Sunday, December 27, 2020

The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Monday - Live (1986-2020) (A MIKE SOLOF GUEST POST)

Here's something special for you. It's the first guest post for this blog. It was put together by a friend named Mike Solof, who has recently been helping me behind the scenes with this blog.

Mike has written a thorough explanation about what he did in a PDF file, which is included in the download file. I recommend you read that. If you want to know why the title is "Pleasant Valley Monday" instead of "Pleasant Valley Sunday," you'll have to read the PDF to find out.

But in summary, the Monkees weren't known for their live shows in the 1960s, due to loudly screaming fans and other sound and performance issues. They did much better during occasional reunion concerts from 1986 to 2020. But it was very rare for all four Monkees to get together and play a full set of songs. So Mike has put together a kind of ultimate dream concert that lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes and contains every song of theirs you'd want to hear. 

Mike has pulled out all the stops to perfect this concert. He's only used performances of the best sound quality, with many of them taken from official live albums that are exceedingly rare, only sold at concerts and now out of print. In compiling this, he was left with a bunch of songs that were interesting but of slightly lower sound quality. So he's compiled those into a separate bonus zip file that's 37 minutes long and a de facto extra live album.

Furthermore, he spent some time adding crowd noise at the end of each song when necessary, to help make it sound live one seamless concert recording. But sound editing programs always seem to leave little microgaps between songs, and he found that annoying. So he's also created a version with all the songs merged into one, in order to eliminate those little gaps and give you a "you are there" uninterrupted concert experience.

Thus, there are actually three zip downloads here. This is the first one, the main concert, with each song a separate track. Note that after each song title, you'll find listed in brackets which of the original four Monkees took part in that particular performance.

01 NBC 1966 Logo Intro (Monkees)
02 [Theme From] The Monkees (Monkees [Michael, Micky, Peter & Davy])
03 Last Train to Clarksville (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
04 A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
05 talk (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
06 Long Title [Do I Have to Do This All Over Again] (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
07 Mary, Mary (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
08 talk (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
09 For Pete’s Sake (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
10 Look Out [Here Comes Tomorrow] (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
11 Door into Summer (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
12 You Just May Be the One (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
13 The Girl I Knew Somewhere (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
14 She (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
15 talk (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
16 Your Aunty Grizelda (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
17 Shades of Grey (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
18 St. Matthew (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
19 As We Go Along (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
20 talk (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
21 I Wanna Be Free (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
22 [I'll] Love You Forever (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
23 talk (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
24 Papa Gene's Blues (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
25 Randy Scouse Git (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
26 Nine Times Blue (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
27 I'll Spend My Life with You (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
28 Me and Magdalena (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
29 Daydream Believer (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
30 MGBGT (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
31 No Time (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
32 Valerie (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
33 She Hangs Out (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
34 Circle Sky (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
35 I'm a Believer (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
36 talk (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
37 It's Nice to Be with You (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
38 Girl (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
39 [Your Love Keeps Lifting Me] Higher and Higher (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
40 Different Drum (Monkees [Michael])
41 Porpoise Song [Theme from 'Head'] (Monkees [Micky Dolenz, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith])
42 Good Morning, Good Morning (Monkees [Micky Dolenz, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith])
43 Cuddly Toy (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
44 That Was Then, This Is Now (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
45 Sweet Young Thing (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
46 [I’m Not Your] Stepping Stone (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
47 Listen to the Band (Monkees [Michael & Micky])
48 The Grand Ennui (Monkees [Michael])
49 talk (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter])
50 Tapioca Tundra (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter])
51 Pleasant Valley Sunday (Monkees [Michael & Micky with Peter & Davy on video])
01 Intro to You Bring the Summer (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
02 You Bring the Summer (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
03 She Makes Me Laugh (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
04 Let's Dance On (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
05 Saturday's Child (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
06 Steam Engine (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter])
07 Good Clean Fun (Monkees [Mike & Micky])
08 Papa Gene's Blues (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
09 Take a Giant Step (Monkees [Peter & Micky])
10 Sometime in the Morning (Monkees [Micky])
11 Intro to Shades of Grey (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter with Davy on Video])
12 Shades of Grey (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter with Davy on Video])
13 Porpoise Song [Theme from 'Head'] (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
14 We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Jingle Bell Rock - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Happy Xmas [War Is Over] (Monkees [Micky & Peter])

https://www.imagenetz.de/cQeqJ

For the second zip file, here is the exact same concert, except all the mp3s have been merged into one in order to eliminate the microgaps between songs:

https://www.imagenetz.de/fXXuZ

Finally, here's the third zip file, which contains the bonus and rare songs that didn't make it into the main concert due to sound quality issues. Note that these songs don't sound bad; it's just that they're not up to the same very high standard as those included in the main concert.

01 Intro to You Bring the Summer (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
02 You Bring the Summer (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
03 She Makes Me Laugh (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
04 Let's Dance On (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
05 Saturday's Child (Monkees [Micky & Peter])
06 Steam Engine (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter])
07 Good Clean Fun (Monkees [Mike & Micky])
08 Papa Gene's Blues (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
09 Take a Giant Step (Monkees [Peter & Micky])
10 Sometime in the Morning (Monkees [Micky])
11 Intro to Shades of Grey (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter with Davy on Video])
12 Shades of Grey (Monkees [Michael, Micky & Peter with Davy on Video])
13 Porpoise Song [Theme from 'Head'] (Monkees [Micky, Peter & Davy])
14 We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Jingle Bell Rock - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Happy Xmas [War Is Over] (Monkees [Micky & Peter])

https://www2.zippyshare.com/v/uerQOmUP/file.html

Thanks again to Mike for this nice album. I assisted him here and there, but the vast majority of the effort was his. Plus, he came up with this unusual idea, and it's something I wouldn't have thought of or done without him.

Regarding the album cover, Mike selected the photo, which is a promo photo from 1996. I added the text.

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30 comments:

  1. steve52December 27, 2020 at 10:54 PM

    This looks amazing! Thank you so much for all of the effort involved.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:25 PM

      My Pleasure... (except when it entered about hour 200 of editing lol!)

      Delete
  2. thank youDecember 28, 2020 at 3:04 AM

    An excellent read. Thanks for saying they are mp3s.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:27 PM

      That's one of the things i love most about paul's posts...the detailed info that comes with them. I had fun putting together the PDF for that exact reason!

      Delete
  3. DKDecember 28, 2020 at 3:23 AM

    Many thanks! A nice way to begin a week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BabingaDecember 28, 2020 at 4:41 AM

    Still going through this, but Porpoise song and the beatles song are with back up singer Circe Link and from a webcast thanks for the groovyness

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BabingaDecember 28, 2020 at 4:41 AM

      NOT Coco

      Delete
    2. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:29 PM

      Thanks for the heads up Babinga. Good eyes!! I had that in an earlier draft but it got lost around PDF version 27 LOL! I updated the PDF with that info again!

      Delete
  5. JobeDecember 28, 2020 at 7:13 AM

    Thanks a bunch fella's

    ReplyDelete
  6. mike wDecember 28, 2020 at 8:08 AM

    I recommend you read that. If you want to know why the title is "Pleasant Valley Monday" instead of "Pleasant Valley Sunday," you'll have to read the PDF to find out.

    I've read the PD. Still don't see where it explains the title.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:36 PM

      Hi Mike, It's down at the very bottom almost at the end...but to save you search time... I named it that way because I looked at the newest Monkees release, The Mike and Micky Show and thought, What would happen if in some Alternate Universe, they had released The Mike and Micky and Peter and Davy Show. It would be a world that was just a bit off. And that of course meant that all of their biggest hits would be titled...just a bit off.

      And the idea for PLEASANT VALLEY MONDAY was born.

      Delete
  7. ShrinerDecember 28, 2020 at 9:56 AM

    This looks interesting -- out of curiosity, were you not able to find a decent performance of "All Of Your Toys"? I thought that was a great surprise addition to the set list when they added it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:46 PM

      One of my favorites... and I never found a performance of it that would make the cut soundwise, even in the bonus cuts. I was able to find 4-5 versions of it on youtube...but non were EQ'able to Paul and my exacting standards...for you guys!

      Delete
    2. ShrinerDecember 29, 2020 at 11:41 AM

      Fair enough. I'm assuming this is why Rhino wasn't able to cobble together a decent recording of "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round?" for the Mike & Micky album, as well (which was my biggest surprise omission from that..)

      Delete
  8. RoelDecember 28, 2020 at 10:23 AM

    The Monkees, Live in Goud van Oud (1989) in the Netherlands
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8CSU9h2cI&ab_channel=BertjeV01
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bscFzl3Zo&ab_channel=BertjeV01
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hnCN-afeXE&ab_channel=BertjeV01

    Enjoy,

    Roel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:51 PM

      Roel,
      Awesome versions of those songs! That for bringing them to our attention!

      Delete
  9. BabingaDecember 28, 2020 at 1:12 PM

    I see out friend, albums I wish existed has had his blog removed R.I.P.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mike wDecember 28, 2020 at 3:17 PM

      What happened to "Albums I Wish Existed"??

      Delete
    2. PaulDecember 28, 2020 at 8:49 PM

      I have a blog post about that:

      http://albumsthatshouldexist.blogspot.com/2020/12/blog-trouble.html

      Short answer: he's had some trouble, but he's on the way back.

      Delete
    3. Michael solofDecember 28, 2020 at 8:52 PM

      That's great to hear! Another of my favorite sites to check daily!!

      Delete
    4. mike wDecember 29, 2020 at 5:40 AM

      Thanks for the info. I missed your blog troubles posting.

      Delete
  10. GummoDecember 29, 2020 at 1:36 PM

    This looks so ridiculously wonderful I can't wait to start listening to it!

    We need some poppy, happy music in these crazy days. Thanks! (And thanks for everything in general, too!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Michael solofDecember 30, 2020 at 7:25 AM

    Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jens TerjeDecember 30, 2020 at 7:29 AM

    Your blog is sheer delight!

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownNovember 9, 2021 at 7:27 AM

    Just came across this but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be working any more. It could be because I am in the UK. Any ideas please?

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownNovember 11, 2021 at 8:50 AM

    Hi Mike
    I would love to download these concerts but unfortunately, living in the UK means I can't. I have even tried using a VPN (VeePN) but to no avail. Is there a way you could list them in another way (as I believe you have with some of your other recordings)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. toonerDecember 7, 2022 at 1:51 PM

      Hello!
      Great Post!
      I Love me some Monkees :-D
      Could you please re-up the second zip file, with all the mp3s merged together? it would really be nice if you could.
      Thank you again for this great post :-D

      Delete
  15. gtrbocApril 30, 2023 at 1:21 PM

    Great collection of Monkees music. with the shutdown of zippy are these available anywhere else? I guess I am late to the party. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete