Surviving Monkees get heavyweight help on new LP - out May 27

Good Times, a new LP by suviving members of the Monkees Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith is out May 27. You can pre-order it from Amazon here.

Here's the skinny:

The Monkees can now reveal the full track list for their highly anticipated new album GOOD TIMES!, their first new album in 20 years, tied to the group's 50th anniversary and extensive North American tour.

All three surviving band members (Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork) have written new songs for the album as well as providing vocals and music performances.

The unmistakable voice of the late Davy Jones is also included with a vintage vocal on the Neil Diamond-penned "Love To Love." To produce the new album, the band found the perfect musical co-conspirator in Grammy® and Emmy®-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne, Ivy).

Much like The Monkees' early albums, GOOD TIMES! features tracks written specifically for the band by some of the music world's most gifted songwriters, including Rivers Cuomo of Weezer ("She Makes Me Laugh"), Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie ("Me & Magdalena"), Andy Partridge of XTC ("You Bring The Summer"), as well as a song co-written by Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller ("Birth Of An Accidental Hipster").

GOOD TIMES! finds all three band members taking turns on lead vocals, playing a wide range of instruments, and sharing new compositions, including Nesmith's "I Know What I Know" and Tork's "Little Girl." In addition to producing the album, Schlesinger also penned "Our Own World" and co-wrote the album's finale with Dolenz, aptly titled "I Was There (And I'm Told I Had A Good Time)."

To help bring the 50th anniversary full circle, The Monkees completed songs for GOOD TIMES! that were originally written and recorded for the group during the 60s. Harry Nilsson wrote the title track "Good Times," which he recorded at a session with Nesmith in January 1968. The production was never completed, so the band returned to the original session tape (featuring Nilsson's guide vocal) and have created a duet with his close friend Dolenz. "Good Times" will mark the first time Dolenz and Nilsson have sung together since Dolenz' May 1973 single "Daybreak." GOOD TIMES! also includes the Neil Diamond-penned "Love To Love," the Carole King and Gerry Goffin collaboration "I Wasn't Born To Follow," "Whatever's Right," written by legendary songwriting duo Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who were responsible for many of the classic Monkees hits, and "Gotta Give It Time," by Jeff Barry and Joey Levine.

 Track Listing
1. "Good Times" (Harry Nilsson)
2. "You Bring The Summer" (Andy Partridge)
3. "She Makes Me Laugh" (Rivers Cuomo)
4. "Our Own World" (Adam Schlesinger)
5. "Gotta Give It Time" (Jeff Barry/Joey Levine)
6. "Me & Magdalena" (Ben Gibbard)
7. "Whatever's Right" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart)
8. "Love To Love" (Neil Diamond)
9. "Little Girl" (Peter Tork)
10. "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster" (Noel Gallagher/Paul Weller)
11. "I Wasn't Born To Follow" (Carole King/Gerry Goffin)
12. "I Know What I Know" (Michael Nesmith)
13. "I Was There (And I'm Told I Had A Good Time)" (Micky Dolenz/Adam Schlesinger)

NEW Monkees album on the way!

Out from Rhino in June. Pre-order from Amazon now.

Details:

The Monkees are ready to have some fun this year as the iconic band celebrates its 50th anniversary with a tour and the group s first new album in 20 years, appropriately titled GOOD TIMES.
Much like The Monkees early albums, GOOD TIMES features tracks written specifically for the band by some of the music world s most gifted songwriters, including Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Andy Partridge (XTC), and Zach Rogue (Rogue Wave). The album also includes songwriting contributions by Nesmith ( I Know What I Know ) and Tork as well as producer Schlesinger.

To help bring the anniversary full circle, The Monkees completed songs for GOOD TIMES that were originally recorded & written for group during the 60s, including Love To Love by Neil Diamond, which features a vintage vocal by Jones. Harry Nilsson wrote the title track Good Times, which he recorded at a session with Nesmith in January 1968. The production was never completed, so the band returned to the original session tape (featuring Nilsson s guide vocal) and have created a duet with his close friend Dolenz. Good Times will mark the first time Dolenz and Nilsson have sung together since Dolenz May 1973 single Daybreak. Other vintage 1960 s tracks included on GOOD TIMES feature L.A. s famed Wrecking Crew of session musicians. 

Video find: Davy Jones pre-Monkees TV appearance

Pop focus: The Monkees meet the Beatles!

Here's an assortment of photos from occasions when members of the Fab and Pre-Fab Four met up - mostly from the 1960s when both groups were at their height.

When the Beatles started to get a bit weird with drugs, psychedelia and Eastern philosophy in the mid-1960s, the Monkees came along on TV, offering younger kids a "Help!" and "Hard Day's Night" influenced version of a fun and friendly rock'n'roll band to idolize. And they turned out some great music.

Though obviously aware the group originated as a rip-off of their younger selves, the Beatles were publicly friendly and supportive of the band:

“The Monkees are still finding out who they are, and they seem to be improving as performers each time I see them. When they’ve got it all sorted out, they may be the greatest.”- George Harrison. 

“I like their music a lot…and you know, their personalities. I watch their tv show and it is good.”- Paul McCartney. 

“They’re not really just copies of us, now, are they? The Monkees have a fine way of their own, you know?”- Ringo Starr. 

“Monkees? They’ve got their own scene, and I won’t send them down for it. You try a weekly television show and see if you can manage one half as good!”- John Lennon.

Pop artifact: Monkees puppet

Today's best picture ever: Davy Jones and Sonny Liston

Vintage ad: Monkees stickers

Today's best picture ever: Mickey Dolenz!

Video find: Monkees TV commercials

Here are the Monkees shilling for Kellogg's, Kool-Aid, Nerf and more!

Picture sleeve parade: Monkees- Take a Giant Step/Last Train to Clarksville

Monkees singer Davy Jones dead at 66

Sad news: Davy Jones of the Monkees is dead from a heart attack at age 66, TMZ reports.

An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed with TMZ they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.

Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old.

Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 ... along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork ... and together they churned out a bunch of hugely popular songs including 3 number 1 hits -- "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer."

Video find: The Monkees with Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and more

From the 1969 TV special, "33 And A Third Revolutions Per Monkee."