Record company no doubt insisted session musicians play on all the recordings. Mike did lobby enough that he got to play. Obviously Davey and Mickey sang their songs. Cuddly Toy; Pleasant Valley Sunday etc One of my first record albums about 1969 !
There were actually two bona fide musicians in the Monkees: Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. Nesmith already had shown himself to be an excellent songwriter before the group formed, most famously having composed "Different Drum," while Tork's musical proficiency was so lauded that he could have become a member of The Wrecking Crew, the famous group of session players which included for a time Glen Campbell.
Prefab Four, I don't think so, Michael Nesmith wrote great songs Peter Tork could play many instruments and apparently the keyboard extremely well, and they all could sing.
WTF ....? I always thought Pete was the least qualified musician after Davey ! What a shock to see this and realise how wrong I was . As a kid watching the show here in the UK in the late sixties , Peter was always my favourite , a naturally gifted actor and funny with it . And now...this !!
Peter was easily the most qualified, played keyboards, guitar, bass. BTW the bassist is usually the most competent musician in most rock bands [Beatles, Beach Boys, Police, Led Zep and many other examples].
The producers thought Davy was too small and would be hidden behind a drum kit, even though he could play drums. Also, he had the look that the chicks would like, so they made Micky the drummer and put Davy out front. Micky had to learn the drums so they could keep up that "pre-fab" image when they played live. @@halcyon289
Record company no doubt insisted session musicians play on all the recordings. Mike did lobby enough that he got to play. Obviously Davey and Mickey sang their songs. Cuddly Toy; Pleasant Valley Sunday etc One of my first record albums about 1969 !
Micky was a guitarist in his band when his agent told him to do a reading for the producers. Davy was an actor in a musical on the ed Sullivan show the night the Beatles played. Mike and Peter were two upcoming musicians in the local scene Dave Crosby of CSN told Peter he should try out for this show looking for musicians They described it as saying At first there were two actors and two musicians by the end there were four actors and four musicians.
Actually, I heard part of the interview with Terri Gross from NPR's "Fresh Air" and Peter said it was Stephen Stills who told him to audition, though he was also friends with David Crosby.
The Monkees didn't play their own music?? They weren't allowed to in the beginning. Nevertheless, that piece of false information followed them for years, even after they were doing live shows. Amazing. They were one of the best bands ever. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame can eat 💩.
don kershner wouldn't let them do anything but sing on the first album.....they did do pretty much everything on their 2nd one... headquarters.... with a few studio musicians added 👍..... awesome album too 😋
@@guitarslim56 Madonna, and horns are NOT ROCK AND ROLL. I was alive when the very word was coined, and very little is rock and roll anymore, other than the money grubbers in the name of it.
While I was watching this I was thinking how similar in style it was to one of those amazing Bach/Vivaldi playing neo-classical metal guitarists so it's nice to have that thought ratified by someone else!
Also, the fact that I've seen him play this live right in front of me! And many other piano pieces. Peter was an incredible musician and could basically play any instrument you handed him!
This is a piece by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, the most notable son of Johann Sebastian. I thought it was worth mentioning it.
Back in the day it was said the Monkees didn’t play instruments. It was said they learned after getting famous. I think someone lied.
I heard the same thing. Maybe they were fast learners.
Mike and Peter were musicians
Davy and Mickey weren't.
Record company no doubt insisted session musicians play on all the recordings. Mike did lobby enough that he got to play. Obviously Davey and Mickey sang their songs. Cuddly Toy; Pleasant Valley Sunday etc One of my first record albums about 1969 !
@@davidkyle2073they did
Peter Tork was an accomplished musician before joining the Monkees
There were actually two bona fide musicians in the Monkees: Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. Nesmith already had shown himself to be an excellent songwriter before the group formed, most famously having composed "Different Drum," while Tork's musical proficiency was so lauded that he could have become a member of The Wrecking Crew, the famous group of session players which included for a time Glen Campbell.
Peter was a truly great playing musician
I was lucky enough to meet him and get his autograph before he passed. RIP. That some pretty difficult counterpoint keyboard. Awesome
It would have been more impressive if you had gotten his autograph AFTER he passed.
No counterpoint in it. Still, nice to hear a clav being used for its original intended purpose, baroque music.
Mike and Peter were musicians before the monkees
Awesome to see him in action doing what he did so well.....❤
Still cool after all these decades!! The clothes too!
He plays banjo too.
He played banjo on George Harrison's "Wonderwall" album...
Wow, I always loved playing that on the piano ❤
Wow . I always thought the Monkees couldn't play . Peter Tork sure could anyway lol .
wow amazing ❤
Play it Peter.Alway's In are Heart's forever.Pesce and love
Reminds me of Rick Wakeman.
Prefab Four, I don't think so, Michael Nesmith wrote great songs Peter Tork could play many instruments and apparently the keyboard extremely well, and they all could sing.
Tork is a dork no longer.
WTF ....? I always thought Pete was the least qualified musician after Davey ! What a shock to see this and realise how wrong I was . As a kid watching the show here in the UK in the late sixties , Peter was always my favourite , a naturally gifted actor and funny with it . And now...this !!
He was the most gifted musician of the four.
Davy could play drums
@@RobertJohnson-hq6jq I thought that was Micky .
Peter was easily the most qualified, played keyboards, guitar, bass. BTW the bassist is usually the most competent musician in most rock bands [Beatles, Beach Boys, Police, Led Zep and many other examples].
The producers thought Davy was too small and would be hidden behind a drum kit, even though he could play drums. Also, he had the look that the chicks would like, so they made Micky the drummer and put Davy out front. Micky had to learn the drums so they could keep up that "pre-fab" image when they played live. @@halcyon289
Record company no doubt insisted session musicians play on all the recordings. Mike did lobby enough that he got to play. Obviously Davey and Mickey sang their songs. Cuddly Toy; Pleasant Valley Sunday etc One of my first record albums about 1969 !
Quite classical.
Davey played a mean tambourine though.
Micky was a guitarist in his band when his agent told him to do a reading for the producers.
Davy was an actor in a musical on the ed Sullivan show the night the Beatles played.
Mike and Peter were two upcoming musicians in the local scene
Dave Crosby of CSN told Peter he should try out for this show looking for musicians
They described it as saying At first there were two actors and two musicians by the end there were four actors and four musicians.
Actually, I heard part of the interview with Terri Gross from NPR's "Fresh Air" and Peter said it was Stephen Stills who told him to audition, though he was also friends with David Crosby.
The Monkees didn't play their own music?? They weren't allowed to in the beginning. Nevertheless, that piece of false information followed them for years, even after they were doing live shows. Amazing. They were one of the best bands ever. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame can eat 💩.
R&R Hall of fame lost all legitimacy when Madonna got inducted, and suspect even before that. Complete money pit fraud.
don kershner wouldn't let them do anything but sing on the first album.....they did do pretty much everything on their 2nd one... headquarters.... with a few studio musicians added 👍..... awesome album too 😋
The Hall of Fame is a hall of fame, not a hall of talent.
@@guitarslim56 So true. Look at some of the people who have gotten in.
@@guitarslim56 Madonna, and horns are NOT ROCK AND ROLL.
I was alive when the very word was coined, and very little is rock and roll anymore, other than the money grubbers in the name of it.
noice
Sounds like Yngwie Malmsteen
While I was watching this I was thinking how similar in style it was to one of those amazing Bach/Vivaldi playing neo-classical metal guitarists so it's nice to have that thought ratified by someone else!
what makes you think he is actually playing this ?
Er, the fact that he is? 😂
Also, the fact that I've seen him play this live right in front of me!
And many other piano pieces. Peter was an incredible musician and could basically play any instrument you handed him!
Yeah...but Davy Jones played a mean tambourine
he also invented the "Axl Rose snake dance"
Davy was a good singer.