Monday, May 03, 2021

It's Mike Nesmith Week: Part I -- Linda Freaking Who?

From the about to be released album Dolenz Sings Nesmith -- which drops, as today's kids say, on May 20th -- please enjoy former Circus Boy Micky Dolenz and the greatest cover of his bandmate's big hit "Different Drum" ever committed to the digital domain.

I don't know who produced and arranged that -- and I can guarantee I'm gonna buy the album to find out -- but it's brilliant; I'm talking Tom Petty/Full Moon Fever brilliant, which is to say the song has never sounded more gorgeous by anybody, including the song's composer. You know -- kind of like Petty's cover of "Feel a Whole Lot Better." (I don't know who the harp player is, but it would't surprise me if it turned out to be the guy from Blues Traveller.)

Tomorrow: Not only a great Nesmith song, but a great Nesmith story from my personal collection.

PS: Have I mentioned that Jann Wenner can go fuck himself for not allowing The Monkees to inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame? Thank you.

10 comments:

edward said...

Never knew you were a fan of the Nez (figured you would have plugged his memoir from a few years ago). For all you aspiring Nesmith fans, you can get the box set CD's of his first five great albums for dirt cheap.

Mickey's album sounds intriguing.

Mark said...

Nice, and that does sound like John Popper on harmonica.

steve simels said...

Edward -- thanks for the tip on the Nesmith box set. Just ordered it.

Jim G said...

Nice cover. Ditto on that being John Popper and good call using him/harp on the arrangement.

pete said...

It doesn't sound like John Popper to me, not unless Popper has suddenly developed a sense of melody. If I had to guess, considering that it's probably an LA session, I'd say Joel Tepp, longtime studio ace. (He plays the harmonica on the Rockford Files theme.)

Gummo said...

The production sounds a lot like the Monkees' instant classic 2016 Good Times album (the last good thing to happen in 2016).

MJConroy said...

Produced by Nesmith’s son, Christian Nesmith

edward said...

And tell me that cover art isn't a nod to Nilsson Sings Newman

Alzo said...

Dolenz is a seriously underrated singer. If the Monkees go into the RNR HOF, they've gotta take Boyce & Hart with 'em.

Anonymous said...

Someone still needs to explain how the Supremes qualify for the Hall but not the Monkees. And I love the Supremes and think they are worthy.

Both are manufactured pop groups under the direction of a Svengali. Neither wrote their biggest hits (ex. Nesmith). Neither played instruments (for the most part) on their records.

Neither charted a unique musical direction or legacy.

But both catalogs are awesome. The hits of both helped define am radio in the 60's.

Pure Hall snobbery. Quite a bit of the best rock music was created this way...

Vince