You can't have a podcast site dedicated to artists influenced directly by the Beatles without featuring a podcast from the FIRST Beatle copy-cats, The Monkees.

It's a shame they've been reduced to a footnote in music history. Usually represented falsely as "not playing their own instruments". True, their first two albums were recorded using studio musicians with the boys doing the singing; but that was because the Monkees themselves were spending 16 hours a day recording a television show!

Their third album was an album with a purpose. They wanted to quiet the idea that they were talentless. They played and sang everything on this album, along with producer Chip Douglas (of The Turtles) playing bass on some tracks.

The record company and Don Kirshner were so irritated with the Monkees for their insistance on playing and singing everything themselves, that NO single was released from this album!

Here are the songs and some commentary on each:

01- You Told Me- A song written by Mike Nesmith. This is the FIRST use
of a BANJO on a rock n' roll record! Banjo is played by Peter.

02- You Just May Be The One- Another Nesmith tune, a tune he'd writen
especially for the Monkees to fit their group dynamic.

03- For Pete's Sake- Written by Peter Tork. This replaced the "Theme
From The Monkees" as the song played over the closing credits of the
TV show.

04- Mr. Webster- A story song in the style of the Beatles.

05- Randy Scouse Git- A song written by Micky Dolenz. Apparantly, it's
not a nice term in England. They told Micky to come up with an
alternate title for the album over there, so Micky called it "Alternate
Title".

06- Sunny Girlfriend- Another Nesmith tune. Long before the Eagles
made it popular in the 70's, The Monkees were recording country rock tunes. Way ahead of their time.