ON THIS DATE (48 YEARS AGO) August 16, 1966 – The Monkees: Last Train to Clarksville b/w Take a Giant Step (Colgems 66-1001) 45 single is released in the US. Last Train to Clarksville was written by the legendary songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. It was the debut single by The Monkees, released on this date in August 1966, and later included on the groups 1966 self-titled album, which was released on October 10, 1966. The song was recorded at RCA Victor Studio B in Hollywood, on July 25, 1966. and was already on the Boss Hit Bounds on 17 August 1966. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 on November 5, 1966. The plot comprises a phone call from a military person to his wife / girlfriend, requesting that she get the last train to Clarksville in order to have one last night together before he has to leave on his morning train. He doesnt know when he will return, so this may be a long or dangerous assignment. Lindsay Planer, allmusic This track is the A-side (b/w the Carole King/Gerry Goffin composition “Take A Giant Step”) to the Monkees’ first 45. In a savvy attempt to build an audience for the premier of the Monkees’ primetime television programme, the mavens behind the multi-media project released the single practically a month prior to the sit-com’s NBC network debut on September 11, 1966. According to interviews with “Last Train to Clarksville” co-authors Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, both the melody and lyrics were a direct inspiration from the fade out of the Beatles’ “Paperback Writer”. Once the songwriters had established that the fab four were not singing about a locomotive, they set out to write a thinly veiled protest song about a guy who is departing for military service -- or perhaps more specifically boot camp, as there is an Air Force base located near Clarksville, Tennessee. The song is rather unique melodically as well. The memorable chiming lead guitar introduction is punctuated by a brisk and percussive tambourine before landing into Micky Dolzenz’ dramatic and empathetic vocals. Also worthy of note is the start/stop rhythm that precedes the line “And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home”, which is especially pronounced at the end of the instrumental break or ‘middle eight’. While it is generally considered common knowledge that the Monkees’ (sans Michael Nesmith) did not initially perform on any of their early sides, the musicians chosen to accompany the lead vocals were among the best in the business at the time and include session stalwarts Louie Shelton (guitar) and Gene Estes (percussion). “Last Train To Clarksville” became an instant smash and eventually topped the pop singles chart. Enthusiasts wishing to hear the actual quartet, are encouraged to locate copies of the four-disc set Summer 1967: The Complete U.S. Concert Recordings (2001), containing four performances from the Monkees’ in their heyday. The Monkees
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 18:20:00 +0000
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