The Monkees Present (full title being The Monkees Present Micky, David, Michael, also known as simply Present) is The Monkees' eighth album. It is the second Monkees album released after the departure of Peter Tork and the last to feature Michael Nesmith until 1996's Justus.
History
The original plan for Present was to release a double album which devoted one side to each member of the group, who by now were recording virtually as solo artists. With Tork now gone, and record sales waning, the decision was made to pare the track selection down to a single disc.
By the time recording had begun in earnest for Present, the Monkees had passed their commercial peak. As Screen Gems' interest in the Monkees' activities waned, the members were given more control over the creation of the album. Unlike Instant Replay, all but two songs were recorded in 1968 or 1969, and the album was accompanied by a strong advertising push (including a cross promotion with Kool-Aid) and a tour with Sam & The Goodtimers — a seven-piece R&B backing band. This was the Monkees' last attempt at commercial viability, reaching only on the Billboard chart. Shortly after the album's release, Nesmith announced that he was leaving the Monkees to form his own group, the First National Band.
The album featured two singles: "Listen to the Band", b/w the non-LP song "Someday Man"; and "Good Clean Fun" b/w "Mommy and Daddy", which upon release reached and , respectively, in the US, with neither charting in the UK. Both singles did much better in Australia, reaching and , respectively, and giving the Monkees their last hits. The title of "Good Clean Fun", which bears no relation to the lyrics, was a direct response to a music publisher (believed to be Lester Sill) who told Michael Nesmith that, in order to have hits, he would have to write songs that were "good clean fun".
Nesmith's "Hollywood", as well as Boyce and Hart's "Apples, Peaches, Bananas and Pears" and "(My) Storybook of You", were songs that were considered for the album but ultimately rejected.
Track listing
Original 1969 Colgems vinyl issue
Side 1
Side 2
Notes
All tracks except "Never Tell a Woman Yes," "Ladies Aid Society," "Mommy and Daddy" and "Pillow Time" were featured on the CBS and ABC reruns of The Monkees from 1969 to 1972.
1994 Rhino CD reissue
Tracks 1-12: Original album
2013 Rhino Handmade deluxe CD reissue
Disc 1 (The Original Stereo Album and More) Tracks 1-12: Original album in stereo
"Time and Time Again" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Jones, Chadwick) - 2:37
"Down the Highway" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Carole King, Toni Stern) - 2:16
"Steam Engine" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Chip Douglas) - 2:23
"If You Have the Time" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Jones, Chadwick) - 2:06
"Angel Band" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (William Bradbury, Reverend J. Hascall) - 3:25 "Rose Marie" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Dolenz) - 2:12 "I Never Thought It Peculiar" (No Strings and Backing Vocals - August 1969) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:24 "Of You" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Bill Chadwick, John Chadwick) - 2:00 "Kicking Stones" (1969 Mix) (Lynn Castle, Wayne Erwin) - 2:27 "If I Knew" (Bill & Davy's Stereo Mix) (Jones, Chadwick) - 2:21 "The Crippled Lion" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 2:49 "(My) Storybook of You" (Tommy & Bobby's Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 2:48 "Carlisle Wheeling" (November 1969 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 3:17 "French Song" (LP Master with Alternate ending - Stereo) (Chadwick) - 2:48 "Hollywood" (Stereo) (Nesmith) - 2:18 "(My) Storybook of You" ("New" 1969 Stereo Mix) (Boyce, Hart) - 3:01 "Circle Sky" ("New" 1969 Stereo Mix) (Nesmith) - 2:34 Kool-Aid spot - 2:03