(Theme From) The Monkees
| "(Theme from) The Monkees" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by the Monkees | |
| from the album The Monkees | |
| B-side | "Mary, Mary" |
| Released | February 1967 |
| Recorded | July 5 and 19, 1966 |
| Studio | RCA Victor (Hollywood, California)[1] |
| Genre | Pop rock |
| Length | 2:21 |
| Label | Colgems |
| Songwriter | Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart |
| Producers | Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart and Jack Keller |
"(Theme from) The Monkees" is a 1966 pop rock song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as the signature tune for the TV series The Monkees.[2] Two versions were recorded – one for their first album The Monkees[2] and a second shorter rendition designed to open the television show. Both feature vocals by Micky Dolenz.
Background and composition
Boyce and Hart were inspired by The Dave Clark Five's 1965 hit single "Catch Us If You Can" in writing the song; both tracks feature similar musical structures,[3] and in a retrospective interview, Hart was quoted as saying that the drum roll from "Catch Us If You Can" would "take us into the chorus 'Hey, hey, we're the Monkees'".[4] A few years after the release of either song, drummer Dave Clark received a letter from Boyce and Hart in which they admitted to having plagiarized "(Theme from) The Monkees" from "Catch Us If You Can".[5]
Recording
The album version of "(Theme From) The Monkees" was produced by Boyce, Hart, and Jack Keller. According to Hart, music supervisor Don Kirshner advised him and Boyce to bring on Keller to help them produce the recording as he had "more experience". The song's backing track was recorded on July 5, 1966 at RCA Studio A in Hollywood, California.[6] On July 19, work continued on the song. Andrew Sandoval suggests the vocals may have been recorded at a session later that day.[7]
Release
The full-length version was released as a single in several countries. It was a no. 1 hit on Norway's Verdens Gang[8] and Japan's Cash Box[9] singles charts, and reached the top 10 in Australia[10] and Mexico.[11] An Italian version of the song, "Tema Dei Monkees", was released as a single in Italy.[12]
Boyce and Hart recorded a demo of the song for an early pre-broadcast version of The Monkees pilot episode, which was released as a bonus feature on the series' Season 1 DVD box set.[13]
Other versions
Ray Stevens did his take of the theme on his 1985 album He Thinks He's Ray Stevens featuring a male German group of singers, Wolfgang and Fritzy, that are arguing during the refrain of the song. ("Hey Hey Bist Du Monkees".)
The song is featured in the trailer for the 1994 film Monkey Trouble, and it is used on the Minions film soundtrack.
The song is referenced in the 2003 song by The Thrills, "Big Sur."
Personnel
Credits adapted from 2021 Rhino LP.[14]
- Micky Dolenz – lead vocals
Additional musicians
- Tommy Boyce – backing vocals
- Wayne Erwin – guitar, backing vocals
- Gene Estes – tambourine
- Bobby Hart – organ, backing vocals
- Ron Hicklin – backing vocals
- Billy Lewis – drums
- Gerry McGee – guitar
- Louie Shelton – guitar
- Larry Taylor – bass guitar
References
- ↑ "The Monkees". Monkeessessionography.tripod.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- 1 2 Planer, L. "(Theme From) The Monkees". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
- ↑ Beviglia, Jim (4 April 2025). ""Catch Us if You Can": The Title Song to an Odd Movie Starring The Dave Clark Five". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ↑ Anon. (September 14, 2025). "Bobby Hart, Who Co-Wrote Monkees Smashes, the 'Days of Our Lives' Theme and His Own Hit as a Member of Boyce and Hart, Dies at 86". Variety. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ↑ Ryan, Gary (20 January 2020). "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Dave Clark, The Dave Clark Five". NME. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ↑ Sandoval 2005, p. 40.
- ↑ Sandoval 2005, pp. 43–44.
- ↑ "Topp 20 Single 1967-25". Verdens Gang. Accessed 7 July 2025.
- ↑ McCutcheon, J. D. "Japan: RCA Singles". Monkee45s.net. Accessed 18 June 2025.
- ↑ "Go-Set National Top 40". Go-Set. September 27, 1967. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard Magazine. December 16, 1967. p. 52.
- ↑ Sandoval 2005, p. 100.
- ↑ "The Monkees: Season 1 : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". DVD Talk. September 27, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ↑ Sandoval, Andrew (2021). The Monkees (LP liner notes). The Monkees. Rhino Records. ROGV-126.
Sources
- Sandoval, Andrew (2005). The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation. Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 1-59223-372-4.
