MONKEE NEWS!

there's been a row over at Big O amongst the denizens therein about the Monkees being just 'greasy kid's stuff' and a general slagging off of each other (no change there then! The place is a positive rickety rackety footbridge of trolls! ED)  It's all about those who think they were this so called entirely 'manufactured' ersatz pop band entirely for the teeny boppers, all of which called to mind my early penchant for the band and my recalling rushing home every Saturday tea time as a kid (yes yes I grant you a kid but bear with me) to watch the Monkees on TeeVee. Then I had flashbacks of this TV special with people like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino along with major domo activity from the likes of Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll not to mention guest appearances on their show like Frank Zappa . . . .

and the line up for this entire, very strange broadcast – along with Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard & Fats Domino, is astonishing and well,  there’s too much out n out weirdness to detail, but look out for a jam session with Buddy Miles (I kid you not!) and about 28 minutes in, after the Auger/Driscoll jam, “Come On Up” (which features some Zappa-esque strobe video editing) – as the scheming, Rance Muhammitz-style voice over talks about brainwashing the Monkees – Willard's Wormholes noticed that as follows :

I began to notice the numerous similarities to Frank Zappa’s 1971 film, 200 Motels. Even the stage set up for the must see, 9 minute, cast freak-out version of “Listen To The Band” (which includes The Buddy Miles Express) resembles Zappa’s 200 Motels stage set-up. Frank Zappa  was a fan (he appeared in their movie, Head, and in an episode of their TV show, “The Monkees Blow Their Minds,” HERE). All that aside, there’s some wickedly oddball stuff here – the first of 3 proposed Monkees television specials. Immediately after filming, however, Peter Tork bought out his contract – meaning he paid money not be a Monkee any more – and NBC eventually dropped plans for any follow-up specials.

Brian Auger - still going strong

 Tracklisting being:
Micky Dolenz & Julie Driscoll I’m a Believer
Peter Tork I Prithee (Do Not Ask For Love)
Michael Nesmith Naked Persimmon (The Only Thing I Believe Is True)
Davy Jones Goldilocks Sometime
The Monkees Wind Up Man, Darwin
Paul Arnold & The Moon Express Only The Fittest Shall Survive
The Monkees I Go Ape
Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity Come On Up
Medley: The Monkees At The Hop
               – Fats Domino I’m Ready
               – Jerry Lee Lewis Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
               – Little Richard Tutti Frutti
               – We Three & The Monkees Shake A Tail Feather
               – Fats Domino Blue Monday
               – The Monkees Little Darlin’
               – Little Richard Long Tall Sally
               – Jerry Lee Lewis Down The Line
               – The Clara Ward Singers Them Bones
Davy Jones A String For My Kite
Peter Tork Solfeggietto (Bach)
The Monkees & Entire Cast Listen To The Band
Peter Tork California Here It Comes (End Titles)

Not entirely Louis Walsh 'Boyzone' or Pop X-Voice Factor manufactured shite I think you'll agree . . . . . . . If it's good enough for Frank well I think the rest of the folk on Big O are just being well, er . . . .
 . . .wind-up men!