THE
GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF
THE MONKEES
NORTH AMERICAN/FAR EAST TOUR
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
(July 1975 - March 1977)
GREAT GOLDEN HITS OF
THE MONKEES
NORTH AMERICAN/FAR EAST TOUR
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
(July 1975 - March 1977)
THE SET LIST
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart
DJBH setlists varied from night to night, but usually consisted of:
- Last Train to Clarksville
- Medley: Valleri / Daydream Believer / A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You
- I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight?
- (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone
- I Wanna Be Free
- I Remember the Feeling
- Savin' My Love for You
- Medley: Come a Little Bit Closer / Pretty Little Angel Eyes/ Hurt So Bad / Peaches 'N' Cream / Something's Wrong With Me / Keep on Singing
- Pleasant Valley Sunday
- A Teenager in Love
- Right Now
- She
- Alice Long
- I Love You (And I'm Glad That I Said It)
- Action
- I'm a Believer
- (Theme from) The Monkees
- Cuddly Toy
- I'm a Believer (reprise)
- Also possibly performed on various nights was "Out and About."
In 1975, all four Monkees convened at Micky's house to consider several offers to reunite the group, including one from McDonalds (to film a commercial) and another from the Midnight Special television show. A possible tour was also discussed, but Michael and Peter both rejected the plans for different reasons. Although the meeting was a positive and friendly event, The Monkees did not reunite. However, Dolenz and Jones were interested in working together again.
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart (DJBH) was the idea of Christian DeWalden, a music publisher and producer and a friend of Bobby Hart. After the failed attempt to reunite The Monkees, Dolenz and Jones subsequently agreed to tour alongside Hart and Tommy Boyce. Boyce and Hart were responsible for writing and producing some of The Monkees' greatest hits ("Last Train to Clarksville," "Steppin' Stone," "Valleri" and more), and had a successful recording career of their own. The foursome toured as The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees - The Guys Who Wrote 'Em and the Guys Who Sang 'Em. Their concert combined Monkees classics, new material and Boyce and Hart hits. The band appeared on American Bandstand, The Mike Douglas Show, Dinah! and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (seen below in a YouTube video) to promote their activities.
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart (DJBH) was the idea of Christian DeWalden, a music publisher and producer and a friend of Bobby Hart. After the failed attempt to reunite The Monkees, Dolenz and Jones subsequently agreed to tour alongside Hart and Tommy Boyce. Boyce and Hart were responsible for writing and producing some of The Monkees' greatest hits ("Last Train to Clarksville," "Steppin' Stone," "Valleri" and more), and had a successful recording career of their own. The foursome toured as The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees - The Guys Who Wrote 'Em and the Guys Who Sang 'Em. Their concert combined Monkees classics, new material and Boyce and Hart hits. The band appeared on American Bandstand, The Mike Douglas Show, Dinah! and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert (seen below in a YouTube video) to promote their activities.
The 1976 studio album
The group made its first public appearance on July 4, 1975 at Six Flags Old Glory Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Missouri, where they were met by a large and enthusiastic crowd. Onstage, Micky would occasionally play acoustic guitar while Davy played the tambourine on a few songs. Boyce and Hart would also play guitar throughout the show. The backing band included Keith Allison (guitar and backing vocals), Rick Tierny (bass), Steve Johnson (keyboards) and Jerry Summers (drums). Keith Allison was a friend of Michael Nesmith's in the early 1960s and worked with Boyce and Hart on their albums. Allison was also featured as a session musician on several Monkees recordings.
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart toured North America before heading to Japan, Thailand and Singapore. An album of all new material, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart, was released in May 1976 on Capitol Records. The first single, "I Remember the Feeling," became a minor hit on the West Coast in the United States and was a concert highlight during this era. (The promotional video for the song is available below.) Unfortunately, Al Coury, vice president of Capitol Records who signed DJBH, left the label just before the album was released, leaving the band with little support or promotional efforts put behind the album. However, in mid-1976 the foursome filmed a television special (directed by Dolenz) called The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees, which showcased the band performing musical numbers and comedy skits. The TV special was syndicated and aired across the United States in 1977. A videocassette of the special was sold in the United Kingdom and Japan in the early 1980s.
Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart toured North America before heading to Japan, Thailand and Singapore. An album of all new material, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart, was released in May 1976 on Capitol Records. The first single, "I Remember the Feeling," became a minor hit on the West Coast in the United States and was a concert highlight during this era. (The promotional video for the song is available below.) Unfortunately, Al Coury, vice president of Capitol Records who signed DJBH, left the label just before the album was released, leaving the band with little support or promotional efforts put behind the album. However, in mid-1976 the foursome filmed a television special (directed by Dolenz) called The Great Golden Hits of The Monkees, which showcased the band performing musical numbers and comedy skits. The TV special was syndicated and aired across the United States in 1977. A videocassette of the special was sold in the United Kingdom and Japan in the early 1980s.
Peter Tork joins DJBH onstage in 1976 (From the collection of Fred Velez)
Peter Tork made a guest appearance with DJBH onstage at California's Disneyland on July 4, 1976 (audio can be heard below in a YouTube video). As DJBH came to a close, Micky, Davy and Peter reunited in the recording studio with ex-Monkees producer Chip Douglas to record a holiday single, "Christmas Is My Time of Year." The single's flipside was "White Christmas," and it was released in late 1976 to members of the Monkees fan club. ("Christmas Is My Time of Year" can be heard below in an unofficial YouTube video.)
A live recording of a DJBH show, Concert in Japan (recorded on July 20, 1976 at Yubin Chokin Hall in Tokyo, Japan), was initially available only in Japan in 1981. The album was eventually distributed on compact disc in the United States in 1996.
A live recording of a DJBH show, Concert in Japan (recorded on July 20, 1976 at Yubin Chokin Hall in Tokyo, Japan), was initially available only in Japan in 1981. The album was eventually distributed on compact disc in the United States in 1996.
By March 1977, Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart had disbanded. While Tommy and Bobby went back to their songwriting careers, Micky and Davy formed a new act (with Micky's sister Coco) and were occasionally backed by a group called The Laughing Dogs. In September 1977, Micky and Davy traveled to England to begin rehearsals for Harry Nilsson's stage production of The Point.
The three videos below feature silent 8mm footage that was posted online at Monkees Bootlegs. DJBH live audio and Monkees music has been dubbed over the clips.
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(Below) DJBH play their first concert in St. Louis, Missouri on July 4, 1975.
(From the collection of MusicFan76)
THE TOUR PROGRAM
DJBH VIDEO FOOTAGE & AUDIO
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(Above) The video for "I Remember the Feeling"
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(Above) Appearing on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
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(Above) Peter Tork joins DJBH in 1976
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(Above) The 1976 Monkees Christmas single
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(Above) Appearing on The Dinah Shore Show
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(Above) Performing the Boyce & Hart hit
"I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" |
PHOTO GALLERY
MICKY AND DAVY 1977
After Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart disbanded, Micky and Davy continued to work together and formed a new act that played clubs in 1977.
(Below) Program for Micky and Davy's post-DJBH solo act in 1977
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THE POINT
Micky and Davy starred in Harry Nilsson's "The Point" at the Mermaid Theatre in London in 1977.
An original cast album was later released by MCA Records.
An original cast album was later released by MCA Records.
Promotional poster for The Point
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The original cast recording
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Tommy, Davy, Bobby and Micky
