nesmith and Tork to Steve Hoffman in September 1976. "They forgot the audience has been waiting out there for The Monkees to return." However, Micky and Davy were interested in teaming up once again and instead turned to Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart was the idea of Christian DeWalden, a music publisher, producer, and friend of Bobby Hart. Boyce and Hart were responsible for writing and producing some of The Monkees' greatest hits ("Last Train to Clarksville," "Steppin' Stone," "Valleri," and more), and had a successful recording career of their own. The foursome created a new act and toured as The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees - The Guys Who Wrote 'Em and the Guys Who Sang 'Em. Their concert show combined Monkees classics, new material, and Boyce and Hart hits. "It was based on the idea of having the guys who wrote a lot of songs and the guys who sang them perform together," Davy explained in 1975. "So we talked about it and agreed and went into rehearsals for three weeks, and then we went to St. Louis and pulled 22,000 kids in two shows." The group eventually made appearances on American Bandstand, The Mike Douglas Show, Dinah!, and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert to promote their activities.
The 1976 studio album
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart debuted their live concert act on June 21, 1975 at Six Flags Over Mid-America outside of St. Louis, Missouri, where they were met by large and enthusiastic crowds. Onstage, Micky would occasionally play acoustic guitar and drums while Davy would add percussion to select numbers. Boyce and Hart also played guitar during the show. The backing band included Keith Allison (guitar and backing vocals), Rick Tierny (bass), Steve Johnson (keyboards), and Jerry Summers (drums). Allison became friendly with Michael Nesmith in Texas in the 1960s and had worked with Boyce and Hart on their own albums. He was also featured as a session musician on several Monkees recordings.
The quartet proceeded to tour the United States throughout 1975 and 1976 before heading to Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. An album of all new material, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart, was released on May 29, 1976 on Capitol Records. The first single, "I Remember the Feeling," was a concert highlight but made no impact on the charts. Unfortunately for the group, Al Coury, vice president of Capitol Records who signed Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart, left the label just before the LP was released, resulting in little support and a lack of promotional efforts behind the album. A second single, "I Love You (And I'm Glad That I Said It)," fared poorly. However, in mid-1976 the foursome filmed a television special (directed by Dolenz) called The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees, which showcased the group performing musical numbers and comedy skits inspired by their live concerts. It was later syndicated across US television stations. A videotape of the special was sold in Great Britain and Japan in the early 1980s.
The quartet proceeded to tour the United States throughout 1975 and 1976 before heading to Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. An album of all new material, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart, was released on May 29, 1976 on Capitol Records. The first single, "I Remember the Feeling," was a concert highlight but made no impact on the charts. Unfortunately for the group, Al Coury, vice president of Capitol Records who signed Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart, left the label just before the LP was released, resulting in little support and a lack of promotional efforts behind the album. A second single, "I Love You (And I'm Glad That I Said It)," fared poorly. However, in mid-1976 the foursome filmed a television special (directed by Dolenz) called The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees, which showcased the group performing musical numbers and comedy skits inspired by their live concerts. It was later syndicated across US television stations. A videotape of the special was sold in Great Britain and Japan in the early 1980s.
Peter Tork joins DJBH in 1976 (From the collection of F. Velez)
During an extended stay at California's Disneyland, Peter Tork made a guest appearance with Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart on July 4, 1976, joining them onstage for "Last Train to Clarksville." Shortly thereafter, Micky, Davy, and Peter reunited once again, this time in the recording studio with ex-Monkees producer Chip Douglas to record a holiday single, "Christmas Is My Time of Year."
A live recording of a Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart show, Concert in Japan (recorded on July 20, 1976 at Yubin Chokin Hall in Tokyo, Japan), was initially available in Japan only in 1981. The album was finally released on compact disc in the United States in 1996, featuring liner notes written by Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval.
By early 1977, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart had disbanded. While Tommy and Bobby went back to their songwriting careers, Micky and Davy formed a new act (with Micky's sister Coco) and were occasionally backed by a group called The Laughing Dogs. In September 1977, Micky and Davy traveled to England to begin rehearsals for Harry Nilsson's stage production of The Point.
A live recording of a Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart show, Concert in Japan (recorded on July 20, 1976 at Yubin Chokin Hall in Tokyo, Japan), was initially available in Japan only in 1981. The album was finally released on compact disc in the United States in 1996, featuring liner notes written by Monkees archivist Andrew Sandoval.
By early 1977, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart had disbanded. While Tommy and Bobby went back to their songwriting careers, Micky and Davy formed a new act (with Micky's sister Coco) and were occasionally backed by a group called The Laughing Dogs. In September 1977, Micky and Davy traveled to England to begin rehearsals for Harry Nilsson's stage production of The Point.
The essay "1975/77 – The Early Monkees Reunion Years" by Fred Velez provides a firsthand account of the DJBH period
DJBH played their first concert at Six Flags Over Mid-America in Eureka, Missouri on June 21, 1975. The date on the photo is incorrect. (From the collection of MusicFan76)
VIDEO FOOTAGE & AUDIO
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(Above) Promotional video for "I Remember the Feeling"
(Above) The DJBH television special
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(Above) Don Kirshner's Rock Concert in February 1976
(Above) Peter Tork joins DJBH on July 4, 1976
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(Above) The Dinah Shore Show in January 1976
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(Above) "The Mike Douglas Show" on February 27, 1976
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The three videos below feature silent 8mm footage. DJBH live audio and Monkees music has been dubbed over the clips.
(Above) Live at Six Flags Over Mid-America in Eureka, Missouri, August 1976
(Above) Live at Worlds of Fun Amusement Park in Kansas City, Missouri, June 1976
PHOTO GALLERY
THE TOUR PROGRAM
MICKY AND DAVY 1977
After Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart disbanded, Micky and Davy continued to work together and formed a new act
that played clubs in 1977.
that played clubs in 1977.
(Below) Program for Micky and Davy's post-DJBH solo act in 1977
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"THE POINT"
Micky and Davy starred in Harry Nilsson's "The Point" at the Mermaid Theatre in London from December 1977 through February 1978. An original cast album was later released by MCA Records.
Promotional poster for The Point
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The original cast recording
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Tommy, Davy, Bobby, and Micky