Davy Jones as a percussionist

I've been thinking about starting this thread for a while. Now that the Monkees songs thread has reached Headquarters, I figured that now is a good time for it (I almost created a poll with most of the songs as choices, but I was too lazy). It doesn't take a lot of know-how to play tambourine, maracas, etc., but playing them well in the studio is another matter. Try keeping a steady rhythm throughout a song with the tape rolling and the clock ticking - and then possibly changing your rhythm mid-song and doing so cleanly, while still to trying to play in time. How do you rate Davy Jones as a percussionist? What are your favorite recorded performances? I dig I'll Spend My Life With You (where he practically carries the rhythm), Forget That Girl on maracas, For Pete's Sake and No Time (they both really rock), Mr. Webster and maracas and jawbone on Early Morning Blues and Greens.

 

Hall cat – are you drunk?

 

Three maracas - one hand.

 

Was he as good as Pete Best?

 

Excellent percussionist. Jones could be fast yet subtle. Well maybe on No Time things do go off the tracks a bit but that was everybody playing rock and roll. Early Morning Blues and Greens is simply superb.
Liam Gallagher of the Oasis brothers is another fast yet subtle player.

 

Thanks. I expected to hear from the descendants of the Peleset Sea Peoples, that's fine with me

 

Though associated with the maracas, Davy Jones was also good at piano, guitar and drums. On the 1967 Monkees tour he would take over on drums when Micky took to the center stage.

Davy came from a Broadway background and was a fast learner so he was able to pick up on an instrument pretty quick.

 

I forgot which song, but it was cool seeing David get behind the kit and drum on a song during the 2011 tour.

 

I thought as a percussionist, he was...an able horse trainer.

 

I think it's Sometime in the Morning

 

Well, their first 2 albums were only vocal albums for the Monkees. Hal Blaine and Billy Lewis did most of the drumming and percussion. And the guitars, Glenn Campbell and James Burton. Their tunes would have been hits without them. And most of their tunes were written by Boyce and Hart and they did a lot of the backing vocals. The rest I think were written by Carol King.

 

You know most of this is incorrect, right?

 

Give me a minute, I will find it for you.

 

Their first big hit, Last Train To Clarkesville:

"Last Train to Clarksville"

• Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
• Lead vocal: Micky Dolenz
• Backing vocals: Unknown
• Acoustic guitar: Tommy Boyce
• Electric guitars: Wayne Erwin, Gerry McGee, Louie Shelton
• Bass: Larry Taylor
• Drums: Billy Lewis
• Percussion: Gene Estes, David Walters
• Recorded at RCA Victor Studio A, Hollywood, California; July 25, 1966 (7:00 p.m.-3:00 a.m.)
• Producers: Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart

 

So....it took two studio musicians to do what Davy Jones could do with one hand.

 

This is quoted from a story about Peter Tork, who was an amazingly talented musician. Like most bands in the 60's, the labels never wanted to take a chance with playing being bad so they brought in The Wrecking Crew to do most or all of the playing. Tommy Tedesco is the guitar on so many hits of the 60's


The Monkees, saddled with the albatross of being TV’s first manufactured boy band, have always fought for critical acceptance ever since guitarist Michael Nesmith foolheartedly told the press that the band didn’t play on their first two albums

 

I applaud Nesmith for doing that. He was producing the best musicians in Hollywood and he and his bandmates were given credit instead of giving credit where credit is due.

 

Good singer with nice image...yes.....musicianship...very questionable...tapping a tambourine or shaking marracas in 4/4 to a pop tune does not make one a percussionist. Yet, I still loved him as a Monkey.

 

my second favorite Monkees song.

 

It's been awhile since I've come across it, but according to one source, if instruments had been assigned according to actual musical aptitude, Peter would have been on guitar, Michael on bass, Davy on drums, and Mickey as vocalist.

 

You genuinely think all of the Monkees' songs were written by either Boyce and Hart or Carole King?

Why do you think that?

 

Indeed.
And, Tork himself had said that.

 

Zappa rated him.

Bongo Fury.

 

Don’t forget he could play bass too! People underestimate David’s talent

 

Amazingly talented? Interesting ...