Fall 1965
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart: "(Theme From) The Monkees", "Let's Dance On", "I Wanna Be Free"
P: Boyce/Hart
Boyce and Hart recorded their own demos of the songs for the pilot episode of the TV series. A short version of the theme song and both fast and slow versions of "I Wanna Be Free" were recorded. Presumably, the backing track of "(Theme)" was used later for both theTV version of the song and the alternate version found as a bonus track on Rhino's CD of the debut album. The Boyce and Hart demos remain on the original (unaired) edit of the pilot episode.
February - April 1966
Rehearsals
The four boys had been chosen as Monkees and filmed the pilot episode of the TV series in the fall of 1965. After the series was sold, the four remet and began to explore musical directions in early 1966. In April of 1966, the group auditioned for Columbia, Capitol, and RCA. Although Capitol offered to sign the group even without its television series, RCA was chosen due to the link with NBC, and the Colgems record label was established.
April 1966
"The Girl I Knew Somewhere"
Others
Presumably, the group recorded the Nesmith composition all on their own with Nesmith on guitar and vocals, Tork on bass and keyboards, and Dolenz on drums. Unfortunately, the recording would not see the light of day due to the recruitment of Don Kirshner as music coordinator of the TV show. Presumably, a large number of other tracks of The Monkees' first efforts were produced as well.
Early 1966
"(Theme From) The Monkees"
P: Boyce/Hart
At the first scheduled recording session with Boyce and Hart, the four were to sing the theme song in unison. Instead, the group ended up in a wrestling match, so the session was called off.
Presumably, Micky Dolenz was later called in to record the vocal for the theme song over the existing backing track Boyce and Hart had produced for the pilot. An early working version including Boyce's and Hart's vocals is included as a bonus track on Rhino's CD of the debut album, whereas the final version of the song is only available on the actual TV show itself and the TV Tunes compilation album.
June 10, 1966
7:00 P.M.-?
"Take A Giant Step", "Let's Dance On"
P: Snuff Garrett
This first official recording session involved a session group of: Sonny Curtis (guitar), Hal Blaine (drums), Larry Knechtel (piano and organ), Ray Pohlman (eight-string bass), and Glen Campbell and James Burton (both 12-string electric guitar). Garrettand arranger Leon Russell recorded "Take A Giant Step" with Davy handling lead vocals plus "Let's Dance On". Basically, clashes between the group and producer resulted in Garrett being released as producer and the two tracks shelved and, unfortunately, eventually lost.
June 25&26, 1966
7:30 P.M.-12:15 A.M.
RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
"All The King's Horses", "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love", "I Don't Think You Know Me"
P: Nesmith
This second session and first produced by Nesmith involved arrangement by Donald Peake; guitarists James Burton, Glen Campbell, and Al Casey; Larry Knechtel on organ; Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon on drums; Gary Coleman on percussion; plus Robert West. Mike and Micky handled all vocals. "All The King's Horses" mysteriously remained unreleased on record until it was included on Rhino's Missing Links, Vol. 2, despite being featured on the television show. "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love" was issued on More Of The Monkees, and "I Don't Think You Know Me" would be left unreleased for many years. Eventually, Rhino released a version of the song with Nesmith vocals on Missing Links, and Micky's version as a bonus on their debut album CD.
July 5, 1966
2:00-7:30 P.M.
RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
"(Theme From) The Monkees", "Tema Dei Monkees", "Let's Dance On", "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be
My Day"
P: Boyce/Hart/Jack Keller
At the insistence of Don Kirshner, Jack Keller supervised Boyce and Hart's first official recording session with the group. The full-length version of the theme song and "Let's Dance On" were recorded with Micky singing lead and Tommy Boyce on backup. The backing track of the theme would later be used again for the Italian B-side to "Valleri" in 1968, "Tema Dei Monkees". Davy sang "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day". The musicians included Bobby Hart's band The Candy Store Prophets: Gerry McGee on guitar, Larry Taylor on bass (who didn't make the session in time for "Let's Dance On" which explains the absence), Hart on organ (and backing vocals on "Let's Dance On"), Billy Lewis on drums, and Gene Estes on percussion. Additional guitarists included Wayne Erwin and Louie Shelton, while Joseph Ditullio played cello on "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day". All three songs were included on the debut album.
July 7, 1966
8:00-11:30 P.M.
Western Recorders Studio #2, Hollywood
"Gonna Buy Me A Dog", "So Goes Love", "Papa Gene's Blues"
P: Nesmith
Basically, sessions for the first album were separated into two camps: Boyce/Hart and Nesmith. Whereas Boyce and Hart only brought in one Monkee at a time after the disastrous aborted session with all four, Nesmith attempted to involve the whole group as much as possible, though due to Kirshner's strict policy, most of the instrumental work was still handled by session musicians. Arranger Don Peake also played guitar along with James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, James Helms, and in the case of "Papa Gene's Blues" Peter Tork. Evidently, this was Tork's first official session work, as Boyce and Hart had rejected him as a vocalist. William Pitman played bass; Hal Blaine, Frank DeVito, and Jim Gordon played drums; and Gary Coleman handled percussive work. Although a version of "Gonna Buy Me A Dog" with Nesmith on vocals was attempted, it was never finished. "So Goes Love" was sung by Davy and would eventually be released on Missing Links. Mike sang lead with Micky on harmony vocals on "Papa Gene's Blues" which was one of two Nesmith songs on the debut album.
July 9, 1994
2:00-9:00 P.M.
RCA Victor Studio C, Hollywood
"Take A Giant Step", "Saturday's Child", "I'll Be True To You"
P: Boyce/Hart
Boyce and Hart's second session, this time without Keller receiving production credit, once again featured only Micky and Davy. The Candy Store Prophets again provided most of the instrumentals with Boyce playing acoustic guitar on "Take A Giant Step" and singing backup on "Saturday's Child". Evidently, Tommy Boyce gave Peter Tork a try on lead vocals for "Saturday's Child" but erased the undesirable results. Jack Keller played piano on "Take A Giant Step"; Bobby Hart played glockenspiel (also on "I'll Be True To You"); and Bob Cooper provided the oboe. Once again, Erwin and Shelton played guitar on these sessions. All three songs were included on the debut album with "Take A Giant Step" also making the B-side of the group's first single.
July 18, 1966
8:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
"Sweet Young Thing", "You Just May Be The One", "I Won't Be The Same Without Her"
P: Nesmith
Essentially the same musicians as those on Nesmith's previous session were used for this session. Michael Deasy replaced James Helms and Don Peake as one of the guitarists, and Bob West was the new bassist. For "Sweet Young Thing", Jimmy Bryant providedthe fiddle. "Sweet Young Thing" was the only song to be immediately released although "You Just May Be The One" was featured prominently on the TV show. This version of the song was finally released on Missing Links, Vol. 2. "I Won't Be The Same Without Her" was left in the can until the release of Instant Replayin 1969 at which time Nesmith added some parts.
July 19, 1966
2:00-7:30 P.M.
RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood
"I Wanna Be Free"
P: Boyce/Hart
Apparently, both the slow and fast versions of this song were produced on this day. For the slow version, the following musicians were used: Gerry McGee and Louie Shelton on guitars; Michael Rubini on harpsichord; Bonnie Douglas and Paul Shure on violins; Myra Kestenbaum on viola; and Fred Seykora on cello. Davy handled the lead vocal on the slow version, and both Micky and Davy sang on the fast version of the song. While both versions of the song werefeatured in the pilot episode of the TV show, the slow version made the album, while the fast version can be found on Missing Links, Vol. 2.
July 23, 1966
2:00-8:00 P.M.
RCA Studio #1, Hollywood
"Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day", "Gonna Buy Me A Dog"
P: Boyce/Hart
This session featured The Candy Store Prophets as well as Wayne Erwin and Louie Shelton. Tommy Boyce played acoustic guitar on "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day", while Keith Allison provided the harmonica. Micky handled the vocal on the former, while both sang and joked on the latter. Both made it onto the album.
July 25&26, 1966
Surprisingly, both Nesmith and Boyce/Hart produced sessions (and in the case of Boyce/Hart, a very long one) on this day at different studios with Micky Dolenz participating in both!
7:00 P.M.-3:00 A.M.
RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood
"Last Train To Clarksville"
RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood
"I Can't Get Her Off My Mind"
P: Boyce/Hart
Although all four Monkees were given tries at singing lead on "Clarksville", Micky Dolenz sang the lead on the released version with The Candy Store Prophets, Wayne Erwin, Louie Shelton, Tommy Boyce (acoustic guitar) and David Walters (percussion) doing the backing track. Unfortunately, the vocal takes from the other three were erased. The tune of course went on to become the group's first release, single, gold record, and #1. It was also included on the album. "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" was recorded with the same band and Davy singing. This early version was finally issued as a bonus on Rhino's CD of the debut album.
Western Recorders Studios, Hollywood
"The Kind Of Girl I Could Love", "Mary, Mary", "Of You"
P: Nesmith
Meanwhile, Nesmith was holding a session nearby. Presumably, none of the work on "The Kind Of Girl I Could Love" was included on the released version on the second album. Micky sang "Mary, Mary" which was released on the second album. "Of You" was leftin the can until Rhino's Missing Links. Essentially the same musicians as on Nesmith's previous sessions were present.
July 26, 1966
Western Recorders Studio #1, Hollywood
"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone", "Whatever's Right"
P: Boyce/Hart
"Steppin' Stone" would be released as the group's second B-side and also on their second album. "Whatever's Right" has never been released. The usual Boyce and Hart musicians were present.