The Monkees set to celebrate 50th anniversary with new studio album, tour

Hey, Hey, it's the (return of) the Monkees!

For years, yours truly has been somewhat upset by the way the majority of the music press has overlooked the music and contributions of the Monkees. With the group's 50th anniversary having arrived, details on a new Monkees studio album (the aptly-named GOOD TIMES!) and tour set for this year, perhaps the band members (the late Davy Jones, as well as Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork) will get a second and more objective look in 2016. I, for one, firmly believe the Monkees deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Here are some highlights pulled from the official media release:

• GOOD TIMES! will mark the Monkees' first new album in nearly 20 years, and will include tracks written by Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service) and Andy Partridge (XTC).

The Monkees, from left, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz,
Davy Jones and Peter Tork.

• The album will also feature previously-unreleased 1960s recordings of songs written by Neil Diamond ("Love To Love"), Harry Nilsson and others that have been "revisited and completed" in new Monkees studio sessions.

• GOOD TIMES! will also feature the Nesmith-penned "I Know What I Know" and at least one track written by Tork. The album will be available on CD and digitally on June 10, while the album will arrive on vinyl on July 1, 2016. Produced by Emmy-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger (of Fountains Of Wayne fame), the album is also set to feature a new song co-written by Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller. This sounds like it is going to be a truly amazing album.

I've been fortunate to review the Monkees, as well as solo appearances by Dolenz and Nesmith over the years and have been reminded each time that the strength of songs and strong winning personality of each of the members did make them something special beyond the roles they forged on their NBC-TV series (that ran from 1966 to 1968). You can read my review in the Orange County Register of the group's performance at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA in November 2012. Click here to read my review of the group when they performed with Davy Jones in one of his final shows with the Monkees at the Greek Theatre in July 2011. 

For more information on all things Monkees, go to the troupe's official Web site: http://monkees.com/

Robert Kinsler