Track Listing (CD)
1. (Theme From) The Monkees
2. Saruday's Child
3. I Wanna Be Free
4. Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day
5. Papa Gene's Blues
6. Take A Giant Step
7. Last Train To Clarksville
8. This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day
9. Let's Dance On
10. I'll Be True To You
11. Sweet Young Thing
12. Gonna Buy Me A Dog
13. I Can't Get Her Off My Mind (Prev. Unissued Early Version)
14. I Don't Think You Know Me (Prev. Unissued Early Version)
15. (Theme From) The Monkees (Prev. Unissued Early Version)
Track Listing (LP)
Side 1
1. (Theme From) The Monkees
2. Saruday'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 2
7. Last Train To Clarksville
8. This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day
9. Let's Dance On
10. I'll Be True To You
11. Sweet Young Thing
12. Gonna Buy Me A Dog
AMG Review
The Monkees did virtually nothing besides sing lead vocals on their full-length debut; poor Peter Tork didn't even get to do that, his contribution being limited to one of the six guitar parts on "Papa Gene's Blues." Given that it wasn't a project of high integrity, it wasn't bad — in fact, much of this is reasonably gutsy pop/rock, including their TV theme song, the hits "Last Train to Clarksville" and "Take a Giant Step," and various decent songs by top Brill Building tunesmiths like Goffin/King, Boyce/Hart, and David Gates. Nesmith was allowed one composition ("Papa Gene's Blues") that indicated his country-rock direction. The CD reissue includes unremarkable bonus tracks of alternate versions of the Monkees theme and a couple of songs that would turn up on subsequent LPs. — Richie Unterberger
Ann's Review
This album, though not the boy's best work, has some fine songs and is more than memorable. With songs like Last Train To Clarksville and the Theme (let's face it, many more people know this song that the show that it's from), this album isn't going to be forgotten any time soon.
Micky gives excellent vocal performances on this album, notably in the songs Last Train to Clarksville, Take a Giant Step, and Saturday's Child. Davy, whose most notable song on the album is I Wanna Be Free, is obviously quite capable of making hearts go pitter-patter, even in this, the first, Monkees album. Mike had the most input on the album, having written the song Papa Gene's Blues.
If for nothing else, this album should be purchased because of the version of I Don't Think You Know Me that appears on it. Micky's vocals just make the song.
Meet The Monkees! (I scanned this from the back of my record...that's a scratch on Mike's picture not a buger!)
...notice that Davy played guitar at the time.
Other Stuff That Might Be of Interest...
Take a Giant Step, it should be noted, was the first song that the Monkees ever cut that was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It appeared on the B side of Last Train to Clarksville. Peter Tork still plays this song during solo gigs.
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart have said that Last Train to Clarksville was inspired by the Beatles' Paperback Writer. It was the Monkees first number 1 hit and was release about a month before the show hit the air.
I'll Be True To You was covered by the Hollies on their album Bus Stop.