R.I.P. Davy Jones, of The Monkees. There are a lot of snobs out there who discount The Monkees, but they did some pretty good stuff and had their place in rock history. For example, lots of people don’t know The Monkees bought something like the second Moog synthesizer ever built and were the first to feature it on a pop music record. And, they did end up selling a gazillion records even though the TV show that spawned them lasted only two seasons.

To be honest, most of my favorite Monkees tunes are Mike Nesmith tunes, but this one from Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones, Ltd is a good one – I especially like the Moog bass that enters halfway through the song. And Valleri and Daydream Believer are two more examples of Jones’ ability to sing pop music as sweet as any candy store confection. Compare the sweetness of these tunes with the edgier (or at least more interesting) tunes penned by Nesmith:

Circle Sky, from Head. very cool tune, specially when played loud. Features the loudest maracas (I’m sure played by Davy Jones) in recorded music history.

What Am I Doing Hangin” Round?, from P,A,C, & J, Ltd. The quality of the sound doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a great tune written by Michael “Wildfire” Murphy, and there’s some awesome bass being played by one of my all-time bass heroes, Chip Douglas.

The Door Into Summer, also from P,A,C, & J, Ltd. Come to think of it, that’s one hell of an album – it came out in 1967 and is in my view the Monkees’ best. As a complete work it holds up against just about any other classic rock album of that era.

You Told Me, from Headquarters. Chip Douglas again on bass.

Listen To The Band, features a solid and interesting bass line throughout. I don’t think it’s by Chip Douglas, though.

Jones died at only 66, that makes me feel very old and very vulnerable. But he lived an interesting and very full life, and his place in pop music history is assured. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.