Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday" live 1997

[@jewell49707]

I'm sorry, but this is GREAT!!!! Micky Dolenz has a great voice and i will always love the Monkees, watched them in the 60s and still listen to them Thanks

[@3bar]

They ain't fakin' it here and it sounds good to me. One of their best songs. I like it as much now as I did when I was eleven.

[@NYVoice]

From this 50 year old, this is DEFINATELY one of the 60s great songs. It captures the era perfectly, has a good vibe and shows that the Monkees CAN and DID sing and play their own songs.

[@modelleg]

This song has a lot going for it. The beat, the message and the hook. Great song!

[@monkeefan75]

If you ask these guys what their fave song is this is the one I hear them say most often; and to me they play it so wonderfully together - how could ya sit still (LOL). I sure do miss them together. LOVE YA MONKEES!!!!

[@Kimians]

We all know that The Monkees were a manufactured product for a TV show that piggy-backed musical out-put. I always loved this song and let me tell you - that guitar riff ain't no easy feat coz its way out on the off-beat. Really enjoyed this. SEE- they can do it. Well done guys.

[@brywool]

wow, cool to see all 4 of them playing. This song was always brilliant. Decent performance.

[@NewShimmer]

Mickey Dolenz is one of the doesn't get the credit he deserves for being one of the classic rock vocalists of all times. Over the years he's taken the time to become a reasonably accomplished multi-instrumentalist. Mike Neismith is a first class songwriter. It's not like the Monkees were the only band to be formed by auditions. Lots of other bands didn't perform their instrumental tracks as well. As individuals and as a group, the Monkees are wondeful entertainers, and they always have been.

[@thekeifernet]

I sing this song every time I BBQ.... ''Charcoal burning everywhere" LOL Especially on these holiday weekends! HAPPY 4th of JULY!

[@SenorZorrozzz]

Hey, they play pretty well!

[@jfmax2000]

Hey Bruh ☺ The Fellas Could Always Play... It Was Just The Machine and How Things Were Done Back Then.. You Know... Get Glen Campbell Barney Kessel Roy Clark The Wrecking Crew Boyce and Hart Ect. Ect. ..But Eventually Shorty Before Mike Split They Started Doing Their Own Tracks and Compositions as Well... I Have Alot of Respect For Em as a Musician Myself... I Live in The Town Jimi Hendrix Got (Happily.. Lol) Removed From Their 67' Tour.. Tho.. He Remained Great Friends With Them All From Those Days On... Especially Peter... It was Peter Who Held Jimi's 27th and Final Birthday at His House... You Can't Make This S**t Up Bruh.

[@Choogler1]

I Wish there was a better copy of this,,I'll ALWAY'S love these guy's ,old or young,,they were a pisser,and Headquarter's was the first album i ever bought...Boyce & Hart were on most of the songs,and should NOT be forgotten ,either !!

[@rundoetx]

I took my kids to see the Monkees on one of their reunion tours and we all had a blast. Love em. RP..08 Peace RundoeTX

[@TheLozzer56]

I was there it was amazing. My life time was realised that night. Excellent

[@J4Mac]

Thanks. I really enjoyed this video.

[@SuperEcwchampion]

This video show's that given time, the Monkees are a really good band.

[@upstateguitar]

So great to hear them all harmonizing 30 years after the fact. Glad you had that camera there!

[@FlingsPooAtTheZoo]

Thanks for posting these, davyo...they are awesome!

[@lucu01]

Just started humming the Monkeys theme song to my new baby niece, saw this, they were groovy and funky, very groovy, very funky ! Me Likey

[@sshelget]

I wish I could have seen them during THIS concert! FANTASTIC!

[@theblitz8]

I wish there were more songs with vocal harmonies.!!

[@RockingJamboree]

I'll say something about their musicianship: This ROCKS! Faithful to the original recording without being a retread. Very good stuff.

[@Monkeefan4life]

Oh you're right! How did I miss that? I love Peter...! This is such a great song. A Classic.

[@fredthejunkman]

This is priceless! I only wish I could have seen them live. Mickey actually learned to play the drums and Davy learned the guitar. Man, what memories those guys bring to mind.

[@DomenicDee]

Great performance, great tune!

[@nokie2]

This is too good. Thanks so much for posting this! Great playing, great singing. I just wish they could have continued this way. I remember a radio interview about a year later where Mike said he just couldn't put on the Monkee suit anymore> He felt there was no creativity in covering the oldies.

[@djkeith3984]

I'm a huge Monkees fan. Mickey was never a "great drummer", but he pulled it off. He can play. The Monkees are staple in my repeat 70's childhood. love 'em!

[@itschallenger]

Wow, Didnt think Mike would have shown up. He pretty much wanted to go on his own way from the day they broke up. Good to see them all though.

[@ChampagneCraig]

Sounds fantastic!

[@Monkeefan4life]

Seriously, who doesn't get chills upon hearing that opening riff....?

[@Paneeks1960]

Just GREAT!

[@Stephanjnj]

Wow, I never realized Mickey could actually play drums. SInging and drumming at the same time is a bit tricky but he pulls it off quite well.

[@MAMsMom97]

I totally agree! Especially with that new extended segue, it just makes one want to say, "Go Nez, go Nez!" At one point, when the camera went to the big screen, the look on Peter's face was one of total concentration, like he was contemplating a killer chess move! Awesome!

[@etowmom]

Good to see Davy playing more then just the maracas!

[@Sixalienasa]

I love the Monkees.

[@voiceguy3635]

What a difference 25 years makes.

[@idle44]

Funny how Mickey D.was imvited into the studio for the Beatles 'All You need is love' (Check out the official video) and sat with Mick Jagger for the broadcast. Respect all round.

[@dbailey62]

@bennygoods Hal and the Wrecking Crew are on some of the early Monkees recordings for sure but they weren't on even a majority of the tracks. I'm a huge fan of Hal and the Wrecking Crew. Boyce and Hart and their band played the backing on virtually the entire first album. The second was a real grab bag of sources and different backing groups. The liner notes of the Rhino reissues are very complete and we can check out who is what using that source (which utilized the union session sheets).

[@hootenhtn]

McCartney played drums on Back In The USSR and Dear Prudence. Ringo lost his temper a couple of days before and said I quit, but came back soon after these first two numbers were recorded. Yes, absolutely true.

[@Frank-Discussion]

Awesome!

[@crapple009]

Much slower than the original version but great to see Micky mastering the drums. Peter looks great and in fine form here!

[@msoileau83]

I mean, look at the Beach Boys. Look at Pet Sounds. It's pretty much all session musicians. Yet they don't get the criticism the Monkees do.

[@tmont007]

Nice recovery... Nesmith was blowing the intro and Tork pulled his rump out of the oven with his keys. To his credit, nice improv by Nesmith chopping those chords and making it sound like it was intentional. Fair musicianship I would say.

[@jakerandall123]

Well said

[@upstateguitar]

I like the harmonies - you can really pick out each vocal line

[@dadadruma]

that opening riff was mike playing his black beauty les paul through a superbeatle vox 150 can u imagine what it would of sounded like if he had played through a marshall stack with a distortion pedal damn

[@TheRyryramone]

Let's not forget that after Headquaters ,the monkees themselves went back to an augmented form of the Don Kirshner method in that the would have studio musicians record their songs & then come in & do their own voices except this time they were the songwriters & co-producers

[@CaptHayfever]

Oh, heck yes. I've always said the Monkees' best song is "Pleasant Valley Sunday", but their best performance is "Circle Sky."

[@dadadruma]

im pissed at hell that they got slammed by the critics than mike quit they didnt even tour the states, here we are now nearly 12 years after this was done they are all in good health and i feel they should do what cream did before one of them passes on

[@msoileau83]

I have no idea why you got so many negative votes. Yeah, Carole King and her then husband Gerry Goffin wrote Pleasant Valley Sunday. On Pleasant Valley Sunday, Peter played piano and Chip Douglas played bass. He was cast as the bassist on the show and he did play bass on a few Monkees tunes but he mainly played keyboards.

[@Brianp823]

Yeah just look at the video from the TV show you can tell Micky and David Jones were not mimicking their instruments very well at all. I guess in all the time they had they did finally learn how so they could go on tour but a huge chunk of their recorded studio catalog is not them playing..

[@RSEFX]

and so much much more that is on record is all of them playing super. Why? Because they could, and could play and sing very well.

[@MOSKII58]

there was some truth to their musicianship or lack of, but as Mickey joked in an interview, it was "on the job Training" for them & that is pretty accurate, as they really had little experience & Mickey did not play the drums, when they started, but grew to become a good drummer, what a great way to get into that, getting a paying gig, before knowing how to play, usually we musicians, go a long way to hone our craft before making any if ever decent return of $ for our dedication & time put in.

[@Sixalienasa]

Wow there is real magic in the air when Micky Mike Peter and Davy are groovin together. Pity Mike was left all that money. He might played his heart out with the rest of the Band on all the Tours otherwise. Maybe it's the Texan in him. Likes to do his own thing.

[@freedomthinker7]

and the critics said they couldn't play, yeah right. What they won't tell you is that the Beatles didn't play a lick on the White album. Nothing against the the Beats but let's be honest, the Monkees could kick it with the best of em. I saw them live, outstanding!

[@dadadruma]

i think mike used his black beauty les paul on the studio version blasting through a superbeatle vox 100 watt amp can u imagine what it would of sounded like through a 500 watt marshall they had just put on the market i believe in oct 66

[@OropherThranduil]

i know, but i said everything on the white album, i didn't say they didn't switch instruments or something like that, i mean if i remember it right george plays lead on helter skelter but the solo is paul and so on.

[@notanotheraccount]

blackmore4: too slow? It works OK for me. PVS is the closest thing to an anthem The Monkees had -- no need to rush through it. I like the alternate feel, plus it makes it easier to sing (none of us are getting any younger...). I'm not qualified to comment on the guitar sound, but thanks davyo for putting this up...great sound considering the circumstances!

[@RSEFX]

This is really perfect pace. The original is them playing, but a bit too fast to sink in. My opinion. Live they were always the best.

[@bennygoods]

@Stephanjnj He only had about 30 years to learn....The great Hal Blaine is on all the Studio recordings.

[@RSEFX]

Way too much has been made of the first recordings. They've been playing on their own for decades, no Blaine needed. They were naturals. Only needed to have a few months to practice together.

[@DoofsterDan]

Read where one of the Monkees (Peter?) said that if based on actual ability, Micky would've been lead singer, Davy would've been on drums (for the show, he 'tested' better but was 'lost' behind the kit), Mike would've played bass, Peter would've been on guitar. I've got a (late) concert DVD of them (minus Mike)--it's even better than this...really high energy and right on the money. Blows me away. GREAT DVD! And yes, they're all playing.

[@jeffthebracketman]

Mike said that...

[@genericgeorge]

@jewell49707 Mickey does have a great voice and this song is great

[@notanotheraccount]

LOL!!! :-D

[@Dion1957]

Didn't Carol King write this? Peter Tork mostly plays bass on TV , Did he really play bass? It's clear he's a keybord player.

[@jeffthebracketman]

Peter Tork went to a conservatory for music and plays around 8-10 different instruments...

[@Oahunative59]

Gosh I'm dating myself but I remember Mickey D as Circus Boy on televison in the late 50's early 60's....

[@Pat2296]

@Oahunative59 You and me both!

[@Chiselnyc]

@meandemjay Bands rarely play a song exactly the same way on stage as they do recording it. Why are people making an issue of that here? Other bands speed up or slow songs down too. Sometimes a song sounds better played a different way LIVE.

[@notanotheraccount]

You go GardenGirl. If you recognize the tween machine, you can avoid it. I hate to say "listen to the '60s" because you've got your own path to forge, but there really was great music then -- and now, too, if you reject the "here today, gone tomorrow" junk they put out there to make quick bucks. Keep looking for music you can believe in for a lifetime. My lifeline was The Who, and I DO recommend all their music...good luck finding yours. (Loved the Monkees at 10, stlil do at 53.)

[@MichaelMacer]

Where's Peter?

[@meandemjay]

@Chiselnyc - right....that was my point

[@Gunfighter1b]

@DoofsterDan Don Kirshner actually fired the first producer because he wanted to make Davy Jones the lead singer. Micky was always considered to be the lead singer because of his unusual voice, And he did have to take lessons just to learn to appear to be playing. He did learn to play though.

[@MAMsMom97]

Starting at 1:56. Isn't he so cute there?

[@lid107]

Did they forget how to play it? Or how they were told to play it?

[@dadadruma]

i meant the studio version lol

[@ancestralblue]

Interesting how relevent the lyrics still are. People caught up in conformity and status symbols. I loved these guys as a kid. Neat to see them again.

[@savammy]

why is mike always standing off byhimself in these videos in 1997

[@J4Mac]

Bill Bruford!

[@meandemjay]

@BullToTheShit 30 years later....they're playing live and signin....i think they get a pass on the half-step....

[@dadadruma]

it sickens me to see some of the ilk in the RRHOF i dont want to mention any of the names i just got over the stomach flu he he he

[@liontone]

He's playing a Strat here...

[@dadadruma]

god i wish nez would of broke the old black beauty les paul and had two vox superbeatle 150s and full blast with high treble to get that classic opening riff

[@tubefluid]

@Stephanjnj He couldn't at first. He didn't even know how to set them up. I guess having 30 years to practice has payed off. :p

[@PeterMayer]

Mickey's turned out to be a real drummer!

[@briagh]

@njjordison ummmmm... they are!!!

[@Nazman06]

@BullToTheShit allot of artist tune lower when they get older.

[@MichaelMacer]

Oh, there he is. Sorry.

[@davidtyler148]

What the hell is that on Mickey's drums? It looks like a head with long blonde hair? Did he decapitate Tom Petty?

[@jaygold9923]

and the kids just don't understand...

[@notanotheraccount]

Um...what the hey does this mean? Never mind.

[@rpm88able]

Ouch, this is horrible. Kirshner was so right about these guys: four actors who desperately needed studio musicians.

[@anotheryoutubeaccount9852]

But they all play better than you. So, how can you say anything or judge?

[@notanotheraccount]

LOL^2!! :-D