AUGUST 16, 1966

The Colgems single #66-1001, Boyce & Hart's "Last Train To Clarksville" bw/ Goffin & King's "Take A Giant Step," performed by The Monkees, is released.



Surprisingly, both Nesmith and Boyce/Hart produced sessions (and in the case of Boyce/Hart, a very long one) of "Last Train To Clarksville" took place on the same day in June 1966 at different studios with Micky Dolenz participating in both! Although all four Monkees were given tries at singing lead on "Clarksville", Micky Dolenz sang the lead on the released version with The Candy Store Prophets, Wayne Erwin, Louie Shelton, Tommy Boyce (acoustic guitar) and David Walters (percussion) doing the backing track. Unfortunately, the vocal takes from the other three were erased. The tune of course went on to become the group's first release (4 weeks before their TV series' debut on NBC, to accurately time it for network promotion), single, gold record, and #1. It was also included on the album.

"Take A Giant Step" is also from Boyce and Hart's second session, this time with Boyce playing acoustic guitar, Jack Keller playing piano, Bobby Hart playing glockenspiel, and Bob Cooper provided the oboe. "Take A Giant Step" made the B-side of the group's first single. An alternate mix (without backing vocals) of "Take A Giant Step" aired on the television show (in Episode No. 9, "The Chaperone"), and Peter later recorded a solo version of the song.

(Data by Louis Colli)

AUGUST 18, 1973

"The Chaperone," Episode No. 9 of The Monkees (prod. #4711, aired on NBC November 7, 1966), was repeated @ 1:00 p.m. EDT on ABC.

AUGUST 19, 1968

"Some Like It Lukewarm" (a.k.a. "The Band Contest"), Episode No. 56 of The Monkees (prod. #4751, from March 4, 1968), was repeated @ 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC.

Secret/Maybelline/Pizza Spins sponsored that week, and the commercials seen were Secret, Prell Concentrate, Maybelline, Solarcaine, Pizza Spins and Bugles. Many television researchers have mistaken this repeat to be the last telecast of The Monkees on NBC in prime time.

AUGUST 19, 1972

"The Monkees On The Wheel", Episode No. 46 of The Monkees (prod. #4742, aired on NBC December 11, 1967 and June 10, 1968), was repeated @ noon EDT on CBS.

AUGUST 21, 1967

"The Monkees On Tour", Episode No. 32 of The Monkees (prod. #4753, aired on NBC April 24, 1967), was repeated @ 7:30 p.m. EDT on NBC, with 2 new songs added: Goffin and King's "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and Boyce and Hart's "Words", both flipsides of The Monkees' fourth single (Colgems #66-1007, issued in July 1967). The sponsor that week was Yardley Of London™.

AUGUST 21, 1971

"The Card-Carrying Red Shoes", Episode No. 41 of The Monkees (prod. #4766, aired on NBC November 6, 1967 and May 6, 1968), was repeated @ 12:30 p.m. EDT on CBS.

AUGUST 22, 1970

"Find The Monkees!" (a.k.a. "The Audition"), Episode No. 19 of The Monkees (prod. #4721, aired on NBC January 23, 1967), was repeated @ noon EDT on CBS.