To honor a true musical talent that left terra firma far too soon AND stick with the Holiday motif of December Music Fridays can be a challenge. So it was with Michael Nesmith, who passed over the weekend, just weeks after completing a leg of the Monkees Farewell Tour with Mickey Dolenz. But, Mike gives us the chance to celebrate his craft as well as share a Holiday tune.
For those too young to remember, the Monkees were an artificially created band designed to capitalize on the video successes of the Beatles on American TV in the '60s. The only problem was that the four actors chosen to become the Monkees actually had musical chops...none more so than Mike, who had already written songs like "Different Drum" (ultimately a breakout hit for Linda Ronstadt) and "Mary Mary." And Michael rebelled against the prefab format dictated by show producer Don Kirshner...ultimately wresting control of the band to its members.
While the Monkees benefited from some of the best songwriters in LA...it was always Michael's songs to which I most gravitated. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" and "You Just May Be the One." were faves.
And then, there's this. A track from a live Christmas show in which the Monkees sang an a cappella version of the classic 15th century Spanish tune, "Riu Riu Chiu."
I have no memory of this track...but am so glad I went into the Wayback Machine to find it.
And look at all that tinsel.
Godspeed Michael. Give that heavenly house band some sass.
As a little kids, my brothers and I were huge Monkees fans. It's sad there is only one remaining. Thanks for the trip down memory lane on the songs. RIP Michael
Posted by: Lee T | December 17, 2021 at 13:11