10. “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” (1966)
Tommy Boyce wrote several hit songs that appeared on the Monkees’ debut album. Two of them sounded very much alike. They are both on this list. If you know the discography, you can probably guess what the other one is. I suspect “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” was slightly overshadowed by that other one, but it nonetheless offered all the hallmarks of a kick-ass early Monkees’ hit.
A strong upbeat rock-pop groove propelled by session giants like Louie Shelton on guitar, Larry Taylor on bass and Billy Lewis on drums help support a very good vocal from Micky.
9. “Tapioca Tundra” (1968)
Though they all wrote some good songs, Mike Nesmith was the Monkees’ most gifted songwriter. Many of his songs derived from his interest in country music, but he developed a genuine talent for filtering country through a modern pop/psychedelic sensibility that is never clearer than on this track from The Birds, the Bees, and the Monkees, perhaps the band’s last great album from their initial run.
It somehow pairs a vaudeville shuffle with an old cowboy crooner and lets Nesmith play guitar and sing. “Tapioca Tundra” was the B-side of the Boyce/Hart rocker “Valleri,” with its iconic Louie Shelton flamenco guitar. That’s a very catchy song itself, but “Tapioca Tundra” is ultimately more interesting.
8. “I’m a Believer” (1966)
The Neil Diamond composition “I’m a Believer” may be the Monkees’ best-known single. It came from their second album, More of the Monkees, and was paired with the angry rocker “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” as a double-sided hit. It was the number one song on Billboard for seven weeks at the beginning of 1967.
Micky sang it with Davy and Peter providing harmony. Since session musicians played the music, Mike was not credited at all. The Monkees’ original has been overshadowed by Smash Mouth’s version from the movie Shrek, and I have to admit I really like the more modern hard rock take. But that doesn’t mean the Monkees’ original isn’t still awesome.
7. “Your Auntie Grizelda” (1967)
I realize this is where I may start to lose some diehard fans. The fact is, Peter Tork did not have a lead vocalist's voice. He could play anything, and he could sing harmony quite well, but as a lead, he was a little bit like Ringo Starr. The Beatles liked to give Ringo a song on each album because his irrepressible personality would always shine through even if he lacked some technical vocal chops.
Well, Peter did too, but taken in small doses, I just love his quirky delivery. The cacophonous music courtesy of Jack Keller and the brutally incisive lyrics from Diane Hildebrand find perfect voice in the flat whine that Tork delivers.
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