Last Three Monkees Albums of the 1960s Quiz

Answer: Tear Drop City

"Tear Drop City" charted at #56 on Billboard's pop charts in 1969. It was actually recorded around the time of the sessions for the second album, "More Of The Monkees", but left in the can. It was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and was a "sideways 'Last Train to Clarksville.'" "Someday Man" was never on an album, but was on the same single as "Listen To The Band" and a delightful tune in its own right.

Answer: Good Clean Fun

Released as single #5005 from Colgems, "Good Clean Fun" charted at 82 on Billboard's pop charts in 1969. The song has nothing at all to do with good, clean fun, but Mike purposely wrote a song with that title as almost a "middle finger" to a studio executive. The song would probably have charted better if fans would have known what to ask for when they called in to disc jockeys.

Answer: Ticket On A Ferry Ride

"Changes," in all honesty, was not that good of a record. "Oh My My" was the first single from the album, but only charted #98. "Ticket On A Ferry Ride" is my favorite song on the album, and makes the record worth the listen. "Lady Jane," incidentally, was released on a record after "Changes" under the name of "Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones." Davy despised the album, "That was not an album.

It was just Jeff Barry and Andy Kim doing an Andy Kim album. Andy Kim couldn't get it sold." (Liner notes, Rhino reissue)

Answer: Through The Looking Glass

All of these songs were recorded in the very early days, but left in the can. Bobby Hart said that the inspiration for "Through The Looking Glass" was a couple of girls they knew, but with an "Alice In Wonderland" idea.

Answer: Listen to the Band

Mike said that he made up the lyrics just so that he would have something to sing while he was experimenting with country-rock in Nashville. "It's just 'Nine Times Blue' played backwards." "Little Girl" is a fantastic song, played jazz trio style, with Louie Shelton providing some terrific fills.

Answer: Mommy And Daddy

This was the B-side to "Good Clean Fun" and charted #109 on its own. Micky puts in stabs at parental drug abuse, conception, violence and the JFK conspiracy all in 2 minutes in this shocking (for The Monkees, anyway) song. The released version was far tamer, but Lester Sill told Micky that they could not release it in its original form. (And yes, I realize I left a word out, but then it would have been too easy!)

Answer: Oh My My

Frankly, virtually all of the songs from "Changes" are not worth listening to. This means that the only lyrics that I could pull would have the song title in it. That would probably also explain why the album did not chart until Rhino reissued it in 1986, making the original pressing next to impossible to find.

Answer: Shorty Blackwell

This song was very, very strange. It probably has something to do with the "recreational activities" of the times. Micky had his sister Coco sing background.

Answer: Never Tell A Woman Yes

All of these songs are Nez tunes, showing his preference for arbitrarily choosen song titles. "Auntie's Municipal Court" was from "The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees" and "Admiral Mike" is from the 1996 reunion CD "Justus." Strange though he is, Mike is one of my absolute favorite songwriters, period.

Answer: Little Girl

"Little Girl" is the first song on "The Monkees Present" and a wonderful piece of ear candy. Micky wrote the song, and it was arranged by Shorty Rogers with some well-known jazz players playing the backing tracks. (Louie Shelton on guitar, Ray Pohlman on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums.)