I echo this. On the debut album there are actually quite a few strong songs on it but Nesmith's was among the best. Boyce and Hart were also terrific talents as well. "Last Train to Clarksville" is a sublime song as well. Still, I can see how The Monkees couldn't continue to make the same album over and over again.
I find it surprising that "No Time" isn't listed there as well. I mean Nesmith, Dolenz and Tork wrote it and gave credit to their engineer (since they were contractually prevented from providing more than a certain amount of songs per album).
Today's song is Take a Giant Step. A very fine Goffin and King song, but I don't think the production is quite as strong as it could have been. A fine lead vocal from Micky, but I can't help feeling that the drums and background vocals could have been better recorded had they had more time (and a slightly different methodology). A harsh 3/5 as there are better songs to come in their career.
It tickles me. 4/5. A lot of these songs are new to me, as I’m only familiar with the big hits, which I love, so I am really getting into this thread!
5/5. Take A Giant Step is one of my very favorite songs by The Monkees. It's my favorite from this album, easily.
3/5. I think some of the lyrics are trite, plus the additional drums and backing vocals are annoying.
5/5 One of my favorites on the album (mentioned yesterday). I like the extra drums and psychedelic flourishes. Couldv'e been interesting if they covered more Taj Mahal songs. Here's his recording with The Rising Sons. Ry Cooder was part of the group too.
Not sure why this didnt chart as a b-side as most of the Colgems bsides did. But I love it. Production a little muddy but a beautiful song 5/5
A great song, and it adds a little bit of mystique to an otherwise very straightforward album. Even the crappy sound seems to enhance things to me, somehow. A very solid 4/5.
3/5. Always thought it was kind of bland. I enjoyed the heck out of the version Mike and Micky did on the last tour.
my favourite song on the album - 5/5 What I like about this S&G-influenced (pre)-psychedelia is that it's 'mystical' rather than 'druggy' , and it shows in the music, not in the lyrics (which I agree are a bit trite), beautiful harmonies and what an arrangement - the traditional Western instruments operating in Eastern (I guess) scales, and the whole build-up in the middle is superb, I personally love the overdubbed drums.
Take a Giant Step 3/5 It's a good song. Catchy melody, interesting lyrics, and unique instrumentation, but not one of the better songs in their catalog.
"Take a Giant Step" has a great melody and catchy lyrics. This song also fit well in with the TV show romps. Goffin/King penned songs are usually well done and among my favorites for this band. I've always liked this song, and I never grow tired of it. 4/5 Thanks to Turk Thrust for starting this thread.
"Take A Giant Step" is a very good song. Not great but I still really like it. There's really nothing on this album I dislike though, so there's that. I give it a 4/5.
It continues to mystify me how country rock is often credited as starting with the International Submarine Band. There are other antecedents - one can even go as far back as Rick Nelson, who often featured James Burton as referenced in the song. But "Papa Gene's Blues" is the start for me. The session snippets on the debut Super Deluxe Edition show that Nez knew exactly what he wanted from the Wrecking Crew in the studio, even at that tender early stage and no matter how much he downplays his early Monkees sessions nowadays. (Usually something akin to "I was just trying to make songs to get on the TV show.") Clearly, this song mattered to all the Monkees, as they created their own, simpler arrangement as early as the "Last Train to Capistrano" promotional event. It was nice to hear the raw, garage-y version from the Phoenix concert finally made available on the MOTM Super Deluxe. A bona fide 5/5.
4/5 for "Take A Giant Step". One of the better cuts on the debut LP, and the psych flourishes don't hurt at all. Micky sounds great as usual.