The Monkees

Wichita Train Whistle ♦ Michael Nesmith & The First National Band

Gotta Start Somewhere...

Early Singles Here are three singles by Mike Nesmith. Early and later singles by Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz are not listed here. If you're interested, click the links—they'll take you to their 45 Cat pages.

Mike & John & Bill

How Can You Kiss Me / Just A Little Love Nesmith (2:53) / Nesmith (2:40) Omnibus 239, ?/65

Michael Blessing

The New Recruit / A Journey With Michael Blessing Ashe-Krosnow (2:38) / Ashe-Krosnow-Nieida (2:10) Colpix CP-787, 10/65

Michael Blessing

Until It's Time For You To Go / What Seems To Be The Trouble Officer Sainte-Marie (2:50) / Nesmith (2:05) Colpix CP-792, 1/66

Hollywood Reporter, Sept 9, 1965

Did They Or Didn't They? Ever since the Pre-Fab Four made their debut on TV, cries were heard "they aren't even musicians—all fake." Well, that was BS. Mike was a guitarist and songwriter—had several singles prior to joining. Peter was a journeyman folkie in NYC. Davy was a stage singer in England. And Mickey could sing and picked up the drums pretty quickly. They all hung out in Laurel Canyon with Stills, Mitchell, and others. It is true that the powers at Colgems wouldn't let them play on the first album. The Boyce & Hart penned songs were performed by The Candy Store Prophets, whilst the others featured studio cats like Burton, Campbell, Taylor, and Blaine. The second album, released without their knowledge, included recordings left over from the debut. Peter did get to play on the album. Don Kirshner, the "creative genius" behind the group was fired. By the third album, they were playing their own instruments (with some studio assistance). On the 4th album, they also relied on studio cats to fill out the sound. By the end—with only two Monkees left—they just sang and let studio musicians do the rest. If you want to know exactly who played what on what and where, click the Wiki link at the bottom. The info comes direct from the remastered CDs. Those CDs contain a lot of previously unreleased tracks featuring the guys playin' and singin' for yer enjoyment.

Last Train To Clarksville / Take A Giant Step Boyce-Hart (2:40) / Goffin-King (2:32) Colgems 66-1001, 8/16/66  #1  UK This is the 3rd version of the pic sleeve. Go to 45cat for the others.

TV Guide Fall Premiere Issue Write-up Plus their main competition!

The Monkees: "Royal Flush" 9/12/66, NBC Pre-fab four show debuted one week after school started (for most of us!).

	The Monkees
	Colgems COS-101
	10/10/66  #1  [UK: 1/67]  #1
	Back Cover   Ad for first album In the TV Guide issue from above

Side One
(Theme From) The Monkees	Boyce-Hart	2:20
Saturday's Child	Gates	2:44
I Wanna Be Free	Boyce-Hart	2:24
Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day	Boyce-Hart	2:33
Papa Jean's Blues†	Nesmith	1:55
Take A Giant Step	Goffin-King	2:32
Side Two
Last Train To Clarksville	Boyce-Hart	2:40
This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day	Boyce-Hart	2:08
Let's Dance On	Boyce-Hart	2:30
I'll Be True To You	Goffin-Titleman	2:48
Sweet Young Thing†	Goffin-King-Nesmith	1:54
Gonna Buy Me A Dog	Boyce-Hart	2:38

I'm A Believer / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone² Diamond (2:41) / Boyce-Hart (2:25) Colgems 66-1002, 11/66  #1   #1  / T20

	More Of
	Colgems COS-102
	1/9/67  #1  [UK: 4/67]  #1
	Back Cover

Side One
She	Boyce-Hart	2:27
When Love Comes Knockin' (At Your Door)	Bayer-Sedaka	1:45
Mary, Mary	Nesmith	2:12
Hold On Girl	Carr-Keller-Raleigh	2:23
Your Auntie Grizelda	Hilderbrand-Keller	2:28
(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone	Boyce-Hart	2:25
Side Two
Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)	Diamond	2:10
The Kind Of Girl I Could Love	Atkins-Nesmith	1:50
The Day We Fall In Love	Lizner-Randell	2:20
Sometime In The Morning	Goffin-King	2:24
Laugh	Margo-Margo-Medress-Seigal	2:25
I'm A Believer	Diamond	2:41

A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You / The Girl I Knew Somewhere¹ Diamond (2:35) / Nesmith (2:32) Colgems 66-1004, 3/67 T20 T20 / BB

Program listing

The Monkees: "The Monkees On Tour" 4/24/67, NBC They end the first season showing that they can play instruments!

	Headquarters
	Colgems COS-103
	5/22/67  #1  [UK: 7/67] T20
	Back Cover   Revised Back Cover Bottom center pix of producers replaced with "bearded" Monkees  Beards Photo

Side One
You Told Me	Nesmith	2:22
I'll Spend My Life With You	Boyce-Hart	2:23
Forget That Girl	Hatlelid	2:21
Band 6	Dolenz-Jones-Nesmith-Tork	0:38
You Just May Be The One	Nesmith	2:00
Shades Of Gray	Mann-Weil	3:20
I Can't Get Her Off My Mind	Boyce-Hart	2:23
Side Two
For Pete's Sake	Richards-Tork	2:10
Mr Webster	Boyce-Hart	2:02
Sunny Girlfriend	Nesmith	2:31
Zilch	Dolenz-Jones-Nesmith-Tork	1:05
No Time	Cicalo	2:09
Early Morning Blues And Greens	Hilderbrand-Keller	2:00
Randy Scouse Git(UK title: Alternate Title)	Dolenz	2:35

Alternate Title / Forget That Girl Dolenz (2:35) / Hatlelid (2:21) RCA Victor RCA-1604, 6/16/67 T20 see note below

Note: Randy Scouse Git is an unflattering British expression that Micky picked up from BBC TV.
It was renamed Alternate Title and became a #2 hit in the UK! See wiki or 45cat for further info.
 

6/30-7/2/67: Wembley Empire Pool, London with The Echoes, Lulu

Pleasant Valley Sunday / Words Goffin-King (3:10) / Boyce-Hart (2:47) Colgems 66-1007, 7/67 T20 T20 / T20

Program listing

The Monkees: "It's a Nice Place to Visit..." 9/11/67, NBC Season Two premiere.

Daydream Believer / Goin' Down¹ Stewart (2:57) / Dolenz-Hilderbrand-Jones-Nesmith-Tork (3:57) Colgems 66-1012, 11/67  #1  T20

	Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd
	Colgems COS-104
	11/6/67  #1  [UK: 1/68] T20
	Back Cover

Side One
Salesman	Smith	2:03
She Hangs Out	Barry	2:33
The Door Into Summer	Douglas-Martin	2:50
Love Is Only Sleeping	Mann-Weil	2:28
Cuddly Toy	Nilsson	2:45
Words	Boyce-Hart	2:48
Side Two
Hard To Believe	Brick-Capli-Jones	2:33
What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?	Clarke-Lewis	3:02
Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky/Pleasant Valley Sunday	Tork/Goffin-King	3:30
Daily Nightly	Nesmith	2:26
Don't Call On Me	Nesmith	2:28
Star Collector	Goffin-King	3:30

Valleri / Tapioca Tundra Boyce-Hart (2:16) / Nesmith (3:03) Colgems 66-1019, 2/68 T20 T20 / BB

Program listing

The Monkees: "The Frodis Caper" 3/25/68, NBC Season Two ends—series cancelled. Tim Buckley sings Song To The Siren. Zor And Zam is also shown and is much different than the album version.

	The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees
	Colgems COS-109
	4/22/68 T20 [UK: 5/68]
	Back Cover

Side One
Dream World	Jones-Pitts	3:16
Auntie's Municipal Court	Nesmith	3:55
We Were Made For Each Other	Bayer-Fischoff	2:24
Tapioca Tundra	Nesmith	3:03
Daydream Believer*	Stewart	2:58
Writing Wrongs	Nesmith	5:06
Side Two
I'll Be Back Up On My Feet	Linzer-Randell	2:32
The Poster	Jones-Pitts	2:16
PO Box 9847	Boyce-Hart	3:18
Magnolia Simms	Nesmith	3:42
Valleri	Boyce-Hart	2:16
Zor And Zam	Chadwick-Chadwick	2:08

Note: No, you haven't lost your hearing—Magnolia Simms is on the left channel only.
Yes, Daydream Believer is the only track to feature all 4 monkees
The quote from The Poster over Davy's hair was removed on subsequent issues
Nez signed his photo Carlisle Wheeling, which be a track on Wichita Train Whistle Sings
 

D W Washburn¹ / It's Nice To Be With You¹ Leiber-Stoller (2:46) / Goldstein (2:51) Colgems 66-1023, 5/68 T20 T20 / BB

	The Wichita Train Whistle Sings
	Dot SDLP-25861
	6/68 BB [UK: 10/68]
	Back Cover   Inside Cover Note die-cut hole

Side One
Nine Times Blue	Nesmith	4:11
Carlisle Wheeling	Nesmith	4:48
Tapioca Tundra	Nesmith	2:58
Don't Call On Me	Nesmith	4:31
Don't Cry Now	Nesmith	3:33
Side Two
While I Cried	Nesmith	2:58
Papa Gene's Blues	Nesmith	3:26
You Just May Be the One	Nesmith	3:21
Sweet Young Thing	Goffin-King-Nesmith	2:46
You Told Me	Nesmith	4:22

Note: Read about this peculiar album at the Blue Note
 

Don't Cry Now³ / Tapioca Tundra³ Nesmith (2:44) / Nesmith (2:52) Dot 17152, 7/68

Porpoise Song² / As We Go Along² Goffin-King (4:00) / King-Stern (3:54) Colgems 66-1031, 9/68 BB from the movie Head

	Head(11/6/68)
	It's a soundtrack album

Peter Tork quits after taping the fantastic NBC Special (see April 14, 1969)

	Instant Replay
	Colgems COS-113
	2/15/69 BB [UK: 5/69]
	Back Cover

Side One
Through The Looking Glass	Baldwin-Boyce-Hart-Hunter	2:21
Don't Listen To Linda	Boyce-Hart	2:45
I Won't Be The Same Without Her	Goffin-King	2:38
Just A Game	Dolenz	1:46
Me Without You	Boyce-Hart	2:08
Don't Wait For Me	Nesmith	2:34
Side Two
You And I	Chadwick-Jones	2:10
While I Cry	Nesmith	2:57
Tear Drop City	Boyce-Hart	2:01
The Girl I Left Behind Me	Bayer-Sedaka	2:40
A Man Without A Dream	Goffin-King	2:58
Shorty Blackwell	Dolenz	5:42

Note: Some of these tracks go back to 1966—outtakes from first album.
 

Eye-irritating ad

33⅓ Revolutions Per Monkee: 4/14/69, NBC bizarre variety show, with Auge & Jools, Fats, Jerry Lee.

Listen To The Band / Someday Man¹ Nesmith (2:28) / Nichols-Williams (2:38) Colgems 66-5004, 4/69 BB / BB UK

Tear Drop City / A Man Without A Dream Boyce-Hart (2:01) / Goffin-King (2:58) Colgems 66-5000, 5/69 BB UK

Greatest HitsGreatest Hits Colgems COS-115, 6/9/69 BB [UK: N/R] Non-lp 45 track: A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You

Good Clean Fun / Mommy And Daddy Nesmith (2:14) / Dolenz (2:10) Colgems 66-5005, 9/69 BB

	Present
	Colgems COS-117
	10/1/69 BB [UK: 10/69]
	Back Cover 1986 Rhino Reissue Back Cover  Inside Cover

Side One
Little Girl	Dolenz	1:59
Good Clean Fun	Nesmith	2:15
If I Knew	Chadwick-Jones	2:19
Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye	Dolenz-Klein	2:17
Never Tell A Woman Yes	Nesmith	3:44
Looking For The Good Times	Boyce-Hart	2:00
Side Two
Ladies Aid Society	Boyce-Hart	2:40
Listen To The Band	Nesmith	2:45
French Song	Chadwick	2:23
Mommy And Daddy	Dolenz	2:10
Oklahoma Backroom Dancer	Nesmith	2:34
Pillow Time	Scott-Willis	2:25

Program listing

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: "Monkees Guest Stars" 10/6/69, NBC Last appearance of The Monkees (down to a trio).

Wool Hat forms First National Band (see below), becomes Papa Nez

Oh My My / I Love You Better Barry-Kim (3:00) / Barry-Kim (2:26) Colgems 66-5011, 5/70 BB

	Changes
	Colgems COS-119
	6/30/70 [UK: N/R]
	Back Cover 1986 Rhino Reissue Back Cover

Side One
Oh My My	Barry-Kim	2:57
Ticket On A Ferry Ride	Barry-Bloom	3:25
You're So Good To Me	Barry-Bloom	2:29
It's Got To Be Love	Goldberg	2:20
Acapulco Sun	Albright-Soles	2:45
99 Pounds	Barry	2:25
Side Two
Tell Me Love	Barry	2:32
Do You Feel It Too?	Barry-Kim	2:28
I Love You Better	Barry-Kim	2:26
All Alone In The Dark	Albright-Soles	2:47
Midnight Train	Dolenz	2:05
I Never Though It Peculiar	Boyce-Hart	2:20

Note: This last "Monkees" album didn't touch the Billboard Top 200 Album charts until 1986 (thanks, boomers!)
 

The last pre-fab two go their separate ways... until 1986: boomers watch MTV marathon + buy Rhino records = 20th anniversry tour.

	Magnetic South
	RCA Victor SP-4371
	6/70 BB [UK: 9/70]
	Back Cover

Side One
Calico Girlfriend	Nesmith	2:37
Nine Times Blue	Nesmith	1:39
Little Red Rider	Nesmith	2:34
The Crippled Lion	Nesmith	3:10
Joanne	Nesmith	3:10
First National Rag	Rhodes	:21
Side Two
Mama Nantucket	Nesmith	2:36
Keys to the Car	Nesmith	2:52
Hollywood	Nesmith	5:03
One Rose	Cochran-Howard	3:27
Beyond the Blue Horizon	Cochran-Howard	5:55

Little Red Rider / Rose City Chimes (Instrumental)¹ Nesmith (2:34) / Nesmith (2:11) RCA 9853, 7/70

Joanne / One Rose Nesmith (3:10) / Cochran-Howard (3:27) RCA 0368, 8/70 BB

Silver Moon / Lady Of The Valley Nesmith (3:15) / Nesmith (2:56) RCA 0399, 11/70 BB

	Loose Salute
	RCA SP-4415
	11/70 BB [UK: 12/70]
	Back Cover

Side One
Silver Moon	Nesmith	3:15
I Fall To Pieces	Cochran-Howard	2:56
Thanx For The Ride	Nesmith	2:48
Dedicated Friend	Nesmith	2:27
Conversations	Nesmith	3:27
Side Two
Tengo Amore	Nesmith	3:00
Listen to the Band	Nesmith	2:35
Bye, Bye, Bye	Nesmith	3:17
Lady of the Valley	Nesmith	2:57
Hello Lady	Nesmith	3:49

Barrel Full Of MonkeesBarrel Full Of Monkees Colgems SCOS-1001, 1/71 [UK: N/R] 2-lp set, no unique tracks

Nevada Fighter / Here I Am Nesmith (3:06) / Nesmith (3:15) RCA 0453, 4/71 BB

	Nevada Fighter
	RCA Victor SP-4497
	5/71 [UK: 9/71]
	Back Cover

Side One
Grand Ennui	Nesmith	2:10
Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care)	Nesmith	2:59
Here I Am	Nesmith	3:19
Only Bound	Nesmith	3:28
Nevada Fighter	Nesmith	3:09
Side Two
Texas Morning	Caslteman-Murphey	3:23
Tumbling Tumbleweeds	Nolan	3:44
I Looked Away	Clapton-Whitlock	3:16
Rainmaker	Nilsson-Martin	3:18
René	Rhodes	1:42

Texas Morning³ / Tumbling Tumbleweeds Caslteman-Murphey (3:00) / Nolan (3:44) RCA 0491, 6/71

I've Just Begun To Care (Propinquity) / Only Bound Nesmith (2:59) / Nesmith (3:23) RCA 0540, 10/71

Different Drum	The Stone Poneys (Evergreen Volume 2)	6/67
Mary, Mary	Butterfield Blues Band (East-West)	8/66
Propinquity	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy)	10/70
Some Of Shelly's Blues	The Stone Poneys (Volume 3)	4/68
	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy)	10/70
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