On this day in music history: November 5, 1966 - “Last Train To Clarksville” by The Monkees hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written and produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, is the first number one single for “The Pre-Fab Four”. Working as staff writers for music supervisor Don Kirshner’s publishing company, Boyce and Hart use The Beatles then recent hit “Paperback Writer” as the initial inspiration for “Clarksville”. Bobby Hart mistakenly believes that The Beatles were singing about a “last train”. When he realizes that isn’t correct, he still likes the imagery enough to begin writing a song around it. The track is recorded at RCA Victor Studio B in Hollywood, CA on July 25, 1966. With The Monkees themselves spending as much as twelve hours a day filming the series, the music tracks are cut with studio musicians (though band members Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork are both accomplished musicians) in order to make the recordings as quickly as possible. The group would then be brought into the studio to record their vocals. The single is released on August 16, 1966, one month before their top rated TV series debuts on NBC on September 12, 1966. Entering the Hot 100 at #67 on September 10, 1966, it climbs to the top of the chart nine weeks later. “Clarksville” is the first of three chart topping singles, and six top ten singles for The Monkees. “Last Train To Clarksville” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Well this is still calling my bluff and I loved LOVED the Monkees! 

I didn't buy much but one of my most vivid memories is racing home from my evening paper round to catch the teatime show on TV. I would have been around 13 I guess and I loved these guys, mourned Davy passing our very own 'Artful Dodger' and still stand by some of the work of Mike Nesmith and indeed the quality of songwriting by the Boyce and Hart et al. 

'I'm a Believer' and indeed 'Last Train to Clarksville' should be consider pop classics

Can you dig it? Well maybe not but you know what? I don't care!

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves