Bobby Hart at the Monkees Convention!

Bobby Hart-throb

Our favorite songwriter has just been included in the lineup for the 2014 Monkees Convention, Bobby Hart!

Full details of tonight's announcement as quoted from the Eventbrite email (if you aren't on the list, sign up on the Monkee Convention Website!)

New Guest announcements........................!
First we are very excited to announce Rachel Lichtman

! Rachel Lichtman, the talented director who put together the video show for last year's Monkees concert tour, has a new project: an amazing documentary about Monkees songwriters Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart!

Second we are VERY excited to announce...................................
Andrew Sandoval! Sandoval wrote the 2005 book The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation. Mojo magazine said this work was, "...The only Monkees book you need…Essential reading and a poignant primer in how the template was set for today's shooting stars…as close as you'll get to the official word…an engaging document of one of the '60s most important phenomena.”

Last but NOT LEAST...Phyllis Friedman Paganucci

 and Jodi Blau Ritzen

 are beyond EXCITED, THRILLED AND OVER THE TOP About announcing the LEGENDARY BOBBY HART!
In late 1965, they wrote, produced and performed the soundtrack to the pilot of The Monkees, including singing lead vocals (which were later replaced, once the show was cast). In 1966, despite some conflicts with Don Kirshner, who was the show's musical supervisor, they were retained in essentially the same role. It was Boyce and Hart who wrote, produced and recorded (with the help of their band, the Candy Store Prophets) backing tracks for a large portion of the first season of The Monkees, and the band's accompanying debut album.
The Monkees themselves re-recorded their vocals over Boyce and Hart's when it came time to release the songs, including both "(Theme from) The Monkees" and "Last Train to Clarksville," the latter of which was a huge hit. Kirshner suddenly relieved Boyce and Hart as producers, by claiming they were using studio time booked for Monkees songs to record tracks for their own solo project.
After their departure from the Monkees, and the negative publicity that erupted when word got out that the band hadn't played the instruments on their early records, Boyce and Hart were unsure how the Monkees felt about them personally. Attending one of their concerts, though, the duo were spotted in the audience, and singer Davy Jones invited them onstage, to introduce them: "These are the fellows who wrote our great hits — Tommy and Bobby!" Every original Monkees album (except for the Head soundtrack) included Boyce and Hart songs.

Part 2: What an ACTUAL Show is Like

6) "Joshua fit the battle round Jericho"-the first song he learned to play.  And he demonstrates the first two chords he needed to play the song. Look out, Pete Seeger.
Here's Mahalia Jackson doing it on the Nat King Cole Show

He discusses more "songs I cut my teeth with".  Mentions other influences, like Burl Ives, who played Big Daddy in "Cat on A Hot Tin Roof", scared the hell out of him,

7) "The Fox" (Burl Ives recording)

8) "To pass the time away"  (Traditional song, title?)
He says, "I used to put my kids to sleep with this," which was perhaps a shoutout to Hallie, who was in attendance.

He introduces the Banjo, with a confusing story about how Seeger lengthened the neck. (??)

9) "Cripple creek" (Yes, that song from the Touring Episode)


Then a transition from describing his home music environment of Classical,  and the expectation of "harmonic flow" vs Elvis and some quick reference to a radio dj, (name?)  He won't even attempt Little Richard, but his Elvis is fabulous. And funny.


10) "I want You, I need you, I love you" His Elvis impression.  Here's his performance in Buffalo.
He ends it with the same schtick from at least 1998, "Hey, I'm back. Was anyone here while I was gone?" in a performance with James Lee Stanley.  It didn't get a laugh back then either.  I don't take issue with pulling set pieces from different parts of one's repertoire.  I don't understand why he keeps the UNfunny jokes?

Andrew Sandoval is introduced because Peter asks for a chair. Isn't he the Co-Producer? And the guy who just wrote "Monkees Day by Day"?  Shouldn't he get a proper round of applause?  He kinda does, and Peter acknowledges him properly, if awkwardly.  (Ugh, with all the Monkee nerds in the room, you'd think we could get a proper introduction & opportunity to pay reverence to the Ultimate Nerd!)

Peter then gets lost in a ramble about Plastic integrity, which gets one good laugh for irony, but which he then milks for 5 minutes. He flunked out of college twice. Pic with Grandma on the small screen.

He mentions a place called "Socrates Cube" (??) on Sullivan or Thompson. Passing the hat and he'd rattle it, meaning that you were a cheapskate if you gave change.  He wanted the "Swish" of paper.

(Apologies for the terrible photo quality)

Due Credit

Hey Folks,

My goal is to do an annotated written commentary of all 58 episodes of the Monkees' TV Show (with other entries for other Monkees' related stuff).  Everything I know or have learned from the show.  And I want to explain some of their obscure (and obvious) references.

I'm writing this as just another Monkee fan.  I've probably seen the entire series as many times as years I've been alive.  It showed on WLVI, Channel 56 in Boston every summer of my childhood (since age 3, one of the earliest memories I have) and I have watched episodes from the 2003 box set far more times than any adult should.  But what can I say?  They still make me happy and make me laugh out loud.  (And frankly, I think every adult should find something like that.)



These shows were my first lesson in American Pop Culture, and though I am not a Baby Boomer, helped me to understand the impact of the 60's.  And incidentally why history and curiosity are important things.  ("Did General Sarnoff start this way?")

I've looked around for some kind of episode commentary that would explain all the obscure references and all the jokes that I am only now understanding as a grownup.  Believe me, I heart Andrew Sandoval and Eric Lefcowitz (Great historians of the phenomenon!!!) and all their incredible work.  And there is plenty of (redundant) info floating around on the interwebs, but I wanted something beyond just which song was misspelled in the credits and yet another interview containing a variation of an ape-like pun.


John Lennon (d.1980, 32 years ago today!!) said that they weren't trying to be the Beatles, that they were like the Marx Brothers. Let's appreciate them for all the things they are.

Apologies for what I get wrong.  Apologies for things I steal/borrow/appropriate without extended bibliographic credit.  Help me to correct the record.  Leave comments. Be nice.

Spread The Monkee Love.

The Creative Tinkerer