The Monkees - "Steppin' Stone" Reaction! Davy, Peter, Mike and Mickey Refuse to Be Used in This Hit!

"Steppin' Stone" is a song originally written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart for the Monkees, an American pop rock band formed in the 1960s. The song was first released as a single in November 1966 and later included on their fourth studio album, "More of The Monkees," which came out in 1967.
The lyrics of "Steppin' Stone" convey a sense of disillusionment and betrayal. The Monkees express feelings of being used and taken for granted in a relationship.
Chorus: The memorable chorus features the lines "I'm not your steppin' stone," emphasizing the narrator's refusal to be treated as a disposable or secondary figure.
The song features a catchy, upbeat pop-rock style typical of The Monkees' sound during that era. It incorporates elements of garage rock and folk rock. The single was released in November 1966 with the B-side "I'm a Believer," another one of their biggest hits.

[@thisisitreactions]

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[@alrodack4695]

Originally they were not a real group. They were put together for the TV show. In the beginning they only did the singing and used studio musicians for the instruments and other folks wrote the songs. Since three of the four had musical backgrounds, as they got popular they insisted on doing their own playing. So they morphed into a real band! Mike Nesmith was already an established song writer and the others began writing as well. So by the end of the show, they were a fully functioning band.

[@myreviews8099]

Absolutely 100% correct. So everyone was a fan of the tv show before the band. Because there was no band

[@briansmith48]

Neil Diamond was one of their early song writers.

[@stevedavis5704]

The studio got them together for the show to cash in on the popularity of the Beatles and other popular british bands. They never really intended for them to be a real band. If I understand correctly that’s the same story for the Archies. A cartoon band that became real for a short time.

[@myreviews8099]

@stevedavis5704 I believe that you do understand correctly. Gentleman who created the Monkees created the Archies after. Partly to prove that the band members were irrelevant to the show's success. He was more right than wrong. They're all catchy pop songs and they weren't particularly well performed live. It was a fun tv show but their appeal as a band is nostalgia for the tv show imo

[@sherigrow6480]

The Velveteen Rabbit of musical groups,

[@paulinebradford4823]

All 4 of these guys could sing, and each sang songs best suited to their voices. I think that's what I liked best about them. They took their turns and did their own thing, but stayed a team. You might want to check out "A little Bit Me, a Little Bit You", "Valerie" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

[@anjoleeeickhoff6800]

They have a lot of hits! I like “It’s A Little Bit Me,” “Valerie,” “She,” and “Words” as well! They took turns singing which was unusual and in my opinion made them special. They did not get the credit they should have as musicians. I loved them and still do! ❤

[@karenmandeville7116]

i remember watching the Monkees when they first came out on tv. in 68 i was in 6th grade. it was an innovative show. Mike and Peter were musicians, while Mickey and Davey started as actors. Mickey learned to play the drums and they started playing their own music.

[@andywatts8654]

And Davey learned the Tambourine 😅

[@davegink9222]

@@andywatts8654 Dave, you could actually play drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards. He would switch off on all of those during the live shows.

[@davegink9222]

Micky Dolenz was a musician before he auditioned for the Monkees. He played guitar and sang in a LA band doing cover songs.

[@timfeeley714-25]

There was a two-year period in the late sixties when the Monkeys sold more records than the Beatles and The rolling Stones combined.

[@cheripetty1805]

Back in the HeyHeyWe'reTheMonkees Days, Peter Tork's Professor Father taught here in my hometown at the University of Regina (Saskatchewan 🇨🇦). Peter would occasionally come up to stay with his Dad. Imagine how cool it was to live in that neighbourhood as a kid, walking down the street and all of a sudden seeing one of the Monkees hanging out on the front steps of his Dad's house, or being able to goof around tossing a Frisbee with an actual Monkee!! Can a kid's Rock&Roll Fantasy come true? Can you monkey around with a Monkee? Actually, YES! I'm a BELIEVER!

[@laurab68707]

I grew up with the Monkees. When they first came out I was in love with them. A Huge fan then! Couldn't wait to watch their show every week. So sad only one member still around.

[@echopryme]

Mickey Dolenz is the most underrated singer in the history of rock and roll. 💯

[@davegink9222]

One of the best voices of the 60s in my opinion.

[@echopryme]

@@davegink9222 ABSOLUTELY!! 💯

[@jameskirschling7887]

I was seven years old when the TV show debuted. I loved the show and music. I've been listening to the Monkees ever since. If you want to hear a silly song by the Monkees, listen to Gonna Buy Me A Dog. It's silly but I like it.

[@barriehull7076]

Dolenz began his show-business career in 1956 when he starred in a children's TV show called Circus Boy under the name Mickey Braddock.

[@brandyroseann]

I remember coming home in the eighties and watching the Monkees reruns. RIP Davy, Mike, And Peter.

[@Shabenn]

This always was for me, one of their best but least heard songs. You need to do more of their stuff because they all sang lead. And they were all talented musicians.

[@jannigirl]

1970 13th birthday party I received all of their albums 5 of them from some of my party guests (it was the first 5 albums from 1966 - 1968. I still have those albums! I loved their music so much!! Try out Saturday's Child. Thanks for doing this and remembering them on your channel! Maybe you should check out the Cowsills...The Rain, The Park, and Other Things '...I love the flower girl...' I did get one of their albums on that same birthday (it was the newest one that I didn't have yet)!! lol

[@BobSebring]

When you have the very best in songwriters and studio musicans woring for you how can it not be great? The Monkees are my all time favorite pop group ever! I've been a hardcore fan of theirs since 1966 and hadn't wavered since. i love seeing your reactions to them. Thanks!

[@bossfan49]

Psychedelic garage rock. Another top notch Boyce-Hart hit. Mickey is the only Monkee that appears on the recording.

[@andreaberryhill6654]

Mickey Dolenz sang more lead vocals than any of the other men. But all were good & offered different strengths

[@sukie584]

i’m 63 & they were the first band i wrote a fan letter to. I love the Monkees. They had incredible writers & wrote some of their own great songs. Stepping Stone is one of mt favorites. beloved by Punk Rockers too!

[@yolandabrooksqueenofsevens]

OK y’all I love the Monkees forever ❤R. I.P Davy Mike and Peter 😢 Do Papa Gene’sBlues. Looks out here comes Tomorrow Cuddly Toy …so many good ones 🥰

[@timmurphy479]

Man I'm so old I remember when they come out on Monday night.😊 Monkeys for rock and roll Hall of Fame guys. Great reaction Rock on

[@deegomez2089]

Lol...hearing you guys singing Daydream Believer....loved it 🎶🎵💚

[@QuicknStraight]

Pleasant Valley Sunday! Great song!

[@janetsilverhawk7204]

I'm old enough to remember the first run in 66 at night

[@vernhoke7730]

I used to watch The Monkees back in the sixties as a kid. All 3 were accomplished musicians, Mickey was a child actor first. Mikes mother invented "White Out" I believe. Davey was a British actor and Peter was a session musician before they became The Monkees. They were a manufactured band for the TV series. Pretty much all of the songs were written by a pair of notable songwriters, until later on after the show ended. The whole story is really interesting.

[@larrywakeman4371]

Monkees' Michael Nesmith's "Mary, Mary" is FIRE! !!! REVIEW THAT ONE! GREAT REVIEW~!!!!Kim

[@rebeccamead4557]

The members I always heard and read were hired to play the parts in a tv series, because they had musical background then the band came about. Michael Nesbitt was a very good song writer and guitarist, Peter Tork was into folk music, Davy Jones was a known british singer/actor and Mickey came from a musical/acting with some circus background.....all talented individually and i loved them. Thanks for reacting to them.

[@thomastimlin1724]

Micky was a child actor on a show called Circus Boy...but was never a member of a real circus...except his own crazy circus in his head...lol

[@rebeccamead4557]

@@thomastimlin1724 thank you!

[@rickward460]

Thanks guys for the trip in the way back machine!! Y'all rock 🐶😎🇺🇸

[@touriewright5428]

Quick history: "The Monkees" was a TV show , the people that made the tv show was looking for guys to play a group of musicians. As far as I know Mickey Dolenz was an actor 1st but learned the drums and sang, Davey Jones was a singer from Britan but I think also an actor who did stage ( I'm pretty sure) , Mike Nesbitt and Peter Tork were straight musicians when they came aboard. They got together because of the show but their music was so popular they toured and became a band. Unlike the Partridge Family who only had 2 actual musicians who could also act. The Monkees still is one of my favorite both tv show and bands, love the music they put out. Arguably the 1st vidoe music on a regular basis even though it was a tv show. Great reaction guys you should do more of this band, clips from this show is fun and awesome. :)

[@TheDivayenta]

Davey Jones got his start as The Artful Dodger in Oliver.

[@bossfan49]

*Mike Nesmith. Mike was already a published songwriter who had records under the name Michael Blessing. His song "Different Drum" became a hit for the Stone Poneys (ft. Linda Ronstadt). Davy was reported to actually be the most experienced on drums at the start, but the producers didn't want him as the drummer. They feared it would bad for filming because of his small stature- he'd disappear behind the drum kit.

[@GodLovesComics]

@@bossfan49 Meanwhile, even though he's not behind the drum kit, Davey looks like a munchkin on stage between Mike and Peter.

[@bossfan49]

@@GodLovesComics Yep. 5;-3" is 5'-3", drums or no.

[@GodLovesComics]

@@bossfan49 Yeah, and 5'3" even sounds generous.

[@singluna888]

I never missed a show when it came out. Daydream Believer was my favorite song.

[@rightorwrong7933]

They had a string of great songs

[@GodLovesComics]

Fenom used to love watching The Monkees, but what about The Banana Splits? He's right that Mickey Dolenz was the funniest one, and one of the most talented as well. I remember this song more from seeing a few different bar bands always cover it than The Monkees original, but it's a great song.

[@adriennerobinson8984]

I used to love the Monkees as a teen in the 1980s and watched the re-runs on Nickelodeon. It is sad that Micky Dolenz is the only member that is still alive. Davy was not the lead singer, they all took turns singing lead with Micky sang most of them. Please react their song "No Time" next. Rip Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork.

[@beverlybrown2673]

Possibly my favorite Monkees' song!

[@TheDivayenta]

They started out as a Beatles imitation after the Beatles’ film sensation, “ A Hard Day’s Night”. They really could play all their instruments and write good songs! Davey Jones was a real professional singer- got his start on the London stage in “Oliver” as The Artful Dodger. Micky Dolenz also began as a child actor- Circus Boy. They were predominantly a pop band. I always loved The Monkees’ TV theme song.

[@CherylHughes-ts9jz]

LOVE THE MONKEES ‼️🔥‼️🔥‼️🔥‼️🔥 ‼️

[@mikedignum1868]

One of my favorite bands during my youth.

[@dipsydoodle7988]

Mickey Dolenz was my favorite vocalist, Mike Nesmith was a close second. They have some some real bangers. Going Down is sick.

[@vicmusgrave1278]

I'm A 68 yrs old and the monkeys was the first album I bought with my own money. Lol

[@christinewaide5249]

Had their album when I was young. Great songs!❤

[@Libragirl2369]

Davy sings Look out here comes tomorrow is one of my favorites of theres

[@davidschecter5247]

The Monkees catalog is a treasure chest of adventurous music. Mickey Dolenz, lead vocalist of this song, was one of the best pop songwriters of the era. Check out Paul Revere and the Raiders, too, who released this song, too. They wrote some great sixties songs and had another fabulous lead singer in Mark Lindsay.

[@otterrufus]

I love how the song has a very prominent organ part to it but they didn't bother to have anyone playing the organ in the video done for the show.

[@kgardneriii]

Mickey Dolenz was a guest star on the 90s tv show Boy Meets World. He was a friend of Corey’s dad.

[@renelpatat]

TRIVIA: Mike Neamith’s Mother, Bette Nesmith Graham became a well-acclaimed inventor and the one most of us can relate to was Liquid Paper (WHITE OUT)! Lol As I did many years ago, using an IBM Selectric typewriter was a pain in the behind but better than others. Liquid Paper was a staple item at my desk! Nesmith-Graham later sold her invention to Gillette.

[@tinakeith5822]

Jimi Hendrix actually opened for them in concert in I believe’71

[@Patti-sg1fv]

O lawdy this brings me back to the TV show! 👍😎

[@tinamakaneole]

❤😊 love the Monkees❤ thanks guys.

[@Rogers_Ranger]

this is why i love TOTO a random group with skills i know they are backup artists but this is them going gold

[@kimberly_helps_5847]

One more song that the Monkees did in front of their Christmas Tree is "Riu Chiu". It's a wonderful a capella version and has terrific harmonies.

[@MrJohnw2454]

Mickey and Davy took turns singing the lead. The show often had the vocals dubbed in.

[@allyncarpenter5678]

Last train to Clarksville was a great jam that the drummer sang. You’ll remember it if you hear it most likely.

[@rocknroller77]

My favorite Monkees song

[@maureenlyons-brennan1146]

I had a crush on Davey Jones. I think I was 6 😂

[@sarahjane5504]

My first crushes 💙💙💙💙love the show

[@deejones8196]

I enjoy your channel especially when you share your childhood connections to the songs. Even though they were brought together by a tv show, I think The Monkees are sorely underrated. Here are some suggestions for future reactions: Randy Scouse Git, Star Collector, Shades of Gray, Daily Nightly, and For Pete's Sake.

[@scotthovland7380]

They played a band on TV and became a real band😎✌

[@gvehar]

The Monkees’’ Valleri was a great rock track. It was never released at the time so DJs taped it off the TV and would play it at the clubs. You should watch the original TV version, it’s got a great guitar solo. As for great songs not on the charts, try the Daydream Believer B-side Goin’ Down. They used that in Breaking Bad, I think. There’s a video for it with Micky Dolenz going off.

[@KaylaYeager-mz5sd]

Nick at Night and TV land weren’t around when this aired. It was on your local channels. There were only 6 channels then. 3 on UHF and 3 on VHF

[@ricksaunders8074]

I was 10 when the Monkees came out So here is your first boy band put together

[@susanmurray7654]

NEIL DIAMOND wrote I'm a Believer. Shrek and Smashmouth's cover made it a hit again.

[@Rogers_Ranger]

i could tell you endless stories about these guys , but im too stoned . thanks for the review.

[@adobbs92117]

Fun fact. Because Davy Jones was a star another British singer had to change his name because it was already taken, he had to change his name to David Bowie !!

[@anntelford8647]

They were referred to as the 'Pre-fab Four ' during the time of The Beatles aka The Fab Four. They didn't exist as a band prior to the show, but each of them could sing. They had great songwriters. While doing the show, they BECAME a band. Mike and Peter were musicians. Davey and Mickey were actors who could sing. They were a bit of sunshine on TV when things were tough (i.e., Vietnam War, civil rights, etc.)

[@zanac1868]

I love the Monkeys! 😁 Have you gentleman listened to Buffalo Springfield's " For what it's worth, or Rolling Stone's "Red Door", or Spanky and our Gang's "Sunday Song"? A nice 60's grouping.

[@barriehull7076]

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie, because Davy Jones was already using the name.

[@christinewaide5249]

They all sang. And a good song is “Valleri”

[@raylangley797]

My favorite Monkees song is called She. would love to see someone react to it.

[@mattjohn4731]

You watched it in the mid 80's? It was on MTV during that time. And MTV promoted the Monkees reunion album in the 80s and their song That Was Then, This Is Now.

[@hatleyhoward7193]

I love this song. And Micky is my favorite singer of the group. But Going Down is the top jam!!

[@queengoddessb69]

Peter was lead singer on the song Auntie Grizelda.

[@Grithron2]

In the mid '60s the song was introduced by the Raiders and popularised by the Monkees, but...as Clinton Heylin said, the fact that it was later covered simultaneously by The Sex Pistols and Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers suggests that it was a song whose moment had finally come, in 1976.

[@Grithron2]

Btw I've never seen anyone on KZbin react to either Come On In (Tork's finest moment) or Writing Wrongs (Nesmith gone psychedelic).

[@mckjewel]

Love to you dudes.

[@bikertrash64babe]

Loved The Monkees i Did Watch The Tv Show & Had There Album & still Do

[@rightorwrong7933]

They were put together for Tv but it went a lot further , Micky Dolenz was the original Elephant Boy on Tv

[@WMalven]

The band was created by the show. There was no Monkees band until the show began. Peter Tork was a fairly accomplished folk-singe/guitarist, Mike Nesmith was a published song writer (mostly country), Davey Jones was a stage performer who sang in musicals but played no instruments, and Mickey Dolenz was an actor. After they got together, Mickey started learning the drums, Davey learned bass and piano. Virtually all of their songs were played by The Wrecking Crew while the boys sang. It was only after they started getting irritated that they weren't allowed to play their own instruments and write songs that they--in the second year--were allowed to perform their music themselves. When they first went on stage, Mickey could hardly keep time on the drums. They gradually became more accomplished, but they were never a great band. When they debuted, I was 13 and a very big fan...always like Nesmith and Tork the most. Most of their songs, including this one, were written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

[@KaylaYeager-mz5sd]

Does anyone else out there remember Marine Boy ? It was an afternoon cartoon along with Spider-Man.

[@jameswhite7139]

You were thinking of the Mulkey Brothers tag team

[@ofrabjousday1]

This predates Steppenwolf's "The Pusher" by a full year for the first time the term, "God damn" was used in a pop song. (9:08) The Monkees were more rebel than you think! "Last Train to Clarksville," if you read the lyrics, was an anti-war protest, about a draftee, desperate to get in touch with his girlfriend one last time before he gets deployed.

[@kevinmalone2218]

"I'm a Believer" written by none other than Neil Dimond. That's not a criticism. Many musicians didn't write their own material. I love the Monkees!

[@kathiek4239]

The Monkees were a manufactured group created for TV. Songs written by Don Kirshner, the king of bubble-gum pop, created for & loved by teenagers (mostly girls). They were great at what they did, sing fun pop songs. Davy Jones WAS the face, and he had a sweet voice. I always thought Mickey Dolenz was the heart of the group, he was funny & had a decent voice. Mike Nesmith (the tall, dark-haired dude) was the son of the woman who created White Out ( the liquid correction used back in the day of TYPEWRITERS). The last member was Peter Tork, I don’t know what his deal was. Mike Nesmith wanted the band to sing the music he wrote, which no one wanted to listen to, this only 2 years of the show. They were fun, their music was fun. That’s pop for ya.

[@0okamino]

I still think it was a clever play that while the Beatles inserted a musical term (beat) into their name, the Monkees went the other way, and removed the one that was already there (key). Very fitting with the silly, but quite witty style of the show’s humor.

[@queengoddessb69]

Music trivia: Mike Nesmith also worked with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention

[@thomastimlin1724]

The Tv show ran from 1966 to 1968.Hard to conceive if you watched the show in reruns that you did not hear the song I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. This was the flip side of I'm a Believer. It was a Tv show for kids, that's all. Davy Jones had previously been an actor and song and dance man. He starred in the musical Oliver, as the Artful Dodger. So don't underestimate him...theu forced him to sand there and shake the marracas and he caught unnnecessary criticism for it. He was f-ing acting okay? "Stand here, do this, now do that..."

[@joannfowler8407]

Watched them every tues.night at 6:30. They did have some good songs. Micky Dolenz only left from band

[@kimberly_helps_5847]

If you watched the Monkees episodes, you've heard a lot of their music. Other great Monkees songs to check out are "Randy Scouse Git", "Papa Gene's Blues", "Take a Giant Step", and "Porpoise Song" which is the theme song from the Monkees' movie called, "Head" which was co-written by Jack Nicholson and featured Dennis Hopper, Teri Garr, Frank Zappa, and the boxer, Sonny Liston. You can find their movie "Head" on KZbin.

[@abertasso1298]

"Randy Scouse Git", "Papa Gene's Blues", "Take a Giant Step", and "Porpoise Song" are all great ideas. And "Shades of Grey", "Goin' Down", and "Sweet Young Thing"

[@kimberly_helps_5847]

@@abertasso1298 I love the song "Shades of Grey". The tone of Davy's voice is so rich and soothing. "Going Down" and "Sweet Young Thing" are also great songs.

[@micpar2]

They were a made for TV band. Like a gimmick he the Beatles were still together. But they had some great writer/s write their songs for them. They ere competing on the charts against. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Jimmy Hemdrixetc. They actually ere opening for Jimmy Hendrix too. Mickey and Davey had been children entertainers too. Mike's mom got him in the show/band. But I guess he really wasn't into it and was difficult to work with. Like a rich kid, Peter I know nothing about. He was the shy, goofy guy on the show. I used to watch them as a 5/6 year old in 1966-68.

[@magoospsoriasismagic]

Sadly they never came to appreciate their Monkee-ness. All great musicians who got locked into a caricature. It's cool that us geezers appreciate it. It's hard to be funny and get the music taken seriously and they did. They just didn't know it at the time. Dolenz doesn't get enough credit as a singing drummer which are still rare to find. This song is great cause you know they wanted to rock so bad but were restrained by their career situation. The TV execs probably hated this! Someone prob got fired! lol

[@sjfvet519us]

My sister had a crush on Peter Tork, but I didn't care too much for the show. The Sex Pistols did a cover of this song, which cracks me up.

[@Mikeluvdrums]

I heard the Monkeys opened up for Jimmi Hendrix back in 1968 ..

[@bearballin]

Actually it's the other way around, the Monkees recruited Hendrix via his manager. Jimi wound up opening for the Monkees first tour in 1967. He hated it, despised the prefab TV boy band, but they loved him and his music.

[@Mikeluvdrums]

Yeah, I always thought that was a strange line up from a musical point but it was the 60's .The kids ate it all up regardless , Poor Jimmi ,@@bearballin

[@lorioday8528]

Mike Nesmith's (tall guitar player in the hat) mother invented Liquid Paper. (White Out)

[@tresianyfb5865]

This n last train to Clarksville were only 2 I can think that had a touch of serious dispite footage

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Neil Diamond wrote their two baddest hits.

[@victorbloom8286]

Only One Left .

[@susanmurray7654]

Davey Jones trained to be a jockey in England. He later did musical theater as a young person. Oliver?

[@kierstenridgway4634]

Peter Tork would come into one of our local bars/nightclub and just hang or play. He was a real musician. Btw, I don't think you're wrong about Davy Jones

[@PrinceJediMaster]

The guy with the hat. His mom invented White Out

[@timbaker6540]

Great PoP song !

[@josephmichelli2441]

DAMN!! they where cool, i remember the show from when i was a kid..Good times

[@renelpatat]

Grew up with The Monkees before anything was syndicated! They began touring as a band and couldn’t do the show. Favorite song will always be “I Want to be Free”. Touched my heart as a kid!!! “Last Train to Clarksville” was one of their majors as was “Daydream Believer”! They actually have quite a good list of tunes!

[@vicmusgrave1278]

And I still got it. Maybe 1969