“The 1st Monkees Reunion, Sort Of…”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #139: Sep 2022
By: MrZerr0 aka RLSchwinden
MrZerr0 remembers;
The 70s SuperGroup : Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart.
I first met Tommy Boyce in downtown Des Moines, Iowa in June 1986, I then met Bobby Hart in Chicago, IL. in Aug 1990, and David Jones in Feb 1991 in Des Moines, IA. and finally Micky Dolenz in Evansville, IN. in June 1991.
In 1964 two songwriters joined forces: Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart:
Sidney Thomas Boyce; 29 September 1939: Charlottesville,VA. – November 23, 1994
Robert Luke Harshman; 18 February 1939: Phoenix, AZ.
Together they wrote over 300 songs, including 27 for “The Monkees” and from 1967 to 1969 they released 3 Albums and 8 Singles with 4 songs on The Billboard Charts: “Out And About” (#39) “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite” (#8) “Goodbye Baby” (#53) & “Alice Long” (#27) The Duo even recorded 3 crossover songs with The Monkees: “I Wanna Be Free” “Teardrop City” & “P.O.Box 9847” both artists releasing their own versions.
In 1965 four young men were brought together to be the TV Show “The Monkees” from late 1965 to early 1971 they released 11 Albums and 14 Singles, during that time period.
David Thomas Jones: 30 Dec 1945; Manchester, ENG. – 29 Feb 2012.
George Michael Dolenz: 8 Mar 1945; Los Angeles, CA.
Peter Tork: 13 Feb 1942; Washington DC. – 21 Feb 2019.
Robert Michael Nesmith: 30 Dec 1942; Houston, TX – 10 Dec 2021.
Boyce And Hart wrote the Billboard Hits: “Last Train To Clarksville” (#1) “(INY) SteppinStone” (#20) “Words” (#11) “Valleri” (#3) “Teardrop City” (#56) including “(TF) The Monkees” as well as Boyce And Hart had a song on every single Monkees LP.
In 1974 The Monkees TV Show was in afternoon syndication and the 4 Monkees were approached by McDonald’s for the 4 Monkees to make a commercial for the fast food chain, however Tork being a vegetarian felt it was against his beliefs to participate and declined, McDonald’s wanted all 4 Monkees so this never came to pass. Then later in 1974 and a concert promoter approached The 4 Monkees to embark on a “Reunion Tour” this time Tork was willing, however Nesmith would only go on tour if there was an album of new material to support, though Nesmith owned his own Record Label the promoter was unwilling to fund recording sessions, and so this too did not come to pass.
So in 1975, I believe it was David Jones who had the brilliant idea to call up their old song writing buddies Boyce & Hart. As none of these 4 really had much going on in ’74, Dolenz had a single out with ‘Starship’ “Johnny B. Goode b/w Ooh She’s Young” Hart had a single as well “Hard Core Man” but Jones’ last single was in 1972, he had appeared in the cartoon film “Oliver Twist” in ’74. Boyce’s last release was in 1973 as ‘Christopher Cloud’ so it just made sense for this quartet to combine forces, only problem they could not use the name ‘The Monkees’ as Columbia Pictures would not license it out to them. And so they embarked on a tour that started in June 1975 through August 1976 performing over 70 concerts. Tork did make several appearances with the group in Calif. The band played 6 dates in MN. 3 in June 1975 in: New Brighton at Bel Rae Ballroom, Gibbons at The Ballroom, Waconia at Paradise Ballroom and then 3 more again in Dec 1975; Carlton at NorthStar Ballroom, Mounds View at Bel Rae Ballroom, Waconia at Paradise Ballroom. A typical setlist would be;
Last Train to Clarksville,
Medley: Valleri, Daydream Believer, A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You.
I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite (B&H)
(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone (M)
I Wanna Be Free (M)
I Remember the Feeling (DJBH)
Savin’ My Love for You (DJBH)
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 (M)
A Teenager in Love (DJBH) Dion Cover
Right Now (DJBH)
She: with comedy sketch (M)
Alice Long (You’re Still My Favourite Girlfriend) (B&H)
I Love You (And I’m Glad That I Said It)
Action (Revere & Raiders Cover)
I’m a Believer (M)
(Theme From) The Monkees (M)
Cuddly Toy (M)
I’m a Believer (M)
Their backing band was:
Keith Allison – guitar, vocals (from Paul Revere & Raiders)
Steve Johnson – keyboards
Rick Tierny – bass
Jerry Summers – drums
Being a former TV Show, it only makes sense to promote yourself on current TV Shows, and so they did, remarkably I actually saw the “American Bandstand” airing on a Saturday afternoon when we lived in Miss. I remember our neighbor Rolinda saying about the same time “The Monkees, why do you like The Monkees, you don’t hear much from them anymore” I replied “I just saw them last week on American Bandstand!” Here is some of the TV appearances that I know of:
“Dinah” 21 Jan 1976
“Rock Concert” 14 Feb 1976
“Mike Douglas Show” 27 Feb 1976
“American Bandstand” 13 Mar 1976
Audio Releases:
*Albums:
‘Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart’ 29 May 1976
Capitol #ST-11513
(no less than 5 other musicians from the Monkees recordings appeared on this album)
“The Monkees Greatest Hits” July 1976
Arista #AL-4089
(including 5 songs written by: Boyce & Hart)
‘Concert In Japan’ recorded 20 July 1976
August 1981Toshiba-EMI (my copy is signed by all 4 members)
‘Tails Of The Monkees’: 1983
Silhouette Music #SM-10012
(Live Bootleg of DJBH)
Tommy Boyce wrote that he “Wrote their next hit single (I Remember The Feeling) in an airport in Des Moines, Iowa (Aug 1975)
*45 Singles:
“I Remember The Feeling b/w You And I”
1976- Capitol #4180
with a Promo Video
“I Love You (AIGTISI) b/w Saving My Love For You”
1976- Capitol #4271
As: ‘Micky, Davy & Peter’
“Christmas Is My Time Of Year b/w White Christmas”
1976- C. Douglas Christmas Records #CDS-700
(A Side is a Turtles Cover)
*Betamax
“Great Golden Hits Of The Monkees Show” (21 min)
Produced By: MIcky Dolenz
Including a rapping skit, 3 interviews (-Boyce) and the 2 Medleys from the live concerts and several Monkees songs.
*FYI
Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello Show 2022: Episode #232
Is on: “Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart”
You can hear it for FREE at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast
I play songs from The Monkees, Boyce & Hart, a Solo song from each Member and several “DJBH” Songs too.
You can hear my 2 other- past Radio Shows “Evolation” and “Hits And History”
at www.MixCloud.Com under “Mr Zeros”
Check out my Weekly Radio Show:
7:30am Sundays on WDGY
Hudson, Wis. & St. Paul, MN. (CST)
740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1
Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville- St. Paul, MN.
55113
Where Nerd Is The Word
Classic Music
Retro Toys
Vintage Video Games
& Movies too …
And That’s IT!
Leave a Reply