The Monkees‘ “I Wanna Be Free” is strikingly similar to The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” That was no accident. One song has a more universal meeting than the other but they’re both great.
The Monkees’ ‘I Wanna Be Free’ has strings like The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were regular songwriters for The Monkees under the name Boyce & Hart. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed the origin of “I Wanna Be Free.” “Tommy looked up at me and sang me his first lines with an original melody, ‘I wanna be free, don’t say ‘You love me’ say ‘You like me.’
“He said ‘I don’t know where to go next,'” Hart wrote. “‘It’s cool,’ I said, but it sounds more like a second verse to me. Maybe we should try to paint some pictures first...
The Monkees’ ‘I Wanna Be Free’ has strings like The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were regular songwriters for The Monkees under the name Boyce & Hart. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed the origin of “I Wanna Be Free.” “Tommy looked up at me and sang me his first lines with an original melody, ‘I wanna be free, don’t say ‘You love me’ say ‘You like me.’
“He said ‘I don’t know where to go next,'” Hart wrote. “‘It’s cool,’ I said, but it sounds more like a second verse to me. Maybe we should try to paint some pictures first...
- 11/10/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz discussed how the band’s supervisor, Don Kirshner, helped them. Dolenz dumped ice on Kirshner and that became an “urban legend.” Kirhsner was later dismissed.
The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz said the band often improvised on TV. Subsequently, he dumped ice on The Monkees’ supervisor, Don Kirshner, in the studio. Kirshner then told Dolenz how he expected to be treated.
Micky Dolenz dumped ice on The Monkees’ supervisor because he said something silly
Don Kirshner was The Monkees’ music supervisor. During a 2020 interview with Forbes, Dolenz discussed a famous anecdote about Kirshner. “Donnie Kirshner was responsible to some degree in picking The Monkees songs because he was head of Screen Gems Columbia Music in the famous Brill Building in New York,” he said. “He was the Brill Building during that period, along with those incredible writers like Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Carole King and Gerry Goffin,...
The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz discussed how the band’s supervisor, Don Kirshner, helped them. Dolenz dumped ice on Kirshner and that became an “urban legend.” Kirhsner was later dismissed.
The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz said the band often improvised on TV. Subsequently, he dumped ice on The Monkees’ supervisor, Don Kirshner, in the studio. Kirshner then told Dolenz how he expected to be treated.
Micky Dolenz dumped ice on The Monkees’ supervisor because he said something silly
Don Kirshner was The Monkees’ music supervisor. During a 2020 interview with Forbes, Dolenz discussed a famous anecdote about Kirshner. “Donnie Kirshner was responsible to some degree in picking The Monkees songs because he was head of Screen Gems Columbia Music in the famous Brill Building in New York,” he said. “He was the Brill Building during that period, along with those incredible writers like Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Carole King and Gerry Goffin,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
One of The Monkees’ songs caused the band’s music supervisor to fall silent. He decided the track should be a single on the spot. The tune was a big hit in the United States and a modest hit in the United Kingdom.
One of The Monkees‘ songs was partially improvised in front of the band’s music supervisor, Don Kirshner. He immediately predicted the track would become a hit. Subsequently, The Monkees never had another top 10 single in the United States.
Several of The Monkees’ songs were written by a famous duo
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote several famous Monkees songs such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I Wanna Be Free,” and “(Theme From) The Monkees” under the name Boyce & Hart. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart said he and Boyce partly improvised The Monkees’ “Valleri” in front of Kirshner.
One of The Monkees’ songs caused the band’s music supervisor to fall silent. He decided the track should be a single on the spot. The tune was a big hit in the United States and a modest hit in the United Kingdom.
One of The Monkees‘ songs was partially improvised in front of the band’s music supervisor, Don Kirshner. He immediately predicted the track would become a hit. Subsequently, The Monkees never had another top 10 single in the United States.
Several of The Monkees’ songs were written by a famous duo
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote several famous Monkees songs such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I Wanna Be Free,” and “(Theme From) The Monkees” under the name Boyce & Hart. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart said he and Boyce partly improvised The Monkees’ “Valleri” in front of Kirshner.
- 8/1/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
Bobby Hart wrote many songs for both The Monkees and The Partridge Family. Hart explained how he got a job writing for The Partridge Family. The Partridge Family only had one No. 1 single in the United States. The Partridge Family | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
One of The Monkees‘ songwriters wrote songs for The Partridge Family. Subsequently, he explained how another songwriter helped him get a job writing for The Partridge Family. Notably, The Partridge Family beat one of The Monkees’ records.
2 of The Monkees’ songwriters left the band’s production company
Bobby Hart co-wrote many Monkees songs with Tommy Boyce, such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I Wanna Be Free,” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.” In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed fellow songwriter Wes Farrell.
“Wes Farrell had recently moved to L.A. to produce...
Bobby Hart wrote many songs for both The Monkees and The Partridge Family. Hart explained how he got a job writing for The Partridge Family. The Partridge Family only had one No. 1 single in the United States. The Partridge Family | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
One of The Monkees‘ songwriters wrote songs for The Partridge Family. Subsequently, he explained how another songwriter helped him get a job writing for The Partridge Family. Notably, The Partridge Family beat one of The Monkees’ records.
2 of The Monkees’ songwriters left the band’s production company
Bobby Hart co-wrote many Monkees songs with Tommy Boyce, such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I Wanna Be Free,” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.” In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed fellow songwriter Wes Farrell.
“Wes Farrell had recently moved to L.A. to produce...
- 4/13/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
One of The Monkees’ songwriters pitched songs to Helen Reddy repeatedly. She liked one of them but would only record it under one condition. Reddy’s song became a hit single in the United States. Helen Reddy | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
One songwriter wrote many of The Monkees‘ songs. In addition, he wrote a song Helen Reddy liked so much she decided to cover it. Reddy revealed she really connected to the lyrics of the song after her father died.
The Monkees’ songwriter wrote an average of over 50 songs a year for 5 years
Bobby Hart co-wrote many of The Monkees’ songs, including “Last Train to Clarksville,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” and “(Theme From) The Monkees.” In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart recalled working with songwriter Danny Janssen.
Hart and Janssen wrote over 50 songs per year for a five-year period.
One of The Monkees’ songwriters pitched songs to Helen Reddy repeatedly. She liked one of them but would only record it under one condition. Reddy’s song became a hit single in the United States. Helen Reddy | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
One songwriter wrote many of The Monkees‘ songs. In addition, he wrote a song Helen Reddy liked so much she decided to cover it. Reddy revealed she really connected to the lyrics of the song after her father died.
The Monkees’ songwriter wrote an average of over 50 songs a year for 5 years
Bobby Hart co-wrote many of The Monkees’ songs, including “Last Train to Clarksville,” “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” and “(Theme From) The Monkees.” In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart recalled working with songwriter Danny Janssen.
Hart and Janssen wrote over 50 songs per year for a five-year period.
- 4/6/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees were lucky enough to have prolific songwriters working behind the scenes to craft songs for their music catalog. Many came from New York’s Brill Building, where they worked for the show’s music producer, Don Kirshner. One of these songwriters was Carole King, who, along with her husband Gerry Goffin, wrote tunes on almost every Monkees album except one, perhaps the most important of the band’s career.
Carole King wrote some of The Monkees’ most beloved hits but was excluded from one album | Michael Ochs Archives/Jim McCrary/Getty Images/ The Monkees’ biggest hits came from the songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin
Don Kirshner handpicked husband and wife songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin to write songs for The Monkees. King’s music and Goffin’s lyrics perfectly captured the pop sensibilities of the 1960s.
Together and separately, King and Goffin wrote songs...
Carole King wrote some of The Monkees’ most beloved hits but was excluded from one album | Michael Ochs Archives/Jim McCrary/Getty Images/ The Monkees’ biggest hits came from the songwriting team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin
Don Kirshner handpicked husband and wife songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin to write songs for The Monkees. King’s music and Goffin’s lyrics perfectly captured the pop sensibilities of the 1960s.
Together and separately, King and Goffin wrote songs...
- 4/3/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
One of The Monkees’ songs was inspired by The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” Another one of The Monkees’ songs was inspired by The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” The latter song has a classic opening guitar riff. The Beatles | Fiona Adams / Contributor
The Beatles‘ songs and The Monkees’ songs often get compared to one another. Some Monkees songs have an awesome Beatles vibe. For example, one Prefab Four tune was consciously inspired by “Yesterday.”
4. ‘Let’s Dance On’
“Let’s Dance On” is a great dance song. It has a bit of a resemblance to The Beatles’ version of “Twist and Shout.” Regardless, “Let’s Dance On” is one of the best tunes from The Monkees’ self-titled album. “Let’s Dance On” probably could have been a hit single but, alas, it languishes in obscurity. Hopefully, a new movie or show will make “Let’s Dance On” famous.
3. ‘I Wanna Be Free’
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart,...
One of The Monkees’ songs was inspired by The Beatles’ “Yesterday.” Another one of The Monkees’ songs was inspired by The Beatles’ “Day Tripper.” The latter song has a classic opening guitar riff. The Beatles | Fiona Adams / Contributor
The Beatles‘ songs and The Monkees’ songs often get compared to one another. Some Monkees songs have an awesome Beatles vibe. For example, one Prefab Four tune was consciously inspired by “Yesterday.”
4. ‘Let’s Dance On’
“Let’s Dance On” is a great dance song. It has a bit of a resemblance to The Beatles’ version of “Twist and Shout.” Regardless, “Let’s Dance On” is one of the best tunes from The Monkees’ self-titled album. “Let’s Dance On” probably could have been a hit single but, alas, it languishes in obscurity. Hopefully, a new movie or show will make “Let’s Dance On” famous.
3. ‘I Wanna Be Free’
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” became their first hit in the United States. It became a No. 1 single in the U.S. and its parent album was even more successful. The song was not nearly as popular when it was released in the United Kingdom. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The first version of The Monkees‘ “Last Train to Clarksville” came together in 45 minutes. That version of the song had no lead vocals. Subsequently, Micky Dolenz added his magic to the track.
A songwriter behind The Monkees’ ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ tells all
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart co-wrote many Monkees songs under the name Boyce & Hart. In Hart’s 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed how the first version of “Last Train to Clarksville” came together in the studio.
“The Musicians’ Union allowed music producers to...
The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” became their first hit in the United States. It became a No. 1 single in the U.S. and its parent album was even more successful. The song was not nearly as popular when it was released in the United Kingdom. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The first version of The Monkees‘ “Last Train to Clarksville” came together in 45 minutes. That version of the song had no lead vocals. Subsequently, Micky Dolenz added his magic to the track.
A songwriter behind The Monkees’ ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ tells all
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart co-wrote many Monkees songs under the name Boyce & Hart. In Hart’s 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed how the first version of “Last Train to Clarksville” came together in the studio.
“The Musicians’ Union allowed music producers to...
- 3/30/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mike Nesmith was a songwriter ahead of his success with The Monkees. Therefore, he felt a kinship with other like-minded people who also found creative release in this job. He was lucky enough to work alongside some of the greatest writers in the industry for The Monkees. Carole King was one of these songwriters. However, for as much as he “loved” King, Nesmith claimed, “I just can’t stand her records.”
Mike Nesmith and Carole King collaborated on Monkees hits | Fox Photos/Jim McCrary/Redferns/Getty Images How many songs did Carole King write for The Monkees?
Carole King was one of the dozen or more songwriters enlisted to write music for The Monkees’ television series. King was among the many songwriters associated with Don Kirshner of New York’s The Brill Building.
King and her husband Gerry Goffin wrote for The Monkees. So did Tommy Boyce, Neil Diamond, Bobby Hart,...
Mike Nesmith and Carole King collaborated on Monkees hits | Fox Photos/Jim McCrary/Redferns/Getty Images How many songs did Carole King write for The Monkees?
Carole King was one of the dozen or more songwriters enlisted to write music for The Monkees’ television series. King was among the many songwriters associated with Don Kirshner of New York’s The Brill Building.
King and her husband Gerry Goffin wrote for The Monkees. So did Tommy Boyce, Neil Diamond, Bobby Hart,...
- 3/15/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Lovin’ Spoonful tried out for The Monkees’ show.The Monkees’ creators chose not to cast The Lovin’ Spoonful in the program.The Lovin’ Spoonful had many hit singles in the United States. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The Lovin’ Spoonful tried out for the television program that became The Monkees‘ show. The Monkees’ creators had a strong reaction to their audition. Despite this, they decided not to cast The Lovin’ Spoonful.
The Monkees’ co-creator said the Prefab Four’s show was inspired by his time as a teenage musician
Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were the co-creators of The Monkees. The band has long been compared to The Beatles. During a 2012 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Rafelson discussed how the premise of the show came together.
“This was a show I had written six years before The Beatles existed, and the pilot was based on...
The Lovin’ Spoonful tried out for The Monkees’ show.The Monkees’ creators chose not to cast The Lovin’ Spoonful in the program.The Lovin’ Spoonful had many hit singles in the United States. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The Lovin’ Spoonful tried out for the television program that became The Monkees‘ show. The Monkees’ creators had a strong reaction to their audition. Despite this, they decided not to cast The Lovin’ Spoonful.
The Monkees’ co-creator said the Prefab Four’s show was inspired by his time as a teenage musician
Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were the co-creators of The Monkees. The band has long been compared to The Beatles. During a 2012 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Rafelson discussed how the premise of the show came together.
“This was a show I had written six years before The Beatles existed, and the pilot was based on...
- 2/15/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds worked with the same group of musicians. Despite this, The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz felt only his group took heat for it. Notably, the musicians in question worked on one of The Beach Boys’ most famous albums.
The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer The Monkees’ Mike Nesmith revealed to the press that the Prefab Four didn’t record their own music
Bobby Hart co-wrote many of The Monkees’ songs. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed an incident that changed the trajectory of the Prefab Four’s career.
“During that first Monkees’ tour, an increasingly confrontational Michael Nesmith stoked the media fire in a Saturday Evening Post interview: ‘Tell the world we’re synthetic because, damn it, we are,'” Hart quoted. “‘Tell them The Monkees are wholly man-made overnight, and that millions...
The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer The Monkees’ Mike Nesmith revealed to the press that the Prefab Four didn’t record their own music
Bobby Hart co-wrote many of The Monkees’ songs. In his 2015 book Psychedelic Bubble Gum: Boyce & Hart, The Monkees, and Turning Mayhem Into Miracles, Hart discussed an incident that changed the trajectory of the Prefab Four’s career.
“During that first Monkees’ tour, an increasingly confrontational Michael Nesmith stoked the media fire in a Saturday Evening Post interview: ‘Tell the world we’re synthetic because, damn it, we are,'” Hart quoted. “‘Tell them The Monkees are wholly man-made overnight, and that millions...
- 2/13/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Monkees bassist Peter Tork spent most of his time as a band member singing backup for Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, and Micky Dolenz. But, when given a chance to sing lead on songs such as “Your Auntie Grizelda” and “Come on In,” Peter’s vocal abilities shone through. However, there was one song on the band’s third album, Headquarters, that Peter regretted not singing lead on. He later admitted, “I should’ve fought to do it.”
Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork | Getty Images/Bettmann Peter Tork once joked he ‘forgot’ to sing songs outside Monkees tunes
Peter played the role of the clown on The Monkees television show. However, behind the scenes, he was the most accomplished musician with the most natural abilities in the group, and that was no joke.
The Monkees musical director Don Kirshner and producers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart...
Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork | Getty Images/Bettmann Peter Tork once joked he ‘forgot’ to sing songs outside Monkees tunes
Peter played the role of the clown on The Monkees television show. However, behind the scenes, he was the most accomplished musician with the most natural abilities in the group, and that was no joke.
The Monkees musical director Don Kirshner and producers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart...
- 2/7/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Tl;Dr:
The Monkees’ “Shades of Grey” was written by a pair of songwriters Peter Tork called “masters.”Mike Nesmith added his own twist to the song even though he did not write it.“Shades of Grey” appeared on the first Prefab Four album that featured major input from the band. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The Monkees‘ “Shade of Grey” wasn’t written by any of the Prefab Four. Despite this, Mike Nesmith added horn and cello sections to the song. The tune appeared on a famous album.
Peter Tork said 1 of the members of The Monkees was 1 of the best singers in the history of pop music
During a 2013 interview with Guitar World, Tork discussed had some very kind things to say about The Monkees. “Mike and Davy had splendid timing,” he opined.
“They should’ve been the rhythm section,” he added. “I’m a better guitar...
The Monkees’ “Shades of Grey” was written by a pair of songwriters Peter Tork called “masters.”Mike Nesmith added his own twist to the song even though he did not write it.“Shades of Grey” appeared on the first Prefab Four album that featured major input from the band. The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer
The Monkees‘ “Shade of Grey” wasn’t written by any of the Prefab Four. Despite this, Mike Nesmith added horn and cello sections to the song. The tune appeared on a famous album.
Peter Tork said 1 of the members of The Monkees was 1 of the best singers in the history of pop music
During a 2013 interview with Guitar World, Tork discussed had some very kind things to say about The Monkees. “Mike and Davy had splendid timing,” he opined.
“They should’ve been the rhythm section,” he added. “I’m a better guitar...
- 1/29/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Click here to read the full article.
Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.
The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote Ragtime and Anastasia, as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”
Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith — whose songs include “Because the Night” and “Dancing Barefoot” — and Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It.” Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.
Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees...
Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.
The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote Ragtime and Anastasia, as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”
Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith — whose songs include “Because the Night” and “Dancing Barefoot” — and Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It.” Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.
Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees...
- 11/14/2022
- by Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died. He was 89.
Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).
Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the...
Bob Rafelson, the writer, director, producer and maverick who set the tone for the swinging, psychedelic 1960s with The Monkees, then was a pioneer in one of the most influential eras in the history of independent film, has died. He was 89.
Rafelson, who collaborated with Jack Nicholson on seven features, including the classics Easy Rider (1969), Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), died Saturday night of natural causes at his home in Aspen, Colorado, his wife, Gabrielle, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rafelson earned Oscar nominations for co-writing and producing Five Easy Pieces and then, for an encore, produced Peter Bogdanovich‘s breakthrough hit, The Last Picture Show (1971).
Along with his late partner Bert Schneider, Rafelson created The Monkees, the touchstone NBC show that debuted in 1966. He conceived the idea of a program that mimicked the exuberance of The Beatles, specifically the...
- 7/24/2022
- by Chris Koseluk
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tony Sokol Feb 21, 2019
Multi-instrumentalist Peter Tork insisted The Monkees play their own music on the pre-fab four's records.
Peter Tork of the 1960s TV-band-turned-real-band The Monkees, died from complications of a rare form of cancer on Thursday at a family home in eastern Connecticut. He was 77.
"Our beloved Peter passed away peacefully today at the age of 77. His talent, charm and humor were undeniable and he had the rare honor of bringing joy and music to multiple generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans around the world.," an announcement on The Monkees' official Facebook page reads.
"Peter Tork died this Am. I am told he slipped away peacefully," Michael Nesmith said in a statement. "Yet, as I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure.
Multi-instrumentalist Peter Tork insisted The Monkees play their own music on the pre-fab four's records.
Peter Tork of the 1960s TV-band-turned-real-band The Monkees, died from complications of a rare form of cancer on Thursday at a family home in eastern Connecticut. He was 77.
"Our beloved Peter passed away peacefully today at the age of 77. His talent, charm and humor were undeniable and he had the rare honor of bringing joy and music to multiple generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans around the world.," an announcement on The Monkees' official Facebook page reads.
"Peter Tork died this Am. I am told he slipped away peacefully," Michael Nesmith said in a statement. "Yet, as I write this my tears are awash, and my heart is broken. Even though I am clinging to the idea that we all continue, the pain that attends these passings has no cure.
- 2/22/2019
- Den of Geek
When was the last time you thought about The Iron Horse? Or The Time Tunnel? How about The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.? All are television shows that premiered the second week of September in 1966, and all have effectively faded from memory. Not so with The Monkees, the groundbreaking TV-music-performance project that ran amok across the late '60s pop cultural landscape like Frankenstein's multimedia monster. 50 years later, it's still very much alive.
Earlier this year, the three surviving Monkees reunited in the studio with producer Adam Schlesinger – a veteran of the uber-poppy Fountains of Wayne and the tunesmith behind the brilliant...
Earlier this year, the three surviving Monkees reunited in the studio with producer Adam Schlesinger – a veteran of the uber-poppy Fountains of Wayne and the tunesmith behind the brilliant...
- 9/30/2016
- by Jordan Runtagh, @jordanruntagh
- People.com - TV Watch
When was the last time you thought about The Iron Horse? Or The Time Tunnel? How about The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.? All are television shows that premiered the second week of September in 1966, and all have effectively faded from memory. Not so with The Monkees, the groundbreaking TV-music-performance project that ran amok across the late '60s pop cultural landscape like Frankenstein's multimedia monster. 50 years later, it's still very much alive. Earlier this year, the three surviving Monkees reunited in the studio with producer Adam Schlesinger - a veteran of the uber-poppy Fountains of Wayne and the tunesmith behind the...
- 9/30/2016
- by Jordan Runtagh, @jordanruntagh
- PEOPLE.com
Chicago – The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival – Cimm Fest 6 – kicks off on May 1st, 2014, with a fantastic music documentary and music events throughout the night. The Cimm Fest 6 runs throughout the weekend of May 1st-4th, with a complete schedule of movie and music happenings, including a panel appearance on May 3rd by HollywoodChicago.com Senior Writer Patrick McDonald and contributor David J. Fowlie.
‘Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart: The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em’ Kicks Off Cimm Fest 6 on May 1st
Photo credit: Cimm Fest 6
The Festival kicks off with the music documentary “Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart: The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em.” This film chronicles the team who wrote many of the hits for the rock group “The Monkees” in the 1960s, including “Last Train to Clarksville” and “Hey Hey, We’re the Monkees.” The documentary uses their own movies, photos and personal archives to tell this historic rock and roll story.
‘Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart: The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em’ Kicks Off Cimm Fest 6 on May 1st
Photo credit: Cimm Fest 6
The Festival kicks off with the music documentary “Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart: The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em.” This film chronicles the team who wrote many of the hits for the rock group “The Monkees” in the 1960s, including “Last Train to Clarksville” and “Hey Hey, We’re the Monkees.” The documentary uses their own movies, photos and personal archives to tell this historic rock and roll story.
- 5/1/2014
- by [email protected] (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
When was the last time you believed in daydreams (let alone indulged in them), white knights on steeds or waking up at six in the morning with a homecoming queen beside you?
All that was made possible by an impish British invasion with a sometimes lead singer named Davy Jones for a manufactured pop group called The Monkees. Mr. Jones passed away on Wednesday, February 29th, and with his untimely demise (he was only 66), so too is yet another window pane shattered in the rapidly vanishing chimera of my generation's youth.
"We're just tryin' to be friendly, come and watch us sing and play, we're the young generation, and we've got something to say," composed Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce for The Monkees TV show theme song. How long has it been since we sang and played? Remember being thought of as "the young generation?" I'm 53, born towards the end...
All that was made possible by an impish British invasion with a sometimes lead singer named Davy Jones for a manufactured pop group called The Monkees. Mr. Jones passed away on Wednesday, February 29th, and with his untimely demise (he was only 66), so too is yet another window pane shattered in the rapidly vanishing chimera of my generation's youth.
"We're just tryin' to be friendly, come and watch us sing and play, we're the young generation, and we've got something to say," composed Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce for The Monkees TV show theme song. How long has it been since we sang and played? Remember being thought of as "the young generation?" I'm 53, born towards the end...
- 3/2/2012
- by Howard Barbanel
- Aol TV.
Jones, who died Wednesday, was one of the original multimedia teen dreams.
By Gil Kaufman
Davy Jones in 1967
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image
There had been plenty of teen heartthrobs before: from Elvis Presley, Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka in the 1950s to Ricky Nelson, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the 1960s.
But few of them worked the angles like Davy Jones did. The Monkees singer, who died on Wednesday near his Florida home of a heart attack at age 66, was one of the original multimedia teen dreams. Before Justin Bieber blitzkrieged his fans with movies, music, perfumes and nail polish, prior to Miley Cyrus' triple-dipping in TV, movies and music, Jones made the girls cry every Monday night for two years during the prime-time run of "The Monkees," and then did it again when the group hit the road and the toy-store shelves.
Unlike his...
By Gil Kaufman
Davy Jones in 1967
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image
There had been plenty of teen heartthrobs before: from Elvis Presley, Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka in the 1950s to Ricky Nelson, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the 1960s.
But few of them worked the angles like Davy Jones did. The Monkees singer, who died on Wednesday near his Florida home of a heart attack at age 66, was one of the original multimedia teen dreams. Before Justin Bieber blitzkrieged his fans with movies, music, perfumes and nail polish, prior to Miley Cyrus' triple-dipping in TV, movies and music, Jones made the girls cry every Monday night for two years during the prime-time run of "The Monkees," and then did it again when the group hit the road and the toy-store shelves.
Unlike his...
- 3/1/2012
- MTV Music News
The death of Davy Jones should give us pause to remember that the Monkees were one of the great groups of the 1960s
In the Purcell Room in London last night, a panel of pop sages – Jon Savage, Nicky Wire and Alexis Petridis – chose the TV moment that made them realise pop music was the key to their future, something that could open up their lives. Respectively, they picked the Rolling Stones, the Smiths, and Adam & the Ants; all three groups were inspirational but all equally seemed unattainable, otherworldly.
The Monkees were the exact opposite. Two or three generations of musicians will have grown up watching their show on Saturday mornings, or in the summer holidays, thinking: "I want to be like them." Their lifestyle was highly desirable and didn't seem impossible: form a band, move into a ramshackle flat together, meet loads of girls. At least, Davy Jones, who died yesterday,...
In the Purcell Room in London last night, a panel of pop sages – Jon Savage, Nicky Wire and Alexis Petridis – chose the TV moment that made them realise pop music was the key to their future, something that could open up their lives. Respectively, they picked the Rolling Stones, the Smiths, and Adam & the Ants; all three groups were inspirational but all equally seemed unattainable, otherworldly.
The Monkees were the exact opposite. Two or three generations of musicians will have grown up watching their show on Saturday mornings, or in the summer holidays, thinking: "I want to be like them." Their lifestyle was highly desirable and didn't seem impossible: form a band, move into a ramshackle flat together, meet loads of girls. At least, Davy Jones, who died yesterday,...
- 3/1/2012
- by Bob Stanley
- The Guardian - Film News
by Steve Dollar
Not everything we take for granted in a moviegoing life was always a fait accompli. Though it encompasses seven films released between 1968 and 1971, America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story may feel like a fin-de-siècle time capsule of the Sixties—now variously fossilized, romanticized and idealized—but it's also a jolt. The shotgun blast that ends Easy Rider, the most mythologized film in the collection, may have symbolically killed off an era and its utopian concepts of freedom, but it also signaled the arrival of a surging wave in American movies. The New Hollywood, if you will, emergent with all its anxieties, ambivalences, confusions and candor ratcheted up to a definitive pitch.
The production house as countercultural engine room, Bbs took its name from the first initials of its three principals. Writer-director-producer Bob Rafelson and producer Bert Schneider, who had made a bundle hijacking my childhood with...
Not everything we take for granted in a moviegoing life was always a fait accompli. Though it encompasses seven films released between 1968 and 1971, America Lost and Found: The Bbs Story may feel like a fin-de-siècle time capsule of the Sixties—now variously fossilized, romanticized and idealized—but it's also a jolt. The shotgun blast that ends Easy Rider, the most mythologized film in the collection, may have symbolically killed off an era and its utopian concepts of freedom, but it also signaled the arrival of a surging wave in American movies. The New Hollywood, if you will, emergent with all its anxieties, ambivalences, confusions and candor ratcheted up to a definitive pitch.
The production house as countercultural engine room, Bbs took its name from the first initials of its three principals. Writer-director-producer Bob Rafelson and producer Bert Schneider, who had made a bundle hijacking my childhood with...
- 11/28/2010
- GreenCine Daily
As many Criterion fans are surely aware, the cult film Head, starring The Monkees, will soon be released as part of the box set America Lost And Found: The Bbs Story. Preceding this cinematic bonanza by a month, Rhino Handmade will be releasing an expanded 3-cd edition of the film’s soundtrack on October 26, chock-full of previously unreleased goodies and rarities.
While this will certainly appeal more to hardcore Monkees fans than the average Criterion collector, it is worth noting that The Monkees’ music is not without merit, and the Head soundtrack in particular was one of their more adventurous albums.
From the get-go as a pop band manufactured for television in 1966 by Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, The Monkees chafed under the control of music coordinator Don Kirshner, who commissioned songs to be written (by professional songwriters such as Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and Harry Nilsson) and...
While this will certainly appeal more to hardcore Monkees fans than the average Criterion collector, it is worth noting that The Monkees’ music is not without merit, and the Head soundtrack in particular was one of their more adventurous albums.
From the get-go as a pop band manufactured for television in 1966 by Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson, The Monkees chafed under the control of music coordinator Don Kirshner, who commissioned songs to be written (by professional songwriters such as Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart, and Harry Nilsson) and...
- 9/10/2010
- by West Anthony
- CriterionCast
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