Pleasant Valley: Four Friends called Monkees (Thursday, March 24, 2011)

Rest in Peace, Davy Jones, 1945-2012. “Davy Jones, Monkees Singer, Dies at 66,” New York Times.

(This post originally appeared March 24, 2011. )

Remember the Monkees?I was listening to the radio–or rather hearing the radio until I was struck by the airwaves carrying their song, “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”  It is a bit of Byrds, The Who, a little evolved Beach Boys and a healthy dose of Buffalo Springfield.It is a good production.  A lot of people don’t realize the talent that lurked behind the tepid television persona and studio gloss.  Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, and Michael Nesmith.  They were all talented.  They all had stronger personalities than a television show or a canned musical group could contain.  (Maybe they didn’t play all the instruments in the studio, which is not uncommon unless you are Prince, but they were all quite skilled and trained musicians.)

A lot of people also do not realize that some very talented and impactful artists tried out and did not make the cut to be a part of this manufactured group, including the Buffalo Springfield’s Stephen Stills and the Hollies’ Graham Nash.  Thankfully, they both found better things to do.

Before the Monkees, Davy Jones was more disposed to belting out show tunes.  Stephen Stills and Peter Tork were referred to as the “kids who looked alike” during their California days and got to be friends. There are a lot more stories, most not to be found in the reruns.