Review: Micky Dolenz Timeless EP

It’s always nice when Micky Dolenz puts out new music. And just in time for the Monkees 60^th Anniversary arrives Timeless from Friday Music. Issued on CD, Red Vinyl and all streaming platforms, this collection features six songs written by Paul Westerberg (The Replacements), Andy Partridge (XTC), Vicki Peterson (The Bangles), Shelby Lynne & Jonny Polonsky (The Figs) and the late Adam Schlessinger (Fountains of Wayne). The songs have the same kind of feel as the Monkees 2016 Good Times album and could’ve easily fit on that release.

The first single Terri is a very catchy Westerberg song about a suitor’s disbelief that his girlfriend is marrying someone else. Any Way You Want Me To by Andy Partridge is a fun song with a country bounce to it. Something Happened by Sam Hollander and the late Adam Schlesinger was originally considered for a Muppets movie with the lyrics rewritten as a love letter to Micky’s departed Monkees brothers Davy, Peter and Michael with a mixture of melancholy and sweetness.

Waiting For Day by Vicki Peterson echoes the psychedelia of the 1960’s with its melodies and flanging guitars, with a conclusion that recalls the ending of Pleasant Valley Sunday. Pete Donnelly’s and Shelby Lynn’s Where Do The Tears Come From sounds like a Bacharach/David song with its lush instrumentation, one could almost hear Dionne Warwick singing this song. The final song In The Center Of My Heart (There Is A Force Commonly Known As Love) by Jonny Polonsky is the shortest song on the EP at one minute, thirty-nine seconds and sounds like a sequel to Papa Gene’s Blues, even down to the misheard “Pick It, Wilson!” shout out, this is a fun country tune to end the record on.

Produced by Sam Hollander, John Hughes and Pete Donnelly, the EP is short and sweet, clocking in at around 17 minutes that makes one wish that it was longer with more songs. The musicianship is excellent featuring members of Micky’s touring band which includes his sister Coco on backing vocals and additional musicians rounding out the sound. Micky’s daughter Emily took the cover photo. Friday Music has issued the EP as a limited edition on CD and Red Vinyl plus available on various platforms for streaming and digital purchase.

Timeless by Micky Dolenz is a delightful listen and a nice addition to Micky’s catalogue in this 60^th anniversary of The Monkees.

Amazon Order Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6N5H5TH?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Fred Velez, 2026.

Fred Velez is the author of the books ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fan’s Perspective’ and ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You 2: The Monkees From International Fan Perspectives’. 

Visit The FreddyPop Shop: https://freddypop.wordpress.com/freddy-pop-shop/

Review: The Monkees Head Alternate Vinyl LP

By Fred Velez

Friday Music has issued The Monkees ‘Head Alternate’, a limited anniversary vinyl edition of the ‘Head’ soundtrack. The new edition has alternate mixes of the songs and tracks from the original soundtrack which originally appeared on the Rhino Handmade ‘Head’ boxset. (Because this is a remastered/remix of the ‘Head’ soundtrack, the Jack Nicholson mixes are not on the album so his credit is not on the back cover).

The alternative songs include the stereo mix of ‘Porpoise Song’ with the long coda, a stereo mix of ‘Ditty Diego’, a stereo mix of ‘Circle Sky’ with Michael Nesmith’s vocals up front and clear and are not buried in the mix as in the original version, a rough stereo mix of ‘Can You Dig It’ with Peter Tork’s vocals. Side two has a alternate stereo mix of ‘As We Go Along’, a remix of ‘Daddy’s Song’ which mixes an alternate vocal by Davy Jones with scatting from Michael Nesmith’s version of the song and includes the slow verse reading by Davy. This version of ‘Daddy’s Song’ is longer than the released version. The rough mix acetate version of ‘Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again’ has a different vocal by Peter Tork which features more of the backing track and a very prominent bass line. The album was mastered by Joe Reagoso and is dedicated to the memory of Davy Jones.

The album is pressed on 180 Gram translucent gold vinyl. The front cover of the album is on gold foil and the back cover is an alternate color shot of the Monkees originally issued on the Japanese version of the ‘Head’ album.

For collectors of Monkees vinyl records, the ‘Head Alternate’ is a nice addition.

Link: http://www.fridaymusic.com/pre-order-head-alternate-180-gram-audiophile-translucent-gold-vinyllimited-anniversary-edition-gold-foil-cover

Fred Velez, 2017.

Fred Velez is the author of the book ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fan’s Perspective’.

Link: A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fan’s Perspective