"Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth"

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" - the eighth episode of The Monkees series - was broadcast fifty years ago to-day (31 October 1966).  It was written by Dave Evans, directed by Robert Rafelson, and featured the songs "Papa Gene's Blues" and "All the King's Horses."  Sandoval describes the plot as: "The Monkees are saddled with the responsibility of babysitting a real live horse." 

"Monkees in a Ghost Town"

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, "Monkees in a Ghost Town" - the seventh episode of The Monkees series - was broadcast fifty years ago to-day (24 October 1966).  It was written by Peter Meyerson and Robert Schlitt, directed by James Frawley, and featured the songs "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" and "Papa Gene's Blues."  Sandoval describes the plot as: "The Monkees get lost on their way to a gig and find their Monkeemobile vehicle out of gas in a seemingly deserted town." 

"Success Story"

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, "Success Story" - the sixth episode of The Monkees series - was broadcast fifty years ago to-day (17 October 1966).  It was written by Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso, and Bernie Orenstein, directed by James Frawley, and featured the songs "I Wanna Be Free" and "Sweet Young Thing."  Sandoval describes the plot as: "The group are bent on making Davy look like a star and give his visiting grandfather the Monkee treatment." 

"The Spy Who Came in from the Cool"

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, "The Spy Who Came in from the Cool" - the fifth episode of The Monkees series - was broadcast fifty years ago to-day (10 October 1966).  It was written by Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso, directed by Robert Rafelson, and featured the songs "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," "All the King's Horses," and "Saturday's Child."  Sandoval describes the plot as: "The Monkees are cast into the Cold War after Davy purchases a pair of 'red' maracas at a pawnshop." 

"Royal Flush"

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Last week, one of the readings in the church lectionary included 1 Timothy 6:10:  "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.  It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

It occurred to me - because Davy Jones made a note of it in his commentary for "Royal Flush" (season 1, episode 1) - that this is the origin of the "Money is the root of all evil" sign that hangs in the Monkees' pad:

"Gonna Buy Me a Dog"

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I listened to The Monkees [Deluxe Edition] a couple days ago, and I realized that the bass part in "Gonna Buy Me a Dog" mostly just alternates between two notes a fourth apart.  Once I had those two notes (B and E), it wasn't too hard to figure out the rest.  This is just the introduction (which is really only three notes), the first verse (which is entirely those two alternating notes), and the first chorus.  The bass part repeats for the rest of the song though, so while I didn't play the whole part, I do have it all.

"Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers"

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, "Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers" - the fourth episode of The Monkees series - was broadcast fifty years ago to-day (3 October 1966).  It was written by Dave Evans, directed by James Frawley, and featured the songs "Let's Dance On," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," and "Last Train to Clarksville."  Sandoval describes the plot as: "When The Monkees become finalists in a band contest, they are subject to some competitive sabotage." 

The Monkees

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According to Andrew Sandoval's The Monkees: The Day-by-Day Story of the 60s TV Pop Sensation, the Monkees' first album - The Monkees (Colgems COM-101 [mono], COS-101 [stereo]) - was released fifty years ago this month (October 1966), although Sandoval also notes that "some copies may have been on sale in September."  The U.K. release (RCA SF 7844) followed on 20 January 1967.

Side One:

1. "(Theme from) The Monkees"
2. "Saturday's Child"
3. "I Wanna Be Free"
4. "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"
5. "Papa Gene's Blues"
6. "Take a Giant Step"

Side Two:

1. "Last Train to Clarksville"
2. "This Just Doesn't Seem to Be My Day"
3. "Let's Dance On"
4. "I'll Be True to You"
5. "Sweet Young Thing"
6. "Gonna Buy Me a Dog"