Michael Nesmith: S/D

Seriously, this stuff is a revelation.

I've only heard 'Magnetic South', which is fine - but I'm not a great country fan,so my judgement isn't worth much.

Seconded. Those are the three best, but also "The Crippled Lion," "Don't Wait for Me," and "While I Cry" are standouts.

He has a new one on the horizon called Rays that I gather will be New Agey like The Garden but I'll know for sure when I get my review copy.

D: his reworking of "Listen to the Band," I think on Nevada Fighter? No improvement over the first stab at it.

I liked the albums I heard a few years ago. Gonna play them again.

Not an album but, Elephant Parts!

Nez is the man

remember that "Lucy and Ramona, and her brother Sunset Sam" song from the early 80's?...possibly the only Nesmith video I've ever seen...

"Calico Girlfriend" is a great tune...I think The Monkees did a version of this, as well...

Yes, "Calico Girlfriend Samba" it's called.

Hats off for Tapioca Tundra, the first three solo records, and Repo Man.

I remember hearing that MTV gave him a special award honoring his contribution to the music video form at their first awards ceremony, and he gave a speech denouncing the whole enterprise. Is that right?

I would love a compilation of just the Monkees' more country/folk/rural rock stuff. I would buy that.

'harmony constant' was the song of our wedding

I love the Magnetic South album.

'harmony constant' was the song of our wedding

Sweet. The Nez is still the man.

Drag City just reissued L.A. Turnaround by Bert Jansch, produced by the wooley one...nice!

"Tomorrow & Me" on And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'. well, the whole album really. *sigh*. is there anyone around now who is even remotely comparable to M.N. at his finest? hey, i think i'll churn out album after album of kosmik kountry GENIUS and i hope ya dig it. if not, whatever. its already in the air. you can't do anything about it.

lightness of touch + depth of feeling. is that the hardest thing? to master. to show. to express. seems like it.

not nearly as consistent, but some of those steve young records hit me in all the same spots. and i can't stan enough for the nesmith-produced "Valley Hi" LP by Ian Matthews...

valley hi rules.

there is an incantatory power to the best of Nesmith that is seriously out of this world. people mention "harmony constant" on this thead. man, just so amazing. i mean, there might be some guy in a bar somewhere doing something like this, but i haven't heard them. Gene is the only real comparison i can think of. listening to Two Sides To Every Story a couple weeks back...it just takes my breath away. don't even know how these guys channeled what they channeled. there might be a baby out there in the world that will do what they did in the future. reading that dylan chronicles book the other night it dawned on me yeah it basically took ALL OF RAP MUSIC in the 80's to do what he did. its not some everyday kinda thing.

reading that dylan chronicles book the other night it dawned on me yeah it basically took ALL OF RAP MUSIC in the 80's to do what he did. its not some everyday kinda thing.

'he' refers to dylan, right? not nesmith. chronicles is a pretty impressive book. i blew through it the first time and am probably due for a re-skim of not a re-read...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvOmXTbn138

Drag City just reissued L.A. Turnaround by Bert Jansch, produced by the wooley one...nice!

yeah, it's probably the best of the 3 Charisma Jansch records. Jansch recently came to Nashville in support of Neil Young (I went to the show to see Jansch and not Young, altho Young was cool and all), and was of course, amazing. I had the opportunity to interview and write about Jansch--big thrill for me--and we talked a lot about how great Red Rhodes was on Turnaround.

Anyway, I'm a fan of Loose Salute and Magnetic South. And "Grand Ennui" and "Propinquity." Also "Rose City Chimes" is a good song. Beyond that, I don't know his work so much. Sounds like I need to check out that Ian Matthews LP...

The Matthews LP contains versions of Propinquity & Jackson Browne's "These Days" AND Red Rhodes, so you're in for a treat. I dunno where in TN you are, but I saw a copy of "Valley Hi" in Lost & Found Records in Knoxville earlier this week.

Tomorrow and Me is definitely on some next level shit.
There's not a person I've played that for who hasn't been affected.

tantamount to treason is probably my fave nesmith album when all is said and done. a couple years back i played that thing like a maniac. searching, digging, stretching, gyrating, doing anything i could to understand how he did what he did to me when i played that thing. "you are my one" and "in the afternoon" gahshshshshshshshshhsldsnfiuhfihsbdvfuweihfuwifvbsdhvbsdhvbweibweifbdvibdviddb!!!!!! words fail me.

RIP awesome live version of 'propinquity'

'harmony constant' was the song of our wedding
--whatever

Also funny that I started this thread and The Candidate just managed to pop up on my iTunes this week after god know how long. This guy's amazing.

The Prison doesn't get talked abt on this thread really, but it's fucking fantastic.. haven't actually sat down and read the book along with the LP, but the LP is on-par with Tantamount to Treason in my book. Totally blissed out cosmic country.

I'd love to sit down with that. I guess I need to keep looking out for Mike.
Wouldn't mind a copy of that Red Rhodes lp, either.
Everything mentioned on this thread sounds great.
Too much music!

The Hits

No love for Tropical Campfires? I think it's great.

I listen to Valley Hi every day now.

"Mama Nantucket" is pretty much perfect as a song.

love this dude so much

Still need vinyl copies of Ranch Stash and Hits Just Keep on Coming.
Dammit.

Yeah, love the Nez.

Nesmith's facebook posts are a treat.

nesmith's FB posts ARE a treat..

so is this great live set with red rhodes (audio only)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8s_GvMccM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdKu5J6YVdE

all-time

Sundazed reissuing Nez's first three proper solo lps on vinyl: https://sundazed.com/michael-nesmith-lp-bundle.aspx

Nez talks to Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/monkees-michael-nesmith-first-national-band-reunion-w515911

Well, yeah...

The agony grew worse just months after they split when Linda Ronstadt's live backing band named themselves the Eagles and began landing massive radio hits with country-rock songs like "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling." "I was heartbroken beyond speech," says Nesmith. "I couldn't even utter the words 'the Eagles' and I loved Hotel California and I love the Eagles, the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo, all that stuff. That was right in my wheelhouse and I was agonized, Van Gogh–agonized, not to compare myself to him, but I wanted to cut something off because I was like, 'Why is this happening?' The Eagles now have the biggest selling album of all time and mine is sitting in the closet of a closed record company?"

Also WTF? at this import CD on Amazon

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41WF39S6M7L.jpg

Those songs aren't actually in the tracklisting (which is 25 RCA-era NESMITH songs)

RIP to him

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monkees-michael-nesmith-dead-1270079/

Aw man... RIP. Never a huge Monkees guy but really loved his solo stuff.

When I saw this thread and the Monkees thread both come to life, I knew, ironically, to expect the worst. Nesmith, man, what a guy. Most talented Monkee, invented MTV, etc. I talked to Dwight Yoakam about his influences once, and he said this:

And Michael Nesmith, interestingly enough. The Monkees. Michael Nesmith wrote “Different Drum,” which Linda Rondstadt had her first hit with. And Michael Nesmith is a transplanted Texan who also had his own solo albums that I was a fan of, that served as an inspiration point. In my teens, to illustrate how country music was pertinent, he had an album with two top ten hits. One was called “Joanne” (sings) “Her name was Joanne, and she lived in a meadow by a farm …” Anyway, there’s another one called “Standing In The Light of the Silver Moon.” So there are things as disparate as one of the guys from the Monkees that influenced country rock and influenced me, ultimately.

Ah man RIP. I love his early country rock albums, full of beautiful melodies and glowing pedal steel. Also he loved vaporwave in his old age--forever a man of taste:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/monkees-michael-nesmith-vaporwave-714253/

Damnit. This year...

Heartbroken.

Yeah---had been meaning to check this year's round-up:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ecD0cqAcL._SL1200_.jpg

Michael Nesmith has always travelled to the beat of a 'Different Drum''whether as the writer of that classic hit for Linda Ronstadt and The Stone Poneys, the wool hat-clad member of The Monkees, or one of the earliest progenitors of the country-rock genre. In recent years, Nesmith has penned a critically acclaimed autobiography, reformed the First National Band to sold-out audiences, and both recorded and performed live to fans young and old with The Monkees. Now, Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to present a major deep dive into the Nez archives. Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings features 22 tracks drawn from the RCA Victor vaults, every one of which is previously unreleased in any physical format. Over six RCA albums released between 1970 and 1973, Nesmith blossomed as a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and producer under the aegis of RCA Nashville legends Chet Atkins and Felton Jarvis. With bandmates including legendary pedal steel guitarist O.J. 'Red' Rhodes, John Ware, and John London, Nesmith pioneered country-rock with a spiritual and searching style all his own. Different Drum premieres on CD some of his most remarkable musical explorations from this vivid period including cosmic reimaginings of Monkees-era favorites like 'Tapioca Tundra,' 'Magnolia Simms,' 'Circle Sky,' and 'Listen to the Band;' unheard outtakes like 'American Airman' and 'Six Days on the Road;' vastly different alternate takes of 'Different Drum,' 'Dedicated Friend,' and 'Tengo Amore;' and even an early version of 'Marie's Theme' from his cult classic multimedia project The Prison. The mind-altering music on Different Drum has been mixed from the original multitracks by Andrew Sandoval and mastered by Vic Anesini at Sony's Battery Studios, while Papa Nez himself has contributed insightful new commentary to the liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese. Rare photos by renowned photographer Henry Diltz and previously unseen images round out this landmark package. Different Drum is a freewheeling, widescreen journey through the world of one of rock's greatest iconoclasts. Don't take our word for it: listen to the band!
1. Different Drum (Alternate Version) 2. American Airman 3. Bye, Bye, Bye (Alternate Version) 4. Dedicated Friend (Alternate Version) 5. Tengo Amore (Alternate Instrumental) 6. Texas Morning (Alternate Take) 7. Rene (Uncut Version) 8. Six Days on the Road 9. Circle Sky 10. Listen to the Band (Alternate Version) 11. Some of Shelly’s Blues (Alternate Version) 12. Keep On (Alternate Version) 13. Roll with the Flow (Alternate Version) 14. Marie’s Theme (Alternate Version) 15. Magnolia Simms (Alternate Version) 16. Born to Love You (Instrumental) 17. Hollywood (Alternate Backing Track) 18. Tapioca Tundra (Instrumental) 19. Roses Are Blooming – Come Back to Me Darling (Instrumental) 20. Tan My Hide (Instrumental) 21. You Are My One (Alternate Instrumental) 22. Loose Salute (Radio Spots)

Maybe my favorite record of his
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N2JQfGBuw4

Yep, came this close to having it be the first song my wife and I danced to at our wedding. Having it played at my funeral will just have to do.

RIP to a real one.

A good read

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monkees-micky-dolenz-michael-nesmith-tribute-1270342/

great promo video mike made for Tapeheads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlkrd5XXgz0

classic 70s footage of Nez and Red Rhodes(!) with Bert Jansch when he was producing his album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYM6FofqDbg

That piece by Mickey is amazing, thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cYb4sOAp6A

Wait, was he wearing the wool hat before he became a Monkee?

Yeah, he wore at his audition, claimed it kept his under control while riding his motorcycle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in9UyE1OlOk

Davy was <this> close to being 'the hat guy'.

He was "Woolhat" in my colouring book fanmag back in the day (the rest had their usual first names)

He uses that alias in the first episode too (which wasn't the pilot, BTW).

Davy was <this> close to being 'the hat guy'.

Bought “And the hits just keep on coming” blind today based on seeing this thread bumped a bunch. “Keep on” is hitting a little too hard. Love it

XP Davy wears a hat in his audition tape (also seen in the provided YouTube) until they ask him to take it off to see his hair, and said hat is never seen again.

Oh, okay. Had seen some of that somewhere else and didn’t watch that whole thing. It seems at the very beginning he is not wearing a hat and then there is a splice where he is wearing one for a little bit. I just recently learned that the pilot did terribly and then somebody had the bright idea to cut the manager character that was originally there and add in the screen tests.

Was the "first" episode where they help some girl get through her maths exams or something?

Dunno. Wonder which if any of the multitude of streaming services makes that show available nowadays.

Aren't they hired to play at a girl's birthday party?

Yeah that might be it. Don't @ me, it was probably 1972 when I last saw it...

Been keeping an eye out for Hits on CD for some time now, I've got the twofer CD thing that compiled the first three records.

Kicking myself for not getting around to buying that Songs box set when it was available.

xps Yep, that's the pilot, which was re-edited and became the 10th actual episode:

The Monkees play a sweet sixteen party and help the birthday girl (Robyn Millan) with her studies after she falls for Davy.

There you go, not so far off...

It definitely seemed to be some cherries away from being a tasty cake, that one.

Uhh, lets just say it was less zany/wacky than the others at the time..

I was going to get a "series" DVD set, but in the end only got the "favourite episodes" for Amber and Alice to enjoy, back in the day.

(Who's favourite episode was it that had Mike leaving halfway through because of debilitating seasickness?)

.. anyway, they loved those four and played them so much, my wife (possibly) didn't want to see anymore

Keep wondering how long the name Mike Blessing lasted.

Been keeping an eye out for Hits on CD for some time now, I've got the twofer CD thing that compiled the first three records.

Kicking myself for not getting around to buying that Songs box set when it was available.

Sucks about that Songs box being OOP; like a lot of recent-ish appetizing box sets, I missed picking it up when it came out because $$$ issues. I believe the remasters from that box are what Spotify uses for the individual albums, and they sound so much better than those RCA/Camden twofers (which I do have).

As for the TV show, thanks to some kind users it looks like a number of episodes are up on YouTube in nice, watchable uncut prints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L0acXoBtrk

Isn't one of those guys in the very beginning Paul Mazursky?

Yup, and Larry Tucker is the guy who runs away.

Bing Russell, father of Kurt, is the manager.

Swooning over a 16 y/o girl? Awesome.

I wouldn't say I was a Nez naysayer before, but I never really dug at all deeply into the catalog to see all the good stuff in there. This performance of the post-Peter trio singing "Nine Times Blue" really gets to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpTENCWWQ74

That’s wonderful

WFMU tribute from yesterday as mentioned on other thread. Today is his birthday and Davy’s as well, ICYMI.

I heard it on Therese's show from Dec 29, 2021.
You can listen to WFMU here:
https://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/111213

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln_rB_vpNWo

Guess the core of Mike and Micky was those two plus Micky's sister Coco, Mike's son Christian and Christian's girlfriend, Circe Link.

That "Birth of An Accidental Hipster" is another killer from the reunion set.

Yeah, even given the slightly suspicious authorship.

People seem to like this version of that song:
https://www.monkeeslivealmanac.com/blog/you-told-me-birth-of-an-accidental-hipster-and-sunny-girlfriend-soundchecked-in-la
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE-ueOE9DRo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itDyAwM9Z0c

Cool. Wait was that the Bill Martin who worked with him in The Monkees and wrote "All of Your Toys" and "The Door into Summer"?

Looks like yes.

https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/papa-nes-blues-celebrating-the-music-of-michael-nesmith
First selection is TV version of "You Just May Be the One"," which features Peter vs. George Furth. #OneThread
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGYaP3Yy10s

This is wonderful fly-on-the-wall stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSFB0SIukI

Can't watch now but looks great, thanks.

7a Records have released/are releasing expanded versions of Tantamount To Treason and ...And The Hits Keep On Comin' on CD & Vinyl (links are for the former)

https://www.7arecords.com/product/michael-nesmith-tantamount-to-treason-vol-1-50th-anniversary-ed/

https://www.7arecords.com/product/michael-nesmith-and-the-hits-just-keep-on-comin-50th-anniversary-ed-2/

People (rightly) go on and on about the RCA albums, but I recently got nice, cheap vinyl copies of From A Radio Engine... and Infinite Rider... and man are those slept on. Nez Goes Balearic! Well, not exactly, but I can see why he was upset about Hotel California, because he really mines the 'Mexican Reggae' amongst other chill Latinx rhythms to fine effect on Radio Engine. Meanwhile, Infinite Rider swings between 'Steely Mike' smooth grooves and New Wavey Butt Rock. He was definitely keeping pace with all the El Lay kingpins.

And they're both fantastic, well-detailed productions too.

I think they're mostly absent from streaming?

"you are my one" and "in the afternoon" gahshshshshshshshshhsldsnfiuhfihsbdvfuweihfuwifvbsdhvbsdhvbweibweifbdvibdviddb!!!!!! words fail me.

― scott seward, Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:54 PM (twelve years ago) bookmarkflaglink

I had the exact same reaction when I heard "You Are My One" for the first time. Peak psychedelic country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxXDfxSzDLE

Country version of “How Insensitive” on Missing Links is kind of a surprising choice but seems to work.

Andrew Hickey says more than once in his Monkees book that the Mike and Micky vocal combination was an underused secret weapon of the band and I’m inclined to agree.

Don't remember this thread! Some good Nes news items from several years back over on
Can we talk about early-mid70s West Coast post-psych/pop/rock/folk-rock/country-rock?

Wonder which of his compositions get covered the most. "Some of Shelly's Blues" seems to be up there .

It's gotta be "Different Drum", right? I can think of about 6 versions off the top of my head.

Probably, but same for "Shelly's Blues"

There's also "Mary, Mary."

Although that song title gets used a lot in general, which confuses things.

Even "Nine Times Blue" has a bunch of covers, although none of them seem by recognizable artists.