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ROCKOLLECTIONS: HEY HEY…THE MONKEES - PT.2 END

We are going to start this concluding chapter with my favorite Monkees song.
It took me years to realize I had one, lol!
We’ll talk a bit about them having Jimi Hendrix as an opening act- Engineer Ken was actually at the concert at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens.
Those teenybopper mothers were aghast.
So it seems that the Monkees were hipper than I gave them credit for.
During their 2nd season on TV they invited Frank Zappa and Tim Buckley on the show.
They were at the Monterey Pop Festival in ‘67, although they didn’t play.
So, I gotta give them credit, those things were cool.
In among the Monkees songs this time, I will play their last Top 20 song, and the original version by the Coasters- and I wonder how many people even knew there was a previous version.
And to take us out, another surprise.
A fun take on that favorite Monkees song of mine, by the writer of it.
I’ll bet you have never heard it!
This show turned out to be a lot of fun, as I suspected it would and how they usually are for me.
And I have revised my opinion of the Monkees.
They weren’t terribly important to Rock & Roll, but they were entertaining and valid.
Come hear for yourself!

Mike

Tags: Coasters, Engineer Ken, Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, frank zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Monterey Pop Festival, Queens NY, Tim Buckley

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BOOKER T AND THE MG’S PT.2 END

Continuing with Booker T & The MG’s, they had a number of hits in the 60’s.
Bassist Steinberg was replaced by Donald “Duck” Dunn in 1965.
The group had its first hit with Booker T playing his signature Hammond B-3 organ in 1967, and it was used in the movie, Barfly.
Now I saw that movie, but it was back when I was drinking myself.
To me, there was no story, it was like going down to my local bar, lol!
They could have just filmed it there!
The band had a successful tour in Europe, known as Hit The Road, Stax.
They played at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and were invited to Woodstock, but didn’t play because Al Jackson was afraid to ride in the helicopter that would bring them in!
Got another # 17 hit in 1968.
And Booker T & MG’s and the Beatles were a mutual admiration society.
I will play the results of that.
They were the house band at Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary, and also for Bob Dylan’s 30th in 1992.
Neil Young asked the group to back him on tour, and they played behind him on his album Are You Passionate?
Have you ever heard Booker T Jones SING?
Well, you will if you give this episode a listen.
I’ll close it all out with their 2nd-biggest hit, a song about something I am reminded of every week.
Hope you enjoy this one, as usual I did doing it!

Mike

Tags: Al Jackson, Are You Passionate?, Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary, Barfly, Beatles, Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary, Booker T Jones, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Hammond B-3 organ, Hit The Road Stax, Monterey Pop Festival, Neil Young, Woodstock