# More of the Monkees

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More of the Monkees is the second studio album by the American pop rock band the Monkees, released in 1967 on Colgems Records. It was recorded in late 1966 and displaced the band's debut album from the top of the Billboard 200 chart, remaining at No. 1 for 18 weeks, the longest run of any Monkees album. Combined, the first two Monkees albums were at the top of the Billboard chart for 31 consecutive weeks. More of the Monkees also went to No. 1 in the UK. In the U.S., it has been certified quintuple platinum by the RIAA, with sales of more than five million copies. More of the Monkees is also notable for being the first pop/rock album to be the best-selling album of the year in the U.S.

## History

Monkeemania had reached full swing by the time the album was released. The Monkees' second single, "I'm a Believer"—included on this album—held the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 and they were about to embark on a highly successful concert tour.
The release of More of the Monkees was rushed to capitalize on the band's popularity, catching even its members by surprise. The band learned of the album's existence while on tour in Cleveland, Ohio, surprised it had been released without their knowing. They were dismayed by the cover image of them (which was used in an advertisement for JCPenney) and were offended by production overseer Don Kirshner's liner notes, which praised his team of songwriters before mentioning, almost as an afterthought, the names of the Monkees. The band, particularly Nesmith, was also furious about the songs—selected for the record from 34 that had been recorded—leading Nesmith to later tell Melody Maker magazine that More of the Monkees was "probably the worst album in the history of the world".
The group began to grow concerned over their musical output, since this album and their debut, The Monkees, featured them limited to just vocals with scattered instrumental contributions. Kirshner had a strict rule that the Monkees were to provide only vocals on his productions, though separate sessions produced by Michael Nesmith himself usually featured Peter Tork on guitar. More of the Monkees has Nesmith limited to one song as lead vocalist.
Within weeks of the release of More of the Monkees, Nesmith lobbied successfully with the group's creators, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, for the Monkees to be allowed to play their instruments on future records, effectively giving the quartet artistic control. To make his point clear to Kirshner, who was balking at the idea, Nesmith proceeded to punch a hole in the wall of a suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel during a group meeting with Kirshner and Colgems lawyer Herb Moelis, declaring to the latter: "That could have been your face!". This outburst came after Moelis snapped to Nesmith, "You'd better read your contract", when Nesmith threatened to quit. Kirshner was later dropped from the project altogether.

### Artwork

The original pressing catalog number is COM/COS 102. When the album was reissued in 1968 the Colgems symbol replaced the word "Colgems" on the bottom right-hand corner of the reverse side (Catalog number COS 102 RE). It was standard practice for RCA to add an "RE" when any one side of a record sleeve had a revision.

## Personnel

Credits adapted from 2017 Rhino "Super Deluxe Edition" box set.
The Monkees
* Micky Dolenz – lead vocals (1, 3, 6, 10, 12), backing vocals (1–4, 7–8, 10, 12)
* Davy Jones – backing vocals (1, 4, 7–8, 10–12), lead vocals (2, 4, 7, 9, 11)
* Peter Tork – backing vocals (1, 7–8, 10, 12), guitar (3), lead vocals (5)
* Michael Nesmith – lead vocals (8), backing vocals (8), steel guitar (8)
Additional musicians
* Wayne Erwin – guitar (1, 6), backing vocals (1, 6)
* Gerry McGee – guitar (1, 6)
* Louie Shelton – guitar (1, 6)
* Bobby Hart – organ (1, 6), backing vocals (1, 6)
* Larry Taylor – bass guitar (1, 6)
* Billy Lewis – drums (1, 6)
* Norm Jeffries – tambourine (1)
* Tommy Boyce – backing vocals (1, 6)
* Ron Hicklin – backing vocals (1)
* Al Gafa – guitar (2)
* Willard Suyker – guitar (2)
* Don Thomas – guitar (2)
* Neil Sedaka – keyboards (2)
* Russ Savakus – bass guitar (2, 7, 12)
* Herbie Lovelle – drums (2)
* James Burton – guitar (3, 8)
* Glen Campbell – guitar (3, 8)
* Al Casey – guitar (3, 8–9, 11)
* Mike Deasy – guitar (3)
* Michael Cohen – keyboards (3)
* Larry Knechtel – keyboards (3, 8)
* Bob West – bass guitar (3, 8)
* Hal Blaine – drums (3, 8–9, 11)
* Gary Coleman – percussion (3, 8)
* Jim Gordon – percussion (3, 8)
* Neil Diamond – guitar (7, 12)
* Sal DiTroia – guitar (7, 12)
* Al Gorgoni – guitar (7, 12)
* George Butcher – keyboards (7, 12)
* Stan Free – keyboards (7, 12)
* Buddy Saltzman – drums (7, 12)
* George Devens – percussion (7, 12)
* Carol Kaye – guitar (8, 11)
* Don Randi – keyboards (8, 11)
* Michel Rubini – keyboards (8, 11)
* Ray Pohlman – bass guitar (8, 11)
* Frank Capp – percussion (9, 11)
* Julius Wechter – percussion (9, 11)
* Louis Haber – violin (9)
* Irving Spice – violin (9)
* Louis Stone – violin (9)
* David Sackson – viola (9)
* Murray Sandry – viola (9)
* Seymour Barab – cello (9)
* Jeff Barry – backing vocals (11)
Unconfirmed personnel and duties
* Percussion (2, 6)
* Musicians (4–5, 10)
* Additional backing vocals (11)
* Other musicians (12)
Technical
* Don Kirshner – music supervisor
* Lester Sill – music coordinator
* Emil LaViola – music coordinator
* Tommy Boyce – producer (1, 6)
* Bobby Hart – producer (1, 6)
* Neil Sedaka – producer (2)
* Carole Bayer – producer (2)
* Michael Nesmith – producer (3, 8)
* Don Peake – conductor (3, 8)
* Jeff Barry – producer (4, 5, 7, 9, 10–12)
* Jack Keller – producer (4, 5, 7, 9, 11–12)
* Artie Butler – string arranger (9)
* Gerry Goffin – producer (10)
* Carole King – producer (10)
* Ernie Oelrich – engineer
* Henry Lewy – engineer
* Hank Cicalo – engineer
* Richie Schmitt – engineer
* Richard Podolor – engineer
* Dave Hassinger – engineer
* Ray Hall – engineer

## Charts
### Album

| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 4 |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) | 1 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 1 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 25 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 16 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 1 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 1 |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
| 1966 | "I'm a Believer" | Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1966 | "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" | Billboard Hot 100 | 20 |
| 1968 | "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" | Mexico Singles Chart | 1 |

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States (RIAA) | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||