REVIEW
Good Times by The Monkees
It’s difficult to know where to begin describing this album. Yes, I said it! It’s an album. Like back in the day when people weren’t just downloading one song at a time. Not that you can’t. But trust me… you wouldn’t want to. The title of the title song says it all. Good Times!.
There is a pure genius at the center of this production and it’s combined with a lot of love. For the band, for the fans, for the music. It’s a collaboration of just the right people at just the right time and made possible by technology to bring, Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, and the late Davey Jones together for their 50th anniversary in a most satisfyingly gratifying way. The songs were written and contributed to this project by an impressive stable of heavy hitters of the songwriting world; both current and classic, including… Harry Nilsson, Neil Diamond, Boyce & Hart (who were practically the Lennon/McCartney of the Monkees during their heyday); Gerry Goffin & Carole King; Jeff Barry & Joey Levine; Andy Partridge; Rivers Cuomo of Weezer; Ben Gibbard, lead singer and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie; Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.
Music is subjective, so I won’t pick this album apart song by song. To put it simply, if you are a fan of the Monkees TV series, their music, their personalities or all of the above, this album will not disappoint. Me personally? I’m still a fan of the 3 minute hit with 12-string jingly jangly guitar licks. So for me, the ear worm on this album is “She Makes Me Laugh” written by Rivers Cuomo, with lead vocal performed to rockin’ sweet perfection by Micky with a distinctive Peter tork banjo pickin’ intro before the 12-string lick kicks in right before the chorus. It’s an instant classic. The one all the old farts are gonna ruin by playing it at open mics everywhere.
Then, there’s Neil Diamond’s “Love to Love” with Davy Jones on lead vocal… lovingly extricated from the archives and given a reboot. I have to give props to Davy and call this one my second fave. Just because.
The rest of the tracks are a mix of emotions from pure unadulterated fun to mildly haunting. All decadent candy for the ears. I’ll make it easy for ya… CLICK BELOW AND GET A COPY!
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Thank you for your article for baby boomers, I do enjoy listening to the music of the baby boomer times. Many of the artists I know only by name hearing my parents talk about them or hearing the music as growing up, I wish you great success sharing baby boomer music on your website so many people will enjoy this i am sure.
Your welcome. Thank you for visiting. If you have any baby boomers in the family who you think might enjoy this site, please tell them about it!
Hi! I really liked your review of this album. I am definitely gonna have to check it out because it sounds amazing. I always loved the Monkees TV show and their music is awesome. I am not a baby boomer but my mom is and I always listened to all the music she loved to listen to. And then all the collaborations you talk about makes the 50th anniversary collection something I really have to give a listen to. Thank you so much!
Thanks Jeanette. I think anyone who likes the Monkees would like this album. I don’t know if zip would go so far as to say it’s amazing in and of itself, but that the Monkees are still making music this good 50 years later… beyond amazing.
Great review of a great album. I am an original fan of the Monkees you know i saw the first episode on 9/12/66! This record ranks among their very best!
I’m inclined to agree with you, Frank! One person I spoke with recently said there is nothing comparable to “I’m A Believer” or “Daydream Believer” on this album. In retrospect, the earlier Monkees songs did have that something that you only find in any group’s first album or two. But I think time will smile favorably on this one. I’ve already listened to Good Times in its entirety more times than any other full album in a quite a while.
Wow! The Monkees! Talk about nostalgia. I haven’t thought about them for SO many years. I loved them in high school and college. This brings back a lot of memories. I suppose that’s what most 50 year reunions are about 🙂 I think I will have to get a copy of this just for fun. Thanks for the post!
Thanks, Linda… I just saw Mickey Dolenz not that long ago at an open mic here in the Philadelphia suburbs. Their new album is really good. They sound as great as ever and includes a track they had redorded years ago with Davy Jones singing lead on a song written by Neil Diamond. I think you’d enjoy it very much!